The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.2005, Side 36

162
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 59 #4
around me nature is beautiful and forever
young.
I live here peacefully with a lovely wife
and wonderful children; here I have plenty
to do, and I can easily meet all our needs in
life. Admittedly there is not too much
company here, nor is there a lot of sympa-
thy, but this place is totally without stuck-
up big shots as well as depraved mob. Here
people are submissive, unsophisticated, and
slow. Here I can be number one, and that is
what I like best. I hope that I can make my
life fruitful and improve the lives of others.
During my last years in Gimli, my
financial situation had become somewhat
difficult. I had invested a lot in real estate
before my relatives from Iceland arrived,
and even though I didn't have to spend
much money on them I still didn't like hav-
ing to deprive myself of anything. Then I
invested in Victoria (a boat). My store
gradually declined and eventually came to
an end. The Vidines settlement almost dis-
appeared altogether. My houses fell in
value, and now they are vacant and I would
only be too glad to be able to sell them for
$200.00 or $300.00 even though I paid
$1000.00 for them. New Iceland was cer-
tainly deteriorating and everyone was
going downhill, myself included. My debts
were enormous, but my credit record was
excellent and I always managed to pay my
bills on time. A lot of people owed me
money which I had difficulty collecting,
especially since some of these people were
my friends and I did not want to put too
much pressure on them.
Well, this describes the situation as it
was last year, and there is no denying that I
had become worried and sad. The idea that
I could not pay my debts was especially
hard on me. Then I went on a trip to trade
with the Indians and that turned out to be
profitable. The operation of Victoria also
proved profitable, resulting in some
improvement in our financial situation.
However, this progress did not prevent us
from realizing that it was time to leave
New Iceland and take up a new job in a
new place. Therefore, we added a new
member to our company, (i.e. Osenbrugge)
and decided to build a sawmill on the
Icelandic River. I was asked to manage its
construction. Everything is going very
well. The mill is almost finished and it is
excellently built, thanks to a carpenter
from Ontario who has worked for me this
summer. Later this month we will start
sawing 7,000 logs which lie waiting in the
river. The Victoria has transported boards
from the mill to Winnipeg, bringing us a
nice profit. In general, the business is suc-
cessful. The initial difficulties - brought
about by lack of money - are fading even
though we still have to deal with some
issues due to insufficient money. Our
property expands itself rapidly, however,
and I have managed to keep my reputation
as an honest businessman. With the help of
God I hope to be able to maintain that rep-
utation as long as I live.
I am going to stay here up north as
long as it takes me to get everything well
organized. Later I might be able to find a
good replacement for myself, and I might
even sell my share. By no means do I intend
to stay up here for long.
This letter has become too lengthy and
I don't write about my life in detail to any-
one but you. Most think that I don't have
any difficulties and that Lady Luck hands
me everything without any effort on my
part. I don't mind people believing this, but
I thank God for everything that he does for
me. If I am granted a long life, I intend to
use the money which He gives me in order
to do good.
Right now I have in front of me two
letters from you, written on March 18 and
May 20. These letters came here in late May
and early July. The reason I have not writ-
ten for so long is that I was trading with the
Indians in late June and early July. My lat-
est letter to you was written either in late
May or early June. Since then my family
and I have been well.
There is not much happening in New
Iceland these days. There are only some 80
households left here. Everyone has enough
food, but there is little or no progress.
Lake Winnipeg rose so much this
spring that many expected disastrous
flooding would force them to flee. Those
who decided to stay sowed less than usual
and sought employment in Winnipeg
where salaries are very high now: $2.00 -