Letter from Clara Swanson ("Mother") in Wilkes-Barre to her son Hilding and his wife Gertrude ("Gerthy") in Louisville, 9 November 1948. She thanks them for a check and a birthday sweater, and gives news of her health, Ed's visit for a Building & Loan meeting, Josefine and Ken, and the 1948 presidential election. In Swedish mixed with English, with an English translation.

[Envelope. Front only; the top with the return address and most of the postmark is cut off.]

[Postmark, partly visible] ... 1948 PA.

Mr H A Swanson. 676. So. 44th. St. Louisville. Kentucky

[Letter, in Swedish mixed with English, transcribed with her spelling]

Wilkes-Barre Nov 9/1948.

Dear Gerthy and Hilding. Many tanks to you for last letter. ock check till mig. Millions tanks. Vi är sorry att höra ni båda har haft bad Colds, ock hoppas ni äro bätter ock alright igen. För mig sjelf är jag så jag kan vara out af bädd ock nere i huset; men jag får bad days emellanåt så blir det att stanna i bädd igår hade jag en sådan dag men i dag litet bätter ock arund. Ed var opp i W. Barre last night för Bl. & Loan metting så han kom ock hade supper med oss. di alla hans family är alright. Well vi dont vin vår man för Presidet. är ni desepontid. Jag såg i paper ni hade terbel storm and Tornado i Kentucky. Vi såg i vårt paper att det Tobacd company skall måke det bigger. jag sänder clipping af det.

Josefine har wallpaperd mitt bäddrum det är god job. hon kan göra alting. Ken är home har inget job. Hoppas vi var så nere så vi kunde bli together at Tanksgifningsday. det skulle bli fun. Jag har inte mychet att tala om denna gång Vi sänder käraste helsning till eder från oss. Love från Mother.

P.S. Jag är så glad för den beutifull sweter jag fick af eder på min Birthday. Tell Gerthy hon pickt out en verry nice one. Millions tanks.

[English translation]

Wilkes-Barre, Nov 9, 1948

Dear Gerthy and Hilding, Many thanks to you for your last letter and the check to me. Millions of thanks. We're sorry to hear you've both had bad colds, and hope you're better and all right again. As for me, I'm well enough to be out of bed and downstairs in the house, but I have bad days now and then, and then I stay in bed. Yesterday I had a day like that, but today I'm a little better and up and around. Ed was up in Wilkes-Barre last night for the Building & Loan meeting, so he came and had supper with us. All his family are all right. Well, we didn't win, our man for President. Are you disappointed? I saw in the paper you had a terrible storm and tornado in Kentucky. We saw in our paper that the tobacco company is going to get bigger. I'm sending a clipping of it.

Josefine has wallpapered my bedroom, and it's a good job. She can do anything. Ken is home and has no job. I wish we were near enough to be together at Thanksgiving. That would be fun. I don't have much to tell this time. We send dearest greetings to you both from us. Love from Mother.

P.S. I'm so glad for the beautiful sweater I got from you for my birthday. Tell Gerthy she picked out a very nice one. Millions of thanks.