A Swedish Romance: Part Four

The Love Letters
From the letters found among Grandma Berg's effects.
Translated from the original Swedish by her son with the help of Swedish friends and relatives.
Missed the other installments?
Part One.
Part Two.
Part Three.
We'll be here when you get back...

Ostra Ras, Alghult, March 3, 1919

My Dearest Petrus,
Now finally I have my ticket and clearance for the trip on the ship Stockholm which should have sailed on the 15th of March. But I have just learned today that it won't be leaving until the 22nd. I must check with the office in Goteborg if there is any further change and I hope you will be able to find out when it will arrive in New York. I am anxious about how everything will turn out and I suppose you are the same.
But thankfully now I am so happy, so very happy my dearest, my very own darling. It is so wonderful that we will soon meet again. I loved you from the first glance with a happiness which no one nor anything could turn off.
Thanks, a thousand thanks that you wrote to Mother. It was a great help for me. It is true that she thinks that it is a hard blow that I shall leave her, but she does not wish to stop me from going. It is the same with my sisters and brother even though they only saw you once briefly. I should have told you of this in an earlier letter but I was just back from a trip and it was not so clear then. Now everything is fine for me and I no longer have any doubts.
It was kind of you to sent the fare for the ticket. It was plain proof that I would be welcome. What was more difficult was before I could travel I had to make a personal appearance at the Land Board and have my photograph taken. I had to take nine copies with me to insert in the pass and the trip declaration. Also the Church Warden had to write on it declaring that it was I. I has been so much to do but now it is all clear.
What would have been very pleasing for me would be to have visited you parents, to tell them that I shall go to you. But that was not possible and I hope in the future that I could meet them and be on as good terms with them as you are with mine.
Oh, how happy I am that in you I have a friend, a true friend who loves and is loved in return. Now life is worth living, if that isn't our fate, I cannot understand my feelings as I sit here alone in the evening. Now my darling it only remains to make a commitment and face the future and trust that here at home Mother will understand that everything in life has a pathway where meeting and separating is part of life.
The next time the Stockholm comes to America I will be on it.
En Hjartvarm fran din egan Ellen.

A Swedish Romance: Part Two

If you missed Part One, you can find it here.
When you're done, you will find us waiting . . .

Found among Grandma Berg's effects and translated by two of my uncles (with help from a Swedish friend  and cousins in Sweden).

The love letters:

Pingree, Idaho R.F.D.#1, Feb. 15, 1918

Alskade Ellen, (Darling Ellen)
That's what I call you even though I don't have the right, since I haven't done enough to deserve it. Thank you very much for you letter. It was such a special, loving letter, coming when it did, after what seemed such a long time.
I couldn't hope for such lofty thoughts, expecting that your feelings would be a little milder. But now my happiness is full since you believe me to be better than I deserve. And Ellen, I love you very much. I cannot get over my love for you, my darling. You have made me very happy with your letter. Now I can quit worrying about something I might have done for which I could not get your forgiveness.
But thank you for your own and unique kind heart.
I hope that you will not find any reason to be concerned about me. I trust you will find that I have matured from a problem young boy to a thinking, steady young man who seeks to go forward to the highest possible goal.
Oh, Ellen, that you really love me so, surprises me, but makes me very happy. I think how sad it would be if I never see you again. It is true that it is very hard to travel to this country, but it is certain that it will be worse before fall. I have thought that I could go home in the fall but I am not sure that I can manage it. But if I cannot come home, it may be better that you come to me. Should you have something against coming for a few years, since the war cannot last long couldn't you leave all at home and travel over the Atlantic for my sake? If I can't travel home, I will naturally look after your ticket. In your next letter please be so kind and tell me you will come. Naturally I will try to come home if at all possible. Oh, my darling of you were here with me, I would be so happy. Never again would we part.
Now please tell me about everything, where you have been and what you have done during the whole year. Even the smallest detail interests me more than you can imagine. It is such a long time since we have seen each other. Can you believe it is five years and it only seems like yesterday? However in the winter you will see me if God wills.
If I come home I'm sure we would soon come back here again. Believe me, my own little darling, I feel it is as good here as back in Sweden. So I beg you to come here. When you have been here a little while you will find that it will be better than you think.
Oh how wonderful it will be. I miss you terribly. I will write a long letter soon. I never tire of reading your letter over, your many kisses enclosed, last a long time. Dearest greetings to you my own loving Ellen.
Technar med innerlig karlek, din alltid tillgivne, Paterus Berg (Sending with heartfelt love. Yours for ever, Petrus Berg)