Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-12-08

or. Eacn god was ruler of some spec-
ial thing and many strange deeds were
attributed to these. Thor possesses
three precious gifts: The hammer.
which has split many frost giants
heads; the belt of strength, which.
when he puts it on. redoubles mis-
strength. and his iron gloves. which
ne puts on when using his mallet.
When the gods were constructing their
abode and had finished, Midgard and
Ealhalla. certain artificer offered to
Du1ld them dwelling so we'll fortified
taat they would be safe from the frost
ana the mountain giants. But as
reward he demanded the goddess FIRE.
va and the sun and moon. The gods
agreed to this if he would finish the
| c"eIIlng within one winter without
any ones assistance, and if he should
run one day into the summer he should
ior1elt the reward agreed upon. On
oelng told these terms he asked per-
mission to have his horse Svadilfari.
so on the first day of winter he set
10 work and let his horse drag the
stone by night. The gods could see
mat the horse did more than the man
put thev were under oath, so had to let
MIN go on. Thus he worked. and the
winter was all over but three DAYS. and
ne mad only gate to finish The
gods came to the seat of Justice and
asked who of them could have con.
sented to give up Freya. Then thew
decided 1t was Loki, the evil god. and
That he would suffer death unless he
could contrive some way to keep the
artlhcer from completing his task,
They sliced Loki and he promised
that he would help them. So that
night as the man led his horse to
work. some other horses ran out of the
woods and Svadilfari ran after them.
causing his master to run after him.
Thus the whole night was taken up.
the man., seeing he could not finish
his task. resumed his gigantic stature
and the gods seeing him, called upon
Ihor. Thor paid him his wages not
WIN thes un or moon. but by shatter-
ing his skull with his hammer.
once Tnor's hammer fell into pos
session of giant Thrym, who buried
1t deep under the rocks of Jotunheim.
the abode of the giants. Loki went
to get the hammer but Thrym would
rot give it up unless Freya would con-
sent to be his wife. Loki went and
told the gods but Freya would not
consent to go, so Loki persuaded Thor
TO dress in Freya's clothes and 20 as
the bride. Thrym received her cour-
teously, but was surprised at seeing
her eat for her supper eight salmon
and full grown OK, besides other
oelicacies and drinking three tons of
Mead. But Loki told him that she
had not eaten for eight nights, so great
was her desire to see her lover.
Thrym at least peeped under her veil
anu asked why her eyeballs glistened
SO. LOki gave some excuse and
Thrym ordered the hammer brought
in and laid in her lap. AS soon as
Thor touched the hammer he grasped
1t and slaughtered Thrym.
Balder. the god of sunlight, spring
and gladness. was called the good"
Reing haunted by bad dreams he told
them to the gods and they decided to
&c everything to keep death from him.
And Frigga, the wife of Odin made
all the diseases and other things prom
Use not to harm Balder. The gods
amused themselves by throwing stones
and swords at him, for none of them
could harm him. Loki hearing of this,
went to Frigga and on being asked
lnwhat the gods were doing Loki told
her and she told him that she had
mistletoe, not to harm Balder On near
ing this Loki went and gave the mis-
tletoe to the blind Holder and helped
him throw it at Balder. The weapon
pierced him and he fell lfeless. The
gods grieved very much but were adj
vised to let Odin punish Loki. So they
went and built the funeral pile The
only way Balder could be won to
heaven was for god To cross Ri.frocf
Eut Balder was not given up until
every living thing showed sorrow on
account of his death. Then he was
buried by the gods. Loki seeing the
wrath of the gods fed to the noun
talns, but Odin found him and the
gods went after him. But he changed
to salmon and lay in the brook
among the rocks. Thor caught the SAL
mon by the tail and compressed it, so
t. at salmon ever since have had that
part remarkably fine and thin. Loki
was then bound with chains and a poi
sonous serpent was suspended over his
head. Now every time he moves the
earth quakes.
Epigrams.
To make slow horse fast, tie him
up.-C. L.
Antithesis is the soul of the cpl.
grand. A.
Improve your opportunities, and
your opportunities will improve you.-l
F.. S.
Life is broken range over which
VIC all have to travel-I. G.
To live long and we'll, be cheerful,
and always of God be fearful.-R. G.