This is a themed booklet about the emigration from Rauland to America, built mostly on letters that relatives and friends have taken care of. Here you can read about Myllaren's trap that ended up in America, about when Margit took care of Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and about the imprisonment of Bjørn Aslakson Svalastog in the infamous Andersonville prison camp - and much, much more. Here is a small extract from the letter from Margit Midtgarden:
"However, I should really tell you about Bjørnson, whom I have had the indescribable joy of hearing. On the evening of January 14, he gave a lecture in Fargo, and I traveled there by train in the afternoon. I wouldn't have missed it for a hundred dollars; it even exceeded what I had expected. Fargo has probably never seen such a large gathering of Norwegians and Swedes and perhaps not of others either. The hall was absolutely full, so there was hardly any room. I managed to get a really good seat right in front of the platform, so I could hear and observe to good advantage. Knew him as soon as he came in, on the Gold Glasses and the golden head. He seems to be a giant of the peasant type and looks good: He has fair hair and bright blue eyes that shine, with a strange glint in them, - like Olav the saint's. He began with the reading of his magnificent poem "Olav Trygvason", which was wonderful; but I fear that many did not understand it. It would be impossible to repeat what he said, but it was something really Big and Strong. Just as the people were about to reach out, I put my eyes on my glasses - now I'll finally be able to get hold of you, I thought; like a big-headed fellow like you;- that's how I pushed myself to hold out my hand. He led so calmly, pressed his hand faithfully to say: "please, please, you will have", - he patted me on the arm. That's the calmest fellow I've ever seen, - I think he'll get to heaven as fast as anyone."
