Can someone translate this autograph book entry from 1886, please?

SJonnes

Can someone translate this autograph book entry from 1886, please?

Here's another entry, somewhat lengthier, in my great-grandfather Bernt Olsen Bonn's 1883-1887 autograph book. It's 2 pages and is signed by his brother-in-law Joh. Larsen. Bernt had 2 sisters who remained in Norway (Eidsvoll area) and did not immigrate to Minnesota with the rest of the family. One was Maren and one was Olava. Maren did marry a man named Johan Larsen in April 1883 who was from Donum Bønsdalen. Although I don't see Maren's name in the text, any reference to her would be very valuable. I wonder if this is sad news about Bernt's sister.

 

What's odd about this entry is that it doesn't fit the pattern one would expect. An autograph message is usually signed personally in front of the person who owns the book and who carries it around with him. However, I'm pretty sure Bernt was not in Norway in 1886, but in Minnesota. (He did travel to Norway in Spring 1887.) So any clue from the message about how the book was signed would be helpful too.

 

Thanks! Steve

Norm Baker

Perhaps @anka haslam1​ or @Liv Anderson2​ could take a look at this.

SJonnes

Yes that would be great!

Charlotte Noelle Champenois

Page 1:

Dear brother-in-law,

in your pedigree chart I will/want to write my name, and despite [we] remain friends until death, what joy for me, for I cannot speak with you from here. Inscribed on years and days I remember back to [when] in front of the altar of God we stood and drank of the blood of God and he asked us sin to forsake. Dear brother-in-law and brother, stay here in Nor. [Norway?]. For your ? you probably here and want to go home or if you once again travel to America, then remember ? who is/are here again, I wish that happiness may accompany you in everything, you intend to do.

 

Page 2:

Ski railway st[ation] in Norway 11 July 1886

Dedicated here to Böhn,

from your Joh. Larsen

SJonnes

Thanks Charlotte, Does it sound like Johan Larsen is sending this to Bernt O. Bonn in America or that Bernt is with him in Norway when he writes this? Is he encouraging Bernt to move back to Norway? Steve

Carole McIntyre

Since it is written at the railway station, it seems they are there together and it is a leave taking. The wish for him to stay in Norway is also an indication of the same. He also says he was happy to be able to speak with him.

Could your travel dates be wrong?

SJonnes

Yes, they could be wrong. What it means is that Bernt must have taken 2 trips back to Norway! One in July 1886 and another in May 1887. Very interesting. Thanks, that helps a lot.

Charlotte Noelle Champenois

I agree with Carole's interpretation. By the way, I saw you had a question about the word "Lökken"; the phrase he wrote that includes that word, "Jeg ønsker at Lökken maa fölge med dig i alt vad du akter at foretage dig," means "I wish that happiness may accompany you in everything you intend to do"--in this case, "Lökken" means "happiness" or "good luck"--it should have been spelled "lykken," but from the context (and the fact that the two words are pronounced the same) it is clear that is the word he meant.

SJonnes

Thanks, Charlotte. Yes I removed that question because I realized on my own it was the word "happiness." Steve