The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-08-18
WHY THE GREAT SEA is SALT
The Old Legend Of the Giantesses and
the Millstones.

The Old Legend of the Giantesses and
the Millstones.
There once reigned king in Den
mark named Frodi, but he was called
Peace Frodi because his people lived
together so happily under his gentle
sway. He was believed to haved been
the son of the Morse god Frey, who,
as the god of peace and prosperity,
was supposed to have appeared on
earth many times.
Once Frey lived in Sweden, ruling
the people under the name of Ingvi
Frey, and from his name his descen-
dants were called Inglings. Then
again he appeared in Denmark and
rescued the beautiful maiden Frey
serda from dragon. He afterwards
married her, and they reigned many
years over Denmark, and were sue
ceeded by their son, Frodi, who fol-
lowed in his fathers footsteps and
earned for himself the love of the peo-
pie and his title, the Peaceful.
Frodi was, at one time during his
reign, presented with pair Of magic
millstones but so huge and heavy
were they that none of his people
could turn them. This annoyed him
very much, for he knew that the
stones were enchanted, and that
when theyywere once working he had
but to wish, and the mill would grind
out the fulfllment of his desires.
Many years passed, and the stones
were not worked. But during visit
to Sweden, Frodi saw two giantesses,
named Menia, and he felt sure that
if ever the mill was to be turned these
two great women could turn it.
So he bought them as slaves, and
took them home with him on his YES
sci to Denmark, and had no rest until
he set them to work at the millstones.
Grind me gold, and peace, and
prosperity, and happiness, the king
commanded; and right willingly the
two women set to work, singing
cheerily:
Gold, will we grind,
And peace, and prosperity,
Happiness, too,
For Frodi, the Peaceful.
Sol they 'Tworked until the king S
Golfers ran over with gold, and his
land was full of all that was good for
the people. No poverty, no sorrow
was there, throughout all the land /;
but the king had been spoiled, and
his greed was aroused.
"Let us rest now, cried the weary
Menia and Fenia; but Frodi would
not hear them, and he kept them at
their task day and night, while others
played or slept. Only while verse
of song might be sung would he al
low them to stop, and then they were
forced again to their labor.
At first the giantesses did not COM
plain; but after a while they entreated
him to give them rest; and when he
refused they determined to be re-
venged.
One night, while the the king and
all his warriors slept, the women
changed their song:
War, will we grind!
And hate, and defeat
An army to vanquish
Frodi, the Cruel
And by their magic they drew the
Viking Mysinger to their shores, who
slew all the Danes, startled from
their sleep.
But alas for Menia and Fenia The
Viking, no less cruel than Frodi. had
become, took them on his ship, and
commanded them to grind him salt,
which, in those days, was very rare
product.
They ground and ground, ever
turning the heavy millstones, and
when they were tired and begged for
rest the Viking refused, as Frodi
had DONE
Then the women set to work anew,
and when they were commanded to
stop they would not listen, but ground
out the salt, until the vessel over
flowed with it; and while they still
chanted their song, the boat, with all
on board, was sunk with the weight
of the salt
This happened off the northwestern
coast of Norway, and where the huge
millstones fell, straight down into
the depths of the sea, the waters
dragged, rushing and plunging into
the great hole in the center of the
stones making a great whirlpool,
which may yet be seen, and which is
called the maelstrom.
And so much salt had Menia and
Fenia' ground, that it melted, as it did
in the whirlpool, all the sea was
tainted; that is why, to this day, the
waters of the sea retain their salt
ness.
A SIMPLE WATER TEST.
All drinking water should be tested
in towny Or country frequently, as
there are other impurities besides