FOR THE CHILDREN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2592, 28 August 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

FOR THE CHILDREN.

IDUNA AND THE GOLDEN APPLES.

In tlio 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 the hazards of adventure, and they worshipped savage deities of thunder and war. But though they were rough and wild, and scorned the arts of 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 the 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 ms.de, 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. One day he sailed to an island where the air was sweet with the flowers of spring. There he sang the joy of life and the power of Jove; and, as he sang, a maiden, crowned with blossoms and leaves, rose up before him, among the flowering grasses and the budding bushes. She was Iduna, the spirit of eternal youth, fair as the daybreak and 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 g;ods welcomed Iduna. with joy, and she gave them some of her 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 as Asgard, and resolved to obtain one

of her apples, so that he might eat it, and become young and beautiful. Ho seized one of the gods, Loki, who came near his domain, and held him a prisoner until he promised to bring Iduna to him. Loki returned to Asgard, and found Iduna alone, Bragi having gone off alone on a long journey. “Gome with me, Iduna, out of Asgard gate, and I will show you a tree that bears golden fri‘pN fVs jsemhling your wonderful J^pki. Iduna folly** 0 \ | Loki led her to the gj r \J ki led 1 \Wr ti - me the oth; t jN om e t’ fvV.a had gone aJ ? ur lgi.Vdf KOD ?° weeks j I; V .r fcfeij began to turn f- faces to grow vvhlte because th, IU , S6 Ml £ ad no apo • . .orfohty to edOfcahey then be 1 II N for her, and round that shi , %t seen walking out of the gate'-j.-VL Loki. The traitor then confessed, Nut promised to bring Iduna back if he were given a pair of wings. His requestjwas granted, and he flew swiftly to theUand of Thunder, and there he found Iduna sitting very sad and lonely in a bare lint. Happily the gaint was away. But just as Loki began to carry Iduna back to Asgard , the monster appeared. He was very, very angry, as he had not succeeded in persuading Iduna to give him one of her apples. Putting on an eagle’s dress he rushed after the fugitives like a storm. All the gods stood on the battlements of Asgard, anxiously watching the chase. Loki came along at marvellous 1 speed, hut, as he neared the gate., the giant sprang upon him. He was too late, however, for the other gods came 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 song of triumph, and all the gods were pleased.