Northland Heroes

For centuries the songs of Homer, the blind poet of Greece, recounting the heroic deeds of great Hector and lion-hearted Achilles, have delighted the children, young and old, of many lands. But part of our own heritage, and nearer to us in race and time, are these stories of Beowulf and Frithiof.

The records of lives nobly lived are an inspiration to noble living. With the hope that the courage, truth, endurance, reverence, and patriotism shown by these heroes of the Northland will arouse interest and emulation, this little book is offered to our children.

"The Story of Frithiof" is based upon Holcomb's translation of Bishop Tegner's poem, "The Saga of Frithiof," and the quotations are used by the kind permission of Mrs Holcomb and the publishers.

FLORENCE HOLBROOK.

CONTENTS

THE STORY OF FRITHIOF

IN HILDING'S GARDEN KING BELE AND THORSTEN FRAMNESS KING HELGE AND FRITHIOF IN THE COUNTRY OF KING RING FRITHIOF'S ANSWER IN BALDER'S GROVE THE PARTING FRITHIOF AND ANGANTYR THE RETURN BALDER'S FUNERAL PILE ON THE SEA THE VIKING'S CODE FRITHIOF'S RETURN KING RING AND THE STRANGER THE RIDE ON THE ICE IN THE FOREST KING RING'S DEATH THE NEW KING PRITHIOF AT HIS FATHER'S GRAVE THE RECONCILIATION

THE STORY OF BEOWULF

THE COMING OF SHEAF THE YOUNG BEOWULF THE HARPER'S STORY BEOWULF AND HIS MEN THE WARDER OF THE SHORE BEOWULF RECEIVED BY HROTHGAR THE CONTEST WITH GRENDEL THE FEAST OF JOY GRENDEL'S MOTHER THE WAY TO THE POOL BEOWULF IN THE POOL BEOWULF'S RETURN HROTHGAR HONOURS BEOWULF BEOWULF AND HYGELAC THE DRAGON OF THE MOUNTAIN BEOWULF GOES AGAINST THE DRAGON WIGLAF AIDS HIS KING THE DEATH OF BEOWULF

ILLUSTRATIONS

Ingeborg the Fair . . . . . . . . . Frontispiece

King Bele and his sons

Burial mounds

Viking ship

Frithiof asking for Ingeborg

Ingeborg at Balder's temple

Frithiof's song

Into the hall came a man unknown to any there

King Ring's sleigh

The boy on the shield

Ingeborg given to Frithiof

The departure of Beowulf

The landing of Beowulf in Hrothgar's realm

Beowulf presenting his gifts to Hygelac

The dragon

Pronouncing vocabulary of proper names

THE STORY OF FRITHIOF

In Hilding's Garden

So they grew up in joy and glee, And Frithiof was the young oak tree; Unfolding in the vale serenely The rose was Ingeborg the queenly.

In the garden of Hilding, the teacher, were two young children. Ingeborg was a princess, the daughter of a King of Norway. The boy, Frithiof, was a viking's son. Their fathers, King Bele and Thorsten, were good friends, and the children were brought up together in the home of Hilding, their foster-father and teacher.

Hilding was very fond of them both. He called the boy Frithiof an oak, for he was straight and strong. The little Ingeborg he called his rose, she was so rosy and sweet.

All day roaming over field and grove the strong lad cared for the little maid. If they came to a swift-flowing brook he would carry her over. When the first spring flowers showed their pretty heads Frithiof gathered them for Ingeborg. For her he found the red berries and the golden-cheeked apples.

In the evening they sat at the feet of their kind teacher and together they learned to read. Often they danced on the sward at twilight, when they looked like golden-haired elves in a fairy dance.

When Frithiof had grown into a sturdy youth he often hunted in the forests. He was so strong that he needed neither spear nor lance. When he met the wild bear they struggled breast to breast. Both bear and youth fought bravely, but at last Frithiof won. Home he went gaily, carrying the great bear-skin, which he gave to Ingeborg. She praised his bravery and strength, for every woman loves courage.