Well Engel’s letter ends here, she is not able

to write more, she says and asks me

to convey her warmest greetings and thank you for your kindness

towards Kari. – Well it is sad this situation

with Olaus – here life goes on somehow – no one

eats or sleeps much, – there are screeching

and explosive sounds coming from the ice, – and all the

terrors of a winter night hover over the village. – The owl, that has

shrieked here at the farm every night this winter,

now screams twice as ominously, – it knew

what was coming: a corpse did in fact appear on the farm. And

to make things even more terrifying, the hare

has joined forces with it, – and the hare’s screams

outside the windows are almost more terri-

fying than the owl’s – it is a combination “wailing-laughter”-

and lamenting cry. Fond and I also paid a

visit to Olina today to speak a little

with her, – but for once Fond could not

utter a word, – and I am simply no good at

consoling a grieving person. – Well, things are not pleasant here –

our children go around looking pale and are afraid of the “stranger”

staying in gamlestuen. Well then ^mayYou live well!

And very best wishes from all of us here Your

Engel and N. Astrup

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