The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-23

than Thjassi, clad in hIs eagle phima9e,
| flew rapidly toward them; and catching
up IdpHa, regardless of her tears, carried
her and her treasures with him to gloomy
Jotunheim, the dreary city of the
Frnst-Giapts.
"Now the gods, left in lofty Asgard
without the society Of the beautl pl
Iduna, and without any of her youth
giving apples to eat, soon became
wrinkIed and bent and gray. Old age
was creeping fast upon them, and their
mourning for Iduna was loud and sin
cere. 1t was long before they discovered
that Loki was the author of the mischief.
When they did so, he could only save
himse'f from their wrath by promising
to bring safeiy back the beloved lduna
and her youth-Siving apples.
ITO do this, L1ki borrowed from the
goddess, Frigga, the falcon plumage which
she sometimes wore, and, disg guioed in it,
flew to Jotunheim.
"In spite of his disguise, it was not
without fear that Loki approached the
grim and terrible walls of the city of the
Frost Giants. Cautiously and silently
he flew about il until he discovered that
Thjassi was OH an ice-foe, far out at sea,
spearing fish for his dinner. Then, with
a joyful cry, Loki flew into the city and
lost no time in changing lduna into n
sparrow and flying off with her safely
clasped in his talons.
"But, before they were far on their
way, the Frost Giant returned to his
gloomy CITY, there to learn of the escape
of Iduna. Into his eagle plumage hus-
tied Thiassi, and, screaming with rlge,
flew in pursuit of the trembling sparrow
and swiftly-hying falcon.
"Upon the bright walls of Asgard,
eaeo,iiv watching the uncertain race,
stood @ tbe impatient gods. Rapidly ap-
preached the purs,@ed, but close behind
them followed the terrip.e pursuer' Inc
GODS trembled with terror lest lduna
should again fall into his cruel hands
and, as fast as their now aged limbs
would let them, they began TO gather
upon the walls buadies of dry chips, while
the good Daldur waited with the fire
brand in his hand.
"Over the bright walls flew Loki and
STCupa. Close after them came the loud
> t,pping Thjassi; but Baldur had been
i too quick for him, and had already set
fire to the ready chips. The rapid iiame
I, caught the borrowed plumage OF lhJ'sSI
and he thus fell into the power OF the
/ gods, who slew him within the wal is OF
: the sacred city. Then great and louo
was the rejoicing while the gods hastenee
t IN make themselves Young and handsome
. and strong again, by eating freely OF th'
5 apples of lduna."
a INV father" said Thorold, "the gooe
nriest tells us that all those ancient ia
bIes about the gods have meaning tha'
: is not fable. Canst thou not tell NE ant
4 Thurida what this one means?'
al do not know how it il OF myself,
sgid Olaf, "but | have heard the goot
priest say that Iduna means the beantl
A iul spring, while Thjassi means the desc
Il lating winter. Hence, when the shof
j. DAYS and long nights hegin to come, W.
saw that Thiassi is carrying off lduna
!, Aid, when the days grow longer and tn.
:. nights shorter, we say that lduna, viii
;. her apples is returning to us Tne hr
kinded by the gods upon the walls o
bright A gard is the sun, before WhoS
heat winter dissolves; while all nature
n pataking of the fruits of spring, grow
: young again." u,
~ "Niy father" murmurcd sleepy littl
n Thurila, a VIII wake up to eat some
+ the apple" >, ,.,,
is Olaf laughed, and, kissing his littl
> daughter, laid her tendcrly in one OF tn
3; bed-boxes filed with elastic sea-weed
= and spread over her sack OF sea-fow
G feathers, saying: 49,,
d 1T is not for many a long and bite
t night vet, my Thurida, that the beaut
$, full Iduna shall reach our cold land"
d yet" he continued, patting ThoroI
q on the head, "wnen 1duna is with IL
IL Iceland's the best land the sun shine
2. onp"