The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-05-15
FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
The Apples OF Iiunn,

lNe SccllG VI TIC StOrE IN lalQ III lee
land, late in the winter the year ll50.
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
Olaf speaks:
"Once, said he, "a long time ago, be-
| fore the Christians came to 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
travelled 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 scrupe to steal and kill
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 Or the fuel; in vain
the water in the kettle bubbled and
boiled. Every time that the lid of the
kettle was removed the meat was found
10 be rs raw as at first. While wonder
ing what the reason for this could he,
the pcrplcxed travellers. hearing.a voice,
looked up. and beheld an enormous
| eagle. pcrchcd on the stoutest branch of
very large oak tree.
IF ye 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-happing eagle. and with his great
beak snatched up three-quarters of the
beef!
"' Stop. stop = exclaimed Loki, 'one
quarter only is thy share" and with that
lie struck 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-Giant
| Thassi, 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 q long time the giant took no
notice of Loki's piteous entreaties, but,
at last, Thjassi dcigned to tell him that
he should be released when he had
bound himself by asolemn oath to bring
Iduna and her apples out from her safe
retreat behind the bright walls Ct AS
gard. the city Of the gods.
"Loki, who was selfish enough to do
anything, willingly took the oath, and,
all tatterS and wounds rs he was, soon
rejoined his companions. But he told
| tI,o,ro DotbiOr of his ont In
" My father interrupted Thurdia,
what are apples"
"They are round things that grow
on trees, as I've been told saiu Olaf,
but never saw any
Now, these apples Of Iduna were very
different from al other fruits, for it was
by eating them that the gods kept them
selves always young and handsome and
the oath he had taken.
to bright Asgard, the crafty and cruel
Loki told the beautiful and kind Iduna
that in Il foresta short distance off he had
found apples which he thought were Of 4
much better quality than her own, and
that ut all events it was worth while to
make comparison between them.
"Iduna, deceived by his words, took
her apples and went with him into the
forest; but no sooner had they entered
il thar. .Thjassi, clad in his eagle plum
age, flew rapidly toward them, and
catching up Iduns, regardless of her
tears. carried her and her treasures with
him to gloomy Jotunheim, the dreary
city of the Frost-Giants.
Now the gods, left in lofty AsgMd
without the society of the beautiful
Iduna, and without any Of her youth
giving apples to eat, soon became
wrinklcd and bent and gray. Old age
was creeping fast upon them, and their
mourning for Iduna was loud and sin
ccre. 1t was long before they discovered
that I.oki was the author of the mischief.
When they did so, he could only save
himself from their wrath by promising
to bring safely back the beloved Iduna
and her youth giving apples.
ITO do this, Loki borrowed from the
goddess Frigga the falcon plumagc
which she sometimes wore, and, dis
guised in it, flew to Jotunheim.
g 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 it until he discovered that
'rhjassi was on IN ice-foc, 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 lduns into Il
sparrow and flying off with her safely
claspcd in his talons.
But before they were far on their
way the Frost-Giant returned 20 his
gloomy city, there to learn Of the escape
Of Iduna. Into his eagle plumage hus-
| tied Thjassi, and, screaming with rage,
dew in pursuit Of the trembling sparrow
ant swiftly-hying falcon.
Upon the bright walls Of Asgard,
eagerly watching the uncertain race,
stood the impatient gods. Rapidly ar-
them followed the terrible pursuer. The
gods tremblcd with terror lest Tduna
should again fall into his cruel hands,
and us fast rs their now aged limbs
would let them they began to gather
upon the walls bundles of dry chips.
while the good Baldur waited with q
iirebrand in his hand.
"Over the bright walls tl"w Iuki and
Iduna. Close after them came the .oud-
tapping Thjassi; but Bladder had been
too quick for him. and had a.
ready set fire to the ready chips.
The rapid flame caught the bor-
rowed plumage Of Thiassi, and he
thus fell into the power of the gods,
who slew him within the walls Of the
sacred city. Then great and loud was
the rejoicing, while the gods hastcned
to make themselves young and hand
some and strong again. by eating freely
ce:Ae apples of1duna."
My father" said Thorold, 1.-The good
priest tells us that all those ancient
fables about the gods have a meaning
that is not fable. Canst thou not tell me