Julia (Dalager) Solverud-Knutson: More letters from Julia to Julia

The following fragment of a letter was written in 1904.  You will observe that she has already met her future husband.  She is now 25 years old.

Willmar, Minn. 

Feb. 18, 1904

My dear Cousin Julia and family,

I presume you have just about decided that I fell by the way side in going back to Minnesota but I got here safe and sound.  When I got to the post office I got a large pack of letters and among them two from Mr. Solverud, you know who I mean.  He was pretty much worried but things are lovely now.  He went through here a week ago….

(2 pages missing, it is assumed that the following pages are from the same letter because in both cases the writing appears the same and is on thin onion skin paper.)

…is the baby I have missed him so since I came away.  I presume he has grown a lot since I saw him.  Give him a lot of kisses from me.  He will surely enjoy them.  Does he still hold on to his sweetheart?  He was such a dear little baby.  I wrote Jennie you had the dearest baby I ever saw.

I have been well ever since I came back.  I have finished that piece of hardanger and two small pieces.  And now I am not doing a bit of fancy work.  Tell Mr. Chilson I am not doing a stitch of it.  Also tell him I have not had any of that good (blod polse).  (I presume I got that spelled wrong.)  Since I left I just long for it too. 

Well, I must stop my foolishness now else you will get tired.  I had such a cozy time with you that I think of you real often.  Would like to hear when you find time to send me a few words.  With best love to you all. I am

Your Loving Cousin

Julia Dalager

This is the first mention of Tollef Solverud who Julia must have met when she taught school in Hayfield, Mn.  In the following two letters we see her concern for her young brother Karl and her love for babies.

Willmar, Minn  Feb. 27, 1905

My dear cousin Julia,

I received your letter some time ago.  Thank you very much for same.  I was so glad to hear from you.  I presume Karl has told you all about things here so I shall not write much concerning the affairs.  I am real well and have a lovely position this year.  When I heard from the folks last they were all well.  Well, I presume you were surprised to see Karl.  He is quite a man now.  He was kind of tired out and wanted very much to go and see you folks so I let him go.  He wrote me the second day he was there.  He was so delighted with the place.  If he is not a good boy you must go for him.  He has not been away alone before.  Karl wrote me about your beautiful home.  I was so glad to hear you are so comfortably settled now.  I presume it is real pleasant.

I was very much surprised when I received Andrew’s invitation.  He surely did not wait very long.  Well, dear, I shall try to pay you a visit.  I have no idea how soon I will be able to do it, but rest assured I shall do so soon.

Give my love to the folks up there, also Karl.  Ask him to let me hear again from him.  You would do me a great favor if you would look after him.  I have no idea how he will care for himself out among strangers.  I was so glad when he decided to go west as I do not care to have him around home.  The young people there are not the nicest kind as so many of the boys drink and I am very anxious to keep Karl away from such society.  Let me hear from you soon; if you will kindly favor me with a few words.  With love and best wishes, I am,

Your loving cousin,  Julia Dalager

P.S. I have mislaid your letter and I can not think of your name so will you kindly pardon me for sending it in your maiden name.

The Andrew mentioned is Julia’s cousin Andrew Dalager from Webster who was married February 8, 1905.  It is also interesting to note that Julia had lost her cousins letter and could not remember her cousin’s new husband’s name.  In this respect, Julia is much like the rest of the world.