The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-11-05
SECnSn Boy
FIRST Boy
Hercules and His Twelve Labors.

Hercules and His Twelve Labors.
Hercules was said to be the son of the
god Jupiter and of Alcmena, Princess.
Very wonderful stories are told OF hum.
The jealous and spiteful goddess, Juno,
hated him even while he was little baby
aud one day when his twin brother Iphi-
clus and himself had been left i'll their
cradle two dreadful snakes were sent by
Juno to kill little Hercules. Iphiclus
shrieked with fright like any common
baby, but the baby Hercules put his
chubby hands around the snakes and
choked them to death. So there was an
end of Juno's scheme, and the little hero
grew fast, as so brave boy deserved.
He had teachers enough when he was
ready for them. One taught him how TO
use arms in war; another made him skill
full with the bow and arrow; still another
taught him to drive n chariot Ill majestic
fashion. He also had two music teachers
Linus to teach him how to play on the
Tyre, and Eumolphus, who gave him
singing lessons. AS TO reading, geog-
raphy, and grammar, l cannot say that
he ever was asked to learn them.
When he had grown to be atall, strong
young man he began to use his strength
for the good of his country, and Creon,
King of Thebes, was 50 pleased with him
that he gave him his daughter Megara
for his wife, and let them rule III his
kingdom.
But, Notwithstanding all This success
and honor, hard times were coming for
Hercules.
Eurystheus, King of Argos and My
cenae, was two months older than Her
cules. Before either of them was born
Jupiter had promised that the one that
should be born first should rule over
the other.
When Eurystheus found out how
happy and prosperous Hercules was he
sent him word that he must come to
Mycenae and perform some labors for
him. Hercules wasn't much used to
being domineered over, and he said that
he wouldn't go. Then Juno did q fan
worse thing than when she sent the
snakes, for she made him so crazy tina,
he didn't know his own children, and he
killed them. When be WAS well again
he was so shocked at finding out what
he had done that he shut himself up,
and would not for some time mingle
with his fellow-men.
At last he went to the oracle of Apollo,
and was there told that he must submit
to Eurystheus for twelve years but he
was comforted by the promise that he
should do great wonders of labor, and,
after that should be reckoned god.
So he went to Mycenae, and Eurys-
theus commanded him to perform twelve
labors. He was well armed, for the god
Mercury gave him sword, Apollo gave
a bow, Vulcan breastplate of gold
Neptune, the sea-god, sent him horses,
furnished his robe.
He made his own club OF Nemean
wood.
His first labor was to kill a fierce lion
that Juno had sent into the country near
Nemea and Mycenae. This was no com
mon lion. His skin could not be pene-
trated by any weapon whatsoever, and
he was the terror of all who lived in the
region. But Hercules drove him, will
the club of Nemean wood, into his den,
shut the opening, threw his arms around
his neck and strangled him. He then
skinned the dead beast and put the skin
upon himself, which is the reason he
wears it now. When Hercules went
back to Eurystheus with the dead lior
upon his back, Eurystheus gave orders
for him never to come within the city
gates, for he was greatly afraid of him
so afraid that he had brazen chamber
built underground, and whenever he
heard that Hercules was coming he wen
down there and hid himself
Tho payt taek uaa Gill bordar II.
must kill hydra, a great nine headed
monster that lived in the marsh of Lerna
Hercules went to the place in a chario
driven by Iohus. The hydra was in it,
hole when the hero arrived, but som,
fiery darts started it out, and Hercules
caught it. The huge creature twineC
about his legs, but he began to crust
his eight mortal heads-(the ninth wa
immortal). But now n new horror showeC
itself. No sooner had he crushed on,
head than tiCo Immediately grew out
Hercules WAS, however, not to be out
done. He called Iolaus and told him I,
set fire to the wood near by and brinC
him brand. Then he began again OF
the heads. He cut one off, and befor,
there was time for the new ones TO grow
he scared the place over so that the,
couldn't. So be kept on doing until h,
came 10 the immortal head. This he GIL
off, bwried it IN the road, and put a grea
stone on 1t, which must have been YER,
uncomfortable for the head under the cir
cumstances. Hercules poisoned hi
arrows with the hydras gall, so tina
ever after they gave incurable' wounds
The thwd labor WAS To take and Z,