The Starkville news., 1919-12-19


. botherS much about its or
igin, for the Christmas tree is one of
those things which seems to explain
ltself-or not to need any explanation.
But why the mistletoe, that in so
many certainly no home where
there are young people is without at
least one bunch advantageously hung
is as much of the Christmas scheme
as the tree itself? And why is it per-
fectly proper-and quite the thing-to
kiss under the mistletoe?
Why, the mistletoe is dedicated to
love and kissing, Of course, is a sign
of love among civilized nations. This
must be so, for there is a perfectly
satisfactory legend in Scandinavian
mythology that tells ali about 1t.
Once upon time there was q god
named Baldur, who had charge of the
sunshine and all the bright and beau
tiful things that sunshine helps to
make. His father and mother, Wooden
and Frigga, for whom Wednesday and
Friday are named, were very proud
Of their yellow-haired boy; for he was
SO handsome and good natured that
everybody loved him. Everybody? :?
Well, not quite. There was one dark
god named Loki, who had care of fire
and all the terrible things it does. and
this Loki hated Baldur bitterly. For,
In the spring, you know, the people
all left the hearth fires that Loki look
ed after, and went out to rejoice be-
cause Baldur had brought back the
glorious sun. And for this Loki hated
Baldur more and more each year. and
longed to hurt him in some dreadful
way.
1t seemed, however, that Baldur
could never be injured or made miser-
able. When he grew up he married
Mamma, which means Blossom" in
English, and every day he looked hap
pier than before. But one morning
he awoke greatly troubled; he had
dreamed Of dying! What could it
mean-this dream Of death to the god
Of joy? And the next night it came
again, and the next. and the next |!
His father and mother were so wor-
ried that they could not sleep, and at
length his father, Wooden, went far
down into the land of night to talk
with the evil ones there and find out
what they intended to do to his boy
And what do you suppose he found?
A table set for those who must come
to the land of darkness, and one seat
was prepared for Baldur! Almost
wild with sorrow, Wooden hurried back
with the sorrowful message to his
wife.
Meanwhile, however, Frigga had
been thinking and thinking, and just
as Wooden entered she gave him the
joyful news that she had hit upon the
very plan to save their son. And the
plan? Well, 1t was this: they should
send out messengers all over the
world and ask everything-the trees,
the rocks, the mountains, the animals,
the waters. everything-to promise
never to harm their Baldur.
Wooden was delighted with Frigga's
plan. So the messengers went out all
over the world and asked everything
to promise never to harm Baldur.
And all the world seemed to think It
was a fine plan, for everything gladly
gave the promise never, never, never
to hurt the yellow-haired god of sun
shine.
Yes. everything in all the world
promised-except just one thing. The
mistletoe that hung on the great oak
outside valhalla, the home of the gods.
was feeling out of sorts when the mes
sengef arrived. ''Promise you will
never. never, never harm Baldur, the
god Of sunshinel' said the messenger.
"Why should make such prom
isefs asked the mistletoe.