Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-10-29
Dra1s;'slc Girl.

@@sss.s SS1..Et. Gt1tl started for o. trip
in Ics4nnd 81 juno. 1872: He gives
an account Of Sc Six w erks in the Sad
dle," in a little volume fron, which va
get an idea Of the customs Of the peo-
pie there. The Icelandcrs ar, almost
inconveniently hospitable. It is diff
cult to get farmer, who keeps you a
day or two, to accept pay. Our author
seems to have done his best to requite
his host by making himself amusing
Here We have an instanc. ct native
kindness and feminine courage
"1n the morning l made a small
study, and after a very ,olerable meal
and many good wishes we rode cff. All
went well until we came to the river
Marka6jot. which happened to very
much flooded. Not liking to attempt
to swim, We rode on down the bank for
some miles, and fortunately found q
house. Knocking at the door, We
asked:
"'ls the river very deep?'
Every said voice from inside.
"' 'Isthere a man who will show us
ford?' We again asked
"'No,' was the reply, both Jon and
Olavr are up in the noun :ains, but one
Of the girls will d. quite as WE'LL
Here, yhora, 80 and show the Eng glish.
man the way
"1mmediutely an exceedingly hand
some woman ran out, and nodded
kindly t. me, went around to the back
Of the house, caught pony, put Il
bride on it, and not taking the troubl.
to fetch saddle, vaulted on his bar.
back, and sitting astridr, drove he'
heels into its sides aid I.i..l,cd ef
down the river bank as hard as sht
could g., shouting for us to follow.
I'VE became naturally rather ex
citel at such display of dash on til,
part Of such pretty girl, and started
off immediately in chase. Bu though
We did our utu,nst to catch her, she in
creased her distance hand over hand
There was 10 doubt about it; she ha,
as much courage as ever We could boas
of, and in point Of horsemanship wa.
u hundred yards ahead Of either Of Us
"For about half mile we rattlet
along, when suddenly she pulled "
short on a sand bank.
"' You can cross herc, she said
but you must be careful. Max
straight for that rock right over there
and when you have reached it. you wi
be able to see the carin of stone "
built to show the landing place."
"All right / said. 'Good-bye.'
"She looked puzzled for moment
and then said,-'Pll come thrcug
with you; it will be safer
"Go"d gracious, Bjarn:, don't le
her Gomez I said; She is sure to b
drowned, and l can't get her out wit
these vet clothes on; tell her to s
back
But before I was though the ser
tcnce, she had urged her horse I'M,
the water and in moment Was twent
yards into the river. OF course "
followed as quick as possibie, and afte
= great deal Of splashing reached th
middle of the aood
C. Now, she said, bringing her hors
up abreast with mine, and pointin
with her whip, there's the mark
'"The water was running level wit
the horses withers, and it was only b
lifting their heads very high that the
conld keep their noses clear.
"Good-bye,' she said, God bles
you,' and. before l was quite aware {
it, kissed me on the cheek.
l was about to return the compl
merit, but she was gone, and u fe,
minutes after we saw her, a mere spec
in the distance, galloplng over th
plain. -..
! Kissing in Iceland is custom sin
liar to shaking hands here. I ha
thought Of it in ordinary situation.
but kiss in the midst of boundIes
waters was, to say the least of it, strang'
1t was certainly the wettests ono I eve
had in my life - -> ....x. .