A letter from Albert Peter Severin
Collett 1842-1896 (Ref. 24N15)
to his
future wife Nanna Hoegh
Harstad
To: Miss Nanna Hoegh
Havnevig
Best Miss
Since I did not, as intended, get a chance to talk with
you in the course of my pleasant stay at Havnevig, I take the liberty of
writing to you. You said, as it
happened, that probably you would not be coming to the south until next fall,
and for the matter I have at heart, to ask my good lady’s decision, I would
find it difficult to wait.
Following this introduction I believe you will understand
that the purpose of my letter is to ask you, if you might be willing to share
with me the fate of my life, and that you will accept my hand and heart which
hereby with innermost warmth, love and truthfulness, I offer you.
You may perhaps wonder at the seemingly head-over-heels nature
of the stated declaration, wherefore I ask you kindly to read the following
brief explanation, if you should not already have taken a dislike to my
proposal.
At the time three years ago when I met you on the steamer
at Namsos, and had the pleasure to converse with you at Faslandaasen you made
an indelible impression on me, and I treasured long in my thoughts your dear
picture. Certain difficulties however
and hereunder the impression that your uncle, minister (pastor) Ellefsen had a
less than good impression of me thanks to a process in which we were
counterparts, etc.
I therefore was afraid that you also might have obtained
of me an unflattering impression, wherefore I found it impossible to visit with
your uncle, in order to see you again.
Neither would fate have it that later I got a chance to see you.
I thought at the time that I would have to forget you, but
later events proved that that was not possible.
It therefore became clear to me that my fate would have to
be decided by you, my best Miss, and I already this winter decided, come
summer, to look you up here up north, and to talk with you should conditions
permit.
This opportunity I regretfully did not obtain, while my
earlier feelings for you became renewed and strengthened.
It would have been simpler to talk than to write, but
unfortunately, now I did not have a choice.
I decided on board to accompany the telegraph-director and
Mr Lie to where we are (Harstad) and
further to go with Michael Krohn (the ship)
to Trano, in order from there to write you by first north-going steamer,
thereby hoping for the possibility to receive from you at least a preliminary
reply by steamship heading south.
That letter I would be able to pick up between Groto and
Bodo, and thus soon learn my fate.
Should my fate happen to be a joyous one, I could return
from Bodo and see again the person for whom I’m strongly pining and whom I
would devote all my efforts to make happy.
I have openly and frankly declared to you, my dear Miss,
my love, and I pray you may have a little bit left over for me, in that you
will trust your future with me, in reliance that I will always do my utmost to
make you happy.
Insofar as my position is concerned, it is generally
considered as being well founded, and in that respect I believe you can look
forward to a future free of sorrows.
I have informed your grandfather about the principal
content of this letter; No – you yourself will determine with whom to share
your thoughts, I just include herewith my letter to him.
I wish I may hereafter be given an opportunity to address
your mother as Mother, and your sisters as Sisters and that it shall be granted
me to become your protector and your best friend throughout life.
With that wish I ask you to accept my most sincere and
friendly greetings and with innermost sympathy and reverence I permit myself to
sign this letter
Your Albert Collett
My address is Salsbrugets Post
Efoneri, Namdalen,
but I would equally well get it
onboard ship,
should it be there.
Kindly mark the envelope Private.