The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1973, Side 19

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
17
poorly, at times forgetting my lines,
and mispronouncing some words rather
ludicrously. My apparent failure riled
my father. He told me that it would
appear that I would likely bring dis-
credit to my family which was consider-
ed to be intelligent. To my great relief
he vowed that never again would he
repeat his examination of my progress
in learning the Catechism, a promise
he scrupulously kept. At the confirm-
ation, however, I did not disgrace him
or my family, as far as I remember.
There was a time when I became in-
tensely desirous of attending school.
One autumn, when I happened to be
out in rough weather, I espied three
men riding from Arnarstapa to Vatns-
garS to attend school for the first time.
I recognized among them IndriSi Ein-
arsson, a comrade of mine. On seeing
them I became aware of a strong
emotion — grief, not jealousy — then
rushed sobbing to lie down in a hollow
between twTo small mounds. Having
missed me, my mother called, but I
did not answer, as I did not want her
to see me in this depressed state. Final-
ly I relented. Many years later I heard
her relate this incident at a time when
I thought it had long been forgotten.
She added that never had she deplored
our poverty as she did then. I have no
regrets, however, that I was deprived
of a formal education. Had I later
undertaken the arduous task of
“working my way through college”, I
would not have been able to render
assistance to my parents in their old
age. It may have been my good for-
tune that the halls of learning were
closed to me. I am quite content now
that circumstances have unfolded as
they did.
(to be continued)
THE CANADA-1 CELAND FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
The Canada-Iceland Foundation is
offering scholarships of from $100.00
to $200.00 for the 1973-1974 academic
year, from its own funds and on be-
half of certain trust funds.
Scholarships may be awarded to: —
1. High School students of Icelandic
descent.
2. University students of Icelandic
descent or married to persons of
Icelandic descent,
and
Studying towards a Bachelor’s, Mas-
ter’s or Doctor’s degree in Arts.
3. Any university student taking-
courses in Icelandic or Icelandic lit-
terature.
Scholarship awards shall be deter-
mined by academic standing, leader-
ship qualities and financial need.
Studies may be carried on in any
Canadian university or in the Univer
sity of Iceland.
Candidates are hereby invited to
send their applications together with
a statement of examination results and
testimonials from two leaders in the
community by September 3, 1973 to:
Professor Haraldur Bessason,
Chair of Icelandic,
University of Manitoba.