Árdís - 01.01.1964, Side 41

Ársrit Bcmdalags lúterskra kvenna
39
Helga remembered Mr. Dalmann from the year before. She
remembered his team of ponies and the wagon piled high with
boxes containing many wonderful things. Last year he had sold
pieces of print and cloth to her mother and Helga had been given a
pretty blue ribbon and a small china doll.
Maria had finished washing the wool. She straightened her
aching back and looked toward Helga who was still busy making
dandelion chains.
Helga looked up, “Come and sit down with me mamma and I
will make a crown for you.”
“Just for a minute, dear. Mamma has lots of work to do.”
Maria sat down beside her little daughter and Helga put a
dandelion crown on her head. “Now you are a queen mamma
and I am a princess.” Her mother kissed her and held her close
for a brief moment.
“Sigga says her mother is going to Heaven soon. Where is
Heaven?”
Maria was startled. How do you explain the mystery of death
to your child when it is still a mystery to yourself. She glanced
across the river toward the low log cabin where her friend and
neighbour was lying on her deathbed.
“Heaven is God’s home for us, my love. A place where there
is no pain or sickness and where everyone is happy.”
Helga thought about this for a while. “Who will look after
Sigga when her mother has gone to Heaven?”
Maria changed the subject, by saying, “Look, Helga, the lambs
are having a race down the hill and I think your lamb is the
winner.”
Helga laughed and clapped her hands. She had already for-
gotten her unanswered question.
The next afternoon she came running into the house. “Mr.
Dalmann is here mamma. Are you going to buy something?”
Just then Mr. Dalmann came to the door. Helga held her mother’s
hand as they went out to the wagon. She was not quite sure of
this small dark man who addressed her mother as “Mrs.”, but she
forgot her shyness as the boxes were opened.
“I have some nice shoes for your little girl,” Mr. Dalmann said.
He opened some of the boxes displaying the shoes. “This will just