Lögberg-Heimskringla - 22.02.1985, Síða 8

8-WINNIPEG, FÖSTUDAGUR 22. FEBRUAR 1985
Sugar Creek Era
Icelandic Content
Continued from page 4
commence to improve. About ten
days later Dr. Thompson came again
and took me home to Harry and
Thruda’s, to recuperate for a couple
of weeks before going back to the
bush again. I do recall that Dr.
Thompson charged me $25 for the
two trips he made to Sugar Creek,
and then home to Vidir. No wonder
the good doctor never became a
wealthy man, but as a humanitarian
he had few his ilk.
Another unfortunate incident oc-
curred that winter when Elii had a
couple of fingers nipped in the end
saw. Fortunately Dr. Thompson was
able to repair the damage.
I am not definitely sure, that it was
on the second of February the
previous year, when Jakob had his
bout with a black bear, emerging
from its winter abode. Fortunately he
had a stout piece of stick in his hand,
with the result that there was bear
meat for supper the following even-
ing. I recall that it tasted not unlike
pork yet had a sweeter taste to it. The
location where this happened was
henceforth known as Black Bear,
which was about 3 miles from the
camp site.
Being that close to Lake Winnipeg,
fish was always obtainable and was
a staple diet at the camp.
Jakob was very fond of tullibees
and we used to marvel at the dex-
terity with which he was able to
separate the bones from the meat
after putting some in his mouth. He
would put a chunk of fish in one side
of his mouth, while the bones found
their way out the other side.
The work was both arduous and
rather monotonous at times, but that
did not prevent us from enjoying our
leisure moments. Kris Magnuson
always had something to say that put
everyone in a happy mood. He had
a way of expressing himself in a man-
ner, though a bit sarcastic at times,
that no one could take offense at. He
was gifted with a rare sense of
humour. It must be mentioned here,
that if everyone had followed his ex-
ample, the National Tobacco Co.
would have been in dire stress, to
dispose of their stock of Copenhagen
snuff, for Kris manufactured his
own. When supply on hand was get-
ting low, he would have to go home
to Framnes to replenish it.
One incident that I recall vividly,
was one morning when Harry went
out to feed the horses. Charlie (my
favorite horse) had disappeared. We
thought it odd how he could have
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gone out, locking the door behind
him. Even though Charlie was a very
intelligent member of the equine
family, it did not seem logical that he
would have been able to put the latch
in place by himself.
This called for a Sherlock Holmes
approach. Noting that snow had
fallen during the night, we were able
to discern faint hoof-marks in the
snow. We traced these to Valdi
Johanneson's barn. On opening the
door there, we saw Charlie eating his
fill of hay, for Ragna had not failed
to feed him, bless her heart.
We did not have to inquire of her
why she had done this mean trick,
because we knew.
The previous day, when we knew
that she was visiting Addie, we had
entered her caboose, and fixed her
bed in such a manner, that it would
collapse the moment she laid down
on it. Needless to say, we did not try
to play any more tricks on Ragna.
Then there were the occasions
when Gunnar Simundson stayed
overnight with us in the bunkhouse.
Then Icelandic poetry had its inning,
for he could recite Icelandic poems
by the hour, while the rest of us
would listen.
As the years go by, one can only
think back with a bit of nostalgia for
the past, for these and other
memories will never be forgotten. •
From “Roots That Bind''
Thorrablot
in
North
America
The Icclandic National League
Chapter in Arborg, Saturday,
March 30.
The Icclandic Association of
Washington D.C., Inc. Saturday,
March 2 at the Holiday Inn, 2460
Eisenhower Drive, Alexandria,
Virginia.
The Icclandic Canadian Club of
British Columbia, Saturday, March
9, at Engineers Auditorium, 4333
Ledger Street, Burnaby.
Icelandic Association of Chica-
go, Saturday, March 23. Contact
Leifur Björnsson, 5445 North
Sheridan Road, 2810 Chicago, 111.
60640. Tel. (312) 334-1445.
The Icclandic Socicty of Ed-
monton, Friday, February 22 at
Chateau Lacombe Hotel.
Working To Keep Our Herilage Alive
CANADA ICELAND
FOUNDATION
SECRETARY: 1 - 204 - 475-8064
40 Garnet Bay
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 0L6
Editorial
A new drama society, The Scan-
dinavian Drama Society, was
organized in Winnipeg last year. Its
rehearsals have taken place in the
Scandinavian Centre Monday nights
and have attracted people of Icelan-
dic, Norwegians and Danish back-
ground. Its first performance took
place at the Frón Thorrabiot,
February 15.
Icelandic drama flourished in New
Iceland as early as the 1880s. Places
like Icelandic River (Riverton),
Hnausa and Geysir set the pace, but
later almost every Icelandic com-
munity in Manitoba and Saskat-
chewan had its own drama society.
Although not exclusively Icelandic,
the Scandinavian Drama Society
should be supported by us all. It is a
welcome addition to Nordic co-
operation in Winnipeg.
The last Icelandic traditional poet
in America?
Dr. Björn Jónsson has published a
book of poems and verses. His sub-
ject ranges from love to childhood
pranks in Skagafjörður. The
magazine Heima er bezt recently
commented on Dr. Björn Jónsson and
his book Bymbögur and wonders if
Dr. Jónasson is the last Icelandic poet
in America. His book is available in
Swan River.
Thorrablot
Arni Björnsson comments on the
origins of Thorrablot. He states that
Thorri is first mentioned in Snorra-
Edda and Grágás from the 13th cen-
tury. In heathen times, Thorri may
have been a God of winter.
Grettir
Johannsson
Continued from page 1
Grettie’s contributions to the Icelan-
dic community than I do but are you
aware of his work for that commu-
nity on the outside?" He went on to
describe how on many occasions
Grettir had spoken for the Icelandic
community on important issues.
At the conclusion of Mr. da Roza’s
speech, Mr. Johann Sigurdson
presented Mr. Grettir Johannsson
with a present from the Icelandic Na-
tional League. It was an engraved
plaque. A wonderful evening came to
an end with the singing of the tradi-
tional birthday song, both in English
and Icelandic.
Finally a correction. Grettir
Johannsson was the Icelandic consul
until 1974 not 1959 as stated in the
previous issue.
Deaths
Gudny Stefanson Gimli, Manitoba, January 29, at 93
Alvin Dennis Peterson Los Angeles, formerly Selkirk, January 27, at 49
Lillian Johnson formerly of Ashern, Man., January 27, at 81
Gudjon Johnson Gimli, formerly Riverton, January 27, at 88
Magnus Bjornson Lundar, Man., January 24, at 66
Ragnar Gustafson Minaki, Ont. January 24, at 83
Thorstein Thorsteinson Winnipeg, formerly of Glenboro, January 25, at 80
Holmfridur Davidson Selkirk, Manitoba, February 6, at 90
Nancy Mae Stcphcns (nee Peterson) Winnipeg, February 5
jHiv
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