Kjære Ven!

Ja nù er glasset – kasserne komne, – jeg er 

saa nervös, at jeg tör ikke ùndersöke om noget

er knùst ùnderveis, – kasserne staar nede ved veien, 

og jeg stùderer paa, hvorledes vi skal faa dem op 

de bratte bakkerne, – at kjöre dem er for recika-

belt og at bære dem op i holkeföret ^{(det fryser om næsterne i de vaate veie)} blir vel næsten 

like farligt; – vi maa iallefald have 6 mand til den 

store kassen. – Nù kan jeg ikke faa nogen arbeids- 

folk, da bygningskarerne er sterkt optagne med dit

arbeide, – og jeg vil selvfölgelig, at de skal komme

længst mùligt med dit hùs, förend sneen kommer

for alvor. Jeg har været baade paa neset og inde paa

Myklebust flere gange og tilseet arbeidet. – Knùt P. 

og svigersönnen Anders Aasen klager over, at de har taget

arbeidet for billigt, – der gaar slig ùendelig tid med

nedrivningen siger de, – ja der var adskillig mere ma-

terialer, end de beregnede, – de havde ikke troet at der var

tömmer ùnder panelingerne, – i spiskammeret var der doble

panelinger, og det kommer vel med for dem, da der nok 

2

gaar adskilligt istykker ùnder nedrivningen, – de klager

stadig over det, – og særlig over at min forrige bygnings-

mand har gjort alting altfor solid – har brugt alt for

svære spiger, – som det derfor er haardt at faa hùgget

af. De er forresten meget samvittighedsfùlde og bruger

megen til tid at skrive (med store bogstaver) paa hver

eneste list langs tak og gùlv og dörer, hvorhen det

hörer til, og de havde store bùndter liggende med

sligt listværk; (jeg fik arbeidet særlige lister til dörer og 

vindùer efter min egen smag dengang). –––

Nù er mùren paa neset færdig, den er saa altfor dùrabel

synes jeg, – den maatte kùnne bære et blytaarn, men da 

karerne har taget det paa akord faar det blive deres egen 

sak, om de lægger meget arbeide paa det – mùren 

ser omtrent saaledes ùd: skisse. Tekst til skisse:

överst mod fjeldet

3 m.

ca. 3 m.

Trær

2 m. 2 m.

Kjælderùmmet har lodrette

vægge og er omtrent 3x3 m. 

Udstikket tilvenstre – mærket skisse: x er

for spiskammerbislaget (og delvis for peis); – (og tilhörende skorsten) som 

kommer i det skraverede felt (ja nöiagtig er det ikke angivet)

Idag har de rod ùd en del materialer, – men de faar nok af

arbeide med transporten, förend de faar alt ùd. Zakarias og 

jeg har lovet at være med og bære, – men jeg har for öieblik-

ket forbrændt en haand, saa jeg maa vente nogle dage, 

forend jeg kan være med og bære op fra vandet materialer, 

men Zakris skal faa være med, – jeg synes vi maa gjöre

det, da det vist ikke er frit for at arbeidskarerne er begyndt 

at blive modlöse. De har lavet op en vældig haùg med torv

til at tække taket med der ude, – saa det er i orden 

(om kùlden ikke bliver for slem og fryser det hele

ihop til en stabbe). – Johannes ("Flekken") har mineret vei 

gjenem ùren de to sidste dage, og der er alt bra frem-

kommeligt. Anders Aasen spùrgte mig, om han kùnde 

faa tage et par kg. af de 10 kg. krùdt, som jeg overlod dig, 

han vilde gjerne mine nogen sten til eget bruk engang i 

höst, förend kulden blev for slem, – jeg svarede ham, at jeg 

havde givet dig krùdtet men at jeg troede han kunde faa 

tage noget til sit eget brùk ogsaa, – (en halvtkg. pakke som 

var aabnet var ödelagt, – da de ùndersögte det i sommer, 

men resten var lige godt). Johannes ("Flekken") har forresten

brugt mest dynamit til veisprængningen. Isoleringspap-

pen mellem panelingerne og ùnder næveren paa taket

var mærkelig nok næsten lige god – ligeledes i skraaninger- 

ne paa loftet ("i skibet"), og de har faaet det nogenlùnde helt ned.

4

Nù har arbeidskarerne foreslaaet noget, som jeg ikke er ùtil-

böielig til at være enig med dem i: Det angaar peisen, – 

den har jo altid været slem til at ryke, og nù fik hoteleier- 

en paa Skei en arkitekt til at lave sig en peis, og den 

fùngerer ùdmærket, – nù vilde bygningskarerne gjöre den 

noget lignende til dig, – og jeg tror, det er en fordel. – 

Forskjellen bestaar i at der blir tre vægger istedenfor to 

skisse. Tekst til skisse:

dör Billeder Maleri?

Fig I Fig. II

Interiöret med min gamle peismodel – Interiöret med den nye peismodel

Ovenfor har jeg rablet ned interiöret med den gamle og den nye peismodel 

(jeg er daarlig i en haand og skriver og tegner ùmùligt fortiden)

Om den nye peisform skùlde have nogen indflydelse paa interi-

örets hygge, blir vel egentlig spörgsmaalet; – den ene side

i peisen (fra dören fremover mod vindùet) blir jo den korteste, (den 

aabne blir större) men denne nye side væg i peisen vil jo (som an-

tydet paa figùr II) kaste en skygge skraas over gùlvet og lave en 

mörk krok i hjörnet ved dören, – noget som jeg dog ikke kan 

finde vil skade, men heller skabe modsætning – lys og skygge – 

i interiöret, naar det brænder paa peisen, – og det vil forebygge rök, 

ja det vil ogsaa "trække" bedre i skorstenen, og endelig er det 

5

en betryggelse for skorstenens soliditet, da skorstenen ^{efter den nye model} vil faa 3

vægger at hvile paa nedentil istedenfor nù bare 2 vægge (⁺ og en 

jernstang) (skulde ùnderlaget for jernstangen svigte, vilde jo 

hele skorstenen styrte ned, – jeg var næsten ræd for dette, efter at

Hoskildens havde benyttet jernstangens fùndament til ambolt

for sine smedje övelser og klövet en mursten). Naar arbeids-

karerne vil ùdföre dette arbeide ^extra, saa er det altsaa ikke for at

"lette" sig arbeidet; thi det blir jo heller en forögelse af

arbeidet at bygge en extra mùrvæg i peisen; (lidt mere

mùrsten maa jo til – men vi faar tage af kjældermùren, – efter

vor aftale var det jo saa, at jeg skùlde have den igjen – men selv-

fölgelig overlader jeg med glæde det, dù maatte trænge; – en hel

del mùrsten blir nok istykkerslaaet ùnder nedrivningen, men jeg

tænker vi maa faa nok igjen, – saa vi slipper at kjöbe nogen ny, 

thi transporten op hid koster mere end mùrstenen selv). Vi brùgte

en blanding af cement ^{(mest cement)} og kalk som bindemiddel i mellem mùr-

stenen, da jeg byggede derinde, og dette bindemiddel er sterkt, 

saa jeg tænker karerne faar adskilligt arbeide med at slaa lös

stenene, – det er vel ogsaa et arbeide, som de ikke har prövet för. 

Jeg tror nok de to herrer arbeidskarer er samvittighedsfulde

i sit arbeide, men man bör kanske passe paa dem; thi de er

mere end almindelig "om sig" mellem os sagt, – kan de

tilvende sig en liden fordel paa en eller anden kant, saa

er de ikke altid saa nöie om midlerne, – vi havde nettop

igaar et exempel paa det: Vi fik K. til at ordne med

kjöbet af en saù for os; – jo han saa paa saùen og spùrgte, 

hvad vi vilde give, – hvormeget han skulde byde paa vore vegne, 

han anslog saùen til ca. 30 kg. (hvad den dog ikke var), vi gjorde vor

6

beregning saaledes: 30 kg. a 2 kr. pr. kg. = 60.00 kr.

Uld (efter gjennemsnilig) =

5⁰⁰

(beregning) = 

Skind, Hovedet, yver, födder og indmad = 5⁰⁰ (eller noget mere)

Tilsammen 70, 00 kr. 

Men da stak rævefoten frem hos . K. "ja skal vi tage saùen i fælles

skab?" sa han "slig at dere faar skrotten, og saa giver jeg 10 kr. 

for det övrige." Ja det gik Engel med paa og handel 

kom istand, – vi fik saùen for 70 kr, men saùen veiede langt

fra 30 kg., men K. havde opdaget, at saùen havde usedvanligt 

meget uld paa sig (for ca 9–10 kr.) og priserne paa skind

var nettop gaaet op (ca. 6 kr. for saa store skind); – hovedet fik 

han mindst 2–3 kr. for (da det her ansees som en særlig

delikatesse, som man brùger jùlaften). Tùngen havde jeg

betinget mig paa forhaand, da det er det eneste, jeg smager af

fersk saùekjöd, – men den blev vi ogsaa snydt paa, – den var

"kommen bort" ùnder slagtningen, paastod han. – – 

Han er ogsaa en mærkelig misùndelig mand, som ikke "ùnder"

andre nogen fordel, – hans misùndelse har for tiden vendt

sig mod dig, som har faaet hùsebygningen og selve hùset

saa altfor billigt, – og han lader mig stadig faa höre om, 

hvor jeg har forsolgt mig – og det er ikke frit for at han

sætter Engel op. Svigersönnen Anders faar nok höre ilde

for, at han ikke forlangte mere af dig for arbeidet. 

Men han er en dygtig arbeider, og hvis Fond passer paa der 

inde ùnder nedrivningen, og jeg ser til lidt her ùnder op-

bygningen, antager jeg, han ikke egentlig har anledning til nogen 

rævestreker overfor dig. Grùndmùren er i allefald ^et godt stykke 

arbeide, men det er nù mest "Flekken" at takke for det, – 

men jeg er mest ræd for, at dù vil finde den for "fin", – 

dù vilde have meste rùnde stener ùd i dagen (i "visen", som 

vi siger), – men det vilde koste meget at lede op slige stener, naar

de samtidig skulde give "baand", saa mùren blev solid, – særlig nedre

kanten af mùren (mod veien og vandet) er noksaa flad, – men 

jeg vilde foreslaa dig at gjöre, som jeg tidligere har nævnt, at

sætte et bislag eller skraatak (af hùn for exempel) over dette

kjælderrùm – altsaa over den mands höie mur og nedover –

altsaa slig som den pùnkterede linjetegning; skisse – til stötte

skisse for dette tak nedentil kùnde du bare bruge

nogen staver med "skraa brodder" (bindinger), – dù 

vilde da faa en betydelig ùdvidelse af dit kjælder- eller veed-rùm,

og det vilde bare koste en bagatel – og vilde heller ikke for-

ringe hùsets maleriske udseende – tvertimod – og saa fik 

dù skjult den mindre maleriske mùr, – taket kùnde jo 

ogsaa være torvtak for at staa i stil med hùsets tak, – og 

dù vilde ogsaa kùnne realisere din tidligere plan om at have

et baatrùm (for vinteren) ùnder huset, – (som det nù er, gaar

det ikke an at have baat der).

Det kan ofte ogsaa være koselig med

et saadant "græstak" udenfor

vinduerne, man kan næsten have

som en liden blomster rabat

med "syster lykle" ^o.a. paa et slikt tak. 

Paa vestsiden bùrde man vel helst

bordklæde et sligt bislag. skisse

8

Men sligt har ingen hast, det kan jo gjöres senere, om dù 

finder for godt. –––

Ja saa er det Didr. Andersen. – Dù maa have tusend tak

for dit stræv med glasset og Andersen! Kan dù ogsaa faa

nogen henstand med betalingen tror dù? – Jeg faar sende ham 

træsnit, som han kan have til salg, – saa han mùligens kunde

dækkes paa den maade, – jeg er rent blank. Dù har jo nogen 

træsnit igjen (de som Kreyberg bestilte – men ikke tok), – vilde

dù lade Didr. Andersen faa dem – midlertidig – til jeg fik 

trykke andre ting. Vil dù være saa venlig at bestille 1/2 dusin

lampeglas "Matador– ²⁰" til vore lamper – alle glas er sprùngne, 

og vi maa hjælpe os med smaalamper. Kan dù kanske lade

forretningen sende dem som postopkrav, saa dù slipper bryderi

med pakning o.s.v. – Et par lampevæker til samme vilde

ogsaa være bra at faa. –––

Nei den K. (arbeidsherren) er nok lidt af en skùrk, – nù 

fik jeg nettop vide, at han idag har været hos manden, som 

han paa vore vegne skùlde handle saùen med, og der har han 

beklaget sig over at det blev ham en dyr sauehandel, – som 

tidligere nævnt, skulde han give 10 kr. for alt ùdenfor saùeskrotten, 

og han kùnde sikkert solgt det for 16–17 kr og enda have selve

indmaden, gratis, – altsaa tjente han Kr. 6 forùden den ^indmaden paa

handelen, – men nù har han været hos den oprindelige saùe-

eier og beklaget sig over, hvor han har tapt: – han maatte

betale Astrups 15 Kr. (ren lögn altsaa) og nù maatte han 

bede sælgeren over at have barmhjærtelighed med

ham og slaa af Kr.5, og dèt fik han ogsaa afslaaet

9

saa at nù har han mindst ca 12 kr. i extrafortjeneste

paa den saùehandelen og indmaden gratis atpaa. 

Nù bliver han nok misùndelig paa "Flekken", som han 

synes han har givet for meget for (^til grùndmùren din og

veien gjennem ùren) – han og svigersönnen er jo ingen pro-

fessionelle mùrarbeidere eller stein-arbeidere, og de leiede

derfor "Flekken" til dette, (som jeg vistnok för har fortalt

dig); – han tok det paa akord for Kr. 250, – og da han 

drev paa næsten baade dag og nat – og dertil er en særlig

dygtig stein arbeider, – saa klarede han arbeidet paa

knapt 3 ùger, og det var selvfölgelig "for godt" for Flekken. 

Flekken var her igaar aftes, og vi talte om karerne og saùehan-

delen o.s.v. og han var enig i at K. var i daarligt hùmör, 

naar han ikke kùnde faa det slig til, at han selv tjente

og en anden tabte paa alt, hvad han befattede sig med, 

– og som regel er han altid heldig i at tilvende sig extra- 

fortjeneste paa alt, hvad han foretager sig, – "men Kramer-

hùset kommer nok karerne til at tabe paa" sa "Flekken". 

Naar alt er færdigt og dù engang kommer og skal

"overtage" arbeidet hùset, – saa kan dù være sikker, han 

kommer med beklagelser og bön om tillæg for tap af

arbeidstid o.s.v.; – men da skal dù bare være ubarm-

hjærtig og negte; thi han er selv altid ùbarmhjærtig

mod andre i slige tilfælder, sin egen ^{(ikke Aasen)} svigersön har

han flaaet ordentlig nù, da hans datter döde; – og 

10

da deres eneste barn ogsaa döde – maatte svigersönnen ud med

halve deres fælles bo, – og folk er saa rasende paa gamlingen i 

nabolaget, at en nat nù nylig bröd de sig ind i hans arbeids-

hùs ved elven og kastede ùd alt, hvad der fandtes af dreiejern

hövler og löst inventar paa elven, som da var meget stor og

derfor reiste med alt; – der blir antagelig forhör o.lign. i den 

anledning. –––

Ja nù begynder vi at se dit hùs her fra Stranden, – "gamle-

stùen" er allerede kommen op til mönet, og spærrene er op-

lagt, – men mesteparten af materialerne ellers er endnù igjen 

paa Myklebust, – transporten blir nok det værste for karerne,

de har forelöbig leiet nogle gùtter til at ro ùd en del mate-

rialer, og jeg hörer dem ro i de aarle morgentimer, förend jeg

endnù er gaaet tilsengs – men det blir jo ikke meget de faar

afsted paa den maade. – Det jernet, jeg talte om i mit forrige

brev har vi ikke kùnnet finde, hverken för eller efter nedriv-

ningen derinde – og det er vel ùmùligt for dig at erindre

noget om det – det er mig næsten ùùndværligt naar jeg skal

sætte paa og tage af papir ùnder trykning – (veeden i platerne er

saa haard at jeg maa slaa tegnestifterne i med hammer). Til

at spænde paa eller tage af lærred i maler- eller skissekasse og

paa blindrammer var det ogsaa ùdmærket – det var af jern

indlagt med staal og derfor saa seigt og sterkt at jeg ogsaa

kùnde trække ùd större spiger med det. –––

Vi er nogenlùnde friske – Kristian plages dog af bronkit

men er ùmùlig at holde inde – han gaa stadig ute og 

blir vaad og frokjöles. Per var syk igaar og i nat – han 

11

"kastede op" ustandseligt, – han havde ^antagelig fùndet en af

Zakris sine flasker med parafin (og vistnok andet i) og

den havde han drukket en hel del af. – "Besta" tror

han har drùkket af en box, som der var vasket pensler

i paa med parafin, og da kan det jo kanske være lidt

forgiftning ^{af maling} ogsaa – det lùgter iethvertfald frygtelig

parafin af ham. – Jeg plages lidt af asthmaen, 

men mest af forkjöling og sover lidet om nætterne. 

Vi har havt besök af Viken – bygdens bedste spille-

mand, som tok 2^den præmien i Kristiania, – han var her

over natten og spillede alt mùligt lige fra "Fanitullen"

paa hardangerfele til Bach og Hendel paa alm. 

tysk violin. Saa har her været dans med slags-

maal og drùkkenskab, – saa vi har jo lidt afvexling

i ensomheden her oppe, – de dansede i det nye rùmmet, 

som Zakris skal have (ùnder attelieret). – 

Engel har endelig faaet sig tjenestepike (saalænge det varer). 

Besta er syk – ligger mest – og gaar med aldcrocksplastere  

over baade bryst og ryg – og vilde vist have flere paa, om 

hùn bare havde plads til dem, – hùn har plevrit , sa

doktoren. – Havde dù været her nù skulde dù faaet

pröve en rabarbravin, som vi lavede til barnedaaben, – 

ikke det spor söd – nærmesten en mellemting mellem 

rinskvin og saùtern eller anden hvidvin, – den er forresten 

12

snart opdrùkket, – da her kommer en og anden indom 

stadig; – igaarnat sat Fond, Eikaas og læreren i Dvergs-

dal her, og vi drak adskillige bægere til den lyse morgen, – 

og Fond og jeg rök ùklar om politik, jeg "stemte" nemlig 

ikke i aar, – da jeg er forarget paa alle partier, – og Fond

er ivrig "moskovit"– komunist – og mente at her

alt lùgtede krùdt, – jeg mente, at de norske komùnister

nù havde kysset Moskva komùnisterne saa lenge i "ræven", 

at det maatte være den lùgt, de kjendte smaken af, 

og nù troede var krùdtlùgt. Her var en jölstring opstil-

let som tingsmandskandidat af disse internationale. – 

Nei nù slùdrer jeg om löst og fast – jeg sidder og venter paa

posten, om der skulde være brev fra dig og noget at besvare, 

og imedens rabler jeg löst, som dù ser. – Ja, desværre dù 

denne gjælden vokser mig over hovedet nù, – dù veed ikke noget

arbeide i Bergen, som jeg kùnde klare, – noget decarationsarbeide ? ^{Jeg kùnde kanske sjære klisjeer til plakater?}

jeg er lei af at male "billeder" – for penge, – det blir ikke noget likevel. 

Jeg har lavet et tryk av "lys jùninat" (maken til Uhrdals) som Eikaas har

kjöbt af mig for 200 kr. – ––– Nei nù kom posten 

med regning fra Didr. Andersen, paa henimod 400. ^358,56 – ; men 

intet brev fra dig. – Ja, ja dù maa leve vel da og

hilse Aagot og börnene – jeg fik telegram fra Kristiania

fra Aagot, Svarstad, Ragna Breivik og Krantz: "Her er vi, men

hvor er du?" ^{(ikke besvaret)} Bedste hilsen 

din Astrup

Engel og barna beder hilse! 

Til

Hr. Gravör Per Kramer

om huset, peisen

om bygget

Vestre mùralmenning 9

Bergen

Dear Friend!

Well the glass – crates have arrived, – I am 

so nervous, that I don’t dare check to see if something

has been crushed en route, – the crates are down by the road, 

and I am trying to figure out, how we shall get them up 

the steep slopes, – to transport them is too ris-

ky and to carry them up on the roads ^{(the felloes of the wheels freeze on the wet roads)} is probably nearly

as dangerous; – we would need at least 6 men for the

large crate. – Right now I cannot get hold of any work- 

ers, since the builders are extremely busy with your

work, – I obviously want them to get

as far as possible on your house, before the snow arrives

in earnest. I have been to visit Neset and to

Myklebust several times to oversee the work. – Knùt P. 

and his son-in-law Anders Aasen complain, that they have taken on

the work for too little, – the dismantling

takes forever they say, – it seems there were a lot more ma-

terials, than they calculated, – they didn’t believe there would be

timber underneath the panelling, – in the pantry there was double

panelling, and it makes a difference for them, since quite a bit

2

falls apart during the dismantling, – they complain

about it continuously, – and especially about how my former

workman had made everything too solid – has used much too

large nails, – which are therefore hard to re-

move. They are incidentally very conscientious and spend

considerable time writing (in large letters) on every

single moulding from the ceilings and floors and doors, where it

belongs, and they had large bundles of

such mouldings gathered in piles; (I had special mouldings made for the doors and 

windows according to my own taste back then). –––

The foundation out at the point is almost finished now, it is so incredibly strong

I think, – that it could probably hold up a tower made of lead, but since 

the men have taken on the job for a fixed sum it’s their own

business, if they put a lot of work into it – the foundation 

looks something like this: sketch. Text accompanying the sketch:

highest point facing the mountain

3 m.

approx. 3 m.

Trees

2 m. 2 m.

The cellar has vertical

walls and are approx. 3x3 m. 

The protrusion on left – marked sketch: x is

for the pantry porch (and partly for the fireplace); – and accompanying chimney) which 

is situated in the hatched area (well it is not specified precisely)

Today they have rowed some materials out there, – but they have enough

to do with the transport, before they get it all out there. Zakarias and 

I have promised to help unloading, – but at the moment 

I have a burned hand, so I have to wait a few days, 

before I can join them in carrying the materials up from the shore,

but Zakris can join them, – I think we should do

it, as it is evidently not unlikely that the workers have begun 

to lose courage. They have built up a huge mound of peat

to cover the roof with out there, – so that is taken care of 

(unless the cold becomes so severe that it freezes the whole

thing together into a clump). – Johannes (“the Mole”) has blasted a path 

through the moraine in the past two days, and everything is quite ac-

cessible. Anders Aasen asked me, if he might 

take a few kg. of the 10 kg. of explosives, which I left to you,

he wanted to detonate some stones for his own use some time this 

autumn, before the cold becomes too severe, – I told him, that I 

had given the explosives to you but that I thought he might have 

some for his own use, – (a half-kg. packet that 

had been opened was ruined, – when they examined it this summer, 

but the rest was just as good). Johannes (“the Mole”) has incidentally

mostly used dynamite for detonating the road. The insulation card-

board between the panelling and under the birch bark on the roof

was strangely enough in nearly as good condition – likewise in the slanted 

ceiling in the attic (“in the nave”), and they have dismantled it more or less in one piece.

4

The workmen have recently suggested something, that I am not dis-

inclined to agree with them about: It has to do with the fireplace, – 

it has always created a lot of smoke, and now the hotel own- 

er in Skei has had an architect make a fireplace, and it 

works beautifully, – now the workmen wish to make a 

similar one for you, – and I think, it is an advantage. – 

The difference consists of there being three walls instead of two 

sketch. Text accompanying the sketch:

door drawings Paintings?

Fig I Fig. II

Interior with my old fireplace model – Interior with the new fireplace model

Above I have sketched the interior with the old and the new fireplace model 

(one of my hands is injured and I write and draw terribly these days)

Whether the new fireplace design might have any influence on the cosiness 

of the interior, is actually a relevant question; – one side

of the fireplace (from the door forward towards the window) will be the shortest, (the 

open one will be larger) but this new side wall in the fireplace will of course (as de-

picted in figure II) cast a shadow across the floor and create a 

dark niche in the corner by the door, – something which I cannot 

imagine will be detrimental, but rather create a contrast – light and shade – 

in the interior, when the fireplace is lit, – and it will prevent the creation of smoke, 

well the chimney will also “draw” better, and finally it is 

5

a reassurance for the safety of the chimney, since the chimney ^{based on the new model} will have 3

walls to rest on below instead of 2 walls now (⁺ and an 

iron rod) (should the support beneath the iron rod give way, the 

entire chimney would come crashing down, – I was almost afraid of this, after

Hoskildens had used the foundation beneath the iron rod as an anvil

for his blacksmith practice and severed a brick). When the work-

men wish to execute this ^extra work, it is not in order to

make their task “easier”; because to build an extra brick wall in the fireplace

will on the contrary represent an increase in work; (a little more bricks will be 

required of course – but we can take them from <the cellar foundation>, – according

to our agreement it was decided, that I should have what was left over – but of 

course I leave to you with pleasure whatever you might need; – a considerable

number of bricks will probably be crushed during the dismantling, but I

imagine we will have enough left, – so that we won’t have to purchase new ones, 

because the transport up here costs more than the bricks themselves). We used

a mixture of cement ^{(mostly cement)} and chalk as the binding agent in between the

bricks, when I was building over there, and this binding agent is strong, 

so I imagine the men will have a lot of work to do in breaking up

the bricks, – it is also a type of work, which they have no experience with. 

I think the two gentlemen workers are conscientious 

in their work, but one should perhaps keep an eye on them; because 

between us they are more than commonly “shifty”, – if they

can gain a little advantage in some way or another, then

they are not very particular about the means, – we experienced just

yesterday an example of this: We asked K. to arrange to

buy a sheep for us; – well he looked at the sheep and asked, 

what we were willing to pay for it, – how much he should offer on our behalf, 

he estimated the sheep to weigh approx. 30 kg. (which it did not however), we made our

6

calculation like this: 30 kg. at 2 kr. pr. kg. = 60.00 kr.

Wool (based on the average) =  

(calculation) = 5⁰⁰

Hide, Head, udder, feet and offal = 5⁰⁰ (or slightly more)

Total 70, 00 kr. 

But then the cunning fox K. revealed his true nature “why don’t we buy the sheep to-

gether?” he said “so you get the carcass, and then I’ll give 10 kr. 

for the rest.” Well Engel agreed to it and the deal 

was made, – we got the sheep for 70 kr., but the sheep weighed far

less than 30 kg., but K. had discovered, that the sheep had an unusual 

amount of wool on it (for approx. 9–10 kr.) and the price of hide

had just risen (approx. 6 kr. for such large hides); – for the head 

he got at least 2–3 kr. (as it is considered a very special

delicacy here, which is used on Christmas Eve). The tongue I had

reserved ahead of time, as it is the only thing, I will eat of

fresh mutton, – but we were also cheated of that, – it had

“got lost” when it was butchered, he claimed. – – 

He is also a strangely envious man, who does not “wish”

anyone any advantage, – his envy has recently turned

against you, who has obtained the construction of a house and the house itself

so unbelievably cheaply, – and he is constantly letting me know, 

how I have cheated myself in selling the house so cheaply – and it is not unlikely that he is

setting Engel up. His son-in-law Anders is probably getting a dressing down

for not having demanded more from you for the job. 

But he is a skilled worker, and if Fond keeps an eye on things over 

there during the dismantling, and I keep watch here during the build-

ing, I assume, he won’t really have an opportunity to play any 

tricks on you. The foundation is in any case ^a job 

well done, but one has mostly “the Mole” to thank for it, – 

but what I fear most is, that you will find it too “refined”, – 

you wanted to have the roundest stones facing outward (on “display”, as 

we say), – but it would be costly to search for such stones, when

they simultaneously had to “fit” so that the foundation would be strong, – the lower

end of the foundation in particular (facing the road and the lake) is rather flat, – but 

I would suggest for you, as I have mentioned earlier, to

set up a porch or slanting roof (made of slabs for example) over this

cellar room – in other words over the foundation the height of a man and descending –

in other words as in the dotted line illustration; sketch – as support

sketch for this roof below you might just use

some posts with “diagonal supports” (framing), – you 

would then have a significant extension of your cellar – or firewood lean-to,

and it would only cost a pittance – and it would not dimi-

mish the painterly appearance of the house – on the contrary – and then 

you will have concealed the less painterly foundation, – the roof might 

also be made of peat to match the style of the roof of the house, – and 

you will have also realised your earlier plan to have 

room for a boat (for the winter) under the house, – (as it is now, it 

is not possible to keep a boat there).

It might also be nice to have

such a “grass roof” outside

the windows, one can even have

a little flowerbed

including “sister primrose” ^etc. on such a roof. 

On the west side one should probably 

cover such a porch with boards. sketch

8

But there is no hurry regarding such things, it can be done later, if you 

wish to do it. –––

Well then there’s Didr. Andersen. – Many thanks

for your efforts regarding the glass and Andersen! Can you also arrange

some kind of delay in payment do you think? – I will send him 

woodcuts, that he can have to sell, – so that he may perhaps

be covered in that way, – I am totally broke. You have a few 

woodcuts left (the ones that Kreyberg ordered – but did not take), – would

you let Didr. Andersen have them – temporarily – until I can 

print others. Would you be so kind as to order 1/2 dozen

glass lampshades “Matador– ²⁰” for our lamps – all the glass shades are cracked, 

and we have to resort to small lamps. Can you perhaps have

the establishment send them COD, so you avoid the bother

of packaging, etc. – A couple of lamp wicks for the same would 

also be good to have. –––

Well that K. (the workman) is really quite a villain, – I  

just now heard, that today he has been to see the man, who 

he was supposed to purchase the sheep from on our behalf, and he has 

lamented over the fact that it was an expensive transaction for him, – as mentioned 

earlier, he was supposed to give us 10 kr. for everything but the carcass of the sheep, 

and he could have probably sold it for 16–17 kr. and still keep the

offal himself, for free, – in other words he made kr. 6 aside from the ^{the offal} on

the deal, – but now he has visited the original sheep

owner and lamented over, how much he has lost: – he had

to pay Astrups 15 kr. (absolute lie in other words) and now he was forced to 

beg the seller to show pity on

him and cut kr. 5 off the price, and he got the discount

9

so now he has at least around 12 kr. in extra profit

on the sheep transaction and the offal thrown in for free. 

Now he will probably he envious of “the Mole”, whom he 

feels he has given too much for (^for your foundation and

the road through the moraine) – he and his son-in-law are not pro-

fessional masons or stone workers,, and they therefore

hired “the Mole” to do it, (which I obviously have told you

before); – he took the job at a fixed price kr. 250, – and because he 

kept at the grindstone both day and night – and in addition is a very

skilled stone worker, – he managed the job in

less than 3 weeks, and that was of course “too good” for the Mole. 

The Mole was here yesterday evening, and we talked about the men and the sheep

transaction, etc. and he agreed that K. was in a bad humour, 

when he didn’t manage to get his way, so that he won

and anyone else lost, in all of his dealings, 

– and as a rule he always succeeds in obtaining extra 

benefits from everything he does, – “but when it comes to Kramer’s

house the men will probably lose” said “the Mole”. 

When everything is done and you one day arrive to

“take over” the work the house, – you can be sure, that he 

will approach you with laments and ask for extra pay for loss of

working hours, etc.; – but then you must be ruth-

less and refuse; for he is always ruthless 

towards others in such cases, his own ^{(not Aasen)} son-in-law he

has really flayed, now that his daughter died; – and 

10

when their only child also died – his son-in-law had to pay out

half of their common assets, – and people in the neighbourhood are so furious 

at the old man, that one night recently they broke into his work-

shop by the river and threw out everything they found of lathes

planes and loose inventory into the river, which was very high and

thus took everything with it; – there will probably be an interrogation, etc. in that 

connection. –––

Well now we can begin to see your house from here at Stranden, – “gamle-

stùen” has already reached up to the ridge, and the supports are set

up, – but most of the materials are still back 

in Myklebust, – the transport will probably be the worst part of it for the men,

they have temporarily hired some boys to row some of the mate-

rials, and I hear them rowing in the early morning hours, before I

have gone to bed yet – but they won’t get very much

moved in that manner. – The iron tool, I talked about in my last

letter we have not been able to find, neither before nor after the dismant-

ling over there – and it’s probably impossible for you to remember

anything about it – it is nearly indispensable for me when I am

applying and removing paper while printing – (the wood in the blocks is

so hard that I have to strike the tacks with a hammer). For

stretching or removing canvases on a <paint->- or sketch box and

on supports it was also excellent – it was made of iron

inlaid with steel and therefore so sturdy and strong that I could 

also remove large nails with it. –––

We are more or less well – Kristian is suffering from bronchitis

but is impossible to hold indoors – he is constantly going outdoors and 

getting wet and colds. Per was sick yesterday and last night – he 

11

“vomited” uninterruptedly, – he had ^probably found one of

Zakris’ bottles of kerosene (and clearly with other things in them) and

he had drunk a good deal. – “Grandma” believes

he had drunk from a can, that had been used to wash brushes

in on with kerosene, and so there might be a bit of

poisoning ^{from paint} as well – he smells frightfully of

kerosene at least. – I am bothered a bit by the asthma, 

but mostly from a cold and sleep very little at night. 

We have had a visit from Viken – the best fiddler in the vil-

lage, who won 2^nd prize in Kristiania, – he spent the 

night here and played all kinds of things from “Fanitullen ”

on a Hardanger fiddle to Bach and Handel on an ordinary 

German violin. So we have had dancing here along with brawls

and drunkenness, – and have thus had a little distraction

from the solitude up here, – they danced in the new room, 

which Zakris shall have (under the studio). – 

Engel has finally got hold of a housemaid (as long as it lasts). 

Grandma is sick – mostly bedridden – and wears oldcrock's plasters  

on both her chest and her back – and would evidently like to have more, if 

only she had room for them, – she has pleurisy, according to

the doctor. – If you had been here you would have had a chance to

test a rhubarb wine, that we made for the Christening, – 

not at all sweet – something in between 

a Rhine wine and a sauternes or other white wine, – it is incidentally 

12

almost all consumed, – as someone or other stops by 

continuously; – last night Fond, Eikaas and the teacher from Dvergs-

dal sat here, and we drank numerous tumblers until the light of dawn, – 

and Fond and I argued about politics, I did not “vote” 

this year, – as I am resentful of all the parties, – and Fond

is an enthusiastic “Moscovite”– communist – and believed that [he]

could already smell the gunpowder, – I felt, that the Norwegian communists

had by now kissed “the ass” of the Moscow communists for so long, 

that it had to be that odour, they smelled, 

and now thought it was the smell of gunpowder. We had a man from Jölster run-

ning as a parliamentary candidate for these [communist]internationals. – 

Well now I am rambling on and on about nothing – I am sitting and waiting for

the post, in case there is a letter from you and something to reply to,

and in the meantime I scribble away, as you see. – well, unfortunately my friend

this debt is reaching me up to my ears now, – you don’t happen to know of any

work in Bergen, that I might manage – some decorative work? ^{I might perhaps cut stensils for posters?}

I am tired of painting “pictures” – for money, – it does not bring in anything anyway. 

I have made a print of “bright night in June ” (identical to Uhrdal’s) which Eikaas has

bought from me for 200 kr. – ––– Well the postman just arrived 

with a bill from Didr. Andersen, for almost 400. ^358,56 – ; but 

no letter from you. – Well, may you live well and say

hello to Aagot and the children – I received a telegram from Kristiania

from Aagot, Svarstad, Ragna Breivik and Krantz: “We are here, but

where are you?” ^{(not answered)} Best wishes 

your Astrup

Engel and the children send their greetings! 

To

Mr. Engraver Per Kramer

about the house, fireplace

about the building

Vestre mùralmenning 9

Bergen