14.2.2010
Humorous Icelandic Tales15
javascript:parent.insert("A goat with two heads.mp3", "A Goat With Two Heads");
Gudmundur Jonsson at Ingunnarstađir in
Geirdalshreppur in the county of Bardastrandarsysla.
He claimed to come from Selbekk in Tungusveit,
and was called Gvendur Selbekk or Mundi the
Carpenter. Gvendur Selbekk lived in a small shack
at Ingunnarstađir and kept a few sheep which he
had been given for helping with the gathering of
hay on various farms in the area. Gvendur was
often poor and had little to eat.
One day Gvendur Selbekk went to the cooperative
at Kroksfjordur to buy some necessities.
The manager of the co-operative, Mr. Olafur
Olafsson, then told Gvendur that due to his large
debt with the store he couldn’t get any more credit
with the co-operative.
Gvendur then said:
"In order to pay my debt, I have to stay alive.
In order to stay alive, I have to eat."
Gvendur Selbekk was then granted more
credit.
Store Credit
Some time ago there lived a crofter named