The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-09-04
LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN.

duv tlluc. L.. NlLEO.
Toledo, Ohio
LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN.
suPERsTIT1oNs OF THE NORTH
GIANTS, FAIRIES, BROWNIES AND
THEIR GOOD AND BAD OFFICES.
(New York Voice)
The .NOrseman are, as rule, romantic
and superstitious. They live close to
Natures heart and, in childhood at least,
they understand her anguage-whether
she speaks in the moaning of the pines,
with the voice of the innumerable water
falls, or through the dry north-wind.
The Scandinavian folklore deals prin-
cipally with three kinds Of beings not
belonging to the human race: Necken,
the northern version of Neptune; Jat-
tarne the Giants), living in the noun
tains, and Bomtarne (the Brownies), who
help the farmer to keep house and feed
his cattle.
flowing hair and beard, who, when night
throws her mantel over land and sea, is
seen with his harp on the waves of the
ocean, looking longingly up to the star
into which Odin changed the bride he
once embraced in the jeweled chambers
of the deep. When found in the rivers
or lakes he is sometimes called Strom
karlen, the man of the streams) and his
harp is exchanged for a violin. On
moonlight nights he may be seen through
the silvery spray of the waterfalls, tun-
ing his instrument, sad and lonely, but
very few mortalS have ever heard his eX-
quisite melodies. To this legend the
north is indebted for some of it's most
beautiful songs.
Jattarne are the kings of the noun
tains. They are seldom seen and since
the "White Christ" took possession of the
land and churches were built every
where they have moved away to the
depths of the forest, for they cannot bear
to listen to the church bells or hear the
name of Christ spoken. Close by many
a church is found some great boulder,
which is pointed out as having been
hurled by some giant against the church
spire, but it usually fell short of its
mark or struck the ground some distance
beyond. There is no record of a church
ever being demolished that way.
Near my childhood's home was a
mountain formerly occupied by giant
On the western slope of the mountain, on
the margin of calm lake, was bogard
farmhouse), beautifully situated, and on
the opposite shore church, which the
giant had successfully tried to destroy,
as witnessed the two huge pieces of rock
seen on each side of it, once thrown by
his mighty arm.
The wealthy farmer and his neighbor,
the giant, were on most intimate terms,
so the story runs, and the later usedt to
borrow tools and utensils of the farmer,
When the arrival Of a son gladdened the
farmer household the mountain king was
invited to the christening. He inquired
of the messenger if any clergyman was to
be present, and being told there could be
no baptismal ceremony without such a
person he sent his regrets together with
big churn, full of silver coin, as a pres
ent to the infant.
My grandmother told me q often Won
dered if she believed it), that when her
mother watched the cattle in the forests
the wife of giant from some neighboring
mountain also used to herd her COWS in
the same places. There was no other
difference between her and common peO-
pie than that she was of an immense size
and by the same characteristic her cattle
were distinguished from the rest. My
great grandmother and she often sat on
the same log knitting-if they ever spoke
to each other the story did not tell-but
all of a sudden, if there was something
to disturb, the giantess would disappear,
as would also her cows
The Brownies seem to be of the same
race in Scandinavia as in other countries.
and their costume is according to the
approved Palmer Cox pattern They
usually wear red caps and green coats,
though l presume the colors are depend
ent upon the taste of their patrons In
some parts of the country tables are set
for them in the evening and their wants
are otherwise supplied 1t was said they
helped to take care Of the horses at home.
but l never saw anybody feed them, and
grandfather did not seem to place much
reliance on their assistance To tell the
truth, do not think he even believed in
their existence.
How much is really believed of these
legends and fables it is difficult to tell Of
course the children believe them. l re-
member what an irreparable loss it seem
ed to me when all the pretty fancies faded
in the merciless light of reality; when l
no longer could think that every flower,
tree and animal once had human voice:
no longer stand on the porch in dark, dis
NAL evenings, listening for the bark of the
mountain kings dog; when l grew too
large to trace the fairy's footprints on the
green velvet carpet down by the lake.
and when l no longer could look up into
the starry heavens and think that there
was star for every human soul, a star
that went out when that soul threw off