The Next to the Sweetest Name: A Love Story from Old Norway,
- A folk story as told by Halvor Hovland, not a strictly historical account
Part 1
About 1834 there lived in Halan, Norway, a tall, dark, and handsome young man by the name of Ole. Ole could not remember his father, neither could he remember his mother, and he had no brothers and sisters. Poor Ole was all alone in this world and stayed with some kind people and worked for them. However, times were getting hard and one day these kind people told him they had no more work and couldn’t afford to keep him any longer.
That evening Ole went to bed feeling very sad because he didn’t have the slightest idea where to go and find work. In the night he had a dream, but in the morning- try as he may- he could not remember it. He dressed, bid the folk goodbye, and started out to look for work. He stopped at every place on the road and asked if they needed help, but no one seemed to have any work for him. On and on he trudged.
Part 2
About this same time over in Hallingdal, there lived a young girl by the name of Jaron who was in a similar situation. She couldn’t remember her father or mother either and the people she stayed with had also told her they couldn’t keep her any longer and that she would have to find another place to stay. That night she cried herself to sleep and also dreamed. In her dream she thought she heard a man say, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This man’s name was Jesus. Jesus. “That is the sweetest name I have ever heard in all the world,” exclaimed Jaron. She also saw a tall young man who looked very kind coming toward her.
Jaron was a very short young lady and very small and many times she was mistaken for a child; but Jaron had had a hard life in her young years and definitely was an adult. In the morning, Jaron came to the breakfast table with tear-swollen eyes, for she had been crying most of the night. After bidding the folk goodbye, she started out to look for another place to stay. As she was walking along, she saw faintly in the distance someone walking down the road, coming toward her. Nearer and nearer this person came, and as they drew near, Jaron almost stopped still! To her amazement, this person was the same man she had seen in her dream the night before! How tall and handsome he was!
Part 3
It just so happened that when this tall, dark, and handsome young man- who was Ole- saw this girl, he remembered his dream. You see he had dreamed that he had seen a young girl and here she was, the same girl he had seen in his dream. When they met, Ole said, “Hello, little girI.”
She answered and said, “I may be little, but I am an adult.”
He asked her name and found it to be Jaron. Jaron then asked his name and he told her, “Ole is my name.”
“Oh, what a sweet name,” she said. “That is the next to the sweetest name I have ever heard.”
“What do you mean?” asked Ole. “What is the sweetest name?”
“Oh, that is Jesus,” she replied. “And by the way, Ole, what is your last name?”
“I have none,” he said. “And what is yours?” “I have none either,” Jaron replied.
What a coincidence. Two weary travelers looking for work, meeting on the road. They decided to look for work together and so down the road they went. Step by step they trudged along, talking all the way. It seemed as if they had known each other all their lives as their circumstances had been so similar.
By this time, Ole had gotten up some courage, so he said, “Darling, what would you say if I asked you to be my wife?”
“Oh, I would be so happy, I wouldn’t know what to say.” Jaron exclaimed. Ole grasped her up into his arms and you may guess what took place the next few minutes.
He continued holding Jaron in his arms and walked down the road still looking for work. It seemed that everyone had plenty of help and couldn’t use them. They were getting very hungry, but had no money with which to buy food. Ole kept on walking till he came to a big rock and then he sat down to rest. In the meantime, Jaron had already fallen asleep.
He sat there, watching her pretty face and wondering if it could be really true, or just a dream. Finally, Ole went to sleep and rested his head upon Jaron. While sleeping, Ole dreamed he saw a great big tree and the branches of the tree reached out in all directions and had twelve manners of fruit. He thought he would get some of the fruit. Around the tree was a large wall and a big gate and on the gate were written these words: “Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have a right to the tree of life and enter in through the gates of the city. Ole then woke and found Jaron still in his arms.
He was so happy that this was not just a dream, but a reality, that he began to sing: “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” and he sang so loud that it echoed in the great mountain. His singing woke Jaron, and looking up into his face, she softly said, “I have never heard anybody sing as nice as you, darling.”
He thanked her and said, “What shall we do? Here we are in a strange place without any money and nothing to eat.”
Jaron answered and said, “Don’t worry, darling, you have me and I have you , and we will be all right. When I was sleeping in your arms, I had a dream and saw a straight road and a little way from the road was a big house and by it stood a man and a lady and when we got close to them, they waved to us and we went over to them.”
“Perhaps, that dream has a special meaning.” said Ole. “It seems that all our dreams are coming true and that the Lord is surely leading us. Let us see if we can find that straight road you saw in your dream.”
Sure enough, they did and on one side there was the house. Nearer and nearer they came and to their happy surprise, there was the man and lady Jaron had seen in her dream. They were waving and beckoning for them to come over. As they approached, Ole said, “Good morning, neighbor.”
The man answered, “Good morning, and what is your name?”
My name is Ole, and this lady is Jaron.”
“Is that so,” the man said, “My name is Ole, too. Ole Hovland.”
“Could you let us have something to eat? We have not had anything to eat since yesterday morning, early. I have no money but will gladly work to pay for it.”
But this time the lady of the house spoke up and said, “I saw you in my dream- you folk coming up the road- and I have the table set for four and we are only two. Come in and eat with us. We have been waiting for you.”
As they were seated, Ole was asked to say the blessing. He bowed his head and prayed: “Dear Jesus, I thank you for leading us all the way.
Bless this food and the hands that have prepared it. Amen.”
While they were eating, Ole told Mr. and Mrs. Hovland the whole story about himself and Jaron.
Mr. Hovland said, “Ole, you need not worry or go any further to look for work. The folk that lived with us left yesterday for the United States and we have a big extra room. From now on you and Jaron can stay here as long as you want to, and work for us. Ole, you look tired. You had better lie down and rest while Jaron helps my wife with the dishes.”
How thankful Ole and Jaron were to have found such a nice place to stay.
Mr. Hovland also said, “I will go out and get things ready and there will be a wedding tonight. Since neither of you know what your last names are, from now on you will be Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hovland.”
Ole and Jaron were delighted with the name Hovland as they had already learned to love these kind folks. So many wonderful things had happened in the last two days, and now they were to be man and wife. Ole turned to Jaron and said, “Darling, this is the starting of a new generation, isn’t it?”
“Yes”, answered Jaron, as he lovingly placed a kiss on her soft cheek.
They had a beautiful wedding there in the moonlight- Ole and Jaron. How happy they were that they had found one another.
Part 4
Life settled down into pretty much of a routine for them, but the two Oles got along very nicely working together and Jaron enjoyed working around the house. Time passed quickly and it was not long before a little “newcomer” came to join Ole and Jaron. How happy they were! “What shall we name him?” asked Ole.
“Let’s call him Ole” said Jaron, “The next to the sweetest name I have ever heard. The sweetest name is Jesus.”
So Ole it was- and now there were three Oles. Later, Gulbran was born and then Sever, Hans, Nels, and Otto. Five boys in all and one girl who died in infancy.
Part 5
Almost before they realized it, their boys were grown and had homes of their own. Ole, the first born, married in Norway, and also Gulbran. Hans, Nels, and Otto came to this country and worked and helped their brothers to get across. Later all five chipped in and sent the money for their parents to come to the wonderful United States. So Ole and Jaron came, and lived a while with Hans, and then with Gulbran, and then went to Minnesota where the other boys lived.
Part 6
One day, Ole said, “Darling, I guess the time has come when you and I must part. I love you just as much as I did the day we first met- there on the dusty road. Now my eyes are growing
dim and I can hardly see your sweet face anymore. Now, don’t cry, my darling, for we shall meet again when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first and then they which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
He was laid to rest, and soon Jaron followed him. Together they wait for their Lord’s return and on that glad resurrection day. Jaron will not only see Ole again- whose name is the next to the sweetest she has ever heard- but also her Redeemer and Friend, JESUS- THE SWEETEST NAME IN ALL THE WORLD!