Page

  • 1,
  • 2,
  • 3,
  • 4,
  • 5,
  • 6,
  • 7,
  • 8,
  • 9,
  • 10,
  • 11,
  • 12,
  • 13,
  • 14,
  • 15,
  • 16,
  • 17,
  • 18,
  • 19,
  • 20,
  • 21,
  • 22,
  • 23,
  • 24,
  • 28,
  • 29,
  • 30,
  • 31,
  • 32,
  • 33,
  • 34,
  • 35
Transcription
Translation

Letter

Astrup, Nikolai to Kramer, Per
1920-06-04
ubb-ms-1808-e-6, MARCUS – Spesialsamlingene ved Universitetsbiblioteket i Bergen

35 Pages

Transcription

Kjære Kramer!

Tak for sidst! Ja det blev

desværre ikke saa hyggelig

tùr for Dere, som det burde været. 

Veiret gjorde jo sit – og turen

til Berg og Botnavatnet træt-

tede Eder for meget, og det

var for tidligt paa aaret, saa

udbyttet var ikke tilsvarende. 

Og saa var jeg ogsaa meget ùsel-

skabelig; – jeg var lidt nervös efter

all opvasken med kredssykekassen. 

Jeg skrev jo adskilligt, som nok 

kan före til retslige "efterfölger",

og saken vilde aldrig gaa mig helt af

minde, – og særlig var jeg meget

ùselskabelig mod Eder den sidste

kveld i Förde, – det kom af

at saken kom paa tale igjen 

mellem Øvrebö og mig, – han 

var jo min forsvarer under begge

appelleringer. 

Men jeg skal ikke trætte dig med

med indledninger til ùndskyldning-

historier, – dù undskylder mig nok 

likevel – 

Vi maatte vente længe i Förde

paa bilen, som var i stykker, men 

da vi endelig kom af sted gik

det med en ulovlig fart hjem, – 

dobbelt saa fort som nedover,

tiltrod for at der maatte bygges

en improviseret bro af stenheller

et steds underveis – (Chaufeùren

klaret det paa et par minutter)

Da jeg kom hjem, gik jeg straks

igang med indledning til under-

handling med eieren af Sandals-

öiene ("Øiene"), – jeg kom nemlig 

i hù din frùes tvivlende ytring om,

at noget blev gjort des angaaende.

Grundeieren havde nettop gjort

undersökelser, om papirerne var ægte,

– der var nemlig tvivl om, hvorvidt

bygselfolkene virkelig havde nogen 

pakter-ret ogsaa, – eller om 

de mùligens selv havde skrevet

dokùmentet. – Jeg maatte derfor

vente et par dage til han fik 

svar paa nogle spörgsmaal, som 

han havde stillet til advokat

Leiv Wiese, – men jeg gik like lös

paa saken – dog ligesom tilfældigvis,

idet jeg foreslog ham, at vi skulde

brænde lidt brændivin sammen, – 

men da maatte vi have et trygt

sted, – hvor der samtidig var rindende

vand og let adkomst med baad,

og han foreslog da selv – nede ved

elvemùndingen, – jeg fandt det selv-

fölgelig at være et ùdmærket sted,

og jeg bad ham fölge mig ind paa 

Stranden, for at han kùnde faa en 

liden "forsmag" paa varerne, – jeg

havde nemlig – med henblik paa

dette möde med grùndeieren, sparet

af en liden draabe af de saker, jeg

fik tak i Förde. – Vi fandt

snart ud, hvor vi skulde anlægge

brænderiet, og da viste det sig, at

vi meget let kunde gjort regning

uden vert – dù og jeg altsaa; – thi

vor kjære Ö, – hörer slett ikke

II

til bygselbrùket "Sandalsöiene"

eller "Øiene", som det til dagligt

kaldes – nei, öen er eies af

grùndeieren selv og derfor kunde

han altsaa straks disponere den

om vi skulde til med "brænding",

– (men dette var jo ikke "hen-

sigten"); – jeg havde da allerede talt

om en mùlighed for, at jeg kjöb-

te hele bygselbrùget – for at und-

gaa naboer til et saa farlig haand-

værk, – og nù kom jeg altsaa

efterpaa ùnderveir med, at jeg

kanske kunde nöiet mig med

at kjöbe bare öen, – naar den 

altsaa ikke var beheftet med

noget bygselfolk eller pakter-

pakk; men naar man har sagt A

faar man, som bekjendt, også sige B,

og jeg spùrgte ham da, hvad han 

vilde have for sin grùndeiendoms-

ret til hele bygselbrùket og

öen. – Han bad mig gjöre et

bùd: – pakteren gaar nemlig haardt

paa ham for tiden og vil kjöbe

eiendommen (der er ogsaa 3–4 andre

om budet – deriblandt Olaùs altsaa)

Grùndeieren vilde nù gjerne faa

mig til at taxere brùket – jeg 

mente det kùnde være værdt

ca. 7000 (det var 1000 kr. lavere

end den pris hand tidligere havde for-

langt) – Hidtil havde han 

troet, at det hele var en spök 

i forbindelse med "brændingen", men 

nù begyndte han at föle sig frem, 

om det skulde opfattes som et bùd 

og spùrgte, om jeg vilde give det for

brùket, som det stod nù – 

altsaa for hans grùnd eiendoms-

ret. – "Nei, sa jeg – först skal 

dù löskjöbe bygselfolkenes bygsel-

ret og deres pakter-ret, og saa

skal dù faa pakteren væk til 

14de april 1921 – og faa bygsel-

folkene over til Amerika inden 

den tid, og forpligte dig til at 

gjöre handelen om igjen, hvis

bygselfolkene kommer tilbake

fra Amerika inden 3 aar (af

hensyn til fattigvæsenet) – og ligeledes

gjöre handelen om igjen, uden tab

for mig, hvis nogen af din slegt

skùlde benytte sig af sin odelsret

og "trætte" eiendommen til sig" (ogsaa

inden 3 aar – for efter den tid begynder man 

selv at faa odel) – og kan ikke "udtrættes") 

"Endvidere skal dù kjöbe af bygsel-

folkene alle hùsene og de sæter-

volden med sæterhùs og fjös og

alle slaattelöer, kværnhùs og alle

fjös i udmarken." –––

Øen vilde jeg have atpaa han-

delen, – men jeg kom ikke saa

langt; – thi manden sa fra

med en gang, at dette var

ùmùligt – dette med hùsene, – 

thi det var uberegneligt, hvad

de kùnde komme op i nù, – 

bare hovedbygningen vilde komme

paa over 1000 Kr., og der var ialt

7–8 hùser – flere som var værdi-

fùlde (sæterhùsene), – men vilde

jeg give 7000 for "snaùe" gaarden (helt

heftefrit for bygselretten og bortfor-

paktningsretten), saa skulde han 

tænke paa det til næste dag – saa

skulde vi mötes, – ja jeg vilde ogsaa be-

III

tænke mig. – Næste dag kom svar 

fra sorenskriveren og fra Wiese. 

Desværre var papirerne tinglæste 

og i orden: – bygselfolkene hav-

de forùden bygselretten ogsaa

ret til at pagte gaarden "til 

hvem de vilde". 

Nù önskede jeg rigtigt, at dù

havde været her tilstede, – thi

ansvaret laa tungt paa mig, 

da jeg skulde möde grùndeieren

og give et svar, – thi uden noget

bùd fra min side, vilde ikke

han indlede ùnderhandling med

bygselfolkene om at faa kjöbe

deres rettigheder: ––– han har brùgt alle sine penge til indlösning af farsgaren (det

var et beleiligt öieblik ogsaa; 

thi pakteren var jùst borteist 

den dag, saa der kùnde for-

handles med bygselfolkene, uden 

hans indblanding, – eller uden at

bygselfolkene kunde faa anledning

til at raadföre sig med pakteren, 

som selvfölgelig vilde gjöre alt, 

for at forpùrre det hele. 

Jeg sov ikke hele natten i 

uvishet om, hvad jeg skulde

vove, – og for at vinde lidt

tid ùden at hindre Grùnd-

eieren fra ùnderhandling med

bygselfolkene, vovede jeg endelig

at gjöre grùndeieren fölgen-

de forslag: 

Han (grùndeieren) kùnde byde

bygselfolkene (selvfölgelig efter lang-

varig prùtning) indtil 3000 Kr. 

for alle deres rettigheder og

hùsene, sæter o.s.v. og saa

skùlde jeg tage hùsene for indtil

1500 Kr. medens bygselretten 

og pakterretten skulde han be-

tale, – og saa vilde jeg have

Öen atpaa handelen. – – 

Gaarden skulde da altsaa 

koste mig (eller rettere os!)

8500 Kr. med alle rettigheder

hùsene sæteren og öen – (ùden

noget slags hefte). – – 

Han vilde meget nödig ud med 

öen (han taber jo da sin fiskeret); men 

det undlod jeg nok at nævne), men 

han vilde nödig ud med öen af

den grùnd, at hans forfædre altid

havde havt kværn der, og hans

bror, som har gaaet handelskolen

tænker at bygge handelsted der, 

og bygge en moderne mölle, 

som han kunde drive ved siden af

handelen, – – jeg foreslog ham

da, at han kunde bytte kværnfald,

og faa det, som jeg fik med gaar-

den isteden – (det som ligger ovenfor

veien, – det blev jo bare et par

skridt at gaa fra landeveien – 

men sa jeg det gamle kvernhus maatte

staa) – han indvendte at "faldet"

ikke var saa godt, men gik tilslùt

med paa det (og handelstedet fik 

han skaffe plads til andetsteds paa

sin egen gaard.) . 

Vi blev altsaa nogenlùnde enige, 

men han tvivlede paa, at han 

kùnde faa hùsene for en pris ùnder

2000, paa en aùktion vil de komme

op i meget mere, troede han. – 

Vi skiltes paa den maate, at han 

drog i "Øiene" for at ùnderhandle

med bygselfolkene, – dette var i gaar-

aftes, og jeg har intet hört fra

ham om resùltatet, – han er 

vel for optaget i dag, – (han har

havt et uheld, – en kvige af

særlig fin race, som han havde

kjöbt gik ùdfor en foss oppe

i fjeldet, og han har folk med

sig at lede i elven efter skrotten. 

Ja hvad synes dù nù, har jeg 

handlet klogt eller uklogt? 

– der er jo endnù tid til at trække

sig tilbake, – jeg rabler disse

ord ned i hast for at höre

din mening, som dù helst bör

sende mig snarest – kanske

helst telegrafisk (adr. Vasenden 

i Jölster). Det er jo ikke sikkert

at grùndeieren ogsaa kunde

komme til at betænke sig, og 

saa kan det jo ogsaa hænde at

han maa betale saa meget for

husene, sæteren og rettighederne (til 

bygsel og bortforpagtning) at han 

ikke synes at det lönner sig; – jeg

byder iallefald ikke mere forelö-

big, – vi kan jo da heller vente

til at auktionen og lade grùnd-

eieren byde dem hùsene ind for os, – jeg 

tror ikke folk vil byde meget, – naar

de veed, at grùndeieren önsker at

kjöbe dem; – men man kan jo aldrig 

vide noget paa forhaand. – 

Spørgsmaalet blir altsaa

bare nù, om vi skal staa ved vort

bud 8500 for det hele? – og dù

kan gjerne bare svar "ja" eller "nei"

for at folk ikke skal faa nyss i noget – af hensyn til O. og pakteren

og ifald vi skal falde af 500 kr. 

eller i fornödent fald stige 500 kr. 

det vil jeg overlade til dig – jeg er

dog bange vi taber chancen ved

at give et ùnderbùd: – faar pak-

teren nyss i noget, kùnde han da 

byde det samme, som vort förste

bud, og da og naar vi har gaaet 

nedover – har vi ikke længer nogen 

forret til det förste bud, men maa

over det. 

Penge behöver vi forelöbig ikke

mere af end til at löse rettigheder-

ne og hùsene, og hvor meget

det blir, veed vi altsaa ikke

endnù, men det haster heller (med udbetaling)

ikke förend ud paa sommeren 

(engang i jùli), – jeg faar vide det

en af de förste dage, og skal da

telegrafere belöbets störrelse, – – 

naar dù saa til dette belöb lægger

{...} det andet, som jeg skal 

sætte efterpaa i telegrammet, saa faar

dù vide det endelige belöb, som gaar-

den vil koste med rettigheder, hùse,

sæter og öen – (heftefrit altsaa) – og vi 

har da atter anledning at trække os tilba-

ke, hvis det skulde overstige vort bùd nù.

Ja dù faar undskylde mit rabl, – 

der er en ting, som jeg er lidt mis-

fornöiet med – nemlig kvernhùset, men 

da det blir ovenfor veien, er vi sikker

paa, at det aldrig blir nogen stor

mölle, – faldet er nemlig for lidet; – 

V

det blir nok bare det kvernhuset

alle dage, – og næsten alle gaarde,

som ligger ved en elv, har et eller

flere kvernhùse liggende paa sin 

grùnd, – og jeg vil forlange det

infört paa papiret, at han ikke

skal have ret til at benytte vandet

til andet end kvern og slipesten kanskje ogsaa en stampe:

og kvernhùset maa ikke være större

end almindeligt brùgt i bygden, 

og veien (7–8 meter) maa ikke

være kjörevei kùn gangsti, – 

derved sikrer man sig mot

noget större möllebruk. –––

Det var den eneste maade, jeg kunde

faa öen fri paa, – den kommer 

jo ogsaa extra til gaarden, som den 

tidligere ikke har hört til, – og vi kan 

overtage den straks i sommer, om 

vi vil; thi pagteren har intet

med den at bestille; – men 

der maa jo extrapapir til 

for öens vedkommende, – da den 

maa fraskrives hovedbrùket "San-

dalshaùg", som den nù ligger ùnder

–––

Grùndeieren er en ùalmindelig

kjæk kar, som nok vil gjöre

alt, hvad han kan for at faa 

hùsene saa billige som muligt

til os – (jeg har intet nævnt om 

dig endnù, – det kan være til 

husene er udlöst, ellers kunde han 

tro, at dù var saa rik, at han ikke behö-

vede at gjöre nogen anstrengelser for at

faa dem hùsene billigt.). – Han 

liker ogsaa at faa mig i nærheten, 

da han liker et glas, og jeg kan jo 

"brænde"og lave rabarbravin, – 

han har ogsaa laant mine gaards-

redskaber ofte – (drillplog felt-esse og skaal-

harv – den sidste kan faa god an-

vendelse i "Øiene"). –––

Angaaende forholdet os imellem 

– dù og jeg altsaa, – faar vi ordne

det slig, at vi sælger avlingen

ved auktion hvert aar og halv-

verer indtægten og ùdgiften, (vi

maa t iallefald faa vore renter

dækket og lidt tilovers til en dram), 

og spenderer vi noget paa opdyrk-

ning, foröges jo værdien, og vi kan sælge

igjen med fortjeneste, – her er altid stor

rift om gaardene, – især naar de lig-

ger saa fladt som denne, – og efter

hvad lensmanden fortæller, – har det

endnù aldrig hændt her i bygden,

at en gaard er bleven solgt billigere, 

end den var kjöbt for selv om intet var

forbedret, men heller nedstyret.

Vi kommer til at bo her, tænker jeg, 

og hùsene staar da til din disposition 

naar dù finder for godt – kanske jeg 

bygger et atteliere paa öen, hvis dù

intet har imod det. – Melk kan dù 

da have rikelig fra egen gaard hele som-

meren, – om vinteren tror jeg det lönner

sig bedre at kjöbe paa gaardene om-

kring og bare have "sommer bære" kjör, – 

det koster mindst tjenerhjælp, og sæte-

ren har den bedste havnegang i bygden 

nedenfor "Fagrivatnet", – saa det vilde være

synd at have kjörene gaaende der som 

"gjældkjyr" om sommeren, og skal man 

dele dem i to halvt paa vinter og halvt

paa sommer, blir det forlidet melk bestandig. 

Ja, ja alt sligt kan vi tales ved om senere. 

Haaber dù forstaar mit rabl. Med de bedste

hilsener fra alle her til dig og dine Din 

hengivne

N. Astrup

Kjære ven!

Der er en stùnd til posten gaar – og jeg

vil skrive nogle ord endnù, kanske kun-

de grùndeieren komme imens, saa jeg 

fik vide resùltatet af ùnderhandlingen 

med "Øiafolket" (bygselfolkene) – jeg

vil nemlig ikke opsöke ham, men 

lade ham komme til mig, – lidt poli-

tik altsaa – ––– for at faa rede

paa hans interesserthed o.s.v, – man maa

ikke forhaste sig, helst naar det virkelig 

haster – han maa helst nù tro, at jeg er

ifærd med at trække mig tilbage; – blir

husene og rettighederne for dyre, og han 

ikke kommer her paa nogle dage, – saa

kanske vi blir nödt at give ham

en liden opmùntring, – jeg har da

tænkt mig et forslag, som jeg först

vil raadföre mig med dig om: Vi

byder ham 6000 kr. for "snaùe" gaarden- 

dog med öen til, – og saa paatager vi 

os (gjennem en straamand) at faa udlöst

rettighederne, og saa kjöber vi hùsene

paa aùktionen; – men da skal han

paatage sig at byde dem ind for os; thi

ingen vil faa dem billigere end han, som 

eier grùnden, – der er jo en mùlighed

for, at vi paa den maade kan faa eien-

dommene lige billigt, som det vi har

bùdt – (kanske endog et par hùndred kr.

billigere), men det er, som dù forstaar, 

den rene "hasard"; – jeg vil ialle-

fald forlange paa forhaand, at hvis

rettighederne og hùsene blir dyre, skal 

han betale 500 kr. i ùdlægget paa

dette. – Et tredje alternativ var,

om vi böd 6000 kr. for "snaùe" gaarden

og öen og saa kjöbte han sætervolden 

til dette og gav os atpaa handelen, – og 

saa fik han löse ind rettighederne og byde

ind hùsene paa aùktionen – og saa fik 

vi paatage os at betale ham ùd hans

udlæg til disse to sidste ting, – selv-

fölgelig skal han da "prùtte" "samvittig-

lighedsfùldt og dagligt paa rettig-

hederne, indtil auktionen kommer; 

da maa jo alt være ordnet med "rettig-

hederne", förend vi kan "löse" hùsene;

men hvis vort förste bud gaar i laas,

blir der jo ingen auktion af, og det

saa jeg helst, thi jeg er lidt ræd

auktioner, – det er utroligt, hvad smaa-

huser nù i den senere tid kan kom-

me op i paa auktioner her i bygden. 

riktignok er det en ùvùrdelig fordel

for os, at grùndeieren byder hùsene 

ind for os, – men paa den anden side

kan bygselfolkene faa sig straamænd

til at "byde op" hùsene, som de selv-

sagt ikke vil "ùnde" grùndeieren for billig

pris; – pagtereren vil selvfölgelig ogsaa

blive en haard konkùrent. –––

Ja dù synes vel jeg vrövler for

meget om saken. –––

Dere skulde absolut været her nogle

dage til baade for handelens skyld og 

for naturens skyld; thi dù tror ikke

hvor overraskede vi blev ved hjemkom-

sten fra Förde, – alt var forandret 

paa de 2 dagene:, skogen havde faaet

den koldgrönne friske farve, som den 

faar om vaaren her, naar varmen kommer; 

de to dagene havde gjort underværker – 

æpletrærene (blomsterne) var næsten helt udsprùngne, og 

kirsebær og plomme stod i fuld blomst,

rabarbra-bladene var blevne næsten 

dobbelt saa store paa de to dagene; –

– her var motiver overalt, saa jeg vidste

ikke, hvad jeg skulde begynde paa at

male; men stekende hedt var her, og

der var kommen den kjendte vaar-sùs

i fjeldene af alle bækkene og elvene.

Nù staar æpletrærene hvide og hæggen

sner og plomme og kirsebær begynder

ogsaa at miste jomfrùdommen. –

VII

Jeg talte lidt med Engel om 

vort fremtidige project – hùn 

syntes, at jeg skulde flytte mine

hùse paa Myklebùst frem til 

"Øiene"; – men det kom an paa

dig, svarte jeg – det vil jo koste en 

del ogsaa: – Engel troede, at

eller særlig din frùe vilde 

like bedst, om vi boede i "Øiene"

ogsaa, – da maatte vi jo ha lidt

mer hùser: – der er jo rigtig – 

nok en liden stùe forùden hoved-

bygningen, – den kunde vi jo bo i, 

medens dere var her; – hvis dere

önskede det, – men om vinteren er

den vel for kold, – men den kan jo 

kanske repareres – jeg tör ikke

besigtige husene; – hovedbygningen skal 

være forholdsvis nyt tömmer i og skal 

være varm, – der er to rùm og en "gang",

som kùnde "afpaneles" til et sommer-

rùm eller kjökken; – med dobbel

"papping"og paneling kùnde man 

ogsaa faa det til et varmt vinter-

rùm, men det blir dyrt nù, – da

pap næsten ikke er at opdrive. 

Naar vi nù faar interkomùnale

biler i den nærmeste fremtid,

vil dù kùnne reise billigt fra

Vadheim til "Øiene"– – Engel og

jeg betalte 10 kroner fra Förde til 

Sandalstrand, og da havde vi med

os en del pakker, og en hel del fisk, – 

saa der blev beregnet en del som 

kolli eller fragt gods, og da maa

det siges at være billigt; – og det

skal blive endnù billigere, siges

der; naar det interkomùnale forbùnd

kommer iorden, – dù blir jo ogsaa "op-

sidder" i distriktet og har da ret til 

lavere fragt end tourister. –––

Og saa faar vi i fællesskab faa os

en liden motorbaat, – der er jo 

glimrende anledning til "havn", – og

saa kùnde vi reise, hvor vi önskede

rùndt det 3 mil lange vand og 

se paa vore motiver – lige ind ùnder

Jostedalsbræen (til Lùnde inderst i 

Kjösnesfjorden) – eller til den 

anden arm af vandet (til Skei) 

og tage bil ind Stardalen lige ind-

til Jostedalsbræen paa den kant

ogsaa (til gaarden Fonn – hvor Fond

er fra), og derfra kan tages side turer 

til en masse prægtige dalförer, hvor

jeg alt har tinget mig försteret til 

leie af sætrer. Fra Skei er der ogsaa

bare ½ mil til Nordfjord-Förde i en vild

natur med det lange vakre Breimsvand, 

hvor der gaar "bygdemotor baat" til 

Breims vasenden, – derfra er kùn en 

fjerdingsvei (med bil) til Gloppen (Sandene) 

(en passerlig spadsertùr forresten). –––

Med kjöbet af Øiene fölger ogsaa

jagtret i Björndalen en rettighed

som W. J. Meyer "sikler" efter, – jeg

har forsögt för at skaffe ham ret der

men nù, naar jeg blir medeier der – 

tror jeg helst jeg i smùg kommer til 

at arbeide imod; – thi faar man en 

jæger i et sligt prægtigt jagttærræn

har man snart 10 andre; thi de

andre havneberettigede blir misùndelige

og skaffer straks andre jægere ret, – selv om 

de intet tjener paa det. – Fluge arbei-

der nok ihærdig paa at skaffe Meyer

jagtret der, men den ene er ræd

den anden af opsidderne, – og nù

gjælder der at styrke denne frygt. 

Den kjendte jæger Sölvberg-Förde er

den eneste, som hidtil har "jaget" der,

og han siger at der er det bedste rypeterren

han har været i, – og der er mange jægere,

som forhandler med grùnd opsiddere om 

jagtret, – hver af opsidderne har sine

liebhabere, saa at enighed opnaaes

VIII

forhaabentlig ikke saa snart, – 

jeg skal nok "pùste til" ùenig-

hedens ild – for fredens skyld. 

Nei grùndeieren kommer nok 

ikke idag, – det blir "styggeveir"

ogsaa, – jeg har slig hodepine, –

der maa være elektrisitet i luften,

saa dù maa ùndskylde mit

rabl – jeg springer vist fra det

ene til det andet. –––

Vil dù gjöre mig en stor tjeneste?

Vil dù kjöbe hos nogle af de store

kartoner hos Wernöe (de store er det

eneste han har igjen), og saa lade

Didr. Andersen pakke dem ind i 

den pap, som jeg sendte træsnittene

i, – kan sendes pr. skib til Förde nù da bilen gaar og saa maa dù være saa 

snild at skrive mig en liste over

de træsnit, som dù har bestilling

paa – jeg maa pröve at skaffe lidt

mynt nù baade til lidt gjæld og 

til at skyde til vort foretagende, 

– kunde jeg bare faa tag i stipendie-

pengene – nù ja dette var en 

ùforsigtig udtalelse, som ikke bör

komme videre – dù skal se

jeg begynder at blive penge-

begjærlig paa mine gamle dage. 

Denne gaardhandelen interesserede

mig oprigtig talt ikke saa meget

i begyndelsen, – men nù begyn-

ner den at gaa mig som en feber

i blodet, – og jeg drömmer om 

nætterne om den "hellige ö" – 

"lyksalighedernes ö" med den stille

dam i midten mellem "brùsende

vande" eller rettere elve – og röken

stiger op fra den "hellige ild"

eller offerstedet eller "brænderiet",

om man vil kalde det saa, – og

ikke en levende skal komme

der andre end dù og jeg og 

vore familier ingen fremmed maa

betræde stedet – (der maa nok en 

mùrkant ned mod vandet – for at

hindre adgang fra baad). –––

Havde jeg tidligere vidst at öen 

var særskilt eiendom, og ikke hörte

til bygselbruket, saa havde jeg sansyn-

ligvis længst kjöbt den, – nù 

blir det selvfölgelig desto bedre, naar

man kan disponere omgivelserne 

ogsaa, – og blir man lei af

bruget, kan man med lethed faa 

sælge en parcel paa hver side

af öen og beholde et stykke igjen

paa hver side af "Deltaet."– 

"Delta"-formen vil jeg ogsaa

forsöge at faa tydeligere frem ved

at minere væk nogle stener överst 

og fordele elven på begge sider. 

Den vil selvfölgelig altid blive störst

paa den indre side, da den har 

lavere leie der. –––

Gaarden forövrigt kan selvfölgelig

drives op i den doble afkastning, men 

det vil koste mange penge; – jeg 

tænker vi tager det smaat i saa 

henseende – forelöbig. – Vil dù gjöre 

udkast til et dokument os imellem, 

eller skal jeg gjöre et forslag? – 

Ja vi skal iallefald aldrig blive 

ùvenner om deling af udbytte eller

salg senere. Ja saa faar jeg for-

haabentlig snart et par ord

fra dig – Lev da vel saa længe

og vær selv og familie

hjærteligst hilset fra os alle her

Din hengivne

N. Astrup

Translation

Dear Kramer!

It was a pleasure to see you here! Well

unfortunately it was not as nice

a visit for You, as it should have been. 

The weather contributed its share – and the trip

to Berg and Botnavatnet was

too exhausting for You, and it

was too early in the year, so

the reward did not justify the effort. 

And then I was also quite un-

sociable; – I was a little nervous after

the clean-up with the public health insurance. 

I had written quite a lot, which may 

well lead to legal “repercussions”, 

and I couldn’t get the matter off

my mind, – and I was especially

unsociable towards You the last

evening in Förde, – the reason being

that the matter had come up again 

[in a conversation] between Øvrebö and myself, – he 

was my defense lawyer during both 

the appeals. 

But I shall not bore you with

with stories in an attempt to justify

myself, – You will forgive me 

in any case – 

We had to wait forever in Förde

for the motorcar, which had broken down, but 

when we finally left we

sped home at an incredible speed, – 

twice as fast as the ride down,

despite the fact that they had to build

an improvised bridge out of stone slabs

at one point along the way – (The driver

managed to do it in a matter of minutes)

When I arrived home, I immediately

began introductory nego-

tiations with the owner of Sandals-

öiene (“Øiene”), – because I 

remembered your wife’s cautious remark that

something should be done in that connection.

The landowner had just made

some inquiries about whether the papers were authentic,

– it seems there was also a question, whether

the cottars actually had any 

leaseholding rights, – or whether 

they had possibly written the

document themselves. – I therefore had to

wait a few days until he received 

an answer to a few questions, that  

he had posed to the lawyer

Leiv Wiese, – but I approached the

matter just the same – though seemingly coincidentally,

as I suggested to him, that we should

brew some spirits together, – 

but then we would have to have a safe

place, – where there was both running

water and that was easily accessible by boat,

and then he suggested himself – down by

the mouth of the river, – I found it of

course to be an excellent place,

and I asked him to follow me to 

Stranden, so that he might have a 

little “taste” of the goods, – I 

had in fact – brought along

to this meeting with the landowner[,] a

little drop that I had saved of the stuff, I

had gotten hold of in Förde. – We soon

agreed, where we would set up

the brewery, and then it became clear, that

we might very easily make a deal

without an intermediary host – you and me that is; – because

our precious Island, – does not belong

II

to the cottars’ smallholding “Sandalsöiene”

or “Øiene”, as it is commonly

called – no, the island is is owned by

the landowner himself and therefore

he might in fact make use of it straightaway,

if we were to begin “brewing”,

– (but this was not “my inten-

tion”); – I had already talked

of the possibility, that I might pur-

chase the entire cottars’ smallholding – in order to a-

void having neighbours to such a dangerous occu-

pation, – and now afterwards

during the course of our conversation I said, that I

might perhaps settle with

purchasing only the island, – since it 

in fact was not encumbered with

any cottars or leaseholder

villains; but, you cannot say A

 as we know, without saying B,

and I then asked him, what he 

would take for his landowner’s

rights to the entire cottars smallholding and

the island. – He asked me to make an

offer: – the tenant has been pushing 

him hard lately and wants to purchase

the property (there are also 3–4 others

in the bidding – among them Olaùs)

The landowner then wanted 

me to appraise the smallholding – I 

believed it might be worth

approx. 7000 (this was 1000 kr. lower

than the price he had previously de-

manded) – Until now he had 

thought, that the whole business 

about “brewing” was a yarn, but

now he began to feel his way forward, 

as to whether it might be perceived as an offer 

and asked whether I would give that much for

the smallholding, as it stood now – 

that is for his property rights as land-

owner. – “No, I said – first you 

must redeem the cottars’ leaseholder

rights and their tenant rights, and then

you must have the tenant removed by 

the 14th of April 1921 – make sure the cottars

have moved to America by 

that time, and commit yourself to 

renegotiating the transaction, if 

the cottars return

from America within 3 years (due to

the poverty relief system) – and likewise

renegotiate the transaction, without loss

to me, if anyone among your relatives

should implement their allodial title

and “contest” their way to overtaking the property” (also

within 3 years – because after that time one begins 

to have allodial rights oneself) – and cannot be “contested”) 

“Furthermore you shall buy from the cottars

all the buildings and the the mountain

pasture with cabins and barns and

all storage sheds, mills and all

barns in outlying fields.” –––

I wished to have the Island in addition to the

transaction, – but I did not get that

far; – for the man said right

off, that this was

impossible – the question of the buildings, – 

because it was impossible to know what

they would be appraised at now, – 

the main house alone would come

to more than 1000 Kr., and there were a total 

of 7–8 buildings – some of which were valu-

able (the mountain grazing cabins), – but if I

were willing to give 7000 for the “stripped” smallholding (not

encumbered by any cottar’s rights or leasing 

out rights whatsoever), then he would 

think about it until the next day – and then

we would meet, – well I also wanted to con-

III

sider the matter. – The next day the reply arrived

from the district court judge and from Wiese. 

Unfortunately the documents were legally registered 

and in order: – the cottars

in addition to cottar’s right also

had the right to lease out the smallholding “to 

whomever they wished”. 

I really wished, that you

had been present, – because

I felt the weight of the responsibility on me, 

when I went to meet the landowner

with my reply, – because without any

offer on my part, he would

not initiate negotiations with

the cottars to purchase 

their rights: ––– he has used all of his money to redeem his father’s farm (it

was an opportune moment as well; 

because the tenant was away 

that very day, so one might ne-

gotiate with the cottars, without 

his interference, – or without

the cottars being able 

to discuss it with the tenant, 

who would of course have done everything, 

to thwart the whole matter. 

I did not sleep the entire night in 

the uncertainty about, what I should

risk doing, – and in order to win a little

time without preventing the Land-

owner from negotiating with

the cottars, I finally dared

to present the Landowner with the follow-

ing proposal: 

He (the landowner) might offer

the cottars (obviously after length-

y haggling) up to 3000 Kr. 

for all their rights and

buildings, mountain cabins etc. and then

I would take the buildings for up to 

1500 Kr. while he would pay for

the cottars’ rights and tenant’s

rights, – and then I would get

the island on top of the transaction. – – 

The smallholding would then 

cost me (or rather us!)

8500 Kr. with all of the rights

the buildings mountain grazing farm and the island – (without

any form of encumbrance). – – 

He was very disinclined to sell 

the island (he would of course lose his fishing rights); but 

I refrained from mentioning this), but 

he was reluctant to sell öen

because his ancestors had always

had a mill there, and his

brother, who had gone to trade school

plans to build a general store there, 

and build a modern mill, 

which he would run adjacent to 

the store, – – I suggested to him

then, that he might exchange the water mill,

with the one, that I got with the small-

holding instead – (the one situated above

the road, – it would be only a few

steps to go from the country road – 

however I said the old mill building would have

to remain) – he objected that “the waterfall”

was not good enough, but in the end 

agreed to it (and the general store

he would find a spot for somewhere else on

his own farm.) . 

We were more or less in agreement, 

but he doubted, that he 

might obtain the buildings for a price below

2000, at an auction they would bring

a much higher price, he thought. – 

We parted with the understanding, that he 

would go to “Øiene” to negotiate

with the cottars, – this was yesterday

evening, and I have not heard anything from

him about the outcome, – he is 

probably too busy today, – (he has

had an accident, – a heifer of

a particularly fine breed, that he had

purchased fell over a cascade up

in the mountains, and he has people with

him searching in the river for the carcass. 

Well what do you think, have I 

negotiated wisely or unwisely? 

– there is still time to withdraw

from the transaction, – I scribble these

words down in haste in order to hear

your opinion, which you should

send me as quickly as possible – perhaps

preferably by telegraph (adr. Vasenden 

in Jölster). It is uncertain

whether the landowner will also

begin to have doubts, and 

then it may also be that

he must pay so much for

the buildings, the mountain grazing farm and the rights (for 

cottars and for leasing out) that he

doesn’t think it is worth it; – I

will in any case not make another offer for 

now, – we can in fact wait

until au the auction and let the land-

owner make an offer for them the buildings in our stead, – I 

don’t think people will bid very much, – when

they find out, that the landowner wants to

buy them; – but one can never 

know in advance. – 

The only question will 

be, whether we shall keep to our

offer of 8500 for everything? – and you

may merely respond “yes” or “no”

so that people do not get wind of anything – with regard to O. and the tenant

and in case we shall lower [our bid] 500 kr. 

or if necessary raise it by 500 kr. 

that I will leave up to you – I am

nevertheless afraid that we will lose the chance by

bidding too little: – if the ten-

ant gets wind of something, he might then 

bid the same as our first

bid, and then and when we have lowered 

our bid – we will no longer have any 

pre-emption right to the first bid, but must

bid over it. 

When it comes to money we don’t for the moment 

need more than what is necessary to buy up the rights

and the buildings, and how much it

will be, we obviously don’t know

yet, but there is no hurry either (to pay)

until later in the summer 

(some time in July), – I will know

any day now, and will then

telegraph the amount, – – 

when you add to this amount

{...} the other, which I will 

specify later in the telegram, then 

you will know the final amount, that the small-

holding will cost with the rights, the buildings,

mountain grazing farm and the island– (unencumbered) – and we 

still have the possibility of with-

drawing, if it might exceed our present bid.

Well you must forgive my scribbles, – 

there is one thing, which I am a little dis-

satisfied with – namely the water mill, but 

since it will be above the road, we can be

certain, that it will never be a large

mill, – the waterfall is too little you see; – 

V

it [the present mill] will probably remain as it is

always, – and nearly all the farms,

that are situated by the river, have one or

more mills on their 

property, – and I will demand to 

have it in writing, that he shall

not have the right to utilise the water

for anything other than a mill and grinding stone perhaps a stamp mill as well:

and the mill must not be larger

than what is common in the village, 

and the road (7–8 metres) must not

become a thoroughfare only a footpath, – 

in that way one is guaranteed not

to have a larger mill production. –––

This was the only way, that I might

be able to free up the island, – it also comes

in addition to the smallholding, which it 

previously did not belong to, – and we can 

take it over directly this summer, if 

we wish; because the tenant has no

rights to it; – but 

an additional document is necessary 

when it comes to the island, – as it 

must be relinquished from the main farm “San-

dalshaùg”, which it is presently registered under

–––

The landowner is an exceptionally

nice chap, who will surely do 

everything he can to get 

the buildings as cheaply as possible

for us – (I have not mentioned anything about 

you yet, – this can continue until 

the buildings are redeemed, otherwise he might 

believe, that you were so rich, that he did not 

need to make an effort to 

get them the buildings cheaply.). – He 

also likes to have me nearby, 

as he is partial to a drink, and I know how 

to “brew” and make rhubarb wine, – 

he has also borrowed my farming

tools often – (drill plough field-forge and disc-

harrow – the latter can come in

handy in “Øiene”). –––

As for the relationship between us 

– you and me that is, – we can organise

it so, that we sell the crops

at an auction every year and divide 

the income and expenses in two, (we

must t in any case have enough to cover our 

interest rates and a little extra for a dram), 

and if we spend a little on culti-

vation, we increase the value, and can sell

again at a profit, – here the farms are always 

in great demand, – especially when they are situated

on such level land as this one, – and according

to what the bailiff says, – it has

never yet occurred here in the village,

that a farm was sold for less, 

than it was purchased for even though nothing was

improved, but was rather neglected.

We are going to live here, I believe, 

and the buildings are at your disposal 

whenever you deem fit – perhaps I 

will build a studio at the island, if you

don’t have anything against it. – Milk you can 

have in abundance from your own farm all sum-

mer, – in winter I believe it is more

advantageous to buy from the surround-

ding farms and only have “summer” cows, – 

it requires the least paid help, and the mountain 

farm has the best pastures in the hamlet

below “Fagrivatnet”, – so it would be

a shame to have cows grazing that are 

“unproductive” during summer, and if one should

divide them in two half in winter and half

in summer, there would be a constant shortage of milk. 

Well, well, such things we can talk about later. 

Hope you understand my scribbles. With best

wishes from everyone here to you and yours Your 

devoted

N. Astrup

P.S.

Dear friend!

There is time before the postman leaves – and I

wish to write a few more words, perhaps the

landowner will arrive in the meantime, so that I 

might know the result of the negotiations 

with the “Øia people” (the cottars) – I

do not wish to contact him now, but 

allow him to come to me, – a little strate-

gising in other words – ––– in order to find out

how interested he is etc., – one must

not rush things, especially when it is really 

urgent – he must rather believe, that I am

on the verge of withdrawing; – if

the buildings and rights are too expensive, and he 

does not come here in the next few days, then

perhaps we will have to give him

a little encouragement, – I have 

thought of a suggestion, which I first

want to consult with you about: We

offer him 6000 kr. for the “stripped” smallholding- 

though including the island, – and then we commit to 

(through a mediator) buying out

the rights, and then we purchase the buildings

at an auction; – but then he must 

commit to making an offer for them in our stead; because

no one will get them cheaper than he, who 

owns the property, – there is a possibility

that in this way we can have the pro-

perty as cheap, as what we have

offered – (perhaps even a couple of hundred kr.

cheaper), but it is, as you understand, 

a complete “gamble”; – I will in

any case demand in advance, that if

the rights and the buildings turn out to be expensive, he 

shall pay 500 kr. in expenditures for

this. – A third alternative was,

if we offer 6000 kr. for the “stripped” smallholding

and the island and then he purchased the mountain pasture 

towards this and gave it to us in addition to the transaction, – and 

then he was able to redeem the rights and bid

for the buildings at the auction – and then we

were allowed to commit to repaying his

expenditures for these last two things, – ob-

viously he shall “haggle” “scrupu-

lously and daily for the 

rights, until the time of the auction; 

but then everything must be [legally] in order with the

“rights”, before we can “redeem” the buildings;

but if our first offer succeeds,

then there will be no auction, and I

would prefer that, because I am a little afraid

of auctions, – it is unbelievable, what small

buildings can go for nowadays 

in auctions here in the village. 

admittedly it is an invaluable advantage

for us, if the landowner bids for the buildings 

in our stead, – but on the other hand

the cottars can hire strawmen

to “up the bid” on the buildings, which they obvi-

ously would begrudge “giving” the landowner for a cheap

price; – the tenant would obviously also

be a hard competitor. –––

Well you probably think I am babbling ex-

cessively about the matter. –––

You should absolutely be here for a few

days both for the sake of the transaction and 

for the sake of nature; you cannot believe

how surprised we were upon our re-

turn from Förde, – everything had changed 

in the 2 days:, the forest had gained

that fresh cold green colour, which it 

takes on in spring, when the warm weather arrives; 

the two days have done wonders – 

the apple trees (the blossoms) were almost completely in flower, and 

the cherry and plum trees were in full bloom, 

the rhubarb leaves had nearly 

doubled in size in the two days; –

– there were motifs everywhere, so that I didn’t 

know, what I should begin to 

paint; but it was sweltering hot here, and

the familiar spring murmur had arrived

in the mountains from all the streams and rivers.

The apple trees are now in white and the bird cherry

snows and the plum and cherry trees have

also begun to lose their virginity. –

VII

I spoke a little with Engel about 

our future project – she 

thinks, that I should move my

house in Myklebùst over to 

“Øiene”; – but that was up to

you, I replied – it would cost 

a bit too: – Engel thought, that

you or especially your wife would 

prefer it, if we lived in “Øiene”

as well, – then we would have to have a few

more buildings: – there is in fact – 

a little cabin in addition to the main

building, – we could stay there 

while you were here; – if you

wished, – but in winter it 

is probably too cold, – but it’s possible 

it can be repaired – I don’t dare inspect

the buildings right now; – the main building is supposed

to have new timber in it and should 

be warm, – there are two rooms and a “hall”,

which might be “divided with panelling” to create a summer

room or kitchen; – with double

“paper insulation” and panelling one might 

also turn it into a warm winter

room, but that would be expensive now, – when

paper insulation is nearly impossible to get hold of. 

When we will have inter-municipal

motorcars in the very near future,

you will be able to travel cheaply from

Vadheim to “Øiene”– – Engel and

I paid 10 kr. from Förde to 

Sandalstrand, and we even had with

us some packages, and a large supply of fish, – 

so a part of it was calculated as 

parcels or shipped goods, and thus it

must be considered inexpensive; – and it

will be even cheaper, they

say; when the inter-municipal union

is organised, – you will also be a “free-

holder” in the district and will therefore qualify for 

lower transportation fees than tourists. –––

And then we shall together obtain

a little motor boat, – it is a 

brilliant opportunity to have a “dock”, – and

then we might go, where we wished

around the 30-kilometre-long lake to

observe our motifs – all the way to below

the Jostedalsbræen glacier (to Lùnde at the head of 

Kjösnesfjorden) – or to the 

other arm of the lake (to Skei) 

and take a motorcar through Stardalen all the way in-

to the Jostedalsbræen glacier from that direction

as well (to the Fonn farm – where Fond

is from), and from there one can make side trips 

to countless glorious valleys, where

I have already reserved pre-emptive rights for myself to 

rent mountain grazing farms. From Skei it is also

merely 5 kilometres to Nordfjord-Förde in untamed

nature with the long and beautiful lake Breimsvand, 

where there is a “country motor boat” to 

Breims vasenden, – from there it is only 

two-and-a-half kilometres (by motorcar) to Gloppen (Sandene) 

(a fine stroll by the way). –––

With the purchase of Øiene also comes

hunting rights in Björndalen

which W. J. Meyer “drools” over, – I

have attempted to obtain rights for him there

but now, when I become co-owner there – 

I think I will prefer to clandestinely 

oppose it; – because if there is one 

hunter in such superb hunting grounds

one will soon have 10 more; since the

others who have grazing rights will be envious

and immediately obtain rights for additional hunters, – even though 

they gain nothing from it. – Fluge is most

likely doing his utmost to obtain hunting rights for

Meyer there, but one freeholder 

is afraid of the next, – and now

it is a matter of increasing that fear. 

The well-known hunter Sölvberg-Förde is

the only one to date, who has “hunted” there,

and he claims it is the best grouse terrain 

he has been in, – and there are many hunters,

who negotiate with land freeholders for 

hunting rights, – every freeholder has his

favourites, so an agreement will

hopefully not result too soon, – 

I will certainly “blow on” the fire

of disagreement – for tranquillity’s sake. 

Well it is not likely the landowner 

will come today, – we are expecting “bad weather”

as well, – I have such a headache, –

there must be electricity in the atmosphere,

so you must pardon my

gibberish – I jump from 

one thing to another. –––

Would you do me a great favour?

Would you purchase from some of the large

printing boards from Wernöe (the large type is the

only kind he has left), and then ask

Didr. Andersen to package them in 

the cardboard, that I sent the woodcuts 

in, – can be sent by boat to Förde now that the motorcar is running and then you must be so 

kind as to write me a list of

the woodcuts, that you have orders

for – I must try to get hold of some

money now both for some debts and 

to put into our business undertaking, 

– if only I could get hold of the grant

money – well that was a 

careless remark, which should not

be passed on – you see

that I have begun to covet money

in my old age. 

This farm transaction did not

quite honestly interest me much

in the beginning, – but now it has be-

gun to run like a fever 

in my veins, – and I dream at 

night about the “sacred island” – 

“the blissful island” with the little

pond in the middle between the “bubbling

brook” or rather river – and the smoke

rises up from the “sacred bonfire”

or sacrificial site or “brewery”,

if one wishes to call it that, – and

not a living soul will come

there other than you and me and 

our families no stranger must

place their foot in the place – (a stone wall 

must be built down by the water – in order

to prevent access by boat). –––

Had I known before that the island

was a separate property, and did not belong

to the cottar smallholding, I would have pro-

bably purchased it long ago, – now 

it will of course be even better, when

one has access to the surroundings 

as well, – and if one becomes tired of

the smallholding, one can easily 

sell an allotment on either side

of the island and then retain a tract  

on either side of “The Delta.”– 

“The Delta” shape I will also

attempt to make more apparent

by blasting away some stones at the top 

and dividing the river onto both sides. 

It will obviously always be wider

on the inner tract, since it has a

lower bed there. –––

Furthermore the smallholding can of course

be driven to yield double the returns, but

it will cost a lot of money; - I 

think we should begin gradually in that 

respect – for the time being. – Do you wish to make 

a draft of a document between the two of us, 

or shall I make a proposal? – 

We shall in any case never become 

foes based on the sharing of profits or

sale later on. Well I 

hope to receive a few words

from you soon – Live well in the meantime

and may you and your family accept 

sincere greetings from all of us here

Your devoted

N. Astrup