Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-01-05
An Icelantiic Home.

The boys of Iceland must be content
with very few acquaintances or playmates
The valleys which produce grass enough
for the farmers ponies, cattle and sheep
are generally scattered widely apart, d.
| vided by ridges of lava so hard and cold
that only a few wild-ilowers succeed in
growing in their cracks and hollows.
Then, since the farms must be all the
larger, because the grass is short and
grows slowly in such severe northern
climate, the dwellings are rarely nearer
than four or five miles apart; and were it
not for their swift and nimbe ponies the
people would see very little of each other
except on Sundays, when they ride long
| distances to attend worship in their little
wooden churches.
But OF all boys in the island, not one
was so lonely in his situation as Jon
Sigurdson. His father lived many miles
beyond that broad, grassy plain which
stretches from the Geysers to the sea, on
the banks OF the swift river Thorva. On
each slue there were mountains so black
and bare that they looked like gigantic
piles OF coal but the valley opened to the
southwark rs if to let the sun in, and far
away, when the weather was clear, the
| snowy top OF Mount Hecla shone against
the sky. The farmer Sigurd, joins father,
was poor man, or he would not have
settled so lar away from any neighbors :;
| tor he WAS OF cheerful and social nature,
ana there were few at kyrkedal who could
vie with him in knowledge of the an
| clent history and literature of Iceland.
The house was built on knoll under
elm which sheltered il from the violent
west and northwest winds The walls. of
lava stones and surf, were low and broad .
and the roofs over dwelling, storehouses
ana stables were covered deep with earth
upon which grew such excellent grass that
the ponies were fond of climbing up the
sloplng corners of the wall in order 10 get
AT 1t. Sometimes they might be seen cum
hlngly balanced on the steep sides of the
roof, grazing along the very ridge poles,
or looking over the end of the gable when
some member OF the family came out of
the door, AS much as 10 say: "Get me
down II you cam" Around the buildings
there was square wall of Enclosure. Civ
ing the place the appearance of little
fortress.
On one side OF the knoll hot spring
dubbed up. In the morning or evening.
when the air was cool, quite little csl,
unfh OF steam arose from 1t, whirllnr and
broadening ~ 1t melted away: but the
water Wa pure and wholesome AS soon AS
II became cold enough for use In front
OF the mousse, where the sun shOne warm
est, Sigurd had laid out "A small garden
III was great labor for him to remove the
huge stones and roll them into a project
ing wall, Ia carry good soil from the places
where the mountain rillS had gradually
washed Ii down from above, and To ar
range II so that frosts and cold rains
should do the least harm; and the whole
family thought Themselves suddenly rich
one summer when they pulled their first
raul>heS, SAVE the Little bed of potatoes
coming into blossom, and the cabbares
follng up their leaves, in order To make
al least, baby-headS before the winter
came
Within the house all was low. and dark
anu alsMal. The air was very close and
DAD, Tor the stables were only separated
irom Tie dWeliing-room by narrow pas.
sage, and punches of dry salt fish hung
on the walls. Besides, Ii was usually fun ot
smoke Rom the IRE "eat, and after a rain.
oi steam from SlgurG'S and ions heavy
wooden coats. But to the boy II was a de.
hghltul, comfortable home. for within
1t he found shelter. warmth. food and in.
siruetion. The room for visitors seelsad
70 nm the most splendid place In the
world, because il had wooden floor.
WINDOW with six paneS of glass, colored
print al the King of Denmark and
scranium in pot This was 80 precious
q plant that Jon and his sister Gurid hard.
" dared 70 touch it. leaves. They were
almost afraid TO srlell it for fear OF sniff
ing a"ay some I it life. and Gur,i.