Johannes (Haaland) GJERVIK

Notes:

                      Bertha of Gjervik By The Stone Fence

      Although Bertha was little and quick, she never gave way to anybody when it came to the use of the sythe or pitchfork.  When Bertha had an errand at our house, she never knocked on the door, but came to the window and shouted, "Is anybody home?"
    One of the nicest things I knew was when Bertha took out her psalm book and played ( the salmodikon) and sang.  With her deep and beautiful voice, it made a lovely harmony, and it was not difficult for us boys to sit still a d listen.  Bertha was a sharp woman - many, many psalms she knew without looking in the book.  Catechism she knew from beginning to end.  She was a very able writer and had beautiful handwriting.
    Bertha got to be an old woman.  When the minister, or someone else wanted to read her a few words about God, she always said, "I know all that." and then she would begin to recite willingly herself without a book.  Such was Bertha.

                                    Unknown
    Salmodikon - A single string psaltery that is played with a bow.  There is a single fret board that is used to play the melody. The boards are for reading a hymnbook.  The instrument was copied from a very old instrument
found in an attic.

   Some records have the surname spelled "Husterlid"