Translation
My friend Hilma,
My wishes were fulfilled as I got a fun letter from you. I'm thus sending you thousands of thanks for being able to greet you with greetings of love from this stormy world. You said that you're sitting alone; so am I. My thoughts are changing every minute, sometimes I'm sad and other times I'm joyful.
My peace is disturbed by the murmur of the wild waves of that mighty Pacific Ocean and frogs outside are screaming just like cuckoos. I can never hear cuckoos here. When reading this letter, you can hear the warbling of an icterine warbler behind the blue backwoods, which makes me yearn to be there.
Please wait for me for 3 or 4 years. Then I can visit you and spend joyful evening hours with you. Why am I heavy-hearted? I would like to tell you but I'm afraid that you will think badly of me. I would like to tell you that I miss you more than anybody else, but you are still young and innocent, free from the temptations of this world; blooming like a blossoming rose. I'm now writing you some news from here too, but don't tell anybody what I wrote; it's bad for you if they hear about it and start chasing our correspondence.
Bleak and disturbing things have happened here: on the 18th of this month, around 5 o'clock in the morning, there was a big earthquake. It has destroyed many cities; tens of thousands of people are lost and waiting for the final trombone. That morning I jumped off my bed horrified and thought that this is the final day, the day that is called the end of world. I am sad also because my brother Samuli is in the hospital now, very sick. I'm working alone like a bird, or like a lost sheep in the woods among those non-Finnish speakers. But it doesn't help to be sad, you have to remember that even the cloudy night goes away. It is cloudy now because I can hear the rain. It is Saturday night.
I'm sure boys are courting you but I ask you, please leave room in your heart for me too. Will you treat me again, feel sorry for me again and find me with your wonderful lines. I will wait for that with longing. Good bye, feel well, and be happy. Wishes one wandering boy.
With friendship,
August Alto