IIII

without it interfering with the "feeling of home".

An artist like Otto Valstad has in some measure

achieved all three things: the antiques, the art

and the comfortable home, – but then again he does

not have any children to protect the antiques from, – and without

children it can never really be a "home". –

Thank you for the request for a "Marigold picture", but I

unfortunately dare not promise anything "for certain", but will keep it

in mind and do what I can in the spring; – here it seems

to have become so well cultivated and the ditches are cleaned up

in the village, so that the yellow marigold fields, are –

– like the waterlogged fields, – soon to be a thing of the past, – it

was in the past, when one could afford to let the runoff of manure

seep down into the waterlogged fields and marshes, that the

marigolds appeared in those continuous teeming swathes

and ornaments – especially here in Söndfjord, – but I will

be sure to find a few clusters of marigolds, – yet I grieve

over the fact that Rasmùs Meyer’s relatives removed from the collection

my best marigold picture – Meyer got it for a very

cheap price because it was to remain in his collection –

a private person offered me more than the double,

but Meyer would not give up the picture nor

increase the price – he therefore got it for the sake of the gallery.

Well now I and my family must express our

gratitude to You once again and wish You and Your

family a very Merry Christmas! Most

sincerely Yours Nikolai Astrup

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