Lögberg-Heimskringla - 26.03.1999, Blaðsíða 13

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 26. mars 1999 »13
Memoirs of Guðmundur Jónsson from Húsey
Eiríkur had a good and produc-
tive farm and was a prosperous
farmer, but spent little or nothing
on house repairs while he lived at
Vífilsstaðir, which was rented land. But
after he moved onto his own land,
Dagverðargerði, he built a neat farm
and supplied it well. He had bought that
farm many years earlier, but did not
want to push away the poor farmer who
lived there, rather waited on his rented
land until the man retired from farming.
Few others would have done that.
Eiríkur Einarsson
lived at Bót. He was a bit
younger than the afore-
mentioned men, but had
farmed there for a few
years when I moved to
Tunga. He was of medium
hight, fair-haired, calin in
mannerism, stem-looking,
and a more deep-thinking
farmer than others I knew.
This was evident in his
farming which prospered
from year to year as long
as I remember; yet he
spent a lot on buildings
and land improvement.
He was not educated
and had little book leam-
ing, but was temperate in
every way, a leader who
won everyone’s tmst and
affection although he was
considered to be a little
narrow-minded and arro-
gant. I think that few men
stuck as closely to the ancient values as
Eiríkur did, “to wrong no one—nor suf-
fer wrong from anyone.” Yet he never
pressed for his rights with force, but got
amazingly far calmly. One example
describes Eiríkur better than any other.
He was the district treasurer for many
years and fared well as he was a clever
collector and usually had money avail-
able when needed; but the district books
were kept by the sheriff, Einar Jónsson,
dean of the district.
It so happened that Eiríkur wished
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to turn in the district money he had col-
lected and arrived at the sheriff’s with
the money. But upon checking with the
sheriff’s books they found that Eiríkur
had brought thorty krónur more than he
should have. The dean’s accounts were
as accurate and clear as they could be,
but Eiríkur maintained that the money
belonged to the district, although he
could not show it on paper. He claimed
that he had never mixed the district
money in with his own or any other
money. The district finances were then
thourougly checked from the time
Eiríkur took over, and finally about ten
krónur were found which the sheriff had
not accounted for. Eiríkur was told that
the rest belonged to him. But he could
not be convinced and an income had to
be created for the difference on the next
year’s account. This incident describes
Eiríkur well.
The three farmers described above
were true friends in need when hardship
came to the district and shortages of hay
were foreseen. They usually had plenty
of hay, as they had good farm lands and
grazing lands. People from outlying
areas often sought them out, even all the
way from East Borgarfjörður. Yet
Hallur at Rangá may have been the
most generous one.
Magnús Jónsson lived at
Hallfreðarstaðahjáleiga and later at
Galtastaðir. He was one of the most
noteworthy farmers at Tunga district
during these years. He was hunched in
his shoulders, actually crippled, but
strongly built and undoubtedly strong,
laid-back and well-willed, cautious in
word and actions, hospitable and tem-
perate in every way. He did not want to
wrong anyone and was usually a peace-
maker. He was not a bookish man, but
had good farm sense and managed his
farm well, being prudent in all things.
He was a man of firm character who did
not tolerate unfaimess, and few tried to *
trick him. He was kindly in every way,
and a good man to seek out for assis-
tance. His farm prospered well but was
not large.
Sigmundur Jónsson lived at
Gunnhildargerði. He was a half-brother
of Magnús at Galtastaðir, but they were
unlike in many ways. Sigmundur was a
tall man and very manly, with sharp and
imposing facial features, chestnut-
coloured hair and beard, alert and quick
moving and a good problem-solver,
volatile and a man of action. He was
big-boned and thin, strong and staunch,
a man who did not give in to anyone.
He was not a bookish man and was con-
sidered a slow leamer in his youth, most
likely due to stubbomness and an inde-
pendent spirit rather than low intelli-
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