She was single, but in her younger days she'd had two daughters.   One of them, Anna, died quite young of tuberculosis, which was a disease that struck many in those days.

    The other daughter, Kari, married Peder Rodvold from Tydal. Together they immigrated to America in 1905 where she received letters from Brunhild regularly. She had 12 children there.  I remember the pictures sent to Brynhild which included all the children, and she knew the names of every one of them. It was pure delight to hear when she began to read those letters.

    Yes, as I said before, she had a little house. The barn, too, was not very big, but a small acreage went with it so there was room for two or three goats. That gave her a little milk to make cheese. And then there would be a little meat in the fall when the chickens were ready to butcher.  We had her goats on the "saeter" (mountain pastures) in the summertime and then there was "saeter" cheese for her. In the fall when we came back home from the "saeter" we got "goat gifts" from her. I still have many of them.

    There was no old age insurance (pension or social security) back then. But she knit mittens and sold them to buy food and other necessities. She was never demanding or pretentious. I never heard her complain. It was, no doubt, her good humor that helped her through the rough times.

    Yes, she lived in that little house, but she dared not stay there at night. Then she locked the door and went to the neighbors at Roa. There she slept every night. I think that went on for 26 or 27 years. Yes. talk about hospitality. But I never heard Anna or Brynhild complain or say a thing about it.

    She did not like to be alone, especially at night, fall and wintertime when there were such long nights and so much darkness. Sometimes she took her belongings with her and left for awhile to visit. But she was so happy to have visitors come to her place. Magna, my sister, and I were there often. We were to come at about 4:00 p.m. and be there till 8:30 p.m. Then she locked her door and headed for Roa. I recall my father saying as we went, "Yes, sure, it is 'Lillero' night tonight." We had it so good there. Anna Roen came also. We sat around the stove and the oil (kerosene?) lamp gave us light. The knitting needles flew lively and merrily. Entertainment we had to dream up for ourselves, and Brynhild went along with everything. There was neither radio or TV then. We sang all the popular songs from far and near, and songs we learned at school and told riddles. Brynhild told about the times they went from Selbu to downtown. She was working at Presthus in Strinda.

    At the same time, Brynhild was brewing coffee. I remember well what we had with our coffee. It could be a half a kringia and always she served some kind of cakes, a little thick, which she had fried in the frying pan. On them she served butter and red goat cheese ("saeter" cheese). Believe me, that tasted good!

    When she had finished serving the coffee, she sat down on a low stool by the stove and lit her pipe. It seems I can see her yet. Then she was relaxed and comfortable.

    But then the evening was over. Before we left, she took a damp cloth and wiped off the ceiling above where the lamp hung and the floor around the stove. She was deathly scared of fire. We thanked her and went home, but we had to promise we'd come again next week.

    Brynhild locked the door and accompanied Anna to Roa, for there she should be for the night. But when morning came, she returned to her own house and the goats in the barn. Yes, Brynhild was a pleasant person, which I will never forget. I never heard her complain about a thing. She was alone, but had a good sense of humor. That was, no doubt, what helped her... otherwise she did not have much variety in her life.

    Brynhild died during the war, but her house is still standing. It is Birgit Hallbauer who owns it now. She has refurbished it and changed things a little. Every time I pass by there, many good and happy memories are awakened within me.

    (This magazine. "Christmas in Neadalen", is yearly published for Selbu and Tydal historical society. This was the 1999 edition.)