Curtiss, May 10th 1891

Dear brother,

It has been such a long time since I had a letter from anyone back home. And I can say it has been a long time since I wrote myself. So now I will write a letter to you. I wrote to Johan in December, but I haven't received any letter from him yet. I can imagine Mother is wondering how we are doing now, as I have not written for a long time. Thank goodness we have been healthy all winter, and all goes well. As I have told before, Mathias was at home this winter. He has earned a lot of money this winter, too. We had no snow, so he could not start driving until February. Then we had a lot of snow which stayed until April. Now it has been bare a while and things have become green. Mathias has started some of the spring work. He has sown peas and oats. We have had a lot of feed this winter. So he has sold some, but the rest of it, I suppose, will be left for next year. Unless anything happens with it, we will have more cattle next winter. Math bought a two year old bull for 17 dollars this spring, which is to become the partner of our first calf, a bull which is two years old this spring. They are to become driving oxen. And he bought three sheep: a ram, a ewe and a lamb, which he paid nine dollar for. Not too many around here have sheep, so wool is hard to come by. I'm glad we have sheep. And we have raised a calf this spring. We have no more than two milking this spring either, but next spring I hope to have four, as we have two heifers. And I should tell you our pig will farrow this month. And I have already prepared a hen, so we will have chickens early. And we got a puppy this winter. It is brownish in color, has white socks, a white chest and dark around the snout. We call it 'Hurtig' [meaning fast] It looks like it will grow big. Hurtig, Axel and Mons the cat play well together, but sometimes they fight. Axel is good at walking. And he has started wanting to climb up everywhere, so I really have to look after him now.
Kristian Kankrud has been here for a few weeks. He came here after having been in the woods, but now he has left to work again. Sina Kankrud has been at Eline's for a few weeks now. Eline gave birth to a stillborn girl on May 2nd, and that is why she has had Sina with her. Things are as well as they can be there, given the circumstances. Their last child is a big boy, as big as Axel in height, but he can't walk yet. Apparently he is slightly over 14 months old.
I have nothing new to tell, as you don't know any of the people here. But when you write to me Kristian, you must tell me news. I am sure a lot has happened in Gausdal since I received Ingeborg's letter last fall. Then you must tell me how everything is at home now. Whether you have the same maid, or if you have anyone new. And I wonder how Mother and Father are doing. Whether they are at all healthy, or if they are ill. It would please me if I could still hear all was well at home. You must give my regards to Father and Mother once again. I do find it sad I am so far away from them, that I can never speak to them. But they must not think of me as an unhappy daughter, because I'm doing fine. Mathias is always kind to me and Axel. And we have enough to eat and drink. I always have enough to do, but I enjoy that too.

Curtiss, May 22nd 1891
Before having finished this letter or sent it, we had a family addition. On May 12th I gave birth to a girl who is alive and well. I became ill at ten in the evening, and at three the girl was born. I had arranged for a Norwegian woman to be with me this time. She comes from the farm Flaataamo in Oeier and lives not far from here. She is an able woman and has eleven children of her own. Sina Kankrud came over to our place as soon as I had become ill. She is still here, but will be leaving again shortly. And then I must find a nanny. Both children are good enough, but I need one nonetheless. I have started being up again and am well again.

So I must end for now with a heartfelt greeting to my siblings and their families. Finally my most heartfelt greetings to you and Father and Mother from me,
your devoted sister,

Randi Anderson

Regards to all at Bergom from me, and everyone at Voldslien and all the others you know knew me well.
Live well, and please write to me again soon.