Classic Myths | Page 4

strange, bright light in the North. People called it Northern Lights, but Woden knew it
was his Valkyrias. Did you ever see them?
"In another palace of gold in this beautiful city of the northern sky were Woden's wife
and family. This palace was called Fensalir. Woden's wife was Frigga and his eldest son
was Thor. I must tell you about this son. Thor owned three precious things. Can you
guess what they were?
"One was a red-hot iron hammer. When he threw it at a mountain the rocks split open
wide and all the Frost Giants who lived within the rocks and upon the mountain were
killed.
"The second thing was a wonderful belt. When he put it on he was twice as strong as
before.
"The third was a pair of iron gloves. When he put these on he could throw his hammer
twice as far.
"There is a story told of how Thor once threw his hammer so far that it could not return
as it had always done. It fell near an immense giant who seized it and hid it half a mile
deep under the rocks. Thor sent the God of Fire to win it back, but the cruel giant would
not give it up unless Thor would bring Freya, the loveliest of the goddesses, to marry him.
But Freya refused to go and live with a fierce giant.
"Thor wanted his hammer. At last the God of Fire, who had seen this giant, told Thor to
dress himself like Freya and to put on a heavy veil. He did this and the two gods rode far
away, on the rays of the setting sun, to recover the lost hammer.
"When the giant saw them he took them to his house. At supper time he wondered how a
goddess could eat so much, for Thor devoured eight great salmon and a whole roasted ox.
Then he wondered how she could drink so much, for Thor drank three hogsheads of
honey wine. Then the giant pulled the heavy veil aside and wondered what made her eyes
like fireballs. The God of Fire explained everything, for Thor would not speak. Then the
hammer was asked for. It was laid in the mock bride's lap. As soon as Thor had it in his
hand he stood up, slew all the giants and utterly destroyed the wicked town. Then he went
back to Fensalir and told Frigga, his mother, how he had recovered his hammer.
"Frigga was as powerful as Woden or Thor. All things which Woden had made obeyed
her, nor dared harm anything when she forbade them. It may be she did not know of the
lost hammer or she would have saved Thor his long journey.
"Frigga was one of the most beautiful creatures the world has ever known. No picture
was ever so perfect and beautiful as she. Her robes were lovelier than those of any other
goddess. Sometimes they were of gold and scarlet, sometimes of purest white, and many
times of modest green. She loved to spin, and no spider ever spun so fine a thread as she
on her spinning wheel. She worked so faithfully that Woden changed the wheel into
shining stars, and when you look up at Orion again remember that the Norse people

called that constellation Frigga's distaff.
"And now, Hilda, these three, Woden, Thor, and Frigga, still live upon our earth and are
bound by loving ties. Strange to say, however, they can never meet again, for only one
comes to earth at a time. At midnight, Woden, the father, leaves, and Thor, his son, stays
with us till another midnight. Then Frigga, the mother, comes for a single day, but she
never can see again her son nor her husband.
[Illustration: FRIGGA, THE MOTHER OF THE GODS]
"Does Hilda guess what my story means?"
"I am not quite sure, mother; help me a little bit."
"In my story, Hilda, I told for whom three days of our week are named. Can you tell
which days?"
"Why, mother, is that it? I know one, that is Woden's day, or Wednesday. Yes, there is
Thor's day, or Thursday, but what is the other?"
"Didn't I tell you the mother never could see again her son or her husband? Do you see
the meaning now?"
"Oh, I know! Friday is beautiful Frigga's day."
"Yes, you have guessed the three, Hilda. Now, do you see that Thor's day comes when
Woden's day goes? And as soon as Thor's day is over, then comes Frigga's day. They
come to earth, but never meet."
"Why, how queer it all is! When I say the names of the days of the week, it will seem as
if you were telling me the story again."
"And