Lina made many new and good friends in Stockholm. On the one hand, she met many through her job and on the other, she got to know many through her great commitment to the Swedish Evangelical Mission (Evangeliska Fosterlands-stiftelsen).

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Among her church friends, there was one who, after a few years, explained to Lina that he wanted to be more than a friend. It was the wholesaler Oscar Berg. He said he loved her.

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But, oh no! Some such feelings were completely unthinkable for Lina. She would never get married! She had already realized that as a small child. She could not follow the family tradition and become a priest wife because of her bad lungs. Being a priest wife meant far too much work - partly with agriculture, which pastors then had as a contribution to their livelihood, and partly from the work of assisting her husband in the church activities. Therefore, when she confirmed herself, Lina had chosen Jesus as the groom of her heart. She was so scared that something would come between and destroy that relationship. Besides, she was so pleased to be self-sufficient and to devote herself to what she was passionate about. A life as a housewife would be unthinkable!

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For Lina, Oscar was just a good friend. In every way, she tried to make him understand that she was not interested in marriage. First, he had the wrong profession, he was not a priest! In Lina's world of thought, a marriage with him - or anyone else - was excluded. Perhaps the worst of all was that Oscar was seven years younger than Lina. It was inappropriate! The man was supposed to be the head of the family and then it was not possible that he was younger than his wife.

 

When Lina's relatives heard about Oscar's marriage plans, they did their best to put an end to Oscar's feelings for Lina in various ways. After all, if she were to marry, she should do as the custom was in their lineage and marry a priest!

 

But Oscar showed Lina in different ways that he stood steady in his proposal. Lina continued to have the anxiety of making a choice about saying "yes" or "no". But the love finally prevailed and there was marriage in May 1867. Lina's brother Johan consecrated them.

 

Oscar had promised Lina that she of course could continue with her work on the editorial board. She had to hire as much domestic help as she needed.

 

During periods when Lina was struggling with health, Oscar cheered her up with her cheerful and thoughtful manner.

 

One year after the marriage, it was time for baby luck in the family. But the day that would be filled with joy instead became a day of mourning. The little girl who was born was dead! Then there was never a new baby. However, they took on some of Lina's sister Thilda's (= Mathildas) children.

 

The social activities were a common interest for Lina and Oscar. They received good help from Lina's best friend, Princess Eugénie. They arranged bazaars, auctions and music evenings to raise money for the needy in Stockholm. The princess was artistic and donated several ceramic stones for sale. All three were eager to help the poor. Lina wrote a book and the income for it went in full to the needy in Småland during the emergency years in the late 1860s. Oscar had a big heart for those who had fallen into alcohol abuse, and he did his very utmost to save and help as many people as possible through various contributions.

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Oscar was a parliamentarian in two rounds. He was very keen on sobriety and educational issues. To a large extent we have him to thank for having a libraries. Through his care, a library for sailors was also opened.

 

Oscar bought the old Jewish synagogue in Stockholm. There he set up a seaman's chapel, which was also provided with a reading room and a dining room. There, guests from the working and lower middle class received good and very cheap meals for many years. In the chapel he preached himself Sunday after Sunday and he was a popular speaker. So Lina actually became a little "priest wife" after all!

 

The pair also shared the literary interest. Oscar published from 1875 and until his death the magazine "The Workers' Friend". He wrote also many stories - mainly with sobriety themes - and a lot of them came out in book form. Together with Lina, he published the weekly magazine "Children's Friend". As it was unusual for people to write something directed to younger readers, all children's literature was received with pleasure.

 

It is Lina and Oscar who appear in the spring motif.

The symbols of Faith Hope and Love are at the bottom: the cross, the anchor and the heart.

Faith was common to Lina and Oscar.

Oscar had had the hope of getting Lina to wife.

Love had both to God and Oscar's love for Lina was finally answered.

 

I'm sure they got a happy life together and that's why I've made a giant colt-foot that shines like a sun in their sky.

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