Salka Valka by Halldor Laxness

12

Salka Valka now had four children of her own, namely, the elder children of Magnús Book and his wife Sveinbjörg. She had taken them on contrary to the will of the parish council, because Book did not want to apply to the parish for poor relief before he was remarried, whereas the parish council wanted to grant him poor relief right away to prevent him from remarrying, particularly as it wasn't entirely certain whether his betrothed was really past child-bearing age. When Salka returned home that evening, the children were still fighting, and she gave them their supper. Then she grabbed them by the scruffs of their necks, like dogs, and held their arms behind their backs as she wiped off their faces with a damp cloth, sent them to bed and ordered them to stop slandering each other long enough to fall asleep. They had great respect for this girl, because she was very strong. The boys believed that she could take on six men. They slept on a mattress on the floor in the small room off the kitchen. Then all was quiet.