Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-04-01

The People of Iceland and their Homes
The gravity Of these good people in their
| forms of politcnesS is one of the most striking
| features in their social intercourse. The
| commonest peasant takes off his cap to an
| other when they meet; and shaking hands
| and snuf-taking are conducted on the most
ceremonous principles. They do not how
ever, wholly confine themselves to stimulants
for the nose. As soon as they get down to
Reykjavik and finish their business, they are
very apt to indulge in what we call in Cafor-
MIA ''a bender" That is to say, they drink
little too much whiskey, and hang around the
stores and streets for day or two in state
| of iutoxication. At other times their habits
are temperate, and they pass the greater part
| of their lives among their flOcks, free from
excitement, and as happy as people can be
with such limited means of comfort. The I'M
iformity of their lives would of course be pain
full to people possessed of more energy and
a higher order of intelligence. But the Ice
landers are well satisfied if they can keep
warm during the dreary winters, and obtain
their usual supplies during the summer.
Sometimes a plague sets in among their
sheep and reduces them to great distress.
Fire pestilence, and famine have from time
to time devastated the island. STILL where
their wants are so few, they can bear with
great patience the calamites inflicted upon
them by an all-wise Providence. Owing per-
haps to their isolated mode of life they are a
grave and pious people, simple in their man
nerS, superstitious and credulOus. They at
tend church regularly, and are much devoted
to religious books and evening prayers. No
family goes to bed without joining in thanks
giving for all the benefits conferred upon
them during the day. Living as they are
iIsft In rrapHoet phannn1pua of ms and
tinctured with the wild traditions of the old
Norseman, it is not surprising that they should
implicitly believe in wandering spirits of
fire and flood, and clothe the desolate wastes
of lava with a poetic imagery peculiarly
their own. Every rock, river, and bog is
invested with legend or story to the truth
of which they can bear personal witness.
Here a ghost was overtaken by light Of the
moon and turned to stone; their voices were
heard crying for help, and because no help
came, farmers house was burned the next
day; here certain man saw wild woman,
with long hair, who lived i'll cave and never
came out to seek for food save in the midst of
a storm, when she was seen chasing the
birds; there great many sheep disappeared
one night and it was thought they were killed
and devoured by a prodigious animal with
two heads-and so on without end. Nothing
is too marvellous for their credulity. One Of
my most pleasant experiences was to talk
with these good people, through the aid of
nv guide and bear them tell of the wonder
| full sights they had seen with their own eyes.
Nor do l believe that they had the remotest
intention of stretching the truth. Doubtless
they imagined the reality of whatever they,
said 1t was very strange to one who had
lived so long among a sharp and rather in
credulous race of men, to hear full grown
people talk with the simplicity of little chill
| dren.
The pastor of Tingvalla and his family
reside in group of sod-covered huts close
by the church. These cherries little novels
are really curiosity-none of them being
over ten or fifteen feet high, and all huddlec
! together without the slightest regard to lati