The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-18

its present shape and came to be writ
ten down very likely by several persons
at about the same time. The two Oldest
MANUSCRIPTS of 1t extant are of the date
of the first part of the thirteenth cen
I fury.
~ IEGFRIED was a precocious youth
and chose his parents wisely. Seig-
~ mund and Seiglinde were his pa
rents. the one powerful king and the
other powerful queen, who lived in a
great castle called Zante in the Neither
lands, over which they ruled in peace and
happiness until their hero son stirred up
things so that a quiet life was impossible
1t Is, of course, very glorious to have a
hero for a son; but heroes generally lack
repose and are apt to keep the family in
hot water. Before Siegfried had any use
for the ministrations of a barber he began
those exploits which were subsequently
to be of so much use to Mr.. Wagner but
seem to have been OF no mortal use to
anybody else, either in the heros time
or after.
Instead of playing hop-scotch or mar
bles with the other boys. young Siegfried
went out one day and slew in single COM
bat a horrible monster known as the
Dragon of the Linden Tree. Having kill
ed the brute the boy bathed himself in
the dragons blood and thus made him
self invulnerable. After that the rest
was easy. The most timid Of us would
be inclined to swagger and fight and
perform wonderful deeds II we were sure
that we could not be hurt in the doing
of them.
After bathing In the dragons blood
Siegfried was as bold as a lion-or bold
Grand began to ride out alone into the
forests in search of adventures. One
day. when he had been for a longer time
than usual travelling about showing off
his immense strength and picking quar-
rels with whomsoever he could, the youth
found himself in the country of the
Niberlungs.
This land lay about where Norway
now Is and was peopled by giants
dwarfs and wizards and valiant knights
who had rather fight than eat. Sieg.
freid arrived at a most opportune mo-
ment. The old King of the Niberlungs
had just died and his two sons were
fghting over his property. The old
King had died leaving a treasure worth
fighting over he had left a vast hoard
of gold and jewels, SO great, in fact,
that hundred wagons could not car
nv 1t. More than all the treasure pos
sessed the quality of not being dimin-
ished. no matter how much was taken
from it, 1t grew of itself as fast as
II was despoiled and so was, of course,
1nexhuastible.
But this treasure had Its drawbacks
Some disagreeable old wizard had In
years long gone by laid curse upon
II. whoever possessed 1t was bound
to come to grief. Not wishing to take
any unnecessary risks, the old King
lately deceased, had had the treasure
removed. to great cave In the noun
tains, and had set in guard over II
a company of valiant knights. But or
the day of Siegfreid's arrival in Nib
erlungenland the treasure had beer
brought out of the cave and lay shin
Ing and sparkling in great heaps. over
which the two sons of the late King
disputed and wrangled. They saw al
once that he was no common youth
but altogether a superior person ano
naturally referred their quarrel to him
asking him to divide the treasure as
his great wisdom should direct AS
a sort of retainer they presented the
vounr hero with their fathers magic
sword. Balmuns.
siegfried proceeded to give his de-
cision regarding the treasure, but
found to his annoyance that the two
young kings were not satisfied with
his division. They even were unrea-
sonable enough to speak sharply to
him and when he retorted, sternly bid
ding them obey him right on and not
talk back. some of their knights were
rash enough to threaten the marvellous
youth. OF course, there was nothing
for Siegfried to do but assert him.
self. With the sword which the two
Young men had just given him he cut
on their heads and sailed into the army
OF knights and soldiers in such a fur
ious manner that he soon had them
either dead or begging for tn cir lives
Only one of the Nibelungens continued
the strife. He was dwarf, Alberick by
name. and Siegfried only spared him be-
cause he ADMIRED the little mans pluck
Finally he disarmed Alberick. but so ad-
mirel his valor that he offered not only
to let him live. but asked him to take
service under him. Alberick consenting,
the boyish hero made him Keeper Of the
Hoard, which he at once conveyed back
"a the cave. Now, the dwarf was pos
sessed OF magic cape-the tarn cape
which made its wearer invisible. Consid-
ering that he had more use for this cape
than the dwarf, Siegfried took it from
him and departed for home amid the
wonder and admiration of the Niberlungs
Who vowed him fidelity unto death. He
casually informed them that he would
look in on them again when he felt that
way inclined. and that II he needed them
A the meantime he would send for
them.
Giegfried appears to have lived quietly
ffur him) for some time after he returned
10 the paternal roof. and at last the time
came when he was of an age to be girt
& With sword and to receive the honors of
hnighthood The young mans coming OF