Then began a very slow and tedious trip by train across Canada, to a place called Standard, not far from Drumheller. Here the two friends parted company. Axel eventually got work on a farm, as hired help at $15.00 a month. He stayed around those parts for about three years, then decided to try Turner Valley which had been booming. But by the time he arrived there it was slowing down, and jobs were not that easy to find.
The three years spent working as a hired man had taught him quite a smattering of English. He said that the Eaton Catalogue was a great help in learning as there were pictures and names of so many articles.
In Turner Valley he got a job on the night shift at the Royalite Oil Co. cook-house. He was one of the night cook's helpers. They served about 1200 meals there in the 24 hours. Night shift was not quite as busy as the day shift, as they only fed about 400 men at night.
It was Axel's job to clear and re-set the tables, wash dishes and floors in the dining room as one shift came in and ate meals and another shift ate and went out. There were many lunches to be prepared. One man was in charge of the lunches. Axel had to slice bread and bacon, which was done by hand.
He worked at that job for about three years and then decided to quit. He and several other bachelors came to a place called "The Home". It was there that I met Axel end, later on, we were married.