The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.1981, Page 25

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
23
preparations and parties with games and
dances, after the serious religious exercises
had been duly observed. These gaieties
were enjoyed by young and old together and
hospitality was shared with friends and
neighbours.
Ah, yes, we were gay and happy in spite
of toil and meagre means! Mother’s loving
care was ever present. Her selfless sweetly
given sacrifices were wrapped around us
and never doled out with the long dreary
face of martyrdom. We did not realize it at
the time, but we were also being nourished
by her bright personality, her buoyancy of
spirit and her steadfast faith.
There was one occasion when my
mother’s courage faltered. It was during the
cold, cheerless winter after Father died. All
the children were sick with the measles and
one precious little girl at death’s door. There
was nowhere to look for succour as no one
dared to come near the house for fear of the
dread disease, which in those days took a
heavy toll of children and adults alike.
For weary weeks mother kept her lonely
vigil at the bedside of the little ones and one
by one her high hopes seemed to collapse.
But even then her early training came to her
aid. She remembered the stoic endurance of
a long line of courageous forbears. She re-
called, too, her own mother’s often repeat-
ed admonition to cling firmly to faith and
spiritual values. “Life will not always be
easy”, Grandma had said as mother set out
from Iceland on her uncertain venture into a
strange new land. “No, it will not always be
easy, but it can be made beautiful by the
inner flame of a bright spirit. And don’t
forget,” she added stoutly, though the tears
of this last farewell trembled in her voice,
“Don’t forget, that no matter how hard the
trail or heavy the burden, a daughter of the
Vikings does not give up!”
And so with renewed determination,
mother attacked her problems and when all
the children had miraculously recovered her
own blithe temperament asserted itself once
more.
It is good to remember that mother lived
to see the realization of many of her dreams
and aspirations for her children. I like to
believe too, that a good measure of her
courage, faith and gentle kindness has been
passed on to us. For she made life a game to
be tackled bravely, played honestly and won
with sweet humility.

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