The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-05-01
FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
The Apples of Iduna. .

Olaf IS seated, holding his son Thorold
and little Thurida on his knees. A.
great wood-fire crackles and blazes be-
fore them, and the children listen as
Olafspeaks; "' T''E
"Once, said he, ga long time ago. he
fore the Christians came 10 Iceland, the
god Odin, with Henir and the wicked
Loki, went on a journey. The ancient
gods surely differed little from mortals,
for, like us, they often were hungry and
thirsty and tired. When these three had
trayeled far, they came to beautiful
valley where herd of oxen were graz
ing. Being very hungry, these gods
not even the best of whom was really
good-did not scruple to steal and xiii
one of the oxen for their supper. They
cut the OK into quarters, which they
put into their big kettle to boil But
boil the beef would not. In vain the
three travellers piled on the fuels in vain
the water in the kettle bubbled and
boiled. Every time that the lid of the
kettle was removed the meat was found
to be as raw as at first. While wonder
| ing what the reason for this could be,
the perplexed travellers. hearing voice,
looked up, and beheld an enormous
eagle, perched on the stoutest branch of
very large oak tree.
If We are willing said the voice,
to let me have my share of the flesh, it
shall soon be boiled
"Of course the hungry gods said
Yes when instantly flew down the
| loud-fiapping eagle. and with his great
beak snatched up three-quarters Of the
beef
"' Stop! stop y exclaimed Loki, 'one
quarter only is thy share" and with that
he struck a fierce blow with his travel
ing staff upon the eagles back. So
much the worse was this for Loki, for
while one end of the unlucky staff stuck
fast to the back of the eagle, Loki found
himself unable to loosen his hold from
the other end, which he the more de-
sired TO do because he now found, to his
dismay, that the supposed eagle was no
other than the renowned Frost liant
Thiassi, who, with his great eagle wings.
went flying over rocks and forest tops,
dragging after him the unhappy Loki
till he was torn almost in pieces.
For long time the giant took no
notice of Loki' 5 piteous entreaties, but,
at last, Thiassi teigned to tell him that
he should be released when he had
bound himself by solemn oath to bring
Iduna and her apples out from her safe
retreat behind the bright walls of AS
gard, the city of the gods. .'.
"Loki, who was selfish enough TO do
anything, willingly took the oath, and,
all tatters and wounds as he was, soon
rejoined his companions. But lie told
them nothing of his oath.
80 My father interrupted Thurdia,
what are apples?
"'They are round things that grow
on trees, rs I've been told. saia Olaf
but | never saw any
- ,1,,,. 81 Il
different from all other fruits. for it was
by eating them that the gods kept them
selves always young and handsome ant
strong. SO I.oki did not dare to tell o
the oath he had taken. ....
- On the return of the three traveller
TO bright Asgard, the crafty and crue
Loki told the beautiful and kind Idun;
that in foresta short distance offhe haC
found apples which he thought were of :
much better quality than her own, and
that ut all events twas worth while t,
make Il comparison between them.
"Iduna, deceived by his words, tool
her apples and went with him into til,
forest; but no sooner had they entered
it than. .Thjassi, clad in his eagle plum
age, flew rapidly toward them, ant
catching up 1duna. regardless of he
tears, carried her and her treasures will
city of.the Frost-Giants.
Now the gods, left in lofty Asgart
without the society Of the beautiful
lduna. and without any of her youth
giving apples to eat, soon became
wrinkled and bent and gray. Old ag;
was creeping fast upon them, and thPi
mourning for Iduna was loud and sin
cere. 1t was long before they discovered
that I.oki was the author of the mischief
When they did so. he could only say,
himself from their wrath by promisin.
to bring safely back the beloved Idun;
and her youth-giving apples.
"To do this, Loki borrowed from III
goddess Frigga the falcon plumag
which she sometimes Wore, and, dis
guised in it, flew to Jotunheim.
I'm spite of his disguise, it was no
without fear that Loki approached tn
grim and terrible walls of the city of tn
Frost-Giants. Cautiously and SILENT,
he flew about it until he discovered tina
Thiassi was on an ice-floe far out at sea
spcaring fish for his dinner. Then, witt
joyful cry, Loki flew into the city, ant
lost no time in changing Iduna into
sparrow and flying off with her safel,
clasped in his talons.
but before they were far on thei
way the Frost-Giant returned TO hi
gloomy city, there to learn of the escap
of lduna. Into his eagle plumage hus
tied Thjassi, and, screaming with rage
flew in pursuit of the trembling sparrow
and swiftly-hying falcon.
Upon the bright walls of Asgard
,. eagerly watching the uncertain race
/ stood the impatient gods. Rapidly ap
, preached the pursued, but close behin,
them followed the terrible pursuer. Th
gods trembled with terror lest Idun
should again fall into his cruel hands
and rs fast as their now aged limb
: would let them they began to gathe
! upon the walls bundles of dry chips
, while the good Baldm waited with
i firebrand in his hand.
"Over the bright walls few Lok an
Iduna. Close after them came the loud
tapping Thiassi; but Balder had bee
too quick for him, and had al
ready set fire to the ready chips
The rapid flame caught the Dor
rowed plumage Of Thiassi, and Ii
t thus fell into the power of the gods
I who slew him within the walls of tn
sacred city. Then great and loud wa
: the rejoicing, while the gods hastcne
to make themselves young and hand
some and strong again, by eating freel
of the apples ofIduna.n
my father" said Thorold, "the goo,
/ priest tells us that all those ancien
fables about the gods have meanin!
that is not a fable. Canst thou not tell m
and Thurdia what this one meansP"
Il do not know how it is of myself,
said Olaf, but / have heard the goo,
nripSt say that Tduna maans the haauti