The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2003, Page 25

Vol. 58 #2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
67
they ask me for advice, and then they don't
follow my advice: they find everything dif-
ficult and then spend their time doing
nothing. Concerning cleanliness, they are
improving considerably. But then it was,
indeed, high time because their uncleanli-
ness was intolerable, when they first came
here, resulting in my having to express time
and again my disgust for this filth.
There are few things which could make
me more happy than to see you here, sup-
porting Icelanders both physically and
spiritually. However, I shall not urge you
to come here because if you were to come
for a short visit, you would hardly be able
to be of much help to the Icelanders that
the cost of journey could be justified, and if
you were to come for good - it would not
be any use either because Icelanders are still
too badly off to be able to pay their minis-
ter. Besides, the future of this colony is still
uncertain, it might even be dissolved
because - if Manitoba turns out to be
attractive - most are anxious to move there.
But then it is characteristic of Icelanders
always to think that the grass is greener at
the other side of the hill, in other words,
they can never face the present, but they
keep hoping for the future or they cling to
the past.
Rev. Fridirik Burton (Episcopalian)
has had services, once in a while, in the
Icelandic schoolhouse. His sermons have
been well liked, but the formalities of the
English Church are colourless and boring,
and are in my estimation not useable. Now
a new minister has settled down in this
town. He has offered to hold services for us
every other Sunday. He is an old fatso:
physically fat but spiritually thin, I think. I
have translated the sermons since
Sigtryggur left, but he (i.e Sigtryggur) used
to do the translations. I suppose that hav-
ing the sermons translated is not as satisfy-
ing for the people as if they had them deliv-
ered in Icelandic. There is, nevertheless, a
great comfort in these church services.
Every Sunday I have a Sunday School
for children, using Balles and Balsleves
books. I read for them from the Bible -
among other things.
I am in a hurry. Pardon my handwrit-
ing.
Yours, with love and respect,
Fridjon Fndriksson
Letter #6
Hrisum, Jan. 13, 1876
Most Honorable Friend: (Fridjon)
May the Lord give that you are recov-
ering steadily when you receive this letter-
- and may the Lord give you a long, pros-
perous and happy life.
I cannot agree with some who have
expressed themselves concerning those
children who were to be confirmed this
spring. I find it most unfair to accuse you
of negligence in this matter since it was not
in your power to prevent your own illness
- the Lord laid this cross on your shoul-
ders.
Admittedly, I regret the fact that you
could not confirm Sigga, my daughter. We
were indeed hoping that you could per-
form the confirmation because we were
confident that your blessings and prayers
are not in vain but prove to be beneficial
and fruitful forever. The fact that things
turned out this way must be accepted calm-
ly - as we are, indeed, doing. May the Lord
give you back your health so that your
friends and relatives can enjoy your com-
pany and conversations for a long time to
come. But if the Lord decides to receive
you in his land of glory one must accept
that with humility and say as Job did: The
Lord gave and the Lord took away -
blessed be the name of the Lord.
Please remember me and my wife to
your wife - may her sorrow turn into hap-
piness. May the Lord bless you and protect
you.
Your loving and sincere friend,
Sigurdur Steinsson
- Editor’s Note: This man was Fridjon
Fridriksson 's father-in-law.
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