The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-12-19

~ ly all peoples have their leg
q ends which tell of its be-
~ ginning. Nobody these days
bothers much about Its or
igin, for the Christmas tree is one OF |
those things which seems to explain
itself-or not to need any explanation.
But why the mistIetoe, that in so
many homes certainly no home where
there are young people is without at
least one bunch advantageousy hung
--is as.much of the Christmas scheme
as the tree itself? And why is it per-
feetly proper-and quite the thing-to
kiss under the mistletoe?
Why, the mlstletoe is dedicated to
love and kissing, of course, is sign
of love among civilized nations. This
must be so, for there is a perfectly
satisfactory legend in Scandinavian
mythology that tells all about 1t.
Once upon time there was a 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 Ffigga, 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 Loxi, who had care of fire
and all the terrible things it does. and
this LolSi 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 LoSi 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 awolSe 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
+ NEulHt anu lllN llCANs eAiAh thN hSNl .
His father and mother We're 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
- A. i,,I 10 40 rtynoSc ond Qua eao+
was prepared for Baldurl 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 it 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 Frlgga't
plan. So the messengers went out al
over the world and asked everything
to promise never to harm Baldur
And all the world seemed to think |
was fine plan, for everything gladl,
; gave the promise never never, neve
; to hurt the yellow-haired god of sun
shine.
Yes, everything in all the worl,
/ promised-except just one thing. Tn
, mistletoe that hung on the great oal
: outside yalhalla. the home of the god:
] was feeling out of sorts when the mes
senger arrived. promise you Wi
, never. never. never harm Baldur, tn
r god of sunshine!' said the messenge
= "Why should ] make such n prom
iseT' asked the mistletoe.