[Published on 12/11/2020 by Digital Imaging Lab (1142)]

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[Notes added by transcribers are in square brackets. Dashes in square brackets indicate unclear words or letters. <Angle brackets> indicate words the author inserted to a previously written line.]

MSS 6488 - Jesse N. Smith Letters (Intermediate)
Number of Pages: 4

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[Written upside down:
Please address Loretgeus Gade no 14 Copenhagen Denmark 
Care of Ivan Cott]

Aalborg Jutland Denmark
March 4 1861

	Dear Cousin Samuel [In different color pen: Jesse N. Smith To S H B S]
	It is with pleasure that
I attempt to write you a line to enclose with
one I have just finished to Joseph although
I do not expect that they both will amount
to much of <a> communication. I have looked <over>
the scrawl I penned for Joseph and think I
will send it for I seldom have patience to
rewrite an epistle
	I received a letter from John L. dated
Geneve Feb 8th at which time he was feeling
very well and was getting better of the rheumatism
which has troubled him so much he gave
a very <favorable> account of the progress of the work in
his field of labor and desired to be remembered
to you and Joseph I presume he <has> written <to you> before
this time I had the pleasure
of reading a communication from Jesse J. Fuller
to you it being enclosed in a letter to W. W. C.
by which I received the latest news from
G S L City that has reached me
	I hope you will excuse the liberty I
took in thus reading your correspondence

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both Bro. Cluff and myself concluded that
there would be no risk in doing so.
	I find that in the small kingdom of
Denmark there are several different dialects
and that in some cases the inhabitants of
a small Island are quite unintelligible to
those who reside on a Neighboring one and
only separated a short distance from each other
	The best Danish is spoken in Sjaland
the island on which Copenhagen is situated
	The common classes in some districts would
find it quite-different to understand good
Danish like the English the Danish people have
adopted many words from the Latin and French
languages but they differ from each other and
from the original in the pronunciation.
	There are many things which appear strange
to an Anglo American here in the old
world I may mention one peculiarity
which no doubt will seem rather odd to you
that is the singular fact that among the
common people they have no regular surname
of family name but are <known for the following rule> for instance Peter
Johnson which means merely Peter the son of
John and Peter's children will be called Peterson's

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and so it goes a few only have adopted
permanent surnames
	The reason is no doubt this the most of
the lower classes were held in serfdom or
feudal vassalage until about one hundred and
fifty years ago and some until a much later
period.	It is among the poorer
classes that the gospel the most readily finds
its way the higher classes are by far too
proud perhaps the others would have been also
if they had been brought up in more refined
circles according to the refinement of the
world I cannot say how it would have been
I only know there are many honest souls here
and I wish they had the means to get away
It is thought however that there will be an
emigration of five or six hundred souls
from the Scandinavian Mission this
season.	The Saints where I have been
feel well and the Elders seem alive in the
cause and occasionally a few are added
by baptism there is one drawback there
is a prospect of war between Denmark
and Prussia and many of the Elders are
liable to be drafted for the Military service

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Still the "work rolls on the kingdom lives
and grows" in <the> hearts of the people
	I hope cousin Samuel that you will
write to me all the news from home and
elsewhere I hear very little from abroad
and either the folks at home have forgotten
to write or else the postal arrangements
have failed for I have not yet received a
line from Parowan since I left home
	I shall long remember the very pleasant
visit to the Bradford Conference I wish
you to afford me a kind remembrance
to all the Saints whose acquaintance I
partially made during my short sojourn
<with> you and Joseph in your field of labor
	When you communicate with brethren
of my acquaintance or when you meet them
please give them my respects and good wishes
tell them I am in the North here trying to talk
Danish or <tell them> whatever else will be applicable to my case
	I pray the Lord to bless you Samuel and
<also> Joseph and all good men who are laboring
to bless the people for the Gospels sake
	Please excuse mistakes. I subscribe myself
your friend and well wisher. Jesse N. Smith