mir, "but 'tis a great treasure that thou seekest. What price art thou willing to pay for a drink from my well?"

"Oh, Mimir, I would give my right hand for the draught I seek, for I will know well how to rule the world, that peace and prosperity may come to man.'

"I care not for thy right hand," answered Mimir, “but for thy right eye I will give thee the draught."

"So be it," said Odin, sadly, "even that will I give." And he took Mimir's cup and drank of the well of wisdom. So with only one eye he returned to Asgard, but the Allfather never regretted the price he paid for wisdom to rule the world.

A LAZY LITTLE ELF

A LAZY little elf sat upon a shelf,

And watched his brothers come and go

In their labors to and fro.

"I wonder why they work and never think to shirk,

But each goes on about his toil,

Nor minds the stain of soot and soil."

He blinked and fell asleep, this lazy little heap,
And dreamed the joys of those who rest

After toil and labors blest;

The reaper who has who has sown, the mother who has known The bliss of doing for a child.

He awoke to go to work, and smiled.

C. M. S.

These are the gauntlets
Wherewith I wield it,
And hurl it afar off;
This is my girdle;
Whenever I brace it,
Strength is redoubled!

The light thou beholdest
Stream through the heavens,
In flashes of crimson,
Is but my red beard
Blown by the night-wind,
Affrighting the nations!

Jove is my brother;

Mine eyes are the lightning;
The wheels of my chariot
Roll in the thunder,

The blows of my hammer
Ring in the earthquake!

Force rules the world still,
Has ruled it, shall rule it;
Meekness is weakness,
Strength is triumphant,
Over the whole earth
Still is it Thor's-Day!

Thou art a God too,
O Galilean!

And thus single-handed
Unto the combat,
Gauntlet or Gospel,

Here I defy thee!

- HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW.

FRIGGA'S GIFT TO MAN

FRIGGA, as well as Father Odin, was interested in the affairs of mankind, and she accepted every opportunity to bestow gifts upon those who were worthy.

Once there was a peasant, whose honesty and thrift appealed to the fair goddess. Daily he toiled up the steep slopes of the mountains with his little flock of sheep to pasture. While he tended his flock he did not sit idle, but thought how he might improve his house or his fields, and so live better. Oftentimes, too, he caught sight of a chamois, which he brought down with his bow. Thus he kept his table supplied with good food, and his children. thrived and grew strong.

Frigga decided that so industrious a man was worthy of her kindness. Accordingly, one morning she and her maidens set out from Asgard and journeyed to a beautiful cave in the side of the mountain, near where the peasant pastured his flock.

During the forenoon Frigga caused a chamois to appear before the hunter. Of course he pursued it, trying to get near enough to reach it with an arrow. But the chamois

managed to keep out of range, and led the hunter on and on. At last the animal disappeared into the cave, and the fearless peasant followed.

As soon as he entered the cave, the peasant thought no more of the chamois; for it was the most beautiful place

he had ever beheld. Gold and jewels glittered on every side, and the light of a thousand candles was reflected again and again from the crystals and precious stones, so that the man was dazzled.

In the center of the cave stood a beautiful woman, clad in a robe of silver and gold; and around her was a company of maidens, all busily engaged in weaving. On their head the maidens wore garlands of roses, but the queen