FOR THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14142, 18 August 1909, Page 9

FOR THE CHILDREN.

IDUNA .AND THE GOLDEN- APPLES. In the ancient days the English people lived in a country between Denmark and Germany. They were then a fierce • race of heathen warriors and seafarers. They loved the noise of battle and th© hazards of adventure, and they worshipped savage deities of thunder and war. But though they • were rough and wild, and scorned the arts Jof peace, they loved to hear songs ! about brave men and beautiful women, and ■ this side of their character is shown in the stories they used to tell about Bragi and Iduna and the golden apples. ' '•""'

Bragi, the tall and comely god of poetry, dwelt with other gods in Asgard, a land of eternal spring, that shone- with its 'golden, battlements far up in the sunlit* sky. : Bragi • had a harp with golden strings. When he took it 'in his hands, and began to sing to : the music he made, all:the gods put everything aside, and listened with delight to him. His voice was divinely sweet, and nobody could resist it. . ; , ; : Sometimes Bragi would come down from Asgard and wander about the earth, v One day he sailed to an island where all the air was sweet with the flowers of spring. There he sang of the joy of life and the power of love; and, as he sang, a maiden, crowned with blossoms, and leaves, rose up before him, among the flowering ; grasses aad ''.! the budding bushes. ' t She was Iduna, the spirit of eternal youth, fair as the daybreak aaid pure as running water. She guarded the enchanted tree on which grew the golden apples of immortality. When Bragi saw her, he sang with such joy that the sound of his voice filled the nine "worlds. Then he stretched out his;". arms to Iduna and she came to him. After they were married, they went to Asgard. The gods welcomed Iduna with joy, and she gave them some of hex apples to eat and they were filled with the gladness of immortal youth. Unhappily, an old and' ugly giant, living in the bleak and wintry land of Thunder, heard of the ' arrival -of ;.' Iduna at Asgard, and resolved to obtain one of her apples, so that he might eat it, and become young and beautiful. He seized one of the gods, Loki, who came near his domain, and held him a prisoner until ho promised to bring Iduna to him. Loki returned to Asgard, and found Iduna alone, Bragi having gone off alone on a long journey. "Come with me, Iduna, out of Asgard gate, and I will show you a tree that bears golden fruit resembling your wonderful apples," said Loki. ~ . Iduna followed him, and Loki led her to the giant, who carried her off to the land of Thunder. For some time the other goda thought Iduna had gone on a journey with Bragi. But some weeks passed, and their hair began to turn gray, and their faces to grow white and withered, because they had •no apples of immortality to eat. They then began to search for her, and found that she was last seen walking out of the gaie with Loki. The traitor then confessed, but promised to bring Iduna back if ho were given" a pair of wings. , His request was granted, and he flew swiftly, to the land of Thunder, and there he found Iduna sitting very sad and 10ne1y.... in a bare hut. Happily, the giant was away. But just as Loki began to carry Iduna back to Asgnrd, the monster appeared. He was very, very angry, as he had not succeeded in persuading Iduna to give him one of her apples. Patting on an eagle's dress, he rushed after the fugitives like a storm. All the gods stood on the ■ battlements vof ■?-. Asgard, anxiously watching the chase.; Loki a came along at a marvellous speed, ; but, as he scared the gate, the giant sprang upon him. He sprang too late, however,; 2 for - the" 3 other gods camo to the rescue, and slew him. Iduna gave them all some of her apples, and they recovered their beauty and their youth; and soon afterwards Bragi returned, and sang a son"; t of triumph, and all fcha gods were pleased. '• ':..-•■■ ?f^;g