The Icelandic Canadian - 01.11.2007, Qupperneq 33

Vol. 61 #2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
75
Duluth. From there, another man will tell
us where to go.
December 14th, 1893
We are travelling west to Mountain, a
town in the Dakota territory, by train
today. Forey is sleeping while I am writing
in the journal. We are passing through a
heavily wooded area, covered in snow. The
trees are huge in comparison to those in
our homeland. I am thinking that this
somewhat hilly landscape reminds me of
Iceland, the land of my birth.
I am learning the English language
slowly and with my trusty wordbook, I
find that I am able to pick up on words
such as “store” and the like.
December 18 th, 1893
We arrived in Mountain two days ago.
When we arrived, we asked people where
we might find a place to stay. We were told
of a young Icelandic couple that settled on
a farm in this area last year. As it turns out,
the family is also from Skagafjordur. They
have offered to take us in, for the time
being. Although we have never met before,
we feel a kinship because of our common
roots. Their names are Jon and Asdfs and
they have just had a baby. The baby’s name
is Sigrun. They explained to us this morn-
ing that if Forey would help in the kitchen,
clean the house and help with the baby, we
could earn our keep. They are pleasant
people and Forey and I are more than
happy to help them out while we are here.
December 23rd, 1893
It is getting close to Christmas. Forey
and I have been hastily making something
to give to our new friends. We have almost
nothing; we have hardly enough for our-
selves, but Christmas is a time for giving
and so I have almost completed a carved
wooden spoon, and Forey has knit a pair of
mittens for each member of the family,
including the new baby. Jon and Asdfs
offered to pay me while Forey earns our
keep and that way, they get a hired hand
and a maid for the price of a hired hand. We
feel very fortunate to have found shelter
with such kind people.
December 25th, 1893
Christmas is here, and we have had a
wonderful day. Asdfs and Jon were both
surprised and pleased by our gifts. Their
gifts to us were some candles and some
playing cards which we appreciated very
much. We played cards, drank coffee and
visited after the chores were done.
January 10th, 1894
We are thinking about leaving in a few
weeks. We will travel north to Winnipeg
and from there decide where we will go.
We have enjoyed our stay here in
Mountain with such wonderful people. We
wish them well.
February 1st, 1894
Though it seems a peaceful town, and
an industrious one at that, we have decided
to move north from Mountain, to our
dreamland of “New Iceland,” where our
people have established our own area with
our own government, our own schools,and
a newspaper in our own language. “New
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