The Icelandic connection - 01.03.2018, Page 38

36
ICELANDIC CONNECTION
Vol. 70 #1
to live but she spent her time coming over
to our house to spoil me. She said it had
saved her from utter despair.
When I was not quite four years old my
sister Joa was married to Stephen Johnson
who owned a farm about 4 miles north east.
Of that I remembered very little but since I
have learnt
That by then the town of Grafton had
come into being with a store or two and
people moving into the neighbourhood so
there was the place to buy things for the
wedding party. I remember seeing Joa’s
wedding dress. It was made of material,
something rather thin like cashmere in
a very pretty shade of wine with a row of
glass buttons of the same shade. The clerk
sold her a very fine white net which she told
Joa was the proper thing or the forerunner
of the veil. Incidentally, this veil was passed
over the right shoulder and crossed on the
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left hip with a flower or a pretty ribbon bow
and then there were a bunch of flowers in
her hair. They moved to Stephen’s farm but
I don’t remember anything special about
that except that a little time later Helga
who was 10 or 11 went to live with them
as Joa was lonesome in a small cabin on the
prairie miles from the next neighbour.
Poem to Bjorg Snifeld
(by Halldora Bjarnason)
Tap, tap, tap. Here comes the brigade
Marching along in the birthday parade
Led by the tiny comely queen
The cutest old lady you’ve ever seen.
Quick of motion and clear of eye
Quietly greeting the passerby
Knowing her age, I know you’ll find
Ninety-seven years she has left behind
The work of a lifetime, a fabulous feat
Of fortitude and courage now complete
Has earned her the rarest rest and care
And the right to our homage that few can
share
May the God of Mercy hold her little hand
And help her to Cross the Bar at journeys
end
Incidents from Cashel, North Dakota
by Halldora Bjarnason
(These events would have taken place around
1885 to 1889)
A man who had been a hired hand
asked if he could get married at our house
the next time the minister came to preach.
(Our house was used as the gathering
place.) He was told he could and the
outcome was that another couple decided
to marry at the same time. So, the day was
set and weddings would take place on a
certain Saturday at 6:30 PM. Planning for
the party was got going and I was beside
myself with excitement. Such things were