, 1875-02-28
THE ICELANDER AND HIS BEAR

Wrtttra for The Chicago Tribune.
Harald was King in Norway. Svend was King
in Denmark. After long wars they made peace
in the spring Of 10G4.
While they wera at war with e&ch other it hap
pened ono summer there came poor lcelander
to King Harald's new residence, the present
Ch1iBt;auia His name was Audun, and he had
With him a tama boar from Greenland. Harald
sent for him anu offered him certain sum for
the bear.
VI Audun answered: .No, not for double the
amount"
Tho King said: "Then perhaps you will give
NE the bear?"
"No not at all 4"
tsWhat are you going to do With it?
II will do what I have proposed to myself:
I'll t2ko tho bear to Denmark and give it to King
Svcnd."
'.But, don't you know there is war between
him and me- Or do you imagine that you will
b allowed to proceed with presents to q country
whittier no one is allowed to GO, even in impo1-
fant errandsl"
"That is for you to decide, King Harald; but I
nm going to do exactly what lave made up my
mind to do.''
SWELL then, follow thy own head; but when
you return for homo you must como to me
and tell me what King Syend gave you for the
bear.'
II promise to do so,' said Audun, and de-
parted.
Before reaching King svend, tho 1celauder
had spent cvcry penny he had, and was obliged
to beg his way through Denmark. He came to
one Of the Kings Bailiffs by the name Of Aage,
ard asked for something for himself and the
bear.
Eyes, if you hare money then have food"
answered Aage-
But this WIS Just uha. lie did not haye, and
Audun was compelled to sell half OF his interest
in the bear to Aase in order to get provisions
until he reached the King. Aage and Audun now
travelled together, and King svend received
them very kindly, and told them to tell their
GRAND Audun spoke up, told hlm who he was,
why he came, and how he had been dealt with By
Aase.
'ls it true what he saTs 7" asked the King.
Aage could not deny it.
"Then shame to you for the Bailin you arc to
me, to impose such conditions on i stranger who
comes to bring me 4 costly present, which hs
paid for with a3l his property! You deser rcd to
lose your life and. all you oWni but get thee
sway from here, and take heed never to appear
before me again! But rs for you, 1celander, I
will now decide that the bear is all Jour oun, and
want you to remain here!"
Shortly after this Audun spoke Of travelin z
farther on, and King Svend felt somewhat Offend
ed at this but when he heard that Audun in
tanded to 80 as pilgrim to Rome, he EaVe LIS
copsenr called it = p1aiseworshy intention, gave
| him money for the journey, made him JOIN IN
| with other pilgrims, and asked him to visit him
again when he returned home. Ardun came to
| Rome, bat Oh his way back he fell very sick His
fellow-trave1ers left him, aud all his money vas
| spent during his long confinement On ths hck-
| bad. When he erecorered he vas compelled again
| to beg his way back to Denmark. aud At Easter
| he reached King 6Feud's court in state Of great
| debility and suffering, and almost naked. On
/ the Saturday OF Easter he placed himself IN =
/ corner OF tbs church to speak to the king when
| ha went to vespers, but he felt ashamed when he
| sav the Kings brilliant escort. The King went
to his dinner, and in the corner OF the hill stood
| q table intended for tho pilgrims hero stood
| Audnn, aud he made up luis mind to accost the
| King when he went to church ngaln After ths
meal. But even now he had no courage, ana hlc
h,mself It appeared, however, to Syend thai
| he had caught sight OF Andun, and returning
from church and when bis followers lad tazer
their seats, he walked to the entrance and cried
| III, as think, there il any one uear hera who
fain would speak to ma but lacks tbs courage
let him come forward now !"
Audun entered, fell ut the feet OF the King, but
| Svend took him by the hand bid Llm welcome
.salthough," Is be said, II could hardly rocog'
nize you, so greatly havo you changed !" He
led him into tho dnlng-hall; but Ill his coaft1efs
commenced laughing.
''You need not laugh At him because he looks
80 p,tiable," said Syend, the has taken better
caro- OF his sou than you, 30 that he might bs
properly a-raigned in the sight OF the Lord!,
The King ordered bath for Audun waited On
him himself, gave him good clothes, and took &C
| good care Of him in every way that ho soon re-
| Covered his health. Audun remained with the
King, and was highly favored OF him and every,
body, for he Was pious and eweet-tempered
| man. 49,
Next spring the King offered him the position
as his cup-bearer; it was very honorable posi-
| ton.
MAY the Lord repay you, King Svend. fol
| vonr Kind offer and for ali the honors you have
ehoun me" answered Audun, "ont Hluss re-
III The a King thought this rather queer.
| II cannot" said Audun, ''rcmain here il
}@glory and splendor, and let my poor mother 60
eays her when I left will probably all have beer
aThere is good sense in that speech, answer'
cd the King, ' and this is the only excuse foi
vonr leaving me which can fad no fault With. .
When summer waa near the King vent with
| him to the landing. They came to fine large
merchant vessel which was about being loaasd.
aWhat do you think Of this clip, Audun 2"
"a iine ship, my King !"
IT ought now to pay you for the bear Audnn,
! mud will therefore give Won this ship 1ith full
| cargo, which will be Of benef1t to yoa IN Ice
laud."
Audun thanked as best he knew. When the
shin was ready to sail, the King followed Audun
down to the strand.
:. Near your island the coast is said to be veEJ
dangerous NTH breakers" I" said King syend - sc
that YOU might happen to wreck your vessel and
| her cargo for this reason see here leather
wallet filled with silver pieces, and while YOU
have this you have not lost everything. Yet, you
rulght perhaps even lose this with the ship
therefore win here give you this ring, spen-
did level" Tho took it from hls own tlnget) ;
and If you should lose everything else by ship
wrecking, yet you will not be poor ss long - you
nreserye thie, 60 that peopls may SEQ and learn
thar YOU have vlsited King svand Of Denmark:
But You must never part with this rlng, except
If you ever should conaider that Jou owed @
much gratitude to any chieftain that yon would
deem he deserved il; foz it is worthy Of q
Prince"
| Harald and was we'll received BY him.
1Wel1, what did King svend give you for the
bear p
He accepted it from me-"
:. But what did he give you more 2:
/ tn