Translation Please

14Nov2008 Author: Mother Jones, RN

The handsome lady in the picture is my Great Grandmother Lottie Lind. By all accounts she was a petite little thing with a wicked sense of humor. She had to have a sense of humor to put up with my father as a little boy, but that’s another story. Lottie was from Sweden and I found a letter that once belonged to her when I was going through some family heirlooms. I have no idea what this letter says. I’m assuming that it is written in Swedish.

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Please contact me know if you can read the contents of this letter. Hopefully the letter describes the location of a hidden family treasure, which will allow me to retire from nursing. I think I’ll pack a bag and start looking at cruises, you know, just in case.

21 Responses to “Translation Please”

christine
November 14th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I can’t help you with the translation, but if you don’t find any help through your blog, I suggest you contact a university that either offers Swedish, or Scandinavian studies majors. There may be students or professors who are willing and able to help.
Sabra
November 14th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Do you think you could type it up? I’m having at least as much trouble with her handwriting as with the language. It looks like the first sentence is basically “My sister, I hope things are going well,” BUT I don’t actually speak Swedish, just some German. If you cannot find a Swedish speaker locally (Christine’s suggestion is an excellent one), see if you can hand it over to someone who is fluent in German; the two languages are very similar (for instance, I catch at the end she’s saying “My address…” I want to say “My address in ____”, but you probably figured that much out on your own) and a fluent German-speaker will probably be able to give you a rough idea.
Laura Hood
November 14th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Hello Ms Ratched, although I’m a nurse I do most of my blog reading among quilters. I tell you this because the blog link I’m sending you is to a quilter in Norway who -may- be able to help with the translation for you. I’m almost willing to bet that if she can’t help you she’ll know someone who can. Good luck! http://www.lises-hobbyblogg.blogspot.com/
dmcarls
November 14th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Why not forward a copy to the local Swedish Consulate (see your yellow pages) and ask them to help you out? They might really like to see something like that.
Amrita
November 15th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Oh why did you hint at the hidden treasure. Now all swedish literate people will go bounty hunting.
Ken from Minnesota
November 15th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Try contacting the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL

http://www.augustana.edu/swenson/

Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center
Augustana College
639 38th Street
Rock Island IL 61201-2296

Or Gustavus Adolphus College
800 West College Avenue
Saint Peter, MN 56082 USA

http://gustavus.edu

Try Helena Karlsson, prof who is a native Swede and who teaches Swedish language classes

Scandinavian Studies
Gustavus Adolphus College
800 West College Avenue
Saint Peter, MN 56082

Phone: 507/933-7422
E-mail: hkarlsso@gustavus.edu
Chris Bingefors
November 15th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Unfortunately, no hidden treasure! I will get back to you on this page with a translation.
Chris Bingefors
November 15th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
(She writes everything in one sentence, quite common then. Also full of quotations from the Bible and Book of Hymns, used as everyday language, very common among religious people and those who had only read biblical texts in their life. i.e. most. It is interesting to note that she uses very archaic language even for the 1890s)

My dear sister and brother-in-law
Peace in God Our Father and Lord Jesus Christ (written in extremely old Swedish (16th century), from an old Bible)

Since I have experienced from my sister-in-law Carolina Lind that you, my sister Charlotta born Lind, nowadays are a Christian I want to write some few words to you in this life and let you know that I am still wandering on this side of the grave in God´s mercy and compassion but I am old, poor on this earth, no longer capable of working much. It passes one day and one moment in time, soon the hourglass has run empty. My dear sister have you put your hand to the plow, have you given your heart to Jesus, have you taken double from the hand of the Lord for all your sins. Remember that the Lord our Father threw all our sins on his son, our saviour Jesus Christ, we do not need to perish the blood will cleanse us from all sins.

I pray intensely in the name of Jesus that I may flee into the sanctuary (??) because Christ has delivered us from the damnation of the Law which was a curse for us. Oh my dear sister tell your husband and your children that they should give themselves fully to Jesus while we have today, soon the cry will be heard and the bridegroom will come (?? Unclear, Bible citation).Give us oil in our lamps so that we do not stop burning. Brother Set Lind from Motala greets you dearly, he has been to see us but we did not recognize one another, 44 years were gone since we saw each other last. I have heard that brother Nikolaus Lind has gone on his home leave (= is dead), we are now no more than three in this life, we will meet on the right side of Jesus, brother August got to see our dear departed mother´s grave. Dear sister write some words soon as a dear greeting. Jesus blood will cleanse us from all our sins.

My address is
Ex-cavalry soldier
C F Lidström
Järeda
Qvarnfällan
17 March 1897
Please give me a legible address for You
matilda
November 15th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Min Kära syter och svåger.

Frid af af Gud vår fader och jesus kristus.

Eftersom jag hört? genom min svägerska Charolina Lind att
du min kära syster …lotta född Lind
… …. … ….är i livet
vill jag skriva några få ord till dig och låta dig veta att jag ännu vandrar på
denna sidan graven på Guds nåd och barmhärtighet
men jag är gammal fattig på denna jord förmår icke mycket att arbeta när det går en dag ett ögonblick i sänder. Snart är timglaset utrunnet min dyra syster, har du satt din hand vid plogen? har du kunnat? Jesus ditt hjärta, har du tagit emot dubbelt av herrans
för alla dina synder?Minns att Herran Gud fader kastade allas våra synder på sin kära son vår frälsare jesus kristus, vi behöva icke förgås-Blodet renar av oss alla synder.
Jag beder så innerligt i Jesunamn fly in i fristaden … ty kristus har förlossat oss i från lagens förbannelse då han var en förbannelse för oss.
O min kära syster, hälsa din man och dina barn att de ?kunnar” sig helt åt jesus medan det “heter” idag ty snart höres “anskriett”.. brudgummen ?komme?
o herren jesu giv att vi har olja i våra lampor så att de icke slockan broder. ?Set? Lind från Motala hälsar dig så kärt. Han har varit hos oss men vi kände icke igen varandra ty 44 år var gångna sedan vi sågo varandra. Jag har hört att broder Nikolaus Lind är hemförlovad vi är då icke mer än tre i detta livet få vi ?Götalag? på jesu högra sida broder August fick se vår avlidna gamla moders ?gick? var snäll min kära syster och skriv några ord en gång snart, med kär hälsning Jesu Kristi Gud Sons blod, “renen”
oss av alla våra synder.

Min adress är fd. Husaren
CF Lidström Järeda
Kvarnfällan

Datum den 17 mars 1897
var god giv mig tydlig adress till eder.
matilda
November 15th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
My Dear Sister and Nephew.

Peace of God and our father Jesus Christ.

Since I´ve heard through my sister in law Charolina Lind that you my dear sister Lotta, born Lind, is still alive I want to write you a few words and let you know that I am still wandering on this side of the grave in the mercy of God.

But I am old and poor on this earth and cant work much when one day becomes the next.
Soon the time is up my dear sister, have you put your hand at the plough, have you given your herat to jesus?………………………….
Remember that the Lord our father threw all of our sins at our saviour his beloved son Jesus Christ.
………………………………..alot about christ and God and Jesus and that they have to give their hearts to God and so on. A bit hard to see what it says but thats the content.
………………………………………
……………………………
Set Lind från Motala says hello. He came to visit us but we didnt recognice eachother, its been 44 years since we last met.
I have heard that brother Nikolaus Lind is “sent home”, that means that we are only three still alive. ( Now it´s really hard to see what the letter says but I have tried) Götalag on the right side of jesus got to see our dead old mothers went.
(I know, it doenst make sense.)

Please dear sister write to me some time soon, best wishes Jesus christ Gods sons blood will clean us from all of our sins.

My adress is fd. Husaren
CF Lidström
Järeda
Kvarnfällan

17th of march 1897
matilda
November 15th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Hi!

This is the best I can do, hopefully you understand the content of the letter. =)

Sorry about the bad english. If anyone can come up with better words both for the swedish and the english part dont hesitate to send them in!
Lisa
November 15th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
My dearest Swedish friend translated it for you

“My dear sister and brother-in-law. Peace from God the Father and Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Since I have found out through my sister-in-law Charolina Lind that you my dear sister [something] born Lind these days are a Christian in life, I want to write a few words to you and let you know that I am still walking on this side of the grave by the grace and mercy of God but I’m old, poor on this earth, cannot manage to work much but I get by a day, a moment at the time [that part is a quote from a hymn] Soon the hourglass is measured, my dear sister have you given your hand to [???] have you handed Jesus your heart, have you received double from the Lord’s hand? For all your sins, remember that the Lord God Our Father cast all our sins on his dear son, our savior and as Christians we don’t need to perish, the blood cleanses us from all our sins.

I prayed so intensely in the name of Christ that you might flee into the gift of the city of refuge because Christ has freed us from the curse of the law when he became a curse in our stead. O, my dear sister, tell your Husband and your Children that they should give themselves completely over to Jesus while it is still daytime, because soon the [call or scream] will be heard, see the bridegroom is coming, O Lord Jesus provide that we have oil in our lamps that we may not burn out. Brother Lind from Motala sends his love, he has been with us but we didn’t recognize each other because 44 years had passed since we saw each other. I heard that Brother Nikolaus Lind has been called home, we are unique. More than three in this life we get to [???] on the right side of Christ. Brother August got to see our old departed Mother’s grave. Be good my dear sister and write me a few words soon. Greetings and love. May the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ cleanse us of all our sins. My address is Former Husar [that's a military title] CF Lidstrom, Jareda, Qvarnfallan.

March 17, 1897 Please give me clear address to you.”
Chris Bingefors
November 15th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
The letter was written by Lotties brother Carl Fredrik Lind, later Lidström (solders changed their names on joining). The family is listed in the 1842-1845 household census för the parish of Edshult in southern Sweden.
Father cavalryman Johannes Lind
Mother Lisa Greta Petersdotter
Children:
Carl Fredik b 1825
Sara Maria b 1828
Johanna Sofia b 1830
Isak August b 1832
Gustaf Lorentz b 1836
Charlotta (Lottie) b 1840
Nikolaus b 1844

Carl Fredrik died in Järeda 28 Oct 1897, thus quite soon after the letter was written. It was probably kept as a memento.
tammy swofford
November 17th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Mother Jones,
Very interesting! Personally, I was hoping for a sizzling love letter! smile But it does make me think of my grandmother who died when I have very young. I have her old King James (standard black) Bible and in the margins she quotes poets, has sermon notes, whimsical things which help me understand someone that I barely remember, but gave birth to my own mother.

Thanks for posting this. The script is just beautiful!

Tammy
Mother Jones, RN
November 17th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Wow. I am overwhelmed by everyone’s help. I want to thank everyone who has come to my aid and helped solve my family mystery. Your help has brought our family history alive.

I have a few pictures that match the names mentioned in this letter. Please email me if of you would like to see the pictures.
Thank you again for all of your help.

Best, MJ
Chris Bingefors
November 17th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I have not been able to work out how to email you (Dumb Swede!). But I am sure that the people who discussed your translation and searched for the persons mentioned on the Swedish Genealogy site http://www.Proveniens.ifokus.se would love to see the pictures. In particular, one person who is related to the letter-writer and to you. Your initial contact may be able to help getting them on the site.
Bo
November 17th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I love her hair—and to think they did everything in the old days without the help of mousse, blow-driers, flat-irons, etc. (I don’t know why that came to mind but it did!…)
Kristi
November 18th, 2008 at 1:18 am
WOW!

Those translations are amazing.

I love reading letters from centuries past…..not only is the handwriting incredibly beautiful……but the words are just eloquent.

Oh…and I could have totally translated that had it been Norwegian.

=)
Becky
November 18th, 2008 at 2:34 am
What a wonderful letter and how great you now have it translated. It’s so special to have these pieces of family history.

Too bad about no treasure!
Awake In Rochester
November 20th, 2008 at 5:01 am
Wow, that’s wild. I didn’t think that anyone would translate it. I guess you never know on the net!
Lilorfnannie
November 21st, 2008 at 9:01 am
No earthly treasure, but she had a better treasure, one that lasts forever. What a beautiful letter.

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