This is the last of what I currently have transcribed. Now I have to look for the next book in the series and start typing again. I’m grateful to have this project!

June 4, 1920

I feel better now. Just as I was eating my lunch I looked at Tudel’s first picture where she laughs and looks so happy and I just thought how happy I was once when I looked at it while she was lying sleeping in the bed. But did I feel happy now? Nothing but ache in my heart. Forgive me God and help me to overcome it.

June 10, 1920

Yesterday I took Karl and went up to Martha. I met her on the streetcar going up there. She had just come from town. They were all fine up there. I am going to write something in shorthand. (I have not been able to find a person or group that can transcribe Ella’s Pitman shorthand.)

June 12, 1920

Thursday, June 10, I had been in this country or in Tacoma eleven years! Thursday I dressed up Karl and thought I would go up to Marie but I met her first as she was going to the ladies aid down to Mrs. Haugland. She wanted me to go but I wasn’t dressed and I thought I would go to the store and so I went. On the way home, I bought Karl and me an ice cream cone and I stopped in to Mrs. Sand. While I was there, Karl told me there was a man in the yard and I went out to see and it was Andrew. Martha and Thelma were over to Mrs. Strand but Karl went and got them home. After supper Martha and Andrew wanted to go to Pantages and wanted to take us along. Knute didn’t want to go but said I should and he would take care of the children. The show was real good. I enjoyed it very much.

The next day, yesterday, I went down town with Andrew and Martha and paid light and water. I met Mrs. Elder down in a bakery. She was so happy as she had gotten a little baby girl in February. She expressed her sympathy for me and told me to come and see her. From there I went up to Mrs. Martin Johnson. She is getting ready to go to Detroit to visit Peter and Gertrude. She gave me a picture of Lucille and Burdette. It was very good of Lucille.

A little later–McFarlane brought his pup up here and Mrs. Wog took a picture of them–all pups and Queen I hope they turn out all right. I have just given the three pups a bath and they are going to their owners tonight. Andrew wanted a pup and we will take one out there next week when Marie Hovland will take us out in their auto. She has two boys now. One 3 years and one 3 months. The baby is very big and fat. He weighs 19 lbs already, she said.

June 16, 1920

For the last two and a half weeks, I have been planning on going out working. Genevieve has promised to look after Karl and I thought if I could get something easy to do, I could try it. I think I will go down tomorrow but in a way it seems queer to go a look for a job. We take the Times and I thought I would try there. I feel as I could do something if I only got a start. I am going to try.

July 7, 1920

Of course I didn’t look for a job. I came to the conclusion I better stay home and take care of Karl and then I got enough to do anyway. Marie and Erling took me and Karl out to Gig Harbor to visit Andrew. They are all fine out there.

I have been feeling quite happy for the last three weeks or so but yesterday and today again I am blue. I do miss the little darling so. I look at the other little babies and then I think of her. Mrs. Sand got a baby girl now and so has Mrs. Williams. Louis got a boy to take us out to Eatonville on the 4^th and we certainly all had a good time together. We were out rowing on the lake, Lake Rapjohn, and Knute caught two fishes. We stayed overnight.

Louis and Evelyn slept out in the barn and Martha, her baby, Karl and I, Mr. Elseth and Knute all lay crosswise on a ¾ bed. Knute, Karl and I went home with Mr. Aas in the morning at 4:30 and Louis and family went home afterwards. Louis came down to us for dinner but Martha and the children were too tired.

July 10, 1920

Yesterday Karl and I went down town with the proofs of the pictures we had taken of Karl. I’ll get them next Saturday. I’ll get 15 pictures and one big one for $7.50 for two poses. Then we went up to 6^th Ave but Mrs. Hanson wasn’t home. Karl played with Norma and Ellen. I went over to see Mrs. Freese, her daughter is taking radium treatments to remove a scar on her face. Her whole chin was burned once by a cotton mask which caught afire. No result is visible yet but I hope they succeed.

Karl is out with Perry now I don’t know just where. I think we’ll go to Gig Harbor tomorrow and bring the puppy out to Andrew.

July 15, 1920

Will I ever get over the loss of the baby? My God. I ought to stop and think and believe she is a little angel but it is so hard to reconcile myself with that.

July 16, 1920

Yesterday afternoon I took Karl along up to Louis. I brought Martha’s apron up that I made for her. The baby looked so cute in a blue romper trimmed with white. Louis was building on a bathroom and closet. Karl had his haircut short when we came back last night. I went and picked blackberries and today I am cooking jam.

In the afternoon I walked over to the store and I heard somebody call “Ella” and I wondered who it was, but as she came closer, I saw it was Doris Lipscomb, a girl that used to live on Harrison Street and she and her sister, Leda, used to come and take the baby out so much. I told her I have had hard luck since she left and I almost choked when I told her that baby died. It seemed to come back so hard because when she left, the baby was just fine and dandy and they used to come over and play with her so much and she always liked Doris and Leda.

My God thy ways are, thy ways we do not understand but somehow and sometimes it shall be made plain.

July 17, 1920

I have done a little sewing today and cleaned up the house.

July 18, 1920

Sunday today and a beautiful day. I went to the Methodist church and I enjoyed the sermon and the singing very much. Now I am getting dinner ready. Somehow I feel a little better now.

The preacher spoke so nicely. He spoke of the salt of the earth. That good people were the salt of the earth. That many of us have to drink the bitter cup of life and sometimes a few words will make it less bitter.

July 19, 1920

It is rather cold this morning. It rained last night.

Aug. 5, 1920

Poor sister is sick in the hospital. She had an operation on her womb and she has been awful sick. I was up to see her yesterday afternoon and she said she was getting better. I also went up to see Mrs. Hanson and tonight I feel like going up to see Johanna and tell her she better come here and stay for awhile after she gets out of the hospital.

Aug. 15, 1920

Early Sunday morning. I got up this morning at 5:30. Have first tended to the chickens and have ate my breakfast. Wogs went up to the mountains and I am taking care of their chickens too.

Johanna is getting better and I suppose she is home now. I have to go over there today and I would like to go to the cemetery with some flowers too. Hoer gladestrund du fik paa ford betales maa sund song. My cousin Edvin Erlandsen always used to sing that and in my case it’s true in one way. When I got my little baby’s picture, it’ll now soon be a year ago, I was happy. So happy that I can’t explain it. I showed it to people and after the children were asleep, I pulled a rocking chair into the kitchen and just sat and stared at it for the longest while. Then after I placed it on the chiffonier so I could glance at it the first thing in the morning, I went to bed I took the picture of her when she was three months and she smiled so sweetly on it. Poor little doll, she smiled and smiled all the time while she was well but sickness came and took the smile away. The last time she smiled was I think on Good Friday night after she was babtized she smiled to her father. God help my faith that she smiles in Heaven today.

Aug. 20, 1920

Sunday I went over to Johanna. Mrs. Norstad was there taking care of her and Doris and that was very nice. Johanna gave me a bouquet of sweet peas and Monday afternoon I took them out to the baby’s grave. There was a funeral when I was out there. Then we took the car down town and I bought Karl a nice new coverall and he was pleased. Knut is just fine too. Has been busy all the time fixing up around the house. We have grass seed in the part of it now and tonight he is going to prepare another plot.

Sept. 12, 1920

Yesterday I heard such shocking news that John Sather was shot and killed by a hold up man up in Port Angeles where he has been buying fish for a fish company. I feel so sorry for Mrs. Sather and the children. She has four now. We went up there to see her this summer when we were out in Gig Harbor. She said that John had been gone a month and it seemed a long time to her because she wasn’t used to that he was gone. She had a little baby boy about 8 months old then and she was so happy about him. It certainly is too bad that anything like that had to happen to take him away. He was in his best years and such a nice man, goodnatured and nice to his family. He used to come and see us often up in the green house and he was here once too.

Oct. 4, 1920

Well this is my birthday. I am sick in bed and my sister Hanna is taking care of me. She came from St. Paul last Sunday night with her four children and her husband. He went Tuesday to San Francisco where they are going after a while. We had a fine time till I got sick Thursday and the doctor ordered me to stay in bed till next Friday.

Oct. 15, 1920

Hanna went to Mrs. Koch and they took Karl and her baby with her because Erling has a bad cold. I am up but I don’t feel very strong yet. My thoughts have been brought more back to the baby and her sickness since I had my mishap but I try to fight it back. Poor little doll it is so hard to forget her.

Oct. 22, 1920

Hanna, Arvid, Gunnvor, and Erling went down town and up to Mrs. Loney and her little baby Borghild is home with me and Karl as Knute went to Vikings.

Hanna is going down to Frisco Sunday afternoon at 5p.m. That will make a visit of 4 weeks. I am getting better but have been purty weak so far.

Nov. 1, 1920

Hanna and her family left Sunday. Have been busy sewing all morning. I made one union suit for Karl and one little shirt out of some old underwear. I have a lot of sewing to do so I think I’ll be kept busy all night. Yesterday afternoon Mr and Mrs Hanson came up and had Norma and Ellen with them. That little babe of mine is in my mind. It is always like something missing like I am looking for some comfort. My God, I do miss my little girl so. Oh, dear if I had only known. That is just what troubles me if we had realized things might have been different. My God help me to become a better mother and wife and to do what duty I have to do everyday. And I might still have years of happiness ahead even if this year has been hard. I am thankful I have Knut and Karl. Karl went to Sunday school yesterday for the first time and he likes it so well.

Now I have to get to work. Today is the day. Yesterday has gone.

Nov. 4, 1920

My thoughts are mostly back at last spring. I can’t get away from it. It seems so much like my own folly over and over again I think of every week what I did and what I ought to have done. Now I see I can’t get any wheres with that so God help me to forget it and to do my duty as it is today.

Nov. 6, 1920

This morning I went back to bed after Knute left and I thought of the baby as usual I blame myself. Seems like it’s all my own fault now and I am almost afraid to think of the result of this constant mental agony and sorrow. I was cheered by Karl waking up and his talk made me forget. Then I happened to think of a book I got in Norway. Mod Himlen and I found it in my trunk and read it or parts of it. I cried when I read of her sorrow of the loss of her boy and she said that she took her sorrow to God and found strength and comfort. So I’ll have to do the same and I feel more at ease.

Nov. 24, 1920

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I have invited Hanson’s to come up. I had a rather unpleasant experience yesterday but I don’t like to write about. It taught me a lesson though and learned me some of other people’s character. So after all I suppose it’s worth while to come in contact with people from another than the pleasant angle I hope to learn.

Nov. 30, 1920

Well last night I went to night school at the Stadium High. How often hadn’t I dreamed of going there or rather at the Lincoln, but I wanted to join a class in journalism and short story writing and there is no class organized in that subject at the Lincoln. I was really excited when I got ready to go and all the way up to the school I thought to myself what a grand chance I had. There were quite a few people on the street car and I imagined they were going to night school also. I saw some people going into a show on Broadway and I thought to myself why don’t they rather go to n.s. As I came closer to the school, in which I have not been for over six years, I noticed that the ground in front had been changed. Instead of the nice green lawn and flower beds, there were heavy glass sky lights through which shone the lights of what I think is the new gymnasium below. In the office where I had to find out where this class was, I met Miss Chesney, a teacher I had at the Bryan School. I spoke to her and she said she remembered my face but could not remember which one of the girls I were. So I told her. Did you go any further than the 8^th grade?, she asked. “Yes I went all through high school.” “Good, “she said. I told her I was going to take journalism. She advised me to take a course in public speaking and I might. It seemed so queer to see all kinds of people in all ages. Last time I was there, the halls were filled with only young students. Now there were a group of Japanese men standing by the stairway on the first floor and some short fat people came walking through the halls.

Dec. 11, 1920

I read a story today in Decohra haten called “Blaaveis.” I got such a queer sensation after reading that. I brought me back into the past.

Dec. 17, 1920

Well, it’s just a week till Xmas Eve. Knute started to work nights on Monday. Somehow or other when he started to work nights again, something he has not done since last Jan. or Feb. and it has just reminded me so much of our little sweetheart who went and I have felt so heavy and blue but I’ll have to make Christmas nice for Karl and Knute. I just wonder how things will be next year. I hope it will be better. God help me to be good and make me a good wife and mother. Wed. night I took Karl and went up to Mrs. Koch. They had it so nice and cozy up there. A good fire was burning in the heating stove in their cozy dining room. Mrs. Koch was sitting embroidering and Mr. Koch was smoking his pipe when I came or perhaps he just was reading the paper. They were glad to see me and I had a nice time. I had on my new green silk and wool poplin dress that she helped me make and Karl wore his new black coat with the bright sailor buttons that I just made for him. After supper I played on the player piano but I could only play one piece as Karl was getting so tired that we had to go home. After I got in bed, I heard somebody come up on the porch and knock and I wondered who it could be. Then I heard Mrs Strand tell me not to get frightened, that it was only her and I went to the door and she said she had someone for me and it was Martha from Gig Harbor. I was glad to see her. She was on the jury and the case lasted too long for her to get the boat home. She looked fine herself and the children and Andrew were pretty well.

Dec. 20, 1920

It is not all who has it so pleasant. Mrs. McFarlane had been expecting a baby and Sunday night it came, a twelve pound baby boy but he was too big and died before he was born, so there is disappointment a little all over. I suppose none can escape it, sooner or later it comes to us all.

Dec. 22, 1920

Yesterday I went downtown and bought a few things. I met Roberta Miller. Well she is married now and has a girl about three. Then when I was going home I met Mrs. Andersen. She got a baby boy two months ago. I just hung up my front room curtain and I am getting things ready for Xmas.

Dec. 24, 1920

Today is Xmas Eve. Karl got a wagon and lots of toys. Hanna sent me a pair of silk stockings. Knut got a necktie from Falks. Karl got a mouth organ. Knut gave me a teapot.

Dec. 28, 1920

Last night we went to the Christmas program. Karl was in it for the first time and had a little piece to say. ”Little feet to win his ways, little lips to sing his praise.” Johanna and Doris were there too and Mrs. Norstad. The program was just fine and I enjoyed it and Knute did too. We each got an apple and Karl got a box of candy and nuts. We all have a cold now.

New Years Eve 1920

It is now almost eleven o’clock and as the New Year is almost here I pray to the almighty that I may be strong and do my duties better in the New Year. This year has been hard for me, for us all, but it might yet be a blessing, who knows.

Jan. 15, 1921

Well I hope I feel better tomorrow. Really I haven’t been feeling good and I have been so worried. Good night and God bless us all.

Jan. 18, 1920

My oh my. I don’t know where this going to land at. I think the old kidney trouble has started up again and it makes me so afraid and worried. I am going to see the doctor this afternoon. Some how I think I will be all right soon though but I haven’t slept good at night so I feel rather punk.

Jan. 23, 1921

I didn’t go to the doctor. I feel better physically but I am so downhearted. I was just thinking the other day that it is almost ten months since our baby died. Oh, what an endless time it seems. My heart aches and the sorrow seems so hard that I can’t hardly bear it. I have to pray to God that I may bear it and overcome it. In time life may again look brighter to me. If it wasn’t that I think that our little baby’s death could have been prevented, if she had had better care, and I had understood her sickness better it would not have been so hard. But the self-accusation of lack of understanding to have the doctor earlier and everything makes me feel so blue, so blue. On the opposite side of this book is dated Nov, 13, 1915. Right after I was married. I made me feel better and I will start to clean up the house.

Jan. 28, 1921

Karl is sound asleep by my side. Poor fellow, he woke up so early and he was so tired tonight.

Feb. 5, 1921

Yesterday I took Karl and went to Johanna. She had just gotten up when I came as Einar is not working. They played on the piano and we sang church hymns and had a nice time.

But Knute wants me to go to the doctor and find out if there is anything wrong with my kidneys as I haven’t been feeling right but I hate to go to the doctor but I owe it to Knute to go so I think I’ll get ready and go right today. Oh, my heart has been so heavy as the time grows near that my little baby got sick last year. I can’t get it out of my mind. It just seems to take my strength away. The sorrow is so bitter. If it wasn’t that I thought that a better doctor care could have saved her it wouldn’t have been so hard.

Feb. 10, 1921

Karl has a cold and it is raining and blowing so hard today so he has to stay in all day. I found him my doll today that I gave his sister when she was three months old and he surely enjoys it. He thinks it’s so cute and he keeps on dressing and undressing it. I had that doll to give to the Chinese Mission in 1912 when I went to Mrs. Radish’s Sunday School Class. Some of us girls never got them ready and I was one of those so that’s why I have mine. Well, I hope Karl gets better soon. Seems like he got a touch of asthma again. It’s always a worry when he is not feeling well.

March 26, 1921

Now I see it’s almost a month and a half that I haven’t written in this book. Well, Karl is feeling fine again. I had Quevli up and he gave Karl a prescription for cough medicine. He had quite a cough and it lasted quite awhile too but now he is well and I am glad of it. Today is Easter Eve. My what a hard time I had last Easter Eve and poor sis. She had the hardest of all. Poor darling. I try to be happy, to thank God that I have Knute and Karl and now it seems as if it has been easier for me for a few weeks. But many times a day as I picture her as she would have been today when she could see the other little tots of her age.

April 27, 1921

Now we have passed through sickness. Knut had grippe and bronchitis and was home for nearly two weeks. Karl and I were sick for a couple of days. I have been pretty busy and feeling quite well otherwise. I made three shirts for Clarence Tonning. Got $2.00 for them. Then I made a sailor blouse for Karl so now he has a whole suit. I am going to have his picture taken soon. Then I have planted a pretty big garden. Today I sent a package to Detroit. Two blue & white rompers, two ferris waists for Burdette. A white dress for the baby and a dress good for Lucille. So I hope they get it all right.

Sept. 8, 1921

The summer has gone since I last wrote in this book. But I have been very busy this summer. We are all feeling fine. Karl has grown so much and is getting to be a fine big boy now.

My garden turned out fine and we have real nice potatoes too. Yesterday, Stensvolds were up for dinner and stayed over night. They have the sweetest little baby girl, 15 months old. She has light curly hair.

Sept. 27, 1921

It’s always a worry when Karl don’t feel good. Now he has such a bad cold again, is breathing heavy and is warm and feverish. I didn’t call the doctor but I went and bought castor oil and oranges and gave him a dose. Then I steamed and rubbed him with oil of Eucalyptus. So I hope his cough loosens up till tomorrow. Knut is working from 12a.m. till 7a.m. and has just left. So that leaves me alone at night. Last night Karl wasn’t sick so I slept but tonight I am too worried to sleep. I hope to God he gets better soon.

Oct 4, 1921

My birthday again.

Knut and Karl are both asleep. Karl isn’t quite well of his cough yet but he is much better. Knut works nights now and has to go to work at 11 o’clock. Knut bought me a pair of silk stockings for a present. Everybody has been so nice to me. About two weeks ago they had a shower on me and I got some lovely things. Some other time I will go more in detail but I surely was happy to get all the pretty things.

I wonder what I can write next birthday if God wills. Time changes so. Two yeas ago, we had a baby, Irene, here with us. Last year I was sick in bed. Thank God this year I am feeling fine. I have been thinking so much of two years ago and the baby.

My faults are many I realize it. I am not the mother I ought to be. I lack in patience and the tasks of motherhood are hard. God, I pray thee make me a better mother that I might bring up my boy in the way and so he can be a blessing for himself and others. Show me the way and give me the strength. Make me also a good wife. My faults are many, I realize but I want to do good. I want to be a good mother and wife. I have great hopes for Karl if I can only direct him in the right way. Amen.

Oct. 29, 1921

Hanna and her family has just been here from San Francisco. They left for St. Paul last night.

Dec. 18, 1921

Today it is Sunday before Christmas and it is snowing and cold. I just dressed Karl up good and sent him to Sunday school. Knut went duck hunting but I hope he comes back soon because I would like to go to church today. Next Sunday is Xmas day and Karl is sure looking forward to Christmas. I let him help make candy today. He put it on and cracked some hazel nuts to put in it and the candy turned out fine.

Louis was down about two weeks ago and paper-hanged our bedroom and kitchen and now it looks so light and nice in both rooms. The kitchen has oilcloth half ways up and that makes it nice so we can wipe off spots.

Thanksgiving we were out to Hanna’s for turkey dinner. J. Strand and family were there too. We sure had a nice dinner and supper and enjoyable time.

I have been bothered with bronchitis this fall but now I am almost over it. I got some good medicine from Dr. Quevli.

I am just waiting every day for something to happen now. It is supposed to arrive this week. Mrs. Johnson is coming to take care of me. I hope all goes well.

Dec. 22, 1921

Karl and I have been making some nice cookies and he surely enjoyed to help. He says he wants to learn how to cook. Now I am going to make Fattigman and fruit cake. Knut and Karl went downtown yesterday so Karl could see Santa Claus. Day before yesterday we got a letter from Hanna. They had gotten a six room house and was settled down once more. Then we got a wedding picture of Ida and her husband. I just wonder when my Christmas present will arrive. I have been looking for it for three days now. Every night before I go to bed I try to have everything just so, so in case anything does happen. But I am glad I get a chance to fix up for Xmas too to make it cozy for Knut and Karl. Karl got a piece for the Sunday School Xmas program. “We are little tots you see, But we are glad as we can be, Because it’s happy Christmas Day, Now that’s enough for us to say.”

Tuesday Knut took Karl along to get a Christmas tree and they got a very pretty one.

Dec. 23, 1921

Karl and I trimmed the tree now tonight. It looks real pretty and Karl is so happy about it. He had his bath and is now sound asleep. Knut went to the Vikings and I am getting ready for bed. Johanna, Doris and Einar were here yesterday with a package. Einar had his arm broken about three weeks ago. Well, I am tired and I must hurry to bed.

Dec. 26, 1921

Now Christmas is almost over. Karl is going to Xmas program up to Sunday School tomorrow night. I’ll have to tell about our presents. We have all had a nice and enjoyable Xmas. Karl got a train from papa, building blocks from me, pretty little yellow and black cap from Johanna and I got a pair of pillow cases from her and one pair from Mrs. Hanson. Knut got a pair of socks from them and Karl 2 little storybooks. Then he got a pocket knife from Aunt Hanna today.

I don’t feel so very well and besides it’s bedtime so I must go to sleep now. Goodnight.

New Years Day Jan. 1, 1922

Happy New Year. We just came home from Strand’s. Hansons were up for dinner and they asked us down for supper. The children all had a great time. When we came home there was a package under the sack on the porch and when we opened it, there was a lunch for me from Martha and Louis, a necktie for Knute and two handkerchiefs with pictures on for Karl. Well I hope we can all be well and happy this year. We have had a nice Xmas. Goodnight.

Jan. 3, 1922

Tonight I don’t feel very well. Something might happen before morning. Baby might come tonight.

Jan. 22, 1922

I have been reading a little of what has been written in this book. This book covers the events of six and a half years. I bought it right after I was married. As I read the descriptions of the good times I had before it seems so queer that I should have been so happy then because now since my baby girl went there hasn’t been a day hardly that has been without the memory and regret. It surely is true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I cannot help but think now and it seems more plain than ever that if she had had castor oil and injections that week after she got sick, she might not have gotten so bad. I gave her castor oil and injection as the doctor told me once but then I thought that was enough. I know I shouldn’t think of those things but I can’t help it and that it is too late hurts me more than anything. There are of course people who say she is better off and she probably is but it is hard to be comforted that way.

God help me and give me wisdom and strength and patience to do justice and right to the two boys I have. To bring up little ones is a great task and I ask Thy help. My little Robert Stanley is a sweet little baby. He is getting to smile so much to me. And I realize now that no matter how many babies I will have, no one will take that place of Irene. It is true that each little baby has its place in the heart of the mother. A lady told me that once. But I pray to God Let the love spent on the little girl be multiplied and be a blessing for the little boys while they grow to manhood. I have had a craving for expressing my thoughts. Now that I have I feel better. May we all do our duty and be good parents.

Feb. 20, 1922

Today it is beautiful. Sunshine and the air feels so good. The baby boy is laying quietly in the bed. He is awake after a long nap this forenoon. Thank God for the boy. I ought to be very happy now that I have a baby again and am getting my strength back, though slowly. But my thoughts wander back to two years ago now just as before. But I must wake up and realize my duties of today. I have lots to do. I have two boys to bring up to manhood. One that requires a great deal of patience, and I pray God to give me patience to see my duty toward him as it is. This is the first time I have written in this book since I got the baby. I have been nowhere so far and the baby is almost seven weeks. He weighed over 9 lbs., over 10 with the clothes on and he is getting big. Now he smiles to me and talks a little. He has kept me busy and I have been weak and I am not very strong yet but I hope I get better as the days go.

March 22, 1922

The baby has a cough now. He has had a rattling in the chest for a while and I think maybe we better call the doctor. Seems like it’s always something.

March 25, 1922

The children are sleeping now. Both have a cold. Baby doesn’t cough so much and it is loosening up on him more, so I didn’t call the doctor. It is rather hard to know what to do but he seemed quite bright so I thought he would be all right. I have steamed him with oil of eucalyptus several times a day. Made kind of a tent out of the umbrella and put some cloth over it in the bed. Then I had to watch so it didn’t get too strong for him as he is so tiny yet. I gave him caster oil too.

At this time of the year everything brings back so vividly and I live through the sorrow over and over again. Sometimes I remember a certain day and I say, why didn’t I get the doctor that day and how differently all would have been, but it is useless. We live only one day at a time and that day is today. If we act and do that day as we should, there would be no regrets. But our mistakes and lots of things are done in the best way we think but afterwards often when it is too late we realize our mistakes. But really when I look at things how they are, I realize I got lots to live for. I married the man I loved and there is no cloud on our happiness. As Knute says, we haven’t had a real quarrel yet and then we have two nice boys to bring up. There is a lot of good to be done. We should think of the ones that have it worse when we are in trouble ourselves. There are those who are alone who have no one to call their own, who have nothing at all, still they have to live and struggle on. I have to write a line that occurs to me “Into each life some rain must fall.”

Maybe after all, God meant the rain to fall into my young life. I was barely 26 years old. Maybe it was for a purpose. I have had to pray to God and ask his help to bear it. It has seemed so hard.

April 2, 1922

I thought I better give him (baby) castor oil for his cough. Now he is so constipated. I thought it would be the best for him to get a physic and get cleared out so I gave him a half teaspoon full of castor oil. Well then he got constipated and I phoned up Dr. Heaton and he told me to get aromatic cascara. Well that doesn’t seem to have much affect on him. I must have gotten into a terrible habit to worry. I worry about everything. Now that worries me so it makes me almost sick.

April 18, 1922

I am anxiously waiting for Karl to come home. He went down to Portland Avenue to see Albert and he hasn’t come home yet. It is now after 9 o’clock. I can’t understand why he doesn’t come. Really I am so worried for the kid. I have been frightened so many times but he has never been out this late. Knute went to phone again. 10:45pm. No he didn’t He went down to Mrs. McFarland and got Karl home so he is asleep now. He was so tired. Floyd and Margaret Hendriksen, our neighbor’s children are sick.

April 29, 1922

It’s almost 12 o’clock. Knut went to work and Karl and babe are sleeping. I just took a bath and I am going to sleep now.

June 16, 1922

I figured to write some in this book but I really feel too tired.

Sept. 17, 1922

Knute and Karl are out fishing at Pt. Defiance and I am looking for them to come home. I have the supper ready, a fried chicken, corn on cob, potatoes, baked apples and an apple cake. Baby Robert is asleep and I have been reading over my diary written in 1919. I haven’t read all of my diary over yet and it seems quite interesting. Karl is coming now.

Oct. 16, 1922

Baby is sick now. He has bowel trouble and we had the doctor yesterday. His bowels were fierce Saturday, stool just green, lumpy and even blood. The doctor said it was disintina (?) and I should was him out with starch injection. Not feed him any milk and cook soup for him. But he ate a little bit yesterday but, last night and today, he just seems so weak and he won’t eat any soup, just drinks water and I gave him a little of that medicine, the doctor gave me for him. Oh, but it worries me so, I hope he is getting better as the bowels have not moved today. Well, last night I got so frightened, it was blood and dark stuff coming out of him. I was afraid he was going to die. I was hoping I would go first, if I had my choice, I would rather die than lose another baby and now he is getting so cute, almost walking.

 

Aug. 3, 1918

Johanna moved today. I feel kind of sorry she moved away. She was living just across the street from us. But she is going into a beautiful home so I suppose she will be very happy. They have bought a new five room bungalow just completed about two blocks from Lincoln High School. It has a fireplace, built in bookcases and buffet, breakfast nook and cupboards and cooler so it doesn’t lack anything, even laundry tubs on the back porch, so it is very handy for her. Her baby is growing nice and big and looks much like the Norstad family, I think.

Andrew’s wife has got another baby, a daughter, on the 31^st of July. I was the first relative who saw it too as I just happened to go over there not knowing whether she had got it or not.

Andrew is getting along pretty well at the sanitoruim. He looks much better, I think. Johanna, Einar and the baby went out with the Norstads Tuesday night. Karl and I went along. He was much cheered by seeing us, talked and joked as in the good old times.

I had a letter from good old Peter not so long ago. He has been very unhappy this winter because Gertrude and the baby have been away from him. Now I must go to bed goodnight.

Aug. 7, 1918

I wonder where Queen is tonight. I locked her inside the fence as I went away but she jumped the fence and came after as far as to the car line on 35^th and then I didn’t see her anymore. Mabel, Karl and I went to see Martha over to the county hospital. She got a baby girl last Wednesday and both are doing fine. Then I went up to Mrs. Hanson, took the Pacific Ave. car down town and when we came home again poor Queen was away. I hope we find the poor dog as we think a lot of him. Goodnight.

Sept. 2, 1918

I am sitting in the shade of the house and it feels good as I had a very long walk. I went to see Johanna today as Knut went over to Gig Harbor to saw some wood for Martha. We were going yesterday, Sunday, but somehow or other we got late, so we went to Pt. Defiance Park. We had a little lunch with us. Karl liked to see the boats. “See boat, mama, see other boat, see one boat, see one more boat, Eva, mama.” He sometimes calls me Eva and lately Ella because he hears the children saying it so much. Bernice and Genevieve Strand were with us. Oh, it seems nice to go out with Knut like that. He has been so busy working that we haven’t been out so very much this summer. Well today I was left alone with Karl and the dog so I thought I might as well take a walk over to Johanna. She lives on the other side of Lincoln High School. It is quite a long walk over there but, of course, I had Karl in the cart so that wasn’t so hard. Einar was home today and they were both going to Spanaway Lake. They asked me to go along but I would rather go home, then I would be home when Knut came. They surely have a beautiful home over there. She has new dining room table and three new chairs. The baby is getting along just dandy too, growing nice and big. Johanna looked real nice in her lavender or purple silk dress with Georgia crepe sleeves. They took the Spanaway car and then I walked home. On my way I went in to see little Thelma who is at the County Hospital because her eyes are so poor. Poor little thing, she was sitting in a little bed in a dark too, the blind pulled down. I asked if she knew, yea, she said. She had her little doll there and some more playthings. It’s certainly too bad about that family. What a lot of sickness and troubles they have. The little girl is in danger of loosing her eyesight. I hope she gets better.

Sept. 5, 1918

Today is our wedding anniversary. We have been married three years today. Knut is working days now and he is just now singing for Karl and little Karl is laughing. It is bedtime now so we better go to bed. Goodnight.

Oct 4, 1918

Today is my birthday. I am twenty five years old. Just think, one quarter of a century. I remember well when Knut was 25 years old. I haven’t celebrated much today, have been sewing on Karl’s coat this morning, sewed the lining and made the belt so I hope another half a day will finish it up for me. It has taken quite a while to make it. I made it up from my old gray coat, it is in Nordfolk style with pleats, pockets and belt. That’s the only nice way I could make it as the coat was in smaller pieces and worn in some places but I turned it, it’s washed and pressed so when I get it done it will look like new. Guess my boy will look nice in it.

Nov. 2, 1918

My poor little sweetheart boy is sick. He seemed to be all right yesterday and went to sleep all right last night. But during the night he seemed so warm and feverish and this morning his nose has been running and he has been so warm too. My, God, I am terrible nervous because it is such a lot of sickness and death going on. This Spanish Influenza is raging all over the country. My goodness I don’t know if my boy has just a cold or what. I’ll do my best for him anyway. God help us.

Nov. 11,1918

The whistles are blowing steadily and that must mean that Peace is declared that the war is over. Thank God for such a thing and it will be a lasting peace. The Germans must be beaten to a finish. The allies are victorious. Now many hearts are glad all over their boys will be home. The mothers, sweethearts and wives, children, relatives all will be happy. The terrible bloodshed is over, over the world. Thank God.

Jan. 9, 1919

Well, Christmas is over and the New Year begun. May God bless the New Year for me so I will do better in love and patience to my child and children for there is another one coming in May probably if not before. I feel tired and want to go to bed. Goodnight.

Feb. 2, 1919

This afternoon we went to the Vikings Annual celebration and had a very good time. We went up to Sixth Avenue and took Mrs. Hanson, Knut’s sister, along with us. Karl certainly had a good time running around with the other children. He got up to the piano and sat down and played till somebody chased him away. He likes music very much and I hope we will be able to give him lessons some day. They had a nice supper up there, several kinds of sliced cold meats and potato salad, etc. Even had ice cream for dessert. We went shortly after refreshments as Karl was getting tired. He went to sleep on the streetcar going home. Knut went out somewhere but I guess he is coming now. He has been busy sealing up in the house and has not got so very much left. We have all kept in good health so far and that is much to be thankful for as there is so much sickness all over. Just an epidemic of this Spanish Influenza or grippe.

Johanna and Einar with the baby and Louis and Evelyn were here a couple of weeks ago. They are all fine. I had a letter from Hanna after Xmas. She has another baby girl born Nov. 29. I don’t think they are coming back to Tacoma. Somebody said they were figuring on going to Norway but of course they might not go so soon or they might change their mind. Falk’s brother is back there on Hemnes now.

Andrew’s wife was in town here about a week ago and stayed over night up to Mrs. Hanson. She was going out to the country to try to get her step-brother to stay with her as Andrew probably has to go back to the sanatorium and she cannot very well stay alone with the three babies. Poor Andrew he certainly did not get cured very fast. I was out there to see them awhile before Christmas and then Andrew looked so well and I had such good hope but then he has caught a cold and gotten worse since but I hope he gets better soon. Now I better quit for tonight. Goodnight.

March 22, 1919

Thought I would write down a few lines. I am in bed for the night. Karl just went to sleep. We were up to the library. I got two books. He wanted one too so the librarian let him have one on my card. He sat down by the children and looked at books like the rest of them. He is certainly learning to talk. He can say most anything now and I have to laugh at him many times.

March 27, 1919

Knut, Karl and I were down town today. Karl got a new pair of shoes with heavy soles $3. That makes the 11^th pair of shoes we have bought for him not counting soft sole shoes but then it is better to buy shoes than to pay doctor bills. So thank God that he is well and strong. Then we bought a crib and mattress, a real nice crib, as nice as I could wish, so I feel very much pleased. I always liked those little steel baby beds. I am working on the baby clothes and am done pretty soon so that is a good thing. I ought to be done already but it seems like it’s so much to do. We got the house papered now and it looks fine and dandy. Louis did the papering.

Easter Sunday, April 20, 1919

Happy Easter. Karl says and it has been a happy Easter. This morning I went to church and enjoyed it very much. The Sunday School children sang a hymn and it sounded so much like back in the old country when I was a child myself, singing with the rest. The preacher talked well and earnestly. Then we sang those old Easter hymns and a lady sang solo. It really was nice and I felt better for going. On my way home I bought a newspaper ad an ice cream cone for Karl. He was glad to get it. Louis came down after dinner and Knut and he went down town together to a meeting.

April 28 1919

Today is Andres’s birthday. Poor boy. I guess he hasn’t much joy being out at the Sanatorium. I sent him a card Saturday so he ought to have it by today. I have been busy getting little things done. The time is going fast and I suppose the stranger will arrive in about two weeks. Goodnight as I am tired.

May 13, 1919

Just going to bed. The days are getting pretty. Oh, I always did enjoy the spring time and it seems as great as ever. Genevieve is staying with me now.

May 16, 1919

Karl is not feeling well. He has a bad cold and breathes heavily so that worries me. He doesn’t seem to be any worse this evening so I hope he will be better tomorrow. Johanna came up yesterday and Mrs. Hanson today. So it is nice that people come to see me when I can’t go out myself. Poor little Karl he has been crying about going out, then he wanted us to rock him and then go to bed. Now he is asleep in his own little baby bed and I hope he will sleep well all night.

Tomorrow is the 17^th of May. The Great Day for Norway. No, I am so tired, I must go to bed.

May 19, 1919

Little Karl boy is much better today. Has played as usual but I have kept him in the house. Today has been a big day in Norway and here they have had celebration too. Some of the neighbors around have gone.

May 19, 1919

Well, well—Maybe the baby will be here before morning and it certainly will be welcome. Karl is asking for it every day so he will be glad. He says he is going to let the baby ride on his kiddy car. Well, God help me. I hope all goes well!

May 24, 1919

A sweet little baby girl was born May 21, at 4am. Everything went fine and thank God. Knut and Karl are very happy too. Today is Karl’s birthday and Mary and Harold came down with a birthday cake for Karl and I sent them up to the store to get some ice cream so now they are fixing up a little party.

May 26, 1919

Johanna and Einar came down yesterday to see the baby. Their baby was up to Grandma and they were going down town to a show. Old Mrs. Nilson brought me some flowers yesterday. Pretty pink roses and other flowers. Then Mr. & Mrs. Ezra McFarlane came up. Jonas came in too to see the baby so the day went quite fast. The baby is good so there isn’t much bother with her. She nurses fine, took the breast without any trouble at all. We are going to call the baby Irene Marian after my mother and Knut’s. The baby weighed 10 lbs with the clothes. Then they weighed the clothes and that weighed 1 lb so that left her weighing nine lbs and that is much for a girl.

Just now listen: The paperboys are calling out Extras. Germany won’t sign peace terms. War extras –War again. Oh my, doesn’t that sound dreadful. My God help us. I don’t dare to think of the consequences.

May 29, 1919

Tomorrow is Decoration Day and I am still in bed. I remember last year I went up to see Mrs. Martin Johnson in the evening. Johanna came back again yesterday with a nice baked custard and a cake. Little Doris was along and she is just fine, big and fat and cute. Has             quite dark hair and is a nifty little girl. Mrs. Sand came with a big cake and a dozen oranges so if this keeps up we will have the house full of cakes. Mrs. J. Strand brought up one Monday. The baby is fine and dandy nearly all the time.

June 22, 1919

Time is going fast. I have been up now for about three weeks. The baby is four and a half weeks old or she was a month yesterday. She is fine, growing big and fat and pretty, has big bright blue eyes and lots of hair. She is just as dear as she can be. I am feeling pretty good myself. Weighed myself down town the other day and I was 113 lbs. More than I have been for years.

July 4, 1919

It isn’t very much left of the 4^th of July as it is early twelve o’clock pm (should be a.m.) but I can’t sleep so I thought I would write a little bit. The fire works have ceased. I believe I hear no more of them. There has been a continual echo of them all evening. The little baby girl is peacefully sleeping here beside me. She is just as sweet as she can be and thank God for the gift. Karl is sleeping in his crib and has been restless off and on because it is rather warm. He is growing big and can say and talk nearly everything now.

Aug. 25, 1919

Why am I so sentimental? Now I feel sad about Karl, that we had his hair cut short. I have been thinking of having his picture taken with his hair long or bobbed but I never got to it and Saturday we had it cut off again and now it is so short. I don’t understand myself. I am so impulsive and sometimes act too quickly. I believe I better be careful or else I might do something worse. The baby is fine. I went down and had her picture taken at the Georgene Studio. I had a complimentary card and thought I better have it taken now while she had her nice hair as it is coming out fast. She is three months now and everybody thinks she is just as dear as she can be. She smiles and talks and notices things so det er rightig en lyst. Bernice went with me and we went up to see Johanna too. Had a nice time. Mr. & Mrs. Norstad came there too and they took us home, so that was nice of them and we got home easy that time.

A thought just came to me as I was reading the Sears and Roebuck catalogue. Little does it matter how Karl’s hair is cut or how often he has his picture taken. What matters ore how we try to bring him up so that he will make a good boy and a nice man. God help us all do our best.

Sept 3, 1919

My God. I am worried. Help me. Karl has such a fever and breathes so heavily. He has asthma and when he gets a cold it affects him so badly. I am sitting by him watching him inhale some powder smoke as I am burning some powder that the doctor prescribed. He had an attack early this summer but he has been well now for over two months. On Sunday it was rather chilly and he caught a cold again and that started it. Poor little fellow—he woke up and vomited and now he is asleep again. He wants me to lay by him. I pray he gets over his spell soon as it worried me to have him sick.

I must write more too while I am at it. At times I really don’t do justice to him. I get tired and get easily irritated over anything and it isn’t right. I will try to do better to him as he is a real sweet chap—good hearted and sweet as he can be. He loves his sister and is good to her.

Sept. 5, 1919

Today is our wedding anniversary. We have been married four years. My it doesn’t seem possible that it is that long ago. The time has gone very fast. I suppose that it is the way as a person grows older, the time seems to go faster. That’s what I have heard people tell me and that is my experience too. Karl is better now so I don’t have to worry about him. The baby and he are both asleep side by side. I baked a cake today for the occasion and put peach frosting on it. This evening I went over to Mrs. A. Olsen for awhile. The baby got the sweetest little jacket. I am so pleased with it, I sent for it on special sale at S&R for 50 cents and they were out of that kind and sent me one of better grade that is listed in the new catalogue for 97 cents. It is pure wool, blue and white hand-crocheted. I am certainly pleased with it and just 50 cents. I couldn’t buy the yarn for that. Now, I must go to bed now or else I will be so sleepy tomorrow. Goodnight.

Sept. 9, 1919

Baby Strand, sweetheart girlie Tudel, papa’s girl. We have the most preious names for her because she certainly is a nice baby so sweet and good all the time. Yesterday I got her picture. Well, I can’t describe it. I have been looking at it all the time ever since I got it. It certainly is good. Sje laughs, her tongue and even her gums show her little chubby hands. Well I must say it is great and think she was only three months old. Babies usually don’t take good pictures at that age but it is so very natural and live almost as the baby was right in from of you. She pulls her dress up with her little hand. I am certainly glad I had it taken and it was free at that. A pretty folder with the pictue in it. Knute likes it too very much.

Karl got a new hat too. A black plush. It looks nice on him, then he wanted a doll and a sheep that goes on wheels and he got both. Now both little tots are asleep and I must get to work and can some plums as they might spoil if they stand any longer.

Johanna and Einar took us for a lovely ride on Sunday in Einar’s father’s automobile. We went out the Sixth Ave. boulevard and had a fine ride clear around Day Island. Johanna’s baby is getting nice and big now and loves her grandpa so much and grandpa loves her, so the old folks go to see them often and take them out for rides. Doris Lucille is the baby’s name.

Sept. 29, 1919

Dear I feel so queer. Here I am sitting with a lot of old Tahoma’s around (high school yearbook.) I was trying to find certain copies but I discover now that many of them are gone. After that fire up on 1708, Peter and Louis were cleaning up and I remember I came just in time to rescue some of the copies from the flames. I was looking for a copy from 1912 and those first ones from Lincoln High but they are all burned up.

I took the children and took a walk over to Johanna today. They were just fine over there. Doris is getting so nice and big and talks so well. Karl went out and I didn’t know before he was gone clear to the Park. He saw the goldfishes in the pond and he was quite exited about fishing them and tried everyway possible. Got a little stick–thought he could fish with that. Saw a pipe—wanted to take that up and a rock and everything imaginable. We finally got him away from there.

Knut went out fishing yesterday and caught three small fish. I suppose that’s why Karl was so anxious about it.

Those people next to Johanna have sold their house and moved away. I regret to say I never got to see them. I just learned tonight that it was Ely Simpson that lived in that house. I used to go to school with him. I had been wondering if it was some relation of that Ely but I never asked and here I found out that it was the same boy. He was married very young.. They were almost forced to sell their house. Now they are living with his parents at South K St.

Mt. Norstad came over there to get Einar to fix his car and they went, and when Mr. Norstad went back with Einar, I got a ride home. So I have been lucky these last couple of times. The children are sound asleep and I believe I have to go to bed too. Einar probably will be out of work again for a while as they are going to strike.

Oct. 4, 1919

Ella wrote a long entry in Norwegian on this her 26^th birthday.

May 4, 1919

Well it is spring even if it is cold weather. We have planted potatoes and peas and onious but we got more to put in the ground. Knute went down to Standard Oil to see if he could get a better job but they had all the men they needed. I thought he might have tot one but he hadn’t. Air castles tumbled in the dust. The baby is fine and dandy. She is four months old. Yesterday was grandmother’s birthday (Knute’s mother, Ida.)

Jan. 1, 1920

Happy New Year. We have spent a very enjoyable Christmas. Christmas Eve we went down town and afterwards we had our presents. From Mrs. Strand, I got four pretty pairs of cups and saucers. Mrs. Hanson gave me three pretty handkerchiefs and Mary gave me a stove lifter to lift hot things with. She made it herself. I got a new hat from Knut. It is real cute and one of the prettiest winter hats that I ever had.

Christmas day we went to church and took Karl and baby along. I enjoyed it very much. Then afterwards we went to dinner to Mrs. Hanson and we surely had a good time there. today Louis and his family and Johanna and her family was here for dinner. Andrew came to see us last Saturday and stayed till Tuesday. I have to go to bed. Goodnight.

Jan. 14, 1920

Now I’ll have to write again and this time I have quite a bit to tell. Last night, I went up to see Mrs. Johnson, Gertrude’s sister. She showed me among other things her new coat she had bought for $10. Well that made me think about a coat and that I better try to go down and get one and I told Knut about it so I went down town. First I went into the Peoples’ Store and tried on a lot of coats but I didn’t see any that I cared for till I saw one brown with a pretty fur collar on. I tried that on and that was just as it was made for me–fitted me just beautifully but look at the price of $49.50, marked down from $75. Honestly I had no intention of getting such a high price coat in the first place. Well, I just hated to take it off but of course I couldn’t get it right away. I went to another place and tried on a lot of coats but no coat struck me like that first one. I had just $3.00 and I had in mind to go and get it but I thought I better ask Knut first as I didn’t like to get any high priced coat like that without asking him first. I went home and Knut told me I better go and get it or I would regret it.

Bernice was here and she took care of the children while I went down town as Knut had to go to work. The first one I ran across when I came into the Peoples’ Store was Martha A. Brevick. She had been looking at a coat too. My coat was still there and I tried it on again and I liked it just as much as ever. I asked the clerk if I could pay $3.00 on it till Friday and he said I could. Well, it is a terrible lot for a coat I know but I am so hard to satisfy in the line of clothes that if I don’t get something I like I would rather wear my old clothes. I t might take about six months before I can get it paid but I don’t care.

Tomorrow I am going to the dentist. I am having my teeth fixed and that would come to nearly $45. It almost worries me where all the money is going to come from, but I have to hope for the best anyway.

Jan. 21, 1920

Am just going to bed but I thought first I would write down a few lines of my ideas. I have found by life work, my inspiration, and that is getting religion and the teachings of morals into the public schools. I have to go to bed now but I’ll soon write more about it as I can’t get it out of my mind.

Feb. 1, 1920

Death claims many offers right now. (I googled this sentence and got nothing indicating it was a known quote, just got insurance related references.) Last Saturday, Oxley, the druggist died of the pneumonia. He had gotten it on both lungs. I feel so sorry for Mrs. Oxley and the little baby. She will be two in May. Then today Knute came in and told me that Mr. & Mrs. Durham are both dead. Mr. Durham died yesterday and his wife last night. It certainly is terrible how fast this flu gets people. P.s. It was a mistake, Mrs. Durham and baby are getting better.

Feb 23, 1920

What a surprise. Falk came to see us this evening. I certainly was tickled to see him. He is out here for the Northern Pacific. I phoned up Louis and he came down. Now I must go to bed. It’s after 12 I believe. Goodnight.

Feb. 25, 1920

The baby has had a bad cold and sore eyes for a while. Karl has not been feeling well either. I have been feeling tired and miserable like I never get rested up.

March 2, 1920

Poor Sis has really been sick—so sick she has just lay down for two days. Yesterday, Dr. MCCuery was up to see her and he said she had a bad cold in her hear. When he was examining in her back he said she was a nice baby. He gave her a prescription and we got something to drop into her nose and then steam her with oil of Eucalyptus. She seems to be getting better and I am so glad of that.

March 29, 1920

We have been through rather hard times with the baby. She is not any better but is worse. Tonight till Sunday. She was so bad she couldn’t hardly get her breath and I got up and steamed her. The she went to sleep. Sunday we had Dr. Quevli up here and he told me to bring her down to his office. Monday at 3 so I have to get ready pretty soon and go. I pray to God she will be all right pretty soon as she is getting so thin it is pitiful, poor darling baby. Yesterday we had Fred Olson and Mrs. Olson and their three children, Justine, Olive and Frank over for dinner. They are going back to Norway pretty soon and figure to stay there. Mrs. Strand came up too in the afternoon to see my new coat. Knute brought my coat home on the 25^th of March and I am so pleased with it and so is he. Karl is getting along pretty well, he plays outside now and I don’t have to run after him so much as I use to. This morning he wanted money to go up to the barber and have his hair cut and I gave him 50 cents and he went up alone and came back with his hair bobbed nicely and had 4 or 5 pieces of candy in his pocket. Well I better quit now as I have to get to work while baby is asleep. Poor darling, I hope she’ll get well soon.

April 2, 1920 My God, the baby is getting worse. Help her! I am going to get the minister to come over and baptize her soon. We were going to do it tonight but I don’t know if I dare to wait because today am going to take her down to the doctor again and it’s hard telling they might have to do something today instead of tomorrow. Dr. Quevli was up yesterday and he said he was going to get a specialist to look at her too. Her gland is swollen from back of the ear and then she has a boil or abscess in her throat so she can’t hardly breathe.

April 4, 1920, Easter Day

We took the baby as a last resort to Seattle to have a Radium treatment.

April 5, 1920

God bless her soul! Her struggle ended. May we all live pure sweet lives and meet her there where there will be no separation. She died in my arms last night at 12:50. She had been getting worse but in the afternoon she seemed so bright that we all had good hopes but it wasn’t the way. God’s will be done! Peace be with her memory.

We are ready for bed now. It seems so hard to realize that there has to be a vacant space. Now sister is a little angel. May we meet her again in Eternity!

April 12, 1920

My God but I miss my little baby girl. Yesterday Knut, Karl and I first went to church, then we had our dinner. After dinner we went out to the Cemetery and saw our little darling’s grave. From there we went to see Mrs. Koch. Mr. & Mrs. Politch were there too. Herman has got a baby boy. Oh, dear I just think I’ll never be happy till I get another baby to hold in my arms. It is so empty around the house. Of course, I have Karl but he likes to be out so much.

April 21, 1920

It makes my heart ache to think my little sweetheart would have been 11 months old today. But I should not think about it. I try to push the thoughts away but they come back time and again. Sunday we were out to Mrs. Hanson and had a fine time. Hanson was home and we talked and the time went quite fast. Monday, I felt like going to see Johanna and I went. She is taking music lessons from Einar’s cousin, Lillian Norstad. It certainly is marvelous how much Johanna had learned in such a short time and for the practice she has had.

I told Mrs. Wogs sister, Anna Pearson, who came from Sweden about two months ago to come down I would help her with her English and yesterday afternoon she came and I read with her for nearly two hours.

April 22, 1920

Mrs. Strand was up here for a while and she and Genevieve just went home ready to go to bed.

April 25, 1920

Yesterday was Sunday and I took Karl to the English Methodist church. He is getting a little better now, poor dear, but it is still pretty hard for him to sit still very long. Then after dinner, I got ready and took Bernice and Karl along up to Louis’. Louis was in Gig Harbor but he came home about 7 o’clock. What I really went up for was to get a little picture that Myrtle took of the baby, Karl and me up there. It is just fine of the baby, darling sweetheart. But oh, it made me heartsick to look at it at first. And last night I lay awake a long time. The baby was so much in my mind. I am going to get the picture enlarged as it is the last picture we had taken of her and she looks so much like herself on it. Well, well, I must not think too much of it.

Andrew and family are pretty well now but they have been sick for awhile about the time the baby died. Andrew had them all in bed and had to nurse them.

It is a beautiful day today, so nice and clear. I have been out looking at my banty hens that we bought from Mrs. Nilson yesterday.

April 26, 1920

Karl is outside playing. He has been out since before 8 o’clock. I have been lazy, laying down reading the last night’s paper, but it does me good to rest up, as I have picked up fast.

Today Fred Olson’s family are coming over here to stay with us for awhile–about two weeks as they are going to Norway about the 15^th of May. I have lots to do so I must get to work.

Thursday, May 7, 1920

Oh, dear, I feel so bad tonight. I don’t know but I have been so lonesome so today for the baby. I just can’t help it. It just comes back time and again. I just can’t help it. The little darling! May God five me another little baby to hold in my arms. I ought to be thankful for Karl and I am but I miss the baby so.

May 8, 1920

Friday today. Mrs. Olsen and Olive went up to Mrs. Hanson and I was going too but I felt so bad I could not go. I must try to pull myself together because it won’t do to give up—courage!

I have been looking through this book, through the whole account almost since the baby was born. My God I turn to thee. I don’t find any comfort but more pain in reading about her. Everything was so lovely until she got sick. But time and again it came to me that I should not have taken her out as I did and let her sleep outside neither. It seems to me that was probably the cause of it. Oh if I only have had her with me I would gave given all. Just think she would soon have been a year old and how I looked forward to this spring and summer.

May 11, 1920

It is just a beautiful morning. The Olsen family who stays here went over to Seattle this morning on the 7 o’clock boat. Karl was sick last Saturday but he is feeling better now. I thought I would go out today to Mrs. Koch. I have the house full of work but some way or the other I don’t feel like working.

May 17, 1920

So today is the 17^th of May. I remember last year on that day I was happier then than now. It was just before the baby was born. Oh I wonder how I can write a year from now. I hope I have another little girl then.

May 18, 1920

Today I am washing clothes. I sent some to the wet wash and am doing the rest myself. The price has gone up too so when I get the bag back this time I think I will have to do it myself after this.

May 20, 1920

Karl went to sleep again this morning and I was laying down too after Knut left. I thought I would take Karl down to the photographer today and have a good picture taken of him. I was always planning on taking the baby and Karl down when it got near their birthday. Tomorrow the baby would have been one year old. God bless her. Our plans don’t always carry through. No indeed!

May 21, 1920

What does this birthday mean. Nothing but pain. My heart aches for the loss of my darling. Today she would have been one year old. Poor dear, why should it be thus?

I took Karl down town and had his picture taken at the Tacoma Studio. I get a dozen and one large one for $6.00 and I don’t think that is so bad. From there I went up to McCormic and got $1 for my green stamp book I got from the Olsons. Then I bought Karl a new hat at Stone Fisher’s. They had the cutest rompers there. Oh, dear I thought of my baby how cute she would have looked in one of them. I took the car up to Spokane and went off and saw Mrs. Norstad. She still misses her boy so. Poor mother. It is still harder when the children are grown up to lose them. But I have read something terrible in the paper of an old school acquaintance of mine, Robert Friedman. He shot his stepfather. What a tragedy. One dead and the boy’s life ruined. He was such a bright boy too, one of the best in high school. He graduated in the same class as I. I have known him since 1909.

May 22, 1920

It’s just something heavy over me. I can’t get away from thinking of the baby and it makes me so unhappy. I think of every time she was out almost. May be it had been too cold for her. Oh that I should have made such mistakes. Oh I wonder if I ever will get over it.

May 26, 1920

Monday the 24^th was Karl’s birthday and we had a party for him. Johanna and Doris came first. She could not stay so long as she had to go home and take her music lesson. Martha, Evelyn and the baby came next, then Mrs. Strand and then I thought I better go up and get the ice cream. Johanna was going in to see Mrs. Norstad on the way home. I thought of Marie and she came down after a while. Mrs. Hanson came as I was going in to buy ice cream and it got to be quite a party at last. He got a cup and saucer from Doris Williams, a milk cup and sauce dish from Mrs. Strand, a ball from Evelyn and a dollar from Martha, 50 cents from Knute, a pair of sox from Mrs. Hanson, a bar of chocolate from Johanna.

May 27, 1920

I am sick in bed today. I have had a bad cold and yesterday, I started to get diarrhea so bad and during the night I was quite sick. Karl has run out and I am all alone and lonesome ____. Why should it be that way?

6:25pm—I feel better this afternoon and I have been sewing and just now I helped Knute clear rocks off the lots. Queen got puppies May 3 and now they are getting so cute. They are walking around in the shed, barking and scrapping. We have 4 left out of the 11 she had. McFarlane, Wog and Jurach all want one.

May 28, 1920

The time is dragging along. I have been in bed most of the morning but thought I better get up now. Poor Karl. He was so anxious to go out today but it has been raining off and on between showers. I sent him up to the butcher shop to get meat and then he was going to buy a loaf of bread. Just a little while after he left it got to be the most terrible shower of hail. I hope he had reached the butcher shop. Now I see him coming. Queen came a little ahead.

May 29, 1920

I am in bed now with fever. This diarrhea dragged along too long. But I thought I would be all right. Knute is calling a doctor now.

Decoration Day, May 31, 1920

This morning I was so hungry, so hungry. I have been on a diet now since Wednesday but I am getting better. I had some toast, one egg and some barley broth and I haven’t felt any ill effects yet. Dr. Honda came up Saturday about 7 o’clock and he gave me some dark medicine to take. I am in a run down condition and weak. And today we were going out to the cemetery to Tudel’s, sweetheart, darling baby’s grave with flowers. Well, it isn’t that she is forgotten, it is just circumstances. This makes the third Decoration Day since I was married that I have been in bed, first with Karl, then with baby Irene. Time heals every wound they say, but this is the deepest would I have had so far in life.

Ella and Knute were married on September 5, 1915. This book covers the early days of the marriage and the birth of three children. The first was Karl, my father, and the second was Irene Marian, who sadly succumbed at age 10 months to a flu-like illness and died in Ella’s arms. She did not have the benefit of grief counseling so she suffered both from the loss of her daughter and then it was compounded by her thinking there was something wrong with her that she was still feeling sad months and years later. Eventually she says her prayers are answered and she has another baby, Robert. I have many photographs to illustrate these pages but my computer is acting up and not letting me scan and embed photos right now. This is the first of three chunks of text I have ready. I’m enjoying having this project to work on as I shelter in my home. I hope you all are enjoying reading it too! Stay safe!

Oct. 1, 1915

Almost alone tonight. Knut is out visiting a sick man. Johanna and Einar were here and they just left so I have had a pleasant evening just the same. I expect Knut home any minute and do hope he comes soon as I am not used to staying alone in the evening now. Today I have had a fine time.

Nov. 13, 1915

Knut’s mother came to Tacoma today with Ida Strand, her granddaughter. They are now over to John Strand, but they are coming to visit us tonight. While I was over there, the doorbell rang and to my surprise the dear boy Louis came. He had been over to my house and when he didn’t find me home, became alarmed that I was away. Just then a little girl told him I was over to the other corner. Martha and the baby were along and I was very glad to see them all. As they were going to take the five o’clock boat, then didn’t have much time to stay. So nice to see any of my folks here.

Christmas Eve 1915

This is the first Christmas that I spend in my new home and a wife. Knut and I were over to his brother for supper and had lutefisk. The boys had been down town today and had bought all kinds of things for their sisters and brother and Ida. Tomorrow we are invited for dinner up to Falk’s and I guess we will have a real nice time. In the morning John, Knut’s brother, Ida, Knut and I are going to church up on 17^th and J.

Knut is shaving now and when he gets through, we’ll celebrate.

New Years Eve 1915

So this is the last day of the year 1915. I have been fixing up our accounts this morning and I regret to say that it is with no small load of debt that we have to carry into the new year. But if we both remain well and strong and Knut continues to have steady employment, I hope by next year, we will have cleared up some of those old bills.

As I look back upon this year, quite a few changes have taken place. I have changed from a girl to a wife, left my school and in a way also left my old surroundings. I have entered upon a new stage of my life and I hope with the help of Providence I will fulfill my place to the utmost best of my ability.

Jan. 22, 1916

I must write I just feel so good and happy. Still I don’t now how to write about it, don’t know how to express my feelings, but the secret is that I am going to have a baby in the beautiful month of June if all goes well. This morning I am going to start to sew the tiny little clothes and the whole thing just fills my heart with joy, real rapture. And Knut, he is just as happy as I am. Several times a day we speak of it and we are both very happy over this prospect.

Marie Lawrence, now Mrs. Hoveland, came up yesterday afternoon and spent the afternoon with me. She has been married now about two months and is very happy with her husband. She discovered my condition yesterday and she came over and just hugged me and seemed so tickled about it. It just made me feel good because so many people look at things like that in a different light and pity a woman when she becomes pregnant. They do not understand the joy it brings to a woman to nourish some living little child within her. Then of course when she loves and is loved by the father, the joy is still greater.

Ida, Knut’s niece is going to leave Tacoma next Tuesday. On her way back to Iowa she will stop in Idaho to visit with her aunts there. She went with us to Seattle last Sunday and visited Mr. & Mrs. Skjerseth, Knut’s cousin. The weather was very clear and cold and the scenery was grand. The sun shone brightly on the snow capped mountains and the Sound was still reflecting the sights. We had a good time in Seattle. Ida remained and we took the 9 o’clock boat home. We met Mr. Silberg on the dock and talked with him on the way back. Now I must quit and start to work.

March 30, 1916

Knut is downtown tonight and I am all alone. I feel so lonesome and queer and wish that he was home again with me.

Today I had a day out as I left this forenoon and came home just in time to fix supper. I first went up to Mrs. Johnson, Gertrude’s sister, and I stayed there for lunch. Had a nice visit with her. Then I went up to Hanna and was there the rest of the afternoon. Martha and Louis are staying there now but they are going up to Eatonville Saturday to visit her parents. They are going to Montana in a week or two. I hate to see my brothers leave and go so far away, but times have been so slack that they have been forced to it.

April 12, 1916

Louis was here yesterday afternoon and said goodbye. It is hard telling when I will see him again. He was going to go at nine o’clock today together with Knute’s brother, Jonas, who also is going to look for land in Montana. Louis left Martha and his little daughter Evelyn, up to Eatonville at her parents. When he gets settled down any place, then he will send for them but it would have been rather hard to take them along without knowing just where he would locate. So now I have just one brother left in Washington. Well, I hope they will do well and get on at the new place. When I think back what a nice time we have had together and how much I have been with by brothers, keeping house for them so long. But time changes, living conditions change and thus we have had to part.

I am going downtown to meet Johanna today and she is going to take me to show with her. The weather is real nice today so it will be enjoyable to go out.

May 6, 1916

I really ought to write oftener. But I am not so handy with it as I used to be. Easter Sunday is two weeks ago. We had a dinner with Hanna and Falk with their children, Andrew and Martha with the baby. Also Knut’s mother was here so we had a nice little party. Everything went along nicely and it seemed so nice to see them all with me, so seldom we are together any more. I had a card from Louis some time ago. He likes it fine in Lewiston, Mont. Perhaps he settles down.

Knut went down town tonight to pay the furnitures and then he was going to get a new bed, a three quarter size. I told him we may move into a smaller house as we don’t need five rooms for just the two of us. I would just as soon have less room. One can have it more cozy and it also takes less wood in the winter time. Knut doesn’t seem very anxious but I look at the money that we would save on house rent too.

Aunt Anne is dead now. Poor soul at last her suffering has ended. She died March 18, 1916.

Sunday, May 14, 1916

Today is a real May Sunday and certainly a contrast to last Sunday. It has been warm and sunny all day and everything outside seemed so nice and cheerful. I went to church this morning, thought I better go while I had the chance. There was a young minister from Seattle who preached.

Knut and I are going out now for a little walk, perhaps we will go down to the Park and look over the waterfront. I like to set and look at the boats coming and going and all the other things we can see as we have a splendid view from this hill.

Hanna was up her last Thursday and we spent a pleasant afternoon together. Gunvor is growing so big and is getting real cunning.

May 24, 1916

Tonight if all goes well, I will have my baby here. God help me.

May 25, 1916

Thank God for the big precious gift. A nice baby boy. Last night at 10:15. Everything went fine. Knute is so happy, real brilliant. The grandma is so proud and thinks he is such a nice little boy. It is quite a queer feeling to be a mother. I lie and look at that little baby and feel so happy to think I can keep him with me. It’s pretty hard to write and now the baby cries too so I must look at my sonny. Good night.

Sunday, May 28, 1916

This is our little boy’s first Sunday. He has been sleeping for many hours at a time so he doesn’t keep awake more than for a couple hours altogether. I think he is so cute when he looks around with those big blue eyes. He has black hair and I think he looks like his dear papa. I have been having a real nice time. Einar is here now. He came to see the baby. Now it’s after nine and I guess the baby will wake up again pretty soon. I feel so happy over this child, but I suppose all mothers do over their babies.

I better not write any more now. Goodnight.

Decoration Day, May 30, 1916

I am celebrating this year by my sweet baby’s side, and I am perfectly content and happy. He sleeps so well, almost too long at a time. Yesterday he slept from 11a.m. till 6p.m. and then was awake till about 8 o’clock. The he woke up once during the night, cried awhile and nursed and went to sleep again. Today he slept from 12 to 5. I tried to wake him up but when he sleeps, he sleeps well. We had such a hard time to get him to nurse at first but now he takes the breast pretty eagerly.

Marie Hoveland and her husband and Emma Sorby came down to see me this afternoon. Marie brought a pretty pair of white baby boots and a pair of silk and wool stockings. I never bought any stockings so they will certainly come in handy. The baby also got a gift this morning, a silver feeding spoon from the Standard House Furniture Co. So he has gotten three gifts today already.

Knut went over the nickel show tonight to see the “Iron Claw.” Last week I went with him and then he said he would take me once more but that would be all. Well, baby did not want to wait any longer and I am glad he came when he did. Sweet little boy of ours.

June 5, 1916

Today I have been up nearly all day and I feel quite a bit stronger than yesterday. Baby is sleeping now. It is past his nursing time but it is almost impossible to get him awake. We have tried many times but when he sleeps, he sleeps soundly. Besides he is so hard to get to nurse that I almost dread each time. Today I started with him about 11:30 and kept on over two hours and still he had not started right. Of course I don’t blame the baby altogether. The nipples are rather small and he can’t get a good hold but I have a lot of milk so I have to keep on with him till he gets used to it. Nobody were here today nor yesterday and I am just as glad as I haven’t felt very strong and beginning to be up too takes a lot of strength. It is only two more days more that I will have the nurse, Mrs. Ostensen here and I almost dread to think of her going away. She is so nice and takes such good care of the baby and me. But I suppose I will manage someway, the best I can anyway.

Wed. June 7, 1916

I feel rather weak and nervous today. The nurse left me about an hour ago and I feel so lonesome and out of sorts. I hope and pray that I will get stronger soon and that I will be able to take care of the little darling baby which is entrusted to my care. The day is really beautiful, nice and warm so we have started to get real summer I believe. Knut took me up to look at a house today but as the house was rather big, I didn’t care for it.

Tuesday, June 13, 1916

Pretty nearly a week ago since I wrote in this book. I feel better and stronger now than I have done. The baby has been pretty good and has slept fine during the nights and that surely is a good thing too. There is one thing though that clouds my maternal bliss and that is that my nipples are extremely sore. It is an awful suffering every time he is going to nurse and the worse of it is that it is almost impossible to heal up while he keeps on nursing. I do all I can but nothing seems to help.

The days are getting warm now so at last we can call it summer. Knut’s mother is up here now. She is going to leave for the East tomorrow and from there she is going to Norway in July perhaps. She thinks so much of the baby, thinks he is so nice and pretty. Tears came into her eyes when she thought of not being able to see any of her own children or grandchildren after she gets to Norway. This damp climate here has been pretty hard on her health as she has asthma. Poor soul I hope she gets stronger when she gets to Norway and gets to feel contented. She gave the baby a pink romper today.

Sunday, June 25, 1916

It is now nearly eight o’clock and Knut went over to the barn to feed the horses. The baby is sleeping so everything is quiet, even the cat is lying down. I am getting to feel much better and stronger, only I don’t get out enough yet but I don’t have much chance with the work and the baby yet for a while. When he gets a little older I can take him out more. I have had him out a few times. Today I figured on going out but then it was raining so hard that I could not. He is a fine little baby. What one would call a good baby, sleeps all night, has not kept me awake a single night and he is a month old now and is good in the daytime too. He has slept pretty nearly all afternoon has just been awake to nurse a couple times and then I lay down with him and took a nap while he nursed. I put on one of his nice dresses for the first time and I thought he looked so cute in them, sweet little baby. Well I better quit. I think I heard him.

July 4, 1916

Knut and I were out together for the first time with our baby. Knut pushed the baby buggy along very carefully and proudly. We visited Andrew Rand and his family. Nice time there. Baby wants to nurse now. Goodnight.

July 15, 1916

Really the time does fly. I can’t realize that it is nearly two weeks since the 4^th. Well this is our last night in this house. Tomorrow we are going to move one block west on the same side as this 1001 instead of 1101. It is a green modern little bungalow. Real cute and I think we will like it. Hope we will be as happy there as here. We will be alright. Baby is fine and dandy, growing bigger every day. Now, I must get to bed, busy day tomorrow.

August 10, 1916

My dear baby boy is lying sleeping peacefully. It’s now about 9:30. Knut is over to John Sather attending a committee meeting. I have had a very nice time today. Johanna and Bonnie came up. It seemed so nice to see Bonnie and have a good talk with her about old times and she really was quite a friend of the family. Peter use to go with her once upon a time and I once stayed at her house. She has a very pretty daughter, six years old. But was separated from her husband long ago. Johanna is getting so tired of her place and says she might quit there and get another job.

Peter has a daughter now named Johanna Lucille. She was born July 22 and all was well.

Sunday, Knut, baby and I went to the Vikings picnic. The morning did not look very bright but the day turned out to be real nice, not too hot nor too cold. We went to Picnic Point, very nice place for a picnic, hence its name, I suppose. I also had the pleasure to see Andrew and family there. Better quit for tonight, goodnight.

Aug. 11, 1916

Knut’s birthday today. He is 27 years old. Tonight he went to the Vikings. Bernice and I were down to the park today. Had a very peaceful afternoon.

Aug. 24, 1916

Very nice and warm day today. Almost too hot to feel comfortable outside so I pulled down the shades so the house gets cool. Our little boy is three months old today and is quite a boy. This morning he woke me up by kicking my side with his little feet, then he had turned partly around in the bed. I put him back to right way but it wasn’t very long before he had his head to one side of the bed. I had never noticed him doing that before so in my enthusiasm I had to call his papa in to the room. It certainly is a pleasure to see how much Knut loves that little baby. He thinks there could be no one like him. The baby measures now 25 inches long and weighs about 14½ lbs. Last week he received the cutest little dress from Christina. It will just come in handy because I have started to put short dresses on him now.

At last Knut and I went to Gig Harbor. We were there last Sunday and had a very enjoyable time. Martha and Andrew and the baby are all feeling fine. Bernice Strand was with us.

The baby is troubled with his teeth and he lies on his stomach on my lap and rubs his gums on my hand, on the arm or any part of the knuckles he can find.

Vashon Island, Sept 11, 1916.

Knut and I took the baby and Melvin Strand with us out to Vashon Island Saturday night. We had a very enjoyable boat ride in the evening. I sat alone outside for a while listening to the rushing of the waves and watching the beautiful sunset between the tall trees on the horizon. How I enjoy a boat ride at night; what a grand thing it is on a peaceful night. When we came to the dock at Cove, it was already getting dark. Engvarda came to meet us and we started on our way to Lokke’s house. Knut carried the baby up a very steep hill, so steep that I had all I could do to carry myself. After being fed and getting the baby asleep, Knut and I took a walk out in the beautiful moonshine. It certainly was almost a fantastic sight to see the pale glimmer of the moon through the treetops and over the fields. We walked through the orchard and cornfield. Such high corn stalks and apple trees loaded with apples. Sunday morning the children went to Sunday School and the grown ups to church. They took the minister home for dinner with them. In the afternoon we had quite an exciting time in the hay. Mrs. Lokke and all the girls were coaching Knut to let me stay and he finally consented when he was ready to go home. I have been having a fine time and the girls like the baby so well, think he is so cute and are so happy to hold him. I have been sitting in the shade of a pear tree embroidering on a machine cover.

Anna is out working but she came home Sunday afternoon and stayed till Monday morning.

Sept. 12, 1916

Have had a fine time out here and feel satisfied. My suitcase is packed full with apples and corncobs that I will cook for Knut tonight Goodbye.

Sept. 13, 1916

When I came to Tacoma, I was met by Knut with the horse and wagon. On the way up, I did not hear very good news. My poor brother, Andrew, is sick in bed and very low. What dreadful news. He has rapid consumption. John Sather had said that he had heard one lung was gone and the other one affected. Poor Andrew, dear brother, there seems to be little hope. Little did I think that the last time I was out there to see him when we were cheerfully walking down the road to the boat. No one knows the day ahead. Poor Martha and that little daughter who is just a baby. I want to go out there so bad and see him. I hope it isn’t so bad as they say.

Oct. 4, 1916

Again another year has passed and it is my birthday. Today I am really 23 years old, getting pretty old. Have had a fine time this afternoon. I have really had a birthday party. Mrs. Hanson, Mrs. John Strand, Mrs G. Olsonn, Johanna and Mrs. A (Amelia?) Olson were here. I served chocolate in my chocolate set for the first time, ice cream, sandwiches, cake and grapes. I got surprised with two pretty presents, a fine gravy spoon from Mrs. Hanson and a silver picture frame from Johanna.

Knut went to night school tonight. He is learning cabinet making and is going to make me an ironing board first. Well I must quit for tonight.

Nov. 19, 1916

I just feel fine and dandy. Have been up to Hanna and seen her little son, he certainly is a cute little baby. How sweet those little ones are. I held him for quite a little while. Hanna seemed to feel fine and was real happy about it. The baby was in a basket on a table, a regular little baby basket covered with blue, but I noticed he had a pink blanket so that was for a boy all right. He reminded me of my little baby when he was that age.

Knut was home with the baby so I couldn’t stay so very long. The nurse had to leave this very night to take another case so they called up Johanna to come up. Einar and she came up while I was there and Einar took me home in a Maxwell. He was all dressed up in a new overcoat and new hat and Johanna has gotten the loveliest set of furs–black collar and muff. He said it was her Xmas present but she could wear it before. Johanna was up here last Friday and she never knew that Hanna had gotten a baby but Knut told me. He had heard it from Mrs. Johnson.

The baby has a cough so I will have to steam him tonight. He had been good all the time while I was away and Knut had even changed a diaper on him for the first time.

 

Jan. 12, 1917

Just thought I would write a few words in this diary before I went to bed. Today I really have had just a fine time and I feel so good. I had to go down town and buy the baby some shirts and then pay on my sewing machine, so I started out early in the afternoon. I dressed up the baby in his newly washed coat and cap and thought he was quite a pride to have with me and he certainly was. Wherever I went people noticed him and talked to him. First I went to Stone-Fisher and bought him two new shirts, one band and one pair of stockings. From there I went to Rhodes Brothers where I went up to see my old friends, Grace Andrews and Alice Edgar who are at the cashiers desk on the 3^rd floor. Alice was busy taking stock report so I did not speak to her, but Grace and I had quite a chat. She was glad to see the baby. Grace told me that Carmen worked in the office on the 4^th floor so I went up there. It was nice to see old friends back again. Then I took the car and went up to see my old friend, Mrs. Reddish. She wasn’t home but the old mother was and made myself at home. The baby was enjoying the barkings of a dog. Well, I must get to work as I have so much to do.

March 30, 1917

I am kind of worried tonight. Looks like we’ll have war in a few days. Oh, I stand to think of that my dear Knut will have to go away——. Baby cries. Got to go to him.

March 31, 1917

Oh, I almost feel sick. The baby has had sore eyes for about a week, first the left was inflamed then the right. Now his left eye is all right but his right is worse than the other was. There seems to be a little pimple next to the iris, then the right side of the cornea is red like a clot of blood. Oh, it worries me so. I kind of hesitate to take him to the doctor too. They don’t do much and probably would make it worse. I went down ad talked to Mrs. Emilie Olson and she is going to phone up Liens drug store and get some special eye water that she has used for her daughter, Selma, and she says it is very good. Well, if it is not better by Monday, I am going to take him to a doctor.

Easter Sunday, April 8, 1917

The baby’s eye soon got well and is all right now. My I have had such a good time today, really I have enjoyed myself so much as I haven’t for a long, long time. Friday night Andrew and Martha came from Gig Harbor and they have stayed here since. Today Hanna came up with her three children and Johanna came with her. Ervind Kvistvick was here too. There were a couple other boys invited but they failed to come. We had a nice dinner and after dinner, we took a walk with our babies. Johanna and Hanna bought ice cream cones and it tasted mighty good, then she bought a brick for supper. We all enjoyed ourselves. I went over to the car line with them and Ervind too. He carried Hanna’s baby. Andrew is going to Idaho to Chris tomorrow night. He went back to Gig Harbor to tend to something now.

Friday, April 27, 1917

One event follows another. Johanna has been staying with us a little over a week and we have been having a nice time. She has been getting ready to get married. Today Einar came in through the back door and surprised us. He had left Livingston a day ahead of time as he wasn’t expected before tomorrow. The two were certainly glad to see each other. They left here a little before twelve o’clock and were going to Seattle to get married. So today the seventh and last one of us will be married or I know by this time she is already if everything went as planned. Well, God bless their future and I hope they will be very happy together.

May 6, 1917

My God, I pray this war may soon end beore many have to go and be shot. I am so worked. Reading about this draft. Oh, I can’t stand to think of Knut having to leave us—oh, I hope he does not have to. I wish something would stop this war mighty soon.

Sunday, May 8, 1917

Knut and I had a real cozy day together. This afternoon we went out for a walk and then he took us up to Mr. Andrew Olsen. They have three small children, Olive 3, Owen 2 and Arthur was a year in April, but he doesn’t crawl like Karl does, just sits still on the floor. Our baby had a fine time playing with Olive and it seems so nice to see him play and laugh. He raises up now and stands by things but I don’t think he will walk before he is about 14 months. Knut went over to Nick Anderson with some tickets and I suppose he won’t be home for some time yet. It seems so strange now that Hanna ad Johanna have both left Tacoma. I certainly miss them. Seems so strange that I can’t take the car and go up there any day I want to. Now since Knut started to work down in the shipyard and doesn’t come home for lunch, the days seem so long, but of course he comes home earlier too in the evening is it isn’t so bad.

May 24 1917

Dear baby boy of ours is a year old today, quite a little chap, and mama had a birthday party for him too with birthday cake. I must write down who was here so when he gets bigger he will know who was at his first birthday party. Mrs. Sand with little Idene (8 mo.), his christening partner, Abert and Nora Sand also. His Auntie Anna with little Norma and Carlot. Then Mrs. Hendriksen with little Margaret (8 mo.). Mr and Mrs. Ezra MacFarland with Albert, 4 years old. I had invited Mrs. J. Strand but she was so busy house cleaning that she didn’t have time to come. Oscar and Melvin came up so we were quite a few. Knut works till 10:45pm now for a while. Leaves here for work at 1:45pm and I have his midnight lunch on the table. Karl got a pair of stockings and a rumper cloth from Mrs. Hanson and a pair of cup and saucer from Nora and I am embroidering a collar so he will have on a new dress.

I have been looking for a letter from Hanna. Funny she doesn’t write to me.

Sept. 8, 1917

I surely have been worried today — the baby has had bowel trouble and I don’t know whether he is getting better or not. I gave him first an injection this morning and later I gave him ¾ teaspoon of castor oil. He doesn’t seem to be feverish and he plays. He has had just a little strained oatmeal quick and this morning he had a little milk. It is the first time he had had such bad bowels and it naturally scares me. Of course we haven’t been careful as we ought to have been with his diet. He has liked fruit very well and he might have had too many apples but I know if he gets better why it won’t be any chance of him getting sick on that account.

Sept. 13, 1917

Knut called Dr. McCuary tonight. I have been trying to cure the baby, fed him Barley water and as I thought he was getting better, I tried to feed him a little more milk and today he seems to be worse. His appetite has been poor all day and he wouldn’t eat hardly anything for supper and then right as we were eating, his bowels moved rapidly and that made the fourth time today so we thought we better call the doctor and now we are waiting for him. Poor little baby of ours it seems like he has gotten so pale and thin lately. Oh my God I dread to think —-. I hope he bets better pretty quickly.

Sept. 24, 1917

Little Karl is 16 months old today and quite a few things happened. Knut went down to St. Paul Mill and got a good job. $4.00 a night. Of course it will be lonesome to be home alone in the evenings but it will be inside so hard to work out in the rain for him all winter. Johanna and Einar came back from Montana to stay here today. They thought it was too cold for them over winter. Now I just have Karl to sleep with. Good night.

Sept 28, 1917

Well, Gertrude left Tacoma today. I went down to the train and said goodbye to her. I am sure Peter will be pleased to have her come home again after being gone three months or more. Gertrude stayed with me a week about 3 weeks ago and Wednesday, she came and stayed till Thursday. It was so nice to see Peter’s little girl, Lucille. She is such a dear little tot and she and Karl played real nicely together. Johanna and I went out to her sister, Mrs. Johnson, for lunch. Of course, I had to hurry home to get Knut’s supper so I left right afterwards. I came home just in time to get his supper and then I left to go down to the Milwaukee Depot where she was going to leave. It surely was some rush but I made it. Lucille was so nice, was waving her hand to us. Well, I do hope they come back here to live as Gertrude would like it very much. Goodnight.

Oct. 4, 1917

I don’t know what time I’m getting up this morning. The clock stopped last night and I put it ahead at a guess and this morning I woke up at 4 o’clock but I felt rested and the baby was wide awake so I got up. Yesterday Johanna came down and told me they have gotten a house near Norstads and told me the address – 3606 I St. I think. I hurried and went up there for a few minutes. It’s a real cozy little place. My it seems nice to be able to visit Johanna in her own home. Today it is my birthday and I can’t hardly realize that I am 24 years old. The baby is bothering me so much I can’t hardly write. Well I better quit and get to work for today.

Nov. 6, 1917

It surely is not very often that I write in this diary, but I thought I better scribble a few works before I go to sleep. Today is Tuesday and I have been very industrious, washed clothes and ironed them and tonight I scrubbed the kitchen floor and washed the baby’s sweater. Tomorrow Johanna and I are going out to Mrs. Hansen, Knut’s sister, to visit with her for a while. Knut and I are having a good time on Sundays and Mondays so I have something to look forward to. The evenings are rather dreary and long but I will not complain as long as I can have Knut with me at all —— —–. I don’t dare to think of the future and the possible effect of them on me. Goodnight.

Nov. 12, 1917

Knut took me down town to day and bought me a nice dress. We went to several stores but we finally did decide on a soft shade of blue wool crepe dress. I could have had a silk dress as well for the money but I thought I could have more wear out of a woolen dress. Poor Knut he spent all his bonus money on me, he certainly was good. We paid $18.95 for the dress, the most expensive dress I have had so far. The baby was down to Strand and he had been fine all the time. Had played with Perry’s wagon and other things.

Mr. Adams, the mail carrier that lived down in the next block died yesterday from a hard attack of pneumonia. It doesn’t seem like anytime since I saw him.

Sunday Night, April 21, 1918

Well I think this is the last Sunday we spend in this house but I don’t care our own little house is nearly ready and it looks awfully cute too. It is just 2½ lots away from here in the same block. Our number will be 1015 E. Morton Street. Knut got the lots a little over a week ago and ordered the lumber the next day. Last Sunday we had Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Benson and Knut’s brother Jonas to work on the house and they got the frame up and nearly all the rustic on and during the week Knut put the rest on. Today Fred and Andrew Olson, Hjalmar Olsen and Ervind Kvistvik, Jonas Strand, Mr. Gus Hager and Knut shingled the roof and put in the floor. They worked hard too nearly till 8 o’clock tonight.

The people who bought this house are getting after us to move out but we can’t very well as long as we have no place to move to. And I guess I feel awfully weak today and I don’t know how it is going to end.

April 25, 1918

Well, here I am still in bed and I am going to stay too till Sunday then I’ll get up. My dream is shattered, the vision of a little girl or boy next fall is gone and I feel disappointed. But I hope some day we will get another little baby and I don’t care what it is– a boy or a girl. Somehow I feel God punished me for wishing for just a girl. But never again shall I utter such a wish, whatever God gives me. I would lots rather have had a little tiny baby on my arm while I was lying here than without. It was a little boy and well—maybe that’s the way it should be but anyway, I can’t help but feel disappointed. I suppose I was foolish for straining myself working, doing this or that but I felt well only I was tired at night. Someone said they hinted I had caused it myself but they can say whatever they please it doesn’t matter in the least. If I hadn’t wished for a child it would have been different, but I longed for another little baby. Someday I hope my wish comes true when I get good and strong and I hope I never have to go through this anymore.

May 2, 1918

It is now 10:30pm and today I have done quite a bit of work—have washed a lot of clothes by hand and have ironed quite a bit and tomorrow I must have Knute help me to wash some clothes out. We won’t be able to get the sink in for a while over in the new house so I am anxious to get it done before we move. I ironed Karl’s coat and hat in the dark nearly and never scorched it a bit and it looks awfully nice. Karl is sound asleep and I am going to sleep now myself. I am getting along fine, getting better quote fast I think.

May 24, 1918

My or rather our little boy is two years old today and he had a birthday party this year too. Mrs. Hanson, his auntie, was here with all the children, Johanna and Mrs. Strand, Mrs. Hendricksen with her two children, Margaret is 20 months nearly and the baby is 3 months, then her brother, Mr. Erikson was here too. Mrs. Strand’s children were here too. Karl got a pair of black stockings from Aunt Johanna and a pair of white from Mrs. Hanson or Anna tante so we call her.

June 8, 1918

Now we are having the eclipse between the sun and the moon. It is getting so dark and it is only about 4 o’clock. The moon passes between the sun and the earth I understand. Karl is sound asleep and I feel sleepy myself so I will lie down too.

June 10, 1918

Tonight I don’t know I feel kind of sad and queer. Seems to me Karl is no more a baby. I cut his hair yesterday and I don’t know. He looks so different today. So much more like a boy that it just makes me think of him growing away from me. In a way he looks cute, but still now I almost wished he had the curls on. Dear little tot. He is now in bed waiting for me to get to bed. Night, night.

11:03pm

Peter’s wife came down to see me this evening. She is out here for her health as she is so bothered with her heart back in Detroit. The little girl is just fine and dandy. She is getting so pretty and I think she looks more like Peter than she did last year. I am going to write a few words to Peter this eve.

Tacoma, Wash.

June 12, 1918

 

My dearest brother Peter,

Your wife and baby were down to see me this evening and they were both looking fine. That little girl looks so much like you, Peter, and she is very sweet, I think.

It will be two weeks tomorrow since I first knew that Gertrude was out west. It was on Decoration Day. I kept thinking of you and Gertrude all afternoon and I finally decided I better try to find Mrs. M. Johnson to see if she had heard from you people. I phoned her up and she met me by the carline.

First I asked how her baby was. She told me it was dead, that it only lived seven weeks. When we were through with that I asked the first thing how Peter & Gertrude was, that I never had heard from them since Gertrude left for Detroit last year. Well, she wanted to know first how Andrew was. I told her that I was out to see him at the Sanatorium and that Dr. Quivli said he was improving but that he had to consider how long he had had it—about 2 years. That he was improving but he had to be quiet.

Then again I asked her how Peter and Gertrude was and she told me Gertrude was out west and had been here for the baby’s funeral but had gone back to Spokane. That the baby was with her and Gertrude hoped that you would come out here in the Spring. That she came because her heart bothered her.

Well Peter, I can’t describe my feelings when I came home. I thought of you alone there in Detroit and your wife and baby out here. Dear Peter, I just wished I had the fare and could have gone to see you so I could talk to you. Poor boy you must be terrible lonesome, you that always loved a home so well. So this evening Gertrude with the baby and Rose’s boy came to see me in our new little three room house that we just built.

I talked to Gertrude for quite awhile and she showed me her letter she got from you today. She told me she would be happy to live in just one room if you could come out here. Peter, dear, you have no idea how times have changed out on the coast since you left. Louis got back from Montana two weeks ago Saturday and is ready to settle down now. He has bought 2 lots from Mr. Hager alongside yours on Bismarck and is planning to put up a little house. Martha and Evelyn are fine. I went out to her folks and saw them yesterday and stayed overnight.

Louis is working in a shipyard painting and gets $6.60 a day. He works nights. Knut works nights at the Mill and they both get home at the same time, 1 o’clock. Louis stays here at night because he can’t get out to Summit so late. It surely seemed good to see Louis and his family back again and I wish you were out here too and I am sure you could make a good living here now because it is a great demand for painters as well as all kinds of workers.