The Icelandic Canadian - 01.11.2007, Side 34

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 61 #Z
Iceland!” is to be found north of the
“postage stamp province” of Manitoba.
Here in Mountain we shall stay for a week
and purchase canvas (to make a makeshift
tent), two oxen, an ox cart and building
supplies to make our home with, though
we expect to live in a tent for at least one
month. I purchased a splitting axe from a
man named George; I also purchased some
pulling chains and an empty wooden barrel
in which to store grain.
February 14th, 1894
We have arrived in Winnipeg. This is a
merry day indeed, and I need to purchase
some food stores and a plow. It is very
cold, but at least it is warmer than it was.
We have decided to take a flatboat down
the river in the spring. Then from there, we
will go along the shores of Lake Winnipeg
and to the little town of Lundur. From
there we will journey up the Icelandic
River. I have now applied for a patent on
NE-25-22-2E, a quarter section of land,
which can be found by going up the river
until you reach an East-West cut line about
four miles upstream. Then you go down
the cut line about three miles and you’re
there. There are supposed to be markers
there, some on every lot so it won’t be so
hard to find.
Forey and I got married last Saturday;
it was a very joyous occasion. Now we can
raise a family. I had wished that my family
and Forey’s family had been there to see it.
The thought of our families makes me
wonder how they are doing. I hope they
are doing well.
February 18 th 1894
I find this city, Winnipeg, rather
strange. It has towering buildings and there
seems to be activity everywhere. The
streets are always wet, it seems, and the
only place these poor horses and wagons
can go is on the one single dry path. Forey
and I went for a walk, away from the build-
ing we are staying in. We noticed an
improvement in the weather and we can
hardly wait until spring arrives. We are
earning our keep by working for the man
who owns the boarding house where we
have been staying. I am working at his liv-
ery stable and Forey is working as a maid
in the house.
April 12th, 1894
The snow is gone. It is warming up and
we are nearly ready to leave, but the ice is
just starting to break up on the river and I
have been told that it will be some time
before the lake is free of ice. We have to be
patient (in the meantime we can earn some
more money).
May 12th, 1894
We are travelling on a flatboat down
the lake now. The scenery is altogether dif-
ferent. The birds are strange and the land is
flat.There are lots of trees in the area; we
have only seen a few clearings.The water is
rough and dirty and it looks like rain.We
are going to stop for the night. We will be
thankful for the canvas tent I bought.
May 20th, 1894
The weather was clear and sunny for