The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1959, Blaðsíða 19

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
17
Nearly everyone, young and old, wore
a costume and made a fantastic picture
as they ciroled and danced around a
huge bonfire on the -ice, which threw
a bright light on the scene, as well as
providing a considerable amount of
heat in the below zero weather.
We continued our journey in ideal
weather, with balmy sunshine, and
through ever-changing scenery. We
crossed and recrossed the Assiniboine
Valley, following the road that led
through towns and villages along the
Manitoba and Northwestern Railway.
After Millwood, we passed through
Binscarth, Birtle, Newdale and Bass-
wood. There were places of rare beauty
in the valley, particularly near Birtle
and Binscarth. As we reached the
prairie -level, there was -in one direction
the range of hills with their green
slopes and little clumps of trees and
in the other, the river winding along
at the bottom of the valley. This was
wonderful scenery. In marked contrast,
was the seemingly endless prairie, the
unbroken, monotonous flatness on
either side of the trail that we travelled,
mile after mile.
Only -twice during our seven years in
the Thingvalla settlement, was the
peaceful tenor of everyday life broken
by tragic events. One was that of a
woman who was gored by an ox and
died from her injuries. She was near
the time of having a child and by the
remarkable, almost unbelievable skill
of the midwife, Gudrun Guclmunsdott-
ir, the child was saved and grew to
become a woman and a mother. The
other, an even more shocking tragedy,
if that were possible, was that of a
young girl who died from a gunshot
wound. It would serve no good pur-
pose to venture into details, or express
an opinion in connection with this sad
event. Let it suffice to say that it always
remained a mystery, never investigated
and never solved. Here again, the mid-
wife Gudrun Gudmundsdottir was hur-
riedly summoned, bu-t her efforts were
successful only in alleviating to a cer-
tain degree the agony of the dying
girl. Two doctors were also summoned,
by telegraph, Dr. Walker from Mill-
wood, thirty miles away, and Dr. Pat-
rick, from Saltcoats, twenty-two miles
away, but neither one arrived in time.
The suffering was ended, the life of
the young girl was snuffed out.
This young girl had been quiet, well-
mannered and welLbehaved. She had
been a maid in the home where the
tragedy ocourred. Every man, woman
and child shared in the sorrow of the
bereaved parents and family, and the
whole settlement attended the burial
service in the community graveyard.
The Reverend Hafsteinn Pjetursson
was the officiating minister, and in his
quiet yet clear and distinct manner he
delivered such a wonderful sermon
that I have never heard the like, be-
fore or since. It was indeed a touching
scene, that large gathering on the
gentle slope, in the bright sunshine,
everyone with head bowed in solemn
reverence and last heartfelt farewell
to the sweet, innocent young girl.
As we plodded along the road I had
thoughts of a serious nature as regards
my future in the new home. It seemed
that I had reached a parting of the
ways, away from the carefree days and
the pleasant associations and friend,
ships in our Thingvalla community
This was farewell to youth, ana
whether pleasant, difficult, exxhaust-
ing, or frustrating, there was a feeling
of sadness and a keen sense of loss.
The future could only be guessed at.
Before us, there was a strange district,
strange people, everything different.