The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2004, Síða 29

Vol. 59 #2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
71
i.e. those who have no means at all and are
tempted to sell their souls for bread. I think
that people can still survive here, but that is
all. I am in a difficult position. Most think
that 1 am an “important person” and say
that if I leave they are going to leave. I am
losing hope in progress. On the other hand,
all my money is invested in a real estate
which I cannot sell. I do not fear poverty
for myself, but I cannot bear becoming
responsible for my creditors losing as much
as one cent. I don't mind losing everything
expect my honour - it I cannot bear losing.
I know my fellow countrymen and I
am aware of their lack of uprightness and
togetherness, but I am also aware of my
own weaknesses - I realize that I cannot
become their Moses. It is ill-fated to be an
Icelander. Whatever the future brings
about, it seems to me that the spirit of
cooperation and friendship, which has been
created here in New Iceland, is going to
perish. The Progress (a periodical) is dead
and there is, I think no hope of it being
revived. The individual members of our
congregation drift away from one another
and settle down elsewhere - hither and
thither - and in the battle for daily bread,
spiritual interests tend to be forgotten. The
congregations here are going to become so
small that there is no way that they can
support a minister decently. The future is
bleak, but I have not yet been able to make
up my mind as to what to do.
Rev. Halldor Briem is staying with me.
He is going to go north late this month. He
is a good and pleasant man, but he is weak,
powerless like a child, altogether unable to
influence our phlegmatic Icelandic hearts.
He is, nevertheless, doing his best, and you
have to respect a man for that. I think that
he is happy anticipating his upcoming mar-
riage. Those who become blind are lucky
to be able to stay blind.
Since you left, only two fellow congre-
gation members, Grimur Einarsson and
Eggert have left. The others who have
moved away are all followers of Rev. Pall.
But the commotion is enormous and
allegedly Magnus, the Reeve,who was one
of four reeves in New Iceland, Indridi
Indridason, Erlendur Olafsson, Simon
Simonarson, Jon Sigurjonsson - among
others - are going to leave. Many Icelanders
are moving from Winnipeg to the south,
breaking land there. My brother Arni has
chosen land for himself south there and he
will probably move late this summer. His
land is 4 miles west of Pembina. I am think-
ing about encouraging my brother
Fridbjorn to move south when he finishes
his work for the railroad company late this
month. If our father comes here this sum-
mer I want him to settle down south there.
When father comes Arni has, hopefully,
managed to build a shelter for him. I will
probably stay here for a while, not for
many years, though. I shall tell you about
that later. Mr. Taylor is pessimistic about
our future, but we are not any worse off
than those in Ontario - that is comforting.
“It could be worse,” Rev. Br. has not been
paid as much as a single dollar. I have not
been able to collect any of your money -
but then I have not even
tried to collect it since I
know that it is altogether
hopeless to try to collect
it for the time being.
Victoria (a boat) has
earned some money this
spring so that hopefully
we will be able to pay the
$500 due on July the
first. The manufacturing
of lumber is going
extremely badly. The
first product will not be
finished until next