The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1906-06-02

brought Denmark. Norway and Sweden
under one rule. formed great unioN
OF ali the northern countries. The H.
tie son OF the present king and queen
the Norwegians have requested should
be called Olaf, true viking name.
Haakon VI. and Maragretha had lit
tie son Olaf, who died when but five
years old. referred to by a certain
writer as the least and last OF tho
kings Of Norway"
King Haakon and Queen Mara
gretha! How far away these names
seem from the twentieth century. this
modern machine age. They suggcs,
old days and deeds. when Morse kings
were giants indeei and royal women
were other than mere hgureheads. Let
US travel back through the centuries
and try to catch some glimpse Of that
mysterious romantic past.
First let rs speak OF Norway aa n
great mother country, not big enough
to keep all her sons and daughters at
home. but sending them forth to hs.s
people other ianis. to Iceland. and
Normandy. and Greenland, to Scotland
and Ireland. Let US pause to conte r.
plate Harald Fairhair. he who united
his country under one head and made
n Kingdom OF 1t. which 1t has sincs
continued. In his youth Harali
aspired to marry the beautiful Gyia, 4
proud princess. who declared shs
would not stoop to a mere Jarl: II he
would have her let him do as CORN Of
Denmark. Eric OF Sweden. Egbert Of
England. subdue the contentious Jarls
about him and become q great king.
Then Harald swore a mighty cath that
he would not cut bis hair till he had
accomplished the subsection OF the
other kings. until Gyda was his own.
Twelve years passed ere Harnldi
name was shorn. Gyda came TO his
home: - years It took to subdus the
Jarls and conquer the Vikings OF the,
rs Carlyle calls them. out-is,ands.
Then Harald spent about co years in
organizing a government for his con.
Queste-Harald Fairhair had a reign
long a. his renowned name. After him
came his son Eric Blood Axe, who was
unpopular In Norway and was sue.
ceeded by the nrst haakon. Haakon
the Good.
Haakon the Good had been brought
up ri IN English court. and when h.
began his rule over Norway tried to
teach the people IomeihinE Of Chris
tianity, and practiced n we'll a.
preached: did not. like his father, force
the boys to 90 to sea. did not fake
from them In greed. King Haakon
spoke to the people assembled at 4
Thing Il sort Of rarlinmen) OF the
Great White Christ. and at the rex.
meeting At Yuis refused 10 drink to the
god Thor. This msdc 4 great hubbu,..
but the people had faith In Haakon tho
Good and began u bsalsvs . little In
the Christ. though they forced some Of
their heather obssrvancss on the king.
The laws Of Haakon made At q Th,ns
At 0ula were sood laws. and ever love /
dearly By the Norse folk. When Han.
hon died be was iamsnted By Goth
friends and enemies: they said thso
never aeain would Norway ~ svch
king. Il y told that the year Haskop
was chosen king the birds buiit tAsif
nests twice. and tbs trees had I've
crops Of appiss!
There follow sftsr Haakoo The oood
Haraid Fray Fell: Hsakoa Jari: Olaf
Trysxvssou: Jsris Eric and sveis
tqsasi sovereigns); Olaf the Thieksst,
true viking. IL later ysars become
Olaf the Saint: AAsnus the Good: Olaf
the tranquil; Nagnus Barefoot: 9isuYd