The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-12-02
70. a.

of the gods won signal victory owe
| the combined enemies of the king,
and led his army back in triumph.
Then the king entertained his guest
most royalty.
But with Kinda Odin gained no foot
ing. She spurned all his addresses,
and one day, as he knelt at her feet
asking favor, she boxed lis ears. The
great Odin was amazed at her daring,
and, stung by her insult, he left the
palace. But he did not give up his
suit so easily. He determined to quell
the wild spirit of Rinda.
The next day, disguised as a smith,
he came to the palace. There he fash
ioned strange and costly ornaments
out of gold and silver, and cunningly
made the metal grow under his touch,
until Billing became the richest mon
arch of the world. He was delighted
with the smith, as child is with
new toy, and showered honors upon
him.
When this had gone on for long
time, and Kinda had admired the Won
derful ingenuity and workmanship of
the articles that seemed to grow under
the touch of Odin, the god begged per-
| mission to sue for the hand of the
princess. The king was glad to give
his consent, for such a wonderful SON
in-law could make and keep him the
richest of monarchs.
But Kinda was not so much pleased,
and again, when Odin knelt before her,
this time as a smith, she boxed his ears.
Once more the god departed, and the
princess laughed to think she was so
well rid of him.
Days came and went, and the king
was chagrined to see all the gold hat
had grown under the fingers of the
smith melt away and disappear. He
upbraided his daughter for her scOrn
and willfulness; but by her sweetness
to him and her playfulness, she won
him again 10 her will.
In her heart, the princess was not
cruel or unkind, but she truly loved
her father, and wished never to leave
him. So, in few days when Odin
came again, this time as dashing
warrior, and the handsomest man on
earth, thinking so to please her fancy,
he found her unchanged.
Here" thought King Billing, "is
suitable companion for my daughter.
No stronger man than he lives, nor one
more handsome to look upon"
Many games were instituted, aud i'm
them the young warrior triumphed
over all his competitors. He perform
ed deeds of valor and feats of strength;
he played upon different musical in-
struinents, and Kinda really seemed
touched.
One day, however, when she saw
him kneel before her, begging her favor
she thought:
"He is like all the Others"
So she served him again as she had
twice before.
Then was Ojin's rage enkindled.
Drawing his runic staff from beneath
his robe he pointed il at her, and pro-
nounced a spell so terrible that she fell |
back into the arms of her attendants |
unconscious. And Odin departed from
the palace.
When Kinda recovered consciousness |
the king saw with dismay that she was |
mad. She moved about cold and list
less, sad and unfeeling. Nothing could |
cheer her melancholy; she took notice
of nothing. Her birds and flowers and
fishes, alwsys her delight, perished for
want of attention. Her musical instru-
ments were mute, the strings rusting /
and swapping for lack of Use.
The whole kingdom was plunged |
into mourning, for the songs and the
laughter of Kinda no more broke the
silence of the palace.
Billing was in despair, and called in
physicians and seers, but all in vain.
Pale, cold and still, the princess moved
about; she spoke not word, and her
eyes saw nothing.
At last an old woman came to the
palace door aud said that she could
cure the princess. Immediately she
was admitted. When she stood before
the king she said:
"The princess must be bound hand
and foot, so that she can offer no re-
sistance. She must be put entirely in
my charge, or my charm will fail"
Anxious for the recovery of his
daughter, the king consented to the
old woman's terms, and all was done
as he commanded.
When the two were alone together,
Odin, for it was he disguised, pointed
his runic staff at Rinda and released
her from his spell. Then, before he
unbound her, he made her soiemnly
promise to be his bride, and on her
vowiug To fulfil his wish, he restored
her to her father, rs strong and well as
ever.
SO the prophecy was fulfilled, for
when a son was the gift of their mar
riage, he grew so quickly that i'm day
he attained his full stature; and seizing
bow and arrow, hastened to his faith
er in Asgard, where he slew Hodur,
the god of darkness, and avenged the
death of his brother Balder.
Do you recognize the beautiful story
pictured forth by nature? Balder, the
light of the North, is slain by Hodur,
night Vail, the god of lengthening
days, is the fruit of the union of Odin,
the sun, and Kinda, the frozen earth,
who by his very nature, Stays Hodur,
the darkness of the far north.
A Bread and Butter Diet.
The newest diet suggested as pro-
ductive of longevity is bread and but