The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-01-05
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY

81 go to bring MiIe-deep,p answered
Thor, "that we all may drink. Tyr,
will you accompany me?n
Right gladly did Tyr spring up, and
the two brothers set out, for the FROST
bound land where Hymir dwelt.
They travelled as only gods can travel,
quick as the winged lightning, light as
the air of summer, silently as the hush
Of night; and before long they reached
the end of heaven and the beginning
Of Frozen Sea. Soon they found the
abode of Hymir. 1t was huge cav
ern, hewn cut of rocks, with floor, and
walls, and pillars, and ceiling, offrozen
crystals. Fountains Of ice rose in the
air around, and vapor of frozen mist
hung loN about the cave.
AS they approached the door, sudden
ly giantess appeared, with nine hum
dred heads, out of which cleaned fiery
eyes; but the strangest part about her
was that her heads grew out Of every
part of her body, so tlat it was impos-
sible TO tell how she stood or walked.
She approached thea with a terrible
roar and hiss issuing from her nine
hundred heads, but the two gods look
ed at her more out OF curiosity than
fear, and seeing this sine turned away
and left them.
As she did so the door of the cavern
opened, and beautiful woman appear
ed, as glorious in her lOveliness as the
giantess was hideous. She approached
the gods with outstretehed hands, and
made beautiful picture as she walked
thus.
Her hair fell in masses of gold about
her shoulders; her eyes shOne with
gentle, kindly light. She was tall, and
straight, and supple, and walking tow
ards them thus, with tie misty cavern
in the background, she looked like a
spirit of good, breaking, by her love
divine, from the power of darkness
and evil.
welcome, Asa Thor and Asa Tyr"
she cried in a voice soft, and calm, and
sweet, as a southern breeze, ''welcomew
Aud, taking each by the hand, she
led them into the cavern 10 await the
giants return. As evening drew on
and he did not come the woman's face
became troubled.
My dear guests, you must hide be-
hind those pillars in the rock, for when
Hymir, my husband, is late like this, it
is with anger he returns. And he is
not then so hospitable to guests as
could wish him to be.n
"But," said Thor, I'VE are not used
to hiding"
ado it for me-" she cried pleadingly,
''and will call you out when he Ie-
turns"
And they could not refuse her. No
sooner had they taken their places be-
hind the great pillars than they heard
u rumbling, which crew louder and
louder as the giant approached over
Ftozen Sea. The giseisis treinbled at
his step, the ice drifts broke asunder,
and all the crags and caverns for miles
around re-eehoed with his tread. With
u deafening roar the door suddenly
fiew open, and in stalked the giant, his
eyes glaring, his hands frost-bit;en, a
forest of ice covering him from head TO
foot He had been unsuccessful in the
chase and his wrath was unbOunded.
When she saw the mood he was in,
the woman approached him gently,
ard took his hand, and in a moment
ne was calm, and the baleful light died
out Of his eyes.
1--WE have two guests" she said soft
ly; Twill you not receive them kindly?"
Without a word the giant turned his
gaze on the pillar where the gods were
hidden, and as his eyes rested on it, it
was hewn asunder. and the beam that
il upheld, on which were hung eight
huge kettles, crashed to the ground,
and all the kettles but one were ground
20 powder by the fall. Then Thor and
Tyr stepped into the middle of the hall.
The giant received them civilly, and
set about preparing the evening repast-
Three whole oxen did he roast, and in
vited the guests 20 join him at the
board.
ThOr's appetite was very great after
mis- days journey, and he soon finished
one of the oxen entirely by himself.
He prepared to cut a slice from sec
ond when the giant said:
''Thor, you will have to provide your
own food another time. l cannot
afford to entertain so expensive guest"
Thor finished his meal and the next
day, accordingly, as the giant set out to
go fishing, he invited the god to ac-
company him. Together then they
started, and soon passed herd of oxen.
.'Have you provided bait for me?"
ssked the god.
You must supply yourself with
that" surlily said Hymir.
So Thor was compelled To cut Off the
head of one of the oxen for bait
"You can never carry that,n Hymir
cried; and, indeed, the head was i'm
mense, its name being heaven-break-
ing, but Thor threw it over his shoulder
with ease, and again they strobe on.
Soon they were in the boat, each
pulling at the oars, and so strong, so
even, so steady were Thor's strokes,
that they went sk!mming over the sea,
till exhausted, Hymir cried out.
"!Stsy, Thor; We haze already passed
my fishing-poDd."
"Nay, 1 wish go to sea-" cried
Thor.
"But that is dangerous. Soon we
shall be over the spot where Jormung
and lies"
Then Thor laughed nightly and
gave one more powerful pull. Batting
the head o. the OK, he threw it into the
water, while Hymir, at the other side