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Settlement

Life on the Farm

Good friend Kedde, Life has probably become completely different for you, it is most likely a completely new way to live but you will get used to it. I can imagine how it must be. Just the language difficulties must have been awful at first. But you and Jens are no Mama's boys, because then you would not have bought a ticket for so far away. I at least think that it was very manly done, and if you ever consider heading home, you will have tried and seen a lot that you can think back on. I think that must be wonderful.

Kresten Schmidt to Chris Bennedsen, March 27, 1952.
(CMC, Christian Bennedsen Collection, Box P-29, 15th group, translated from Danish)

Life on the Farm

Chris's letters home during this time are brimming with the contentment he felt for his life with the Rutherfords, who embraced him as part of their family. Chris attended church with them, and Mrs. Rutherford helped him learn English. Mackenzie encouraged him to save some money from his $60-a-month wages. In January, when Chris became so ill that he was bedridden for nearly a month, the Rutherfords nursed him back to health.

Listen to an interview in which Chris talks about how he became so ill during his second month in Canada that he was unable to get out of bed for nearly a month.
(CMC, Christian Bennedsen Collection)

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