Life went on much the same way for everyone for the next few months. Ane Marie felt more and more like the house maid, working for Ole’s mother. The children began to look more and more to her mother-in-law for permission and direction.
Anna Sophie’s eighth birthday was upon them. One day, towards the end of the month, the missionaries stopped by to check on the family. The little branch of the Church would grow and then a group would go to the United States and then the groups would grow again. When the Elders found out that Sophie had just turned eight, they asked her if she wanted to be baptized. She said that she did, but then her grandmother shouted out, “No!”.
Everyone stopped talking and looked into the kitchen where the grandmother was standing. Then she turned and walked out of view, muttering to herself. The Elders looked at Ane Marie and then back at Sophie. Sophie looked at her mother and then said that she better ask her father.
Ane Marie explained, “My husband is a fisherman on the Olesen’s boat. They just left yesterday and he will not be back for a week.” The Elders clearly looked disappointed.
The first Elder said, “We’ll come back in a two weeks. Is that ok?”
Ane Marie nodded and Sophie smiled.
“But we will see you at Church this Sunday. Right?” The question from the second Elder was a bit anxious, but sincere. He was worried about this part member family. “We’re meeting at the Arny Johansen’s home. Do you know where that is?” Ane Marie nodded. “Several new members are being baptized, including Avilida Johansen. She just turned eight too.” He smiled back at Sophie.
From the kitchen came a low rumbling, “Girls. It’s time to come make dinner.” With that Ane Marie stood and went to the door. “Thank you for coming. We’ll see you Sunday.”
As she shut the door, behind her she heard, “It’s about time. They make me uncomfortable. I don’t like them.” Sophie looked at her grandmother with a question, but she didn’t have to ask it. “I don’t like them because they mean to take my little ones from me.”
“Oh, Grandma, I’ll never leave you.” That was a statement of fact for an eight year old.
Ane Marie didn’t say anything. Her heart was being broken by a daughter that seemed to love her grandmother more than her mother. As long as they were living in her mother-in-law’s home she would never be able to set the rules.
When she wanted to talk to Ole about it, he said, “Oh, it will be alright. Mama wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt that child. Sophie is her pride and joy. Besides, she’s right. Those Mormons just want to spirit you away to the Americas where they can tell you what to do.”
The next Sunday, Sophie refused to go to Church with her mother.
Three year old Amanda, on the other hand, was excited. Before Ane Marie was even out of bed, Amanda came with a brush and comb to her mother’s bedside. “Please, Mommy.”
The next two years were a blur of mundane work and more work. Her mother-in-law took in laundry, but Ane Marie and the girls were the ones that did the work. Scrubbing and rinsing their way through the days, there was never enough time for one batch to dry before the next one was ready to be hung. Little Amanda had to keep the fire stoked with coal to keep the water hot while Sophie and her mother plunged and scrubbed their hands raw.
Ole became more and more dissatisfied with his work as a fisherman and would spend more and more time in the bars and with his friends from the performing troupe.
Ane Marie hardly recognized anyone at Church. Every few months another group of them would leave for America. The missionaries continued to visit her and the girls, but the visits were all outside, close to the washtubs. They joked with Sophie, but she would not engage in conversations with them, constantly looking back to the curtained windows where she knew her grandmother was watching. Ane Marie wanted to sit and read with them, to speak of the gospel that she hungered for, but she could not.
Letters from Kjerstine would still come and fill her with happiness. She read about the work on the Temple in Logan and how Rasmus was there two days out of ten. There was no earthly reason for it, but Ane Marie’s heart filled with hope as the time drew nearer for that far distant building to be completed.
On the 23rd of June, 1884, a letter arrived from Rasmus and Kjerstine.
“Monday, May 19, 1884
“Dear loved ones,
“How blessed we are to be able to write to you this night and tell you of this wonderful day that we have been part of. Our hearts are so full that it is hard to sit still and write these words. I don’t know how we will ever sleep again."
“The Temple of the Lord was dedicated today and we were privileged to be at the 10 am ceremony in the Temple. We were so blessed to have the tickets to this session. The obtaining of those tickets was a miracle."
“We attended yesterday’s meeting at the Tabernacle. The Prophet, President John Taylor, was conducting, but we were clear at the back of the meeting. President Taylor announced that tickets to the dedication would be handed out by President Cannon. After the meeting, everyone stood as the Prophet and the members of the twelve filed out of the room. Since we were at the back of the room, we were the first out the door after them and there, on the steps, was Elder Cannon with tickets in his hand. As he handed Rasmus the tickets, he said ‘And the last shall be first.’ Now wasn’t that a miracle?"
"We fed the children and made up their bedrolls in the back of the wagon. We sat by the fire and looked at the stars and it felt just like the night before we got married. Everything was on the brink, about to open up to us. We were both excited, but quiet. We were thinking about the same things. I know that because Rasmus would look at me and start to say something and I would finish his statement and we'd laugh and hug."
"We finally put our heads on our pillows and then it was dawn. The grove of trees where we were camped was full of others who also were going to the dedication so the morning sounds were almost synchronized - kids moaning and loud 'shhh' sounds as parents tried not to impose on other families."
"Getting the children dressed and ready was easier than it has been for years. Since we were fasting, there were no dishes or cooking. Julie was a little cranky about not having breakfast, but she understood, once Rasmus sat with her and explained what was happening on this day. I suckled the baby and she went back to sleep just as we were leaving the camp. It was a sight to see. My husband with our little Julie holding his right hand, holding on to Maren, and Hannah on his left, holding on to him and to Peter. I fell in behind and we fairly floated up the hill to the Temple."
"Rasmus spoke softly, with great reverence as he explained to the children where he had worked, hammering nails or moving stones. Then, as we got closer, he told them about the corner stone that was being sealed this day. His voice got softer and quieter with every stride. As we stepped on to the ground around the Temple, everything was silent and still. The children were in awe, waiting as if to see our Heavenly Father at His 'House'. Hundreds of men, women and children, and all were silent. It seemed as if only the wind in the trees was allowed to whisper what was about to happen."
"President Taylor told us yesterday that, though some are looking for some 'peculiar manifestations' at this time, everything comes in its proper place. The restoration of the Gospel has taken place and the Priesthood is now upon the earth. The Temple ordinances have been restored, beginning in Kirkland and Nauvoo. Nothing new should be expected until the time comes. But the manifestations and dreams or visions are becoming stronger and shared more broadly and time will come soon when more things are revealed. This much I can tell you, I have dreamt of the time when you and your children will be here with us, attending to the Temple and to this life. I'm so excited I can't sleep, but the candle is low and I need to quit, but I will write again very soon."
"Love to everyone."
Ane Marie sat quietly and bowed her head. The tears welled up and began to flow. She knew what she wanted for her family but saw no way for it to ever happen. Living under her mother-in-laws rules was driving the spirit away. Ole would not talk about changing their situation. He was quite comfortable at his mother's house and saw no reason for moving. And, besides, it gave him time to do what he really wanted to do, to perform on stage.
Sophie was no longer the sweet, loving child she had been. She would fight with her mother on everything and the grand-mother constantly sided with Sophie, driving the wedge as deep as she could.
Ane Marie wiped away the tears and gently folded the letter and placed it back in its envelope. She went to place it in the Book of Mormon she had on her lap and realized it was open to Mosiah 22. She began to read and realized that this was where Gideon proposed to the King that the people should slip out the back way while the guards of the Lamanites were drunken.
Her mother-in-law yelled something from the kitchen so she closed it and placed the book under her pillow and puffed up the bed clothes. Then she walked to the kitchen.
"Have you any idea what my son will want for dinner? I'm going to take Sophie and go to the market."
"We could use some onions. I have the bread from this morning. But the stew needs somethi..." The door slammed. Her mother-in-law wasn't waiting and Sophie was already half way down the street.
She was alone with Alice and Amanda. Those two were sitting in the corner, playing with dolls and toys, happy and contented. She looked around to see what needed to be done, but the kitchen was clean. She went to the back step and saw that the clothes were still on the line. She felt them and then began to gather them in, folding and stacking then in the basket on the ground.
Sophie and her grandmother came home with several onions and enough parsnips for a couple of meals. They also brought a hunk of salt pork that would be flavor for many meals.
It was well after dark when Ole came home. Ane had already put the younger girls to bed and Sophie was dressed for bed, but waiting for her father. He barely noticed her as he made his way to the bed where he promptly fell asleep without even getting undressed.
Sophie was obviously disappointed when she kissed her grandmother and then mother. "Good night." Her grandmother gave her a hug and told her, "It will be ok in the morning." They both went to their beds.
Ane sat at the table for a few minutes, waiting for Ole to get up. When he did not she got up and put away the rest of the food. She washed the pans and put them away. When she got to the bed, Ole was sprawled across the bed, snoring. She pulled off his boots and pants. The boots went under the end of the bed. She hung the pants on the end of the bed. She rolled him over so she could unbutton his shirt. Then she rolled him back over so she could take the shirt off. She tucked his feet under the covers. He awoke enough to gurgle, but he was not awake enough to answer her soft spoken question, "Why?"
She bent over and kissed him on the top of his head as she covered him up and then she slipped into bed beside him.
Sometime during the night he awoke enough to climb on top of her and make love to her. And then he fell asleep again, on top of her. She pushed him off and rolled over to stare at the wall, tears welling up in her red eyes. The question in her heart grew louder, "What?"
A couple of weeks went by. The wash got cleaned, hung up, dried and folded. The family prepared food, ate and cleaned up. The children grew, including the one in her belly. Her mother-in-law knew before Ole, so Ane told him one morning before he got out of bed. "I'm pregnant."
"What? When?"
"About 5 weeks." Her voice was low, but without any joy. "How are we going to care for another child in this house? There's no room to turn around now." She sat up on the edge of bed, changing to her clothes.
"We'll figure it out." His pause was telling. "My mother will not be happy about it. Crying babies don't make her smile."
"Hungry ones don't smile either. I've got to make breakfast." She went to the kitchen and started the fire. Her mother-in -law came in when the fire was crackling.
"Did you tell him?"
"How did you..?" She looked at her belly, but it was not yet swelling.
"You're more moody than normal."
The disgusted look her mother-in-law made twisted the knot in Ane's stomach tighter. Her heart murmured, "How much longer?"
Ole was asked by his friends to go out fishing with them. The family needed the money, but he would be gone for about six to eight weeks chasing the fish down around France. He asked his mother and she said, "Go!", so he went.
It was after the first of November when the fishermen came home. Ane and her mother-in-law hardly said two words to each other after Ole left. Sophie was the go between, getting barked at by both her mother and grandmother. Sadness filled the house like the snows that drifted up and down the streets. It might not be visible, but then it would blow back again.
Ane prayed each night that Ole would be safe and that the fishing would be good enough to pay for moving out, into her own home. Then Ole arrived and nothing needed to be changed, in his mind. She was five months pregnant and he wanted to be left alone. "There'll be no more talk about moving. My mother needs us here. Besides, this is comfortable enough."
"But Ole, we have no room for another baby in this house."
"Of course we do. My mother is going to have Sophie move into her bedroom with her. That will take care of everything." And with that he was off to the pub.
Ane's anger was almost out of her mouth when the door slammed. Instead of the angry flow of words that had welled up, the only thing that escaped her lips was his name, "Ole!"
Somehow she made it through the next three months. Ole had given his mother enough money to pay for the bare minimum of food fuel, but he had none for his wife and children. They were at the mercy of grandma's ever tightening purse strings. And the rest he spent on beer and his troupe of friends.
In January of 1885, at the peak of the winter months, an unexpected warm spell came over the eastern side of Denmark. The blessings of the Gulf Stream and a freak pause in the Arctic winds brought the warm and sunny days. Though she was 8 months pregnant and the temperatures were still just above freezing, she bundled the children up and went to visit her parents.
Ane's father was almost 69 while her mother was a little over 60. Her papa was sitting in his rocking chair in the front of the house, enjoying the afternoon sun. Mama was cooking. She stopped and came running when she heard the children's calls of "Mama! Popo!". She grabbed them all in her arms and hugged them, only letting go begrudgingly when her husband demanded his kisses.
Ane hugged and kissed her father. "Oh, how we've missed you." she said over and over again. Her father caught the sadness in her eyes, but let the children kiss and hug him and settle down in the kitchen while he held his daughter's hand.
"What is it?" he said as he pulled her to his side. "Why are you so sad?"
"I don't know what to do. Ole won't even talk about moving out of his mother's home. I feel like I'm losing my Sophie. And now this baby seems to be..."
He stopped her. "Is the baby ok?"
"Oh, yes, the baby is fine. It's just that, well, the timing is not the best for us right now."
"I know. It never is." He paused and then realized that the noise from the kitchen was gone. He changed the subject. "You know that Rasmus and Kjerstine named their little girl after you. She was born almost a year ago. We got two of their letters this last week."
"Can I take them home with me to read later? It took us a little longer than I thought to get here and I need to get the girls home before it gets too dark. This has been such a wonderful day."
"Of course." Her mother came in with the three girls in tow. They were munching on cookies. "Well, you can have this bread and cheese to eat on the way home. We don't want you to go, but we do understand. The temperature will go way down before you get all the way home."
Ane bundled Alice and Sophie helped Amanda. With more hugs and kisses they opened the door to the sunlight that would be long gone before they reached home.
Amazingly, Ole was home when they arrived back at her mother-in-law's. He yelled from the kitchen, "Where have you been?"
The walk had been invigorating and they had sung a couple of children's songs over and over, but Alice was sound asleep in Sophie's arms when they walked in. Ane put a finger to her lips to keep him from yelling any more as she took Alice from Sophie. By the time they reached the house, the other two were ready to just climb into bed.
Ole sat in the chair in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and waited for the children to be put to bed. He was muttering under his breath the whole time.
Ane's mother-in-law came out from tucking Sophie into her bed and went straight to the kitchen where she made her displeasure known by slamming the pans and dishes as she put them away. Ane came in from the bedroom and pulled out a chair to sit on. Ole got up and began to speak angrily to Ane. "How could you do such a thing with you 8 months pregnant? Mama was worried sick about the girls. You know that the weather could change on you in a moment! If the girls get sick it will be your fault!"
"I was only...", but she was cut off by her mother-in-law.
"You have no right to be a mother! Now these children will get sick too! Who will care for them? You expect me to do that too, with you waiting for that new baby? You've already lost one. Now you will lose the rest of them!"
Ole came and stood in front of Ane as he chimed in, "My mother already cares for the house. You can't expect her to take care of you and sick children!"
The ruckus in the kitchen disturbed Alice and she had begun to cry. Ane looked up in tears at her husband as he continued to berate her for making his mother work so hard to care for them. Finally she stood to go care for her little one.
He yelled at her, "Where are you going?"
Defiantly, she yelled back at him over her shoulder, "To take care of my children!" With that single phrase, Ane knew the answer to the "Where?" that she had not even asked. She had to take care of her children by getting them out of that house and to Zion.
Ole left the house, supposedly going to the pub. Her mother-in-law went in to bed with Sophie after that. Except for a few sobs from Ane and Alice, all was quiet.
The next morning was Sunday. Ole was snoring in the chair in the kitchen. She knew that a Sister Maren Samuelson lived a few streets away and that it was her house where today's services would be held.
Without making hardly any noise, she dressed and slipped out the front door. The wind was cold, but somehow she was as warm as toast. Her resolve was as strong as iron when she stepped out the door, but by the time she got to Sister Samuelson's she was having more questions than answers. As she reached the front door of the Samuelson house, the door opened and brother Samuelson reached out with his big hand and said, "We've been waiting for you?"
Ane was stunned. "How...?"
"During this morning's prayers, Mama and I were both impressed by the Spirit that a very pregnant woman would come knocking at our door." He had not let go of her hand. "And here you are, Sister..?"
Sister Samuelson answered her husband's question, "Andreasen!" Brother Samuelson had closed the door and was standing patiently to take her coat. The house was nice and warm, and clean.
"Am I too early for the meeting?"
Sister Samuelson answered, "Oh, no dear, the meeting today will be at noon. Won't you please come and sit for a moment?"
"I better not. My children will be awakening in a bit and I better go home to feed them and get them dressed."
She accepted Sister Samuelson's hug and then turned to go, but then Brother Samuelson also hugged her. "Thank you for being the answer to our prayers. We have been praying for someone to help and it's clear that you are the one. Thank you!" He finally let her go and opened the door for her. "See you in a short while."
Confused at the grace that was so fully offered her, Ane was in a daze when she arrived at her own door. How could it be so clear?
The girls started stirring shortly after she arrived home, so she got Amanda and Alice out of bed and told them to get dressed. She had laid out their best clothes. Then she went to the door of her mother-in-law's room and told Sophie to get up and get dressed. "We're going to Church." She immediately turned and slipped past Ole who had come into the living room.
"What's going on?", the cup of coffee in his hand was sloshing around he nearly spilled it.
"The girls and I are going to Church." was all she said. She went back to check on the girls and when she turned around in the door, she bumped back into him again. "Excuse me, but I have to get our children some breakfast." And she slipped past him again, only this time he grabbed her arm and spun her around.
"What do you mean Church? You're not taking them to those 'Mormons'. I won't stand for it."
Just then Sophie came in crying, followed by her grandmother. "Mommie, I don't want to go to that Church. They're evil and they worship Satan."
"What? Who told you that?" Then Ane looked from the weeping child to her mother-in-law's scowling face. "Did you tell her that?"
"Well, it's true." She smiled triumphantly. "Our Minister came by just the other day and told me about them 'Mormons' and how the men all have more than one wife and how they don't believe in the Bible and how their leader had to finally be put down like a dog."
"You don't know anything. He probably also told you to not pray about the Book of Mormon because that's how they get you. Right?" Ane was not trembling in her voice or limb. "I haven't been going to Church because this is your house, but if my children and I have to go sleep in the snow, we are going to Church from now on!" And with that, she took Sophie by the hand and pushed past Ole and took the child to the bedroom. Then she began to shake.
If an Arctic blizzard had begun to blow, Ane would have dragged her children through it that morning. Even so, her husband's threatening looks surprised her. Her mother-in-law was in her room, but Ane could hear her calling out, saying things like, "...don't come back. ...find another place to live."
Just before noon they were sitting on the floor at the Samuelson home, singing the hymns of Zion. There were over thirty people in the house. One of the Elders present said an opening prayer and then Elder Madsen spoke. He was in his mid-thirties but only just arrived from Salt Lake.
"Brothers and Sisters, Good Morning! I first want to thank Brother and Sister Samuelson for opening their home for this meeting." He was looking at the couple and then at the rest of the congregation stuffed into the corners of the house, even the kitchen and up the stairs. "I've been asked to conduct this meeting under the direction of President Olsen. Our first speaker will be Elder Peterson."
Elder Peterson stepped forward and turned to face the group. "The Prophet often asks for the prayers of the listeners, that the Holy Ghost will be present and guide the speaker to say something of worth for the listeners. I have been saying that prayer today and I ask that you do so now, for me."
"I am going to speak on 'Becoming Free Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ'. I broke down the topic into its parts - Becoming Free, The Atonement, and Jesus Christ. Then I thought, - do I have the knowledge that makes it worthwhile for me to speak on these topics? Do I even know what it means to 'become free'? The common usage of the term means that those who were in bondage, who were forced by circumstance or chains to be in places they don't want to be in, to do things they don't want to do, to be who they don't want to be, no longer are bound by those chains or circumstances."
"Individuals can experience these circumstances and chains in jail or prison. An individual is locked up until the time determined by those in authority has been satisfied or a sufficient bond has been posted. When the debt 'to society' is paid, the prisoner is set free."
"Except for that type of incarceration most people in this modern age do not know about being in bondage or slavery. It has been 20 years since the last 'slave' was freed in the United States. The right to own another individual in the United States was terminated with the passage of the thirteenth amendment to the United States constitution in 1865, but only after a bloody Civil War that cost the lives of over six hundred thousand men, women, and children."
"It was a scene of horror to bring about those freedoms. But that fight was predicted by the Spirit that was upon that land from the beginning. In December of 1832, thirty years before it began, Brother Joseph foretold of the that war. You can read it in Section 32 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It says:"
'Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls: And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations beginning at this place. For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be pour out upon all nations.'
"Brothers and Sisters, freedom is paid for in blood. It is not free. I find it interesting that the purchase of Freedom involves so much the spilling of blood. And often those that pay that price don't even know the ones for whom they have given that last measure of devotion. They do it based on a faith that the Freedom will be valued by those who receive it. Most of those who sacrificed their lives did it for their comrades in arms, to try and protect and save those with whom they were fighting the good fight."
"That brings us to the Atonement, for it was with the blood of Christ that our debt is paid and that we are set free. I stand, all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. Those words embody for me the 'enlightened' understanding of what the Atonement means in my life. In John, chapter 15, verse 13, it says that, 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'"
"Except for love, why has anyone ever offered themselves up for others? Yet I cannot recall any thing that I did for the Savior that is worthy of such a sacrifice. I am confused, not enlightened, as to what would make me worth so much. He was already divine. Rescuing me and you did not make him divine."
"Yet He does extend his great love and it buys us back, redeems us. The whole process is full of marvels - and wonderment. Consider today what enslaves us, what addictions and foibles bring us into bondage. And the price to be free of those chains - a belief in Jesus Christ. Believe that He lives, believe that He loves us, and believe that we can be with Him if we do what He says."
"We can see the results of a freed spirit. They are the smiles upon the face of our children, the joy in our family, the willingness to face any hardship, the lack of fear when pressures are brought to bear, the knowledge that this is not all there is and that life eternal is beyond the grave."
"It is wonderful that Jesus should care for us, enough to die for us. Isn't it important therefore that we love Him enough to obey Him and do what His Spirit dictates?"
"First, Brother Joseph called the Saints to Zion in Kirtland, then Missouri, and then Nauvoo. He led them in the building up of Zion. Brother Brigham then led the Saints to the Utah Territory, where we enjoy the freedom from the persecution that took from us the Lord's anointed. The Lord continues to call the Saints to gather to Zion. President Taylor is still calling you to Zion. And I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen"
Ane was now 'buzzing' in every nerve in her body. It was that same feeling she had first felt when she knelt and prayed about the Book of Mormon. She knew that what the Elder was saying was true. She had to get her family to Zion.
Elder Madsen then stood up and was saying, "..call upon Brother John Samuelson to be our next speaker. Brother Samuelson."
Brother Samuelson left his wife's side as she stood by the stairs. Elder Madsen shook his hand and then sat down.
"We all need goals and plans. My wife says that I'm so meticulous as to lay out a plan for going to bed." The congregation chuckled. "Some time ago we did lay out a plan on how we were going to get ourselves to Zion. My brother, Jensen thought we were crazy, but he still agreed to help us. We were going to bring in a load of haddock. He knew just where they would be. Then, just before we were to go out, I got sick and could not go with him. The boat sank with everyone on board and we've been mourning my brother these last four months."
"We have been on our knees every day, praying for Jensen. Three weeks ago the answer began to come. We met Elder Madsen in the market and he spoke of the Perpetual Emigration Fund. We know that we need to take Jensen's name to the Temple. We know that we have to go to the Temple in Zion. Now we know how. We want to be sealed to our family for Eternity. So, we're going."
"We have continued to pray every day that a way for us to accomplish this goal will be opened for us and, as we prayed, we received answers to our prayers. Just not the answers we expected. We know now that we are to help others who must also go to Zion. My wife and I, with our daughter Megan, will be going with Elder Madsen when he returns next year, but between now and then we know that there will be those among us who will need assistance, even special assistance, and the Lord is making a way for us to do that."
Suddenly, Ane began to feel the baby in her moving, almost jumping. She felt the rushing of that little one, anxious to be free of the womb and on the way to Zion.
Brother Samuelson was finishing his talk and the closing prayer was pronounced before she even realized it. Sister Samuelson came to help her up from the floor. "Are you all right?" Ane was on her feet, but she was still bent over a bit.
She answered quickly, "Oh, yes. The baby just began 'dancing' and it caught me by surprise."
Sister Samuelson guided Ane to a chair. Ane seemed to get her second wind after sitting a moment and Sister Samuelson went on, "Sweetheart, Brother Samuelson and I want you to know that, if you need a place to stay, we have the room for you and you children." Ane looked up and smiled at the sweet woman as she continued, "Will you stay with us for Sunday dinner? We'd like to get to know you and the children much better."
"Oh, I couldn't. It has been a long day..." She hesitated as a cramp, a contraction hit her. " I don't want to go back to my mother-in-laws house just now, but I'm afraid that this baby is coming sooner than I thought. I'm sorry. I don't want to impose. I should be going." Just then her water broke.
"Nonsense! You aren't going anywhere for a while." She turned and hollered for her husband. "John! Come quick!" He came running from the kitchen. "Help me get her in the bedroom." John looked puzzled. "She's going to have this baby now!" With that, despite Ane's protests, John picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. He stood there while Maren turned down the cover, then he placed Ane on the bed. Ane's children were standing in the doorway.
Maren thanked her husband and then looked at the children in the doorway. "John, go feed the children." Ane began to protest, but Maren would have none of it. "We have been looking forward to this since the Spirit told us that you were coming. We prepared extra today to make sure that you are fed. Now, lay still while I fetch some towels and water."
After the children were fed they all crowded back into the bedroom where Ane lay. After only a few minutes, Maren asked John to take Sophie and go and fetch Ane's husband. It was getting dark.
It was Sunday afternoon, March 1, 1885. When John and Sophie got to Sophie's grandmother's house, Ole wasn't there. His mother told John that he was probably at the pub. John left Sophie with her grandmother and turned towards the center of town. John searched for over an hour before he found him. He was drunk and even took a swing at John, but then he refused to go to any 'Mormon's house'. John told Ole where the house was, and then left. By then it was dark and the wind was howling.
It was a little after 3 am on the 2nd when Avilda Emmy Andreasen was born. She looked healthy, though her left foot seemed a bit swollen. With Maren's help, Ane got the baby wrapped in some warm blankets. Then Ane sat and held little Avilda, weeping tears of joy ...and sadness.
It might have been the harsh weather, though the sun did shine brightly by Tuesday afternoon. Ane was actually surprised that her husband had not come to gather her home. She was a strong woman, strong enough to stand on her own and take care of her children, so she gathered her children and dressed them and prepared to head back to her mother-in-laws house.
Over her protests, John and Maren insisted on escorting her and the children across town. John, carrying four year old Alice, led the way through the drifts. He was followed by Ane and the baby, both so bundled up as to be unrecognizable. Maren and seven year old Amanda carried an extra blanket and a basket of gifts that had been given to Ane and the children.
The two girls had been quiet all the way up the street, but as they approached their grandmother's home they insisted on being allowed to take off for the door. Alice twisted and squirmed herself out of John's arms and caught up with Amanda just as she reached the door. They swung it open and ran inside the glowing room. Ole roused himself from his chair and came to shut the door behind them when he saw Ane and the Samuelson's. He left the door open but walked back into the room. John stopped at the door to assist first Ane and then his wife up the step and into the room.
Alice and Amanda were dragging Sophie into the living room to show her the new baby. Their mother was slowly unbundling Avilda. "See! Isn't she beautiful!" Sophie came up to see for herself.
Then Ole's mother came in the room. "Who are they?" she asked angrily, nodding towards the Samuelsons.
Ane looked up and, began to answer, "They are my friends, the Sam..."
"Mormons?" was the accusation out of the mother-in-law's mouth. "They know you already have a husband?"
Brother Samuelson spoke for himself. "Sister Andreasen was visiting with us..."
"Sister?"
"...when the baby was born. The storm was so bad that we couldn't get back here until now." Then he turned to Ane, "If you need anything, please, we're always ready to he... "
Ole's mother cut him off again, "She doesn't need any help. We're her family and we'll take care of these children."
Brother Samuelson continued in a very sturdy voice, "...to help you. Come on Mama, we better get on home." They turned, quickly saying good bye to the children and they left.
The door barely closed when Ole's mom tried to take over. "Give me that child. I'll hold her while you get these other children..." practically ripping little Avilda out of her mother's arms, "...ready for ...wait a minute... what's wrong with this child's foot?" She quickly pushed the baby back into Ane's arms.
"We don't know. She was born that way. I thought that the swelling would go down, but it hasn't yet."
"That's what you get for having that baby in that Mormon's house. This child has been cursed for that. I won't have it in my house! Get it out! Get it out!" With that, she disappeared back into her kitchen, muttering, "...cursed Mormons..."
"What?" was Ane's incredulous whisper. "You can't be serious."
Ole just stood there. He'd been sullenly quiet the whole time, but he came up to Ane now and, looking at the child's foot, and drunkenly slurred out, "You'll have to go." That was it. Eleven years of marriage and it came down to that one sentence. He repeated it as he sunk back into his chair, "You'll have to go."
Ane stood frozen in time for a moment, then she swung into action. She didn't yell or fight with Ole. That would have been pointless in his current state. Fighting with her mother-in-law would have never ended. She looked around at her three frightened and shaking girls, trembling at the eruption of such anger. Sophie was almost white faced with fear. Amanda was standing in front of Sophie. Amanda and Alice were both beginning to cry.
With her free arm she hugged Sophie and spoke in a quiet voice, "Get your coat, gloves and shoes on and then help Alice with hers." Turning to Amanda, she said, "You too." The girls stood still, not understanding what had just happened. "Now!"
With that, both girls began sobbing as they went and got their shoes, coats, gloves and scarves. Alice was clinging to her mother's leg, crying uncontrollably. With her free hand, Ane was patting her back and soothingly saying, "There, there now, it will be all right."
Sophie came up with Alice's coat and shoes and began to peel her away from Ane's leg. She began to slip the coat on Alice's little shaking body. Amanda came up, all ready and holding Alice's scarf. Ane knelt down and took the scarf and hugged Amanda and then wrapped the scarf on Alice. When she stood she made sure that Avilda was wrapped up snug and adjusted her own scarf. She turned to look at Ole who was snoring. She could hear her mother-in-law banging pans in the kitchen and talking to herself. She looked down at her children and then opened the door. She thought to herself, "this may not be 'slipping out the back way while the guards are drunken', but it's close enough". With that she picked up the basket and, surrounding her girls with that arm, swept them out the door.
