The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-04-03
A Norwegian Legend

Thcrr nNcl m Norway years ago woodcuttcr named Swain. He wooei Norma, the daughter of old Petersen, the tailor. Norua'a heart had gone out to Rolf Auaentcil. a fisherman. The wOodcut;Cr was well to do; the fisher man was poar Therefore Petersen fa- vOrcd the former.
 Swain scof'cd q, the good monks of St. Francis who sang the mass m Dronthelm's towers and cursed them nll for a lazy pack of shaven fools.
 According to the lslore of the north, In every tree within the wood there dwe.t a guardian. spirit. and the Chi pen, shadowy giant was the king of them all
 Not one of the woodmen. with thee reption of Swain. dared to venture Into the wood to chop without having hts ax duly sprmkled with drops of holy water and the sign of the cross made on 1t. so that the evil power of the wood spirits would be set at naught.
 The evil day that Norma had foreseen came at last. The old tailor came home one evening and informed her that he lad settled her fate at last by solemnly pledgng her in marriage with Swain. and In token of the thing he and Swain had set their thumbs together in the presence of witnesses.
 The girl was too full of grief for words. She could hot speak. but only sat In the corner and moaned. while old Petersen retired to rest. congratu latlng himself that the affair was set tied so easily.
 Norma waited until the old man dozed off In slumber. and then she hurried out into the air.
 The moon was shining bright. and the great trees were nodding like so many luge plumes.
 Norma hurried Into the forest, anxious to find some lonely spot where she might weep her sad bosom empty.
 Beneath huge tree. upon little mossy mound. she sank. and the tears, failing freely. glistened In the dim ight like so many great diamonds.
 "Oh. spirits Of the wood," she cried, come aul save me from this terrible monster who. with his hateful love, wishes to chop down my life as with uls sharp ax he destroys your dwelling places!'
 And then, as if in answer to tke girls prayer. all the leaves began to rustic. but all in time and tune. mak' Ing most strange but beautiful music.
 Norma listened in wonder.
 Her Invocation to the wood spirits had been but the agonlzlng cry of breaking heart. not spoken with thought of an answer.
 A thin. shadowy vapor was gather Ing under the huge branches of the oak.
 A vapOrlike form advanced toward the girl. and as 1t came nearer Norma saw that there was Indeed human form In the center and that what she had taken to be yapOr was but n sort of fleecy cloak falling from the shoulders of the figure.
 Do not fear" said the strange form. human shaped, but a giant in size and oddly clad in n robe of oak leaves curl ously woven together. 'I am the Gni- len, the king of all the woodland spir- its. Maiden. what Is 1t that you wlshT
 Briefly Norma related the terrible fate that was to be forced upon her.
 Then Gnipen unused for awhile.
 "I know the woOdcutter we'll" he said at last. Many of my fine trees have fallen beneath his ax, and often have lowered in the woodland near, hoping that by some rash word power would be given me to punish this wretch He fears neither the power of the Masters sign nor the vengeance of the wood spirits, but his own rash ness may lead to his undolng. Seek him In the morning. and dare him to fell the old oak known as the Gnipen tree. If he attempts 1t, perchanee you may be freed"
 And then the wonderful spirit faded away as rapidly as he had appeared.
 In the morning Norma used her wo- mans wits SO well that Swain set out to fell the Gnipen tree.
 The first blow that the woodman gave the ax rebounded out of his hand and fell dozen paces or.
 "I wish the devil was here to take tl,at axr Swain cried in anger, ad' yanclng to pick up the tool.
 Then through the wood came Fran clscan monk, all hooded and sandaled, and Swain mocked at the holy man.
 "Oh. lazy elf. lay aside thy frock and toll with me"
 My arm is not weak. though l wear frock." the monk replied. "and I trow l can fell that tree as well as thee"