Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-12-29
'WALLNER ARRIVES
At MOCkFJA RO.
The Trip Through Norway. Sad
News Awaits His Arrival
at Native Village. /.

(FTeely translated rom SWed1sh.)
Mocktjard, Sweden, Dec. 1, 1916.
To Willmar Tribune:
It was in outer harbor of Bergen
where our last letter was closed. Many
wonderful feelings ran through us as
we faced the end of our ocean voy-
age. The band music was beautiful,
the anchor slipped down and out into
the harbor. Through my glass I could
see the largo crowd that stood wav-
ing greetings and waiting at the dock.
No wonder, thought l, that this
town was named Bergen. Some hous-
es seemed to hang on the side OF the
mountain like a picture on the wall.
A smaller boat came alongside and
my neighbor John Lindblad, John
Helm, a native of Mockfjard from
California, and the undersigned get
into it to make trip to shore. Walk
ing on the ground felt just as II we
had taken of pair of skates after
long skating trip. The first thing
that caught my eye were the small
stubby but quick horses hitched 10
two-wheeled carts. We meet large
automobiles, street cars, etc., just like
in a large city in America. Being the
most curious of the trio I took the
lead. We visit both the museum and
cathedral but unfortunately neither
place was open. At the cathedral was
a wonderful growth of vines that
reached away up to the roof, and
wondered If that was what is known
- ssr,,iv1o THroH vsyo yof,,rY RI
the Bergensfjord to spend the night.
At six in the morning we have break
fast, and at eight o'clock he train
leaves Bergen for Christ1ania. This
trip is made over what is claimed to
be the most interesting railroad In
Europe. Now we were to see the Won
derful "fjall'' Of which we had heard
so much. The highest point reached
was $4,000 feet over the sea, and there
we were to eat dinner in a tempera-
ture of II degrees Celsius cold. My
wife and took the precaution to put
on our overcoats. The cold bit our
noses although it was absolutely calm.
Then as we resumed our journey the
tops Of the mountains seemed to have
lost their heads, between them in the
fjords was the finest skating and the
glittering white snow strained our
eyes. l simply lost myself in the glory
of it all. The sightseeing and my
over-taxed mind made me weary and
l had a bad headache. When we ar.
rived at Norway's capital city was
sick, and lay down in my room at the
hotel at once. A good nights rest,
coffee in the morning and grim de.
| termination restored me to action.
cannot tell much about Christiania
because our time there was limited
and representatives of the Crown were
awaiting us to inspect our baggage
We opened our trunks, and received
new papers. The train starts. Soon
we pass the monument that marks
the boundary line between Sweden
and Norway. The trainmen call out
call out Schalottenberg, and now after
thtrty-s1x and half years absence
my wife can step on the soil of ou1
| dear old native land. Now we must
| open our trunks again, to again "synas
i s0mmarne." In a few minutes ev
erything was passed. Our next stop
was Ludvika, where we changed cars
pride myself on being able to use
Swedish fairly we'll, but here before
the station agent I was stuck to think
of the Swedish name "koffert" He
came to my assistance by using the
English word trunk" You, who read
this, may laugh, but I did not.
It was six o'clock on the morning
of Oct. 49, when two strangers step
ped off the train at Mockfjard. Ou1
hearts beat faster than usual. Is i
a dream? No, here we are at Mock
fjard, the goal Of our interesting, bu
somewhat tiresome journey. We had
not written a line to anyone about
our coming. People from America
were expected, but whom or when
thew would arrive none knew.
We found our cousin, D. Brandt
principal of the school. Here we re
ceived the sad news of the sudde1
death in an automobile accident o.
our brother-in-law. Saddened we made
our way to our old parental home
After q few minutes we arrive ant
can say, God dag, fart" The eighty