The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-07-25

''.Thendebald,'' said the King, turn
ing to. the Chief, s'she is your daugh-
ter: what iy your advice?''
The Chief was silent for a moment.
Then he spoke, with extreme detection.
"She is my only child. Her mother is
dead. She has always been my joy and
crown. am very unhappy. l wish !
were dead. If you throw her to the
wolves,,T win tfiroM myself tesrhefk.;
Life hxs no value in my eyes without;
my cherished daughter! my FesteainS!
my treasure and consolation!'
His tears fell 80 fast that the brave
warrior retired to remote part of the
room to hide his emotion.
"You will never condemn that noble
girl to the wolvesr'. SAID Adgil to This
father, in trembling voice.
"She is an apostate, said the priest.
She has destroyed a sacrifice of the
gods. The anger of Odin will rise
against us if we pardon her. She must
die!'' ws.ss
81 really do not know what to do"
said RadbOd. "She is noble and
beautiful girl. l would rather give the
gods fifty bullocks in exchange for her
life."
ga thousand would not suflicers
cried the priest. - Our gods. demand
the blood of the young girl! Beside,
the people will not be contentcd. They
await with impatience the spectacle
that has been promised to them, and
will complain if they do not see y COM
bat with the wolves"
! ..But we cannot give them one," re-
piled the King. "Where are the COM
batants?'' -5.-zs
THAT is true" responded the priest.
!" But you can deliver the young girl up
to them. If you spare her, they will
say that you allowed the Danes to es-
cape" .9s.. $4sa
| There was a moment of silence. The
King and his son were both filled with
CONSERVATION ut the priests words.
| . cannot give decision on such an
important matter as this without con-
sulting my counselors. Here, steward!'
| The steward entered, and lie gave
heard 4 great noise from without. 1t
was the clamor of the people, who
were coming from all quarters to see
the combat. A great disturbance arose
when they heard Of the flight. and they
ran to the palace to demand Justice.
But the steward ordered the Mtenagc-
mot (assembly of frep men) to come to:
gether; and the multitude applauded
this measure.
| Almost the whole day was employed
in preparation. Under an oak tree 800
years old sat the King, the Prince, the
priest. the Chief of Heligolandr the an.
clients and the cOunselors. An immense
multitude stood around them; and in
the space between stood Fostedina
alone, but under Divine protection
When she was led in there was pro
found silence. Hereappearancc touched
their rude hearts and they could scarce
ly restrain cry of admiration. She
was as beautiful as an angel.
The King arose from his scat.
"Free men of Friesland,'' he said,
pointing to Fostedina, "behold the
young girl who helped the Danes to es-
cape. We are about to deliberate as to
her fate" =.
ITO the wolyesr' cried several
voices.
Then one of the most venerable of
the old men arose, and. pointing mis-
spear toward Heaven, said: "She has
insulted our gods, the gods of our faith
ers! Let her die!'
my father has spoken wall,'' said a
priest. "She has robbed the gods al
kthe blood that was promised Them
I Several priests followed. all in the
same strain. All demanded her death.
At last came the turn Of the Chief OF
Heligoland. He broke his sword on
the ground with SO much force that tile
forest resounded.
''She is my honor and glory said
he. 81 am the most miserable of men.
She is my only child, and her birth cost
the life Of her mother. She has alEagt
been the light of my heart; but now l
give her up to you. Sentence her to
die, if You decide'it to be just. AS for
me, shall not survive her. MY broken
heart can no more be healed"
All faces showed signs of sympathy.
A groan ran through the whole assem-
bly,. Then the old man who had spoken
first rose again. y
"Shame on you!'' he cried. care
you worse tnan women land children!
Is the old race Of Frieslanders ex-
tinct? Did your fathers. hesitate to
sacrifice their children to tho
gods? l am ? very old man. l dil
not see those glorious days; hut >
heard my father speak of them when'
was child. He has often told me that
his own mother put one ofs1.eg cAildren
in basket, and that she kffled it ii
honor Of the great goddess Freya. who
in exchange promised long life to, Ael
and to her posteTfty; and she has Kept
her promise. Many Of YOU Kfsow that
my father died at one hundred and
sixteen years. 1 am already eighty.
nine, and yestersiaWdy killed !sastvage
boar with my own hand. The, gods
bless those who respect them; but
those who despise them belong to al;
fadir. Their anger will he hot against
us if we neglect to ,awengssthem.''s =
ITO the wolves! to the Molves!,i'
cried some voices, and a general muir.
muir which arose from the assembl,
showed that they shared the sentiment
of the old man.. 1.sysy:, N Is
Then Adgir rose: He was a noble
Prince, much loved by thepeopie, on nc
count of his benevolence and. atfability,
q an young. said he, = and. it i
hardly befisting f6Tme to speak In tliis
presence of my elders, whose long ex.
perience has lightened their eyes and
strengthened their wisdom. But wher
a human beings life is in question al
voices have a right to be heard. Our
venerable father said that in ole
times our ancestors were accustomed
to sacrifice their children to the
divinity. 1t seems to me. however
that the gods cannot find. MUCH
pleasure in these cruel sacri
fees. since they have notdemanded any
of US for more than one century. dc
not see what pleasure they ar,tske il
tasting the blood of innocent children
Are the gods of our fathers tigers OF
wolves? Is there anyone among yo,
who would be willing. to eat and dtinE
human flesh and blood? l demand O
you, would you be willing?'
I" No! nor cried the multitude.
~'~'f was sure Of It, added the Prince
|