must burn it.
OYVIND THORESEN PLADSEN.



TO THE MOST HONORED MAIDEN, MARIT KNUDSDATTER NORDISTUEN AT THE UPPER
HEIDEGARDS:--
You will no doubt be much surprised at receiving a letter from me;
but you need not be for I only wish to ask how you are. You must send
me a few words as soon as possible, giving me all particulars.
Regarding myself, I have to say that I shall be through here in a year.
Most respectfully,
OYVIND PLADSEN.



TO OYVIND PLADSEN, AT THE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL:--
Your letter was duly received by me from the school-master, and I
will answer since you request it. But I am afraid to do so, now that
you are so learned; and I have a letter-writer, but it does not help
me. So I will have to try what I can do, and you must take the will
for the deed; but do not show this, for if you do you are not the one I
think you are. Nor must you keep it, for then some one might see it,
but you must burn it, and this you will have to promise me to do.
There were so many things I wanted to write about, but I do not quite
dare. We have had a good harvest; potatoes bring a high price, and
here at the Heidegards we have plenty of them. But the bear has done
much mischief among the cattle this summer: he killed two of Ole
Nedregard's cattle and injured one belonging to our houseman so badly
that it had to be killed for beef. I am weaving a large piece of