The young people come with their best speed to wish you a most happy 1927 from Gertrud K-g
Vretaberg Rönninge
2. Jan. - 27
Dear Abby - may I say so instead of Miss Turner that somehow seems a bit stiff? This is just a greeting from out at our country-place where I have been together with some of the sisters since the 31st of Dec. It is fine and so peaceful out here - especially to-day. Yesterday the married sisters & brothers were here for afternoon and dinner - in all with ourselves about 50 persons so you may understand it was lively enough then!
But first of all I wanted to thank you most heartily for two kind letters - the 1st of Septeg [sic] you have only had a P.C to acknowledge and the latter I have brought out here to answer.
How good of you to write as you do and so interesting to hear about how you spend X-mas and New Year! I do hope you have - as we here - had fine weather it makes much difference. This year we had both X-mas eve and X-mas day sunny, fresh snow and a few ° below zero - the last days have been a bit colder and last night we had 16 à 18° below freezing point (centigrade). We have big woodfires to keep it warm in the house and I am now watching one in my room.
Thank you so much for sending me the life of Mary Lyon - it looks very interesting indeed and I am sure it will still more than many other things make me feel near to your part of the world, your people and your interests. We have so many in common - have we not?
I do wish you will be able to give another holiday soon to Scandinavia and then I hope you will manage to put Stockholm in too[.] After all you did by no means see all there is to see - neither here nor in the north and as to Norway - I am sure you need more time there too. I should like to stop at Finse once more and get a better impression than the one when I came that way last - the 2nd of August 1914 - the world war had just started I had been a delightful trip on the norwegian fjords with one of my english friends and had just met another who had joined us to take the Sweden part of our trip with us - It became at once to both of the english ladies a question of how to get back home. We stopped then in a Finse - the weather was terrible such a rain storm, so dark and dreary and everybody so anxious. A good thing is that one cannot look far ahead and also that when difficulties and sorrows are past and over they soon grow dim and life goes on.
- Did you, I wonder hear any swedish X-mas songs? One we like very much is the old "Staffan Stelledrâng" but then there is another about the „Star of Bethlehem" that is still more sung now-a-days. Victor Rydberg who wrote the words was a friend of my parents and also the lady who wrote the music we know - Would you like to see it I wonder it is in a book with childrens songs if it is not out of print I will try to get it for you.
- How very pretty it sounds with the X-mas habits of Beacon Hill
- I lived in the Womens City Club and had a charming room looking over the Common but I did not see much of the Streets behind.
Later:
Now back in town again I had post to see to and must now send some papers that have to be treated [?] to-morrow at an extra meeting in the Poor Law Cttee. I have an other engagement and should very much wish not to have to attend - I shall know better what to do when I have sent the papers.
I enclose a view from our lake at Vretaberg in case it may interest you. Just at present the whole lake is bridged over with ice which makes coming backwards & forwards over it most convenient.
I hope you will have had a most agreeable holiday and that 1927 will be good to you in every way -
If it will give you some leisure moments to send me some lines now and then they will be gratefully received by
Yours very sincerely
Gertrud af K-g
By the way a niece of mine a Miss Gertrud Holmgren very likely will be coming over to U.S.A this early spring and may stop in Boston. She wants to get some work as soon as possible - so far she has been working in her fathers office. If it is not to[o] far - may she call on you if she goes to Boston
"View at Vretaberg
Easter 1926"