Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-01-29
BALDUR. THE GOOD.

Before Christianity was brought TO
Denmark. said the old Danish house
wife, the people believed in strange god
dsSses. who were called the Asar. Many
stories were told about them and their
doings. but the best of all is that of Bal
dur the Good.
He had been very happy until he be-
gan to dream that he was about TO be
killed. and he told his fears to the Asar,
who held n congress to decide what to do,
and how to ward off the danger that
threatened him.
-Where would this danger come from.
From fire or water or iron? From bird
or beast or flower? At last they decided
to wait on Baldur's mother, old Frigga,
and get her TO beg of all things not to
harm her beloved son.
The mother was glad to be sent on
such mission, though to compass 1t she
must go all around the world.
$50 she started on her journey, and the
first she came to was Fire.
80 Fire, Fire said she, i am Frigga,
the mother Of Baldur the Good. He
dreams dreams and sees visions, and they
portend him danger and me sorrow.
Wilt thou take an oath. oh, Fire, not TO
harm Baldur the GoodY
Fire listened and answered:
al can be fierce and cruel but will not
harm Baldur the Good
"Tlien Frigga thanked him, and went
TO Steel.
OH Steel she said. Il am Frigga,
and come to beg thee to take an oath
that thou wiltnot harm Baldur the Good,
who is in fear of danger for he has
dreamed woeful dreams
al take the oath, said steel. i can
be sharp and dangerous, but will spare
Baldur the Good
~Then Frigga went to Water.
"'Oh. Water she said, wilt thou take
an oath to me to spare Baldur the Good?
l, his mother, Frigga, implore you.
"And Water replied:
81 can be cold and can destroy, but
will spare Baldur the Good
And SO old Frigga went TO all the
metals. to all the trees, to all tho flowers.
TO poisons, to snakes, to wild beasts of
the forest, TO volcanoes, to thunder and
lightning. TO the earthquakes until she
had seen them all; and they all took the
oaths, and Frigga returned to herson and
told the Asar that he was safe, for every
thing that could do harm had promised
to spare Baldur
"All were convinced and happy but
Baldur, who still dreamt dreams OF i'll
omen.
$50. to convince him that nothing
could harm him. the Asar led Baldur the
Good to a great hall, and there tested all
the things that had vowed to spare him.
~Thev shot at him They threw stones
al him. They cast him into fames.
Nothing touched him. So all were laugh
ing and merry, while Frigga sat at her
doorresting. And up the road came an
old woman. very feeble and poor, as it
seemed who said TO Frigga:
"'Wclcome. after thy journey.
And Frigga did not know her for
wicked and cruel Asar, who hated Bal
dur the Good.
81 am returned. good gossip, Frigga
said. and / have done my work well.
Nothing harms my Baldur. They have
tested the faith Of all things and / am
happy. | rest, rs you see, after gong
around the world.
Cannot steel or flame hurt himF asked
the old woman.
~'Not they said Frigga. oh, ] did
my work WELL All things have sworn.
even birds and beasts. and the snakes and
bugs. begged an oath Of everything
but little green withe Of mistietoe that
grows close down here: an innocent
young thing, not worth Offering an oath
to-not OLD enough or big enough.
"The wicked old Asar wanted 10 hear
no more. but went her way, looked for
the withe of mistletoe, found it, and went
10 where the Asar were collected. anus
ing themselves with proofs Of the safety
Of Baldor the Good. She dared not enter,
but she saw at the door young brother
Of Baldur's who was blind.
".Why are they all throwing thingsat
Baldur? Why do they fire at him? she
asked. Do they wish 10 kill himf'
~'No. said the youth. They rejoice
that all things have taken an oath not to
harm NV brother. Blldur the Good. They
are testing the oaths. All keep them.
~'Why do you not join theml' asked
the old woman.
al am blind said the boy. / might
hit some one else, or be hit myself
"'Poor childr said the cruel old Asa.
But take part i'm the sport Here l
have a little innocent green withe, a
pretty bit Of mistletoe. Throw it over
the heads of the others at Baldur the
Good, 50 that you may say you also re-
ioiced and tested the oaths Of all things
not to harm him.
The boy laughed and held out his
hand.
The wicked Asar laid the mistletoe in
it.
Cast it, she said.
The boy hurledit meTily through the
air. 1t struck Baldur the good just above
the heart aud pierced it, Yes, the little
withe passed straight through him, and
his life blood began to flow.
alt is as dreamed he cried, and Bal
dur the Good was dead.
Mr.. Dozier, Of ST. Louis, the baker,
a L.