The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1919-12-25

bothers much about its or
igin. Tor the Christmas tree is one OF
those things which seems 10 explain
itself-or not 10 need any explanation
But why the mistletoe. that In ~
many hOmeS-certainly no home where
there are young people is without at
least one bunch advantageOusiy hung
lis as much of the Christmas scheme
a. the tree itself7 And why is II per
fectly proper-and quite the thing-to
kiss under the mistlefoeF
Why. the mistletoe is dedicated TO
lo~e and kissing. OF course. is a sign
OF love among civilized nations This
must be so. for there is perfectly
satisfactory legend In Scandinavian
mythology that tells all about II.
Once upon a time there was 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 II 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 10 rejoice be
cause Baldur had brought back the
glorious sun. And for this Loki hated
Baldur more and more each year. and
longed 10 hurt him in some dreadful
way.
II 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 II
mean-this dream OF death TO the god
Of Joyl And the next night Il came
again. and the next. and the next,
His father and mother were so wor-
led 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 10 do 10 his boy.
And what do you suppose he foundf
A table set for those who must come
10 the land Of darkness. and one seat
was prepared for Balduri Almost
Wild with sorrow. Wooden hurried back
with the sorrowful message 10 his
wife.
Meanwhile. however. Frigra had
been thinking and thinking. and just
as Wooden entered she gave him the
joyful news that she had hit upon the I
rcry plan 20 save their son. And the /
1'ans Well. II was this. they should I
send out messengers al over the 4
rorid and ask everything trees. Z
he rocks the mountains. the animals. 4
he waters. everyfhlng-to promise 4
iever 10 harm their Baldur
Wooden was delighted with Fri-ca's
Ian. SO the messengers went out al /
'ver the world and asked everything
o promise never 10 harm Baldur.
md ali the world seemed TO think II
ras n fine plan. FOR everything gladly
ave The promise never. never. never
o b. the yeIiow-haired zod Of sun
hE
-. everything in al the World
i,,suised-except inst one thing. TIE
hsiietoe that hung on the great oak
ut-ide valhalia. the home ~ the gods.
"a feeling out ~ SORTS when the mos
en-er arrived. Promise you ufil
ever. never. never harm Baiiur. the
~ n sunshine r. said the messenger.
-why should ] make such a profn-
.e.~ asked the misfiefoe