wore none. Only in her hand she held a nosegay of little blue flowers.

So overcome with surprise was the peasant that he sank to his knees. He was about to speak and ask forgiveness for his rude entrance; but Frigga, the Queen of Asgard, addressed him first, and her words were gentle, so that the peasant was no longer afraid.

"Be not astonished at what you see," she said, "there are many wonderful things that men yet know not of. Yet they will learn as time goes on, and the earth shall be more fully theirs."

"Fair goddess," answered the peasant, "for I know that thou art more than mortal; I thank thee for thy kind words. I pray thee forgive my breaking in upon thee thus rudely. Now, with your leave, I will depart.'

"Not yet, thrifty man; for know that no mortal ever beholds Frigga and leaves her as he came. Therefore choose of all thou seest what thou wilt. It shall be thine." The shepherd was more amazed than ever now. He looked at the gold and precious stones.

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Ah, but of what use are they to a common peasant?" he thought. They have ever been the cause of sorrow. No, I am happier as I am, and I will not now yearn to live a life for which I am not fit."

He looked all about the cave, and finally his eyes rested again on the blue flowers that Frigga held in her hand. The thought of them pleased him. He had never seen anything like them before.

"Noble goddess," he said, "I will only ask that little nosegay of blue flowers in token of thy favor."

"It is thine," said Frigga, "and thou wilt never regret thy choice. Besides the nosegay, I give thee this measure of seed. Plant it in thy fields, and good will come of it."

When she had thus spoken, a terrible clap of thunder shook the place; and when he looked again, the peasant found himself standing alone on the mountain side with his sheep. That night he went home earlier than usual, and told his wife all that had happened.

The good woman was very much displeased with her husband's choice, and reproached him for not taking some of the gold or precious stones.

"But," said she, "it is useless now to talk further about it. We will sow the seed and see what comes of it."

Accordingly the peasant plowed the fields and prepared them for the seed, as fast as he could. He was greatly surprised to find that the little measure of seed was sufficient for several acres.

In a very short while the little green sprouts poked their heads up above the ground. The peasant watched the fields day by day to see how they grew, and to make sure that no harm came to them. Every evening before going to bed he went out to take a last look at the beautiful green fields.

One evening, just as he was on the point of turning toward the cottage, he saw a delicate white form float over the fields. It was the figure of a woman, and the

arms were outstretched as if in the act of bestowing a blessing.

Not long after this the field blossomed, and the flowers were just like the little blue flowers that Frigga had held in her hand that day in the cave. Days passed, and the little blue flowers withered and died, and in their places were seeds like those the peasant had sown.

"And now," said the peasant's wife, as they began to think of the harvesting, "what is this grain, and what are we to do with it? It certainly does not look good to eat." "I know not," answered the peasant, "but I have faith that it is something very useful."

They did not have to wait very long to discover the use of the new crop. The very next day Frigga herself appeared before them, attended by her maidens. She told them that in Asgard the new plant was called flax, and

then she explained its many uses. At the same time Frigga showed the peasant and his wife how to harvest the flax properly and how to prepare it for spinning.

The goddess came again later, and she and her maidens taught the peasant's wife how to weave and how to bleach the cloth.

Now it was natural that men from far and near should desire to purchase cloth, for it was very strong and wore well. They bought flax seed, also, to plant in their own fields. So in the course of a very few years the peasant became the most prosperous man in the country.

The little nosegay that Frigga had given him did not fade until the peasant had become an old man. At last the leaves began to wither and the petals to fall. The peasant knew then that his life was nearly over. He wished, however, to climb the mountain once more, and so early one morning he set out. As he wandered about, he again found the entrance to the cave. There again he found the queen of Asgard, and she took him with her to Valhalla.

-C. M. S.

Howe'er it be, it seems to me,
'Tis only noble to be good.

Kind hearts are more than coronets,

And simple faith than Norman blood.

- TENNYSON.

G. T. FOURTH R.

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