Vælferðin (Welfare)
was published in 1917. The story commences with Isaac who purposely enters the
forest. He looks for a patch of land where he can begin anew, plough a new
life. He walks for days and finally finds a suitable spot. He immediately
builds a shack for himself and the livestock he has taken along.
He is a work horse but misses company, someone to
take care of the home and the domestic side of things. Inger arrives. And this
is happiness, for now he can focus all his energy and might on clearing the
field and ploughing the earth.
The years pass, and the two loners become quite
wealthy, owning a home, lands and livestock. Inger bears two healthy boys and a
girl who has harelip, just as she does. She does not wish her daughter the harm
to have to live with the same handicap as her mother, so she kills her. But
rumours spread and the crime is unearthed and Inger is imprisoned.
Isaac continues to work hard and hold everything
together until his wife returns. And she returns but irrevocably changed.