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[Hemlandet, October IS, IS65,]
Countrymen In Richmond, Virginia
Virginia, September 3, 1865,
Dearest cousin Olof, Swede Bend, Iowa: —
I will now write a few7 lines to you, my dear friend
and cousin, and in my loneliness tell you how I am
faring.
I thank God that I am in good health. I have at last
come to America after strange experiences. We arrived
at New York without a penny, and I knew of no w7ay to
continue our journey, as there was no employment in
sight. But then a Swedish gentleman put in his
appearance and offered ns employment. He was well dressed
and extremely kind and offered to accompany us and
find employment for us at a place three, and at the most
four, hours’ journey from Iowa. (Iowa was my
destination). Accordingly, it would be an easy matter to get
there. Instead of keeping liis promise he brought us to
the southern states. W7e arrived first at Richmond, where
the w’ar had wrought devastation, thence by canal for
forty miles, to our destination. In New York he had
promised that food, lodging, bed clothes, and a physician’s
services would be furnished free of cost in addition to
monthly wages of $13 for myself and $8 for my wife. But
instead I receive $10 and my Wife $2, We are twelve
Swedes, including men, women, and children, and receive
less than twelve cans of buttermilk per day, corn meal
for pancakes in place of bread, and a small amount of
pork. This is our daily allowance. We work hard all
day; at night sleep on a hard brick floor, and an hour
before sunrise begin work. Yes; the slaves are freed, but
we are treated almost like slaves. I do not see any
possibility of myself and mine holding out until I have
earned enough to. leave. I fear that before that time
comes I will be unable to stand on my feet, even if I
should be alive. Now, dear cousin, I pray you, if you
possibly can, to do something to help us out of this
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