Chapter 7

"Well, years ago in the Golden Age when the world was young there lived a Greek hunter whose name was Adonis. He was tall and straight and handsome. His friends thought it a great pity that he should spend his time in the woods, with only his dogs for company. Away he would go day after day with his arrows at his back and his spear at his side. His dogs were fierce and would attack any creature. His horse was as brave as he. His friends begged him to wait till he was older and stronger before he went into the deep forests, but he never waited. He had killed bears, wolves, and lions. Why should he wait?

"But the wild hog is fiercer than the tiger. One spring morning while hunting in the forest, Adonis wounded two. Leaving his dogs to worry one while he killed the other, he got off his horse, and, running, threw his spear at the hog. Its thick hide was tough and the spear fell to the ground. He drew out an arrow, but before he could place it in the bow, the ugly beast had caught him with its horrid tusks.

"He tore away and, bleeding at every step, bounded down a hillside toward a brook to bathe his wounds. But the savage beast reached it as soon as he. A flock of white swans that had been drinking from the brook, rose on their strong wings and, flying straight to their mistress, Venus, told the story.

"Back they brought her in her silver chariot, sailing so steadily that, from the silver cup of nectar she brought with her, not a drop was spilled.

"'Adonis! Adonis!' cried Venus.

"There was nothing but drops of blood on the grass to tell her where he had been. It was all that was left of the handsome hunter.

"Venus sprinkled some of the nectar on these drops and, in an hour, tiny flower buds showed their heads. Then she drove sadly home. Soft winds blew the tiny buds open, and at night blew them away. So people called them wind-flowers, or anemones. And they believe that the pink and purple which colored them came from the heart of Adonis."

"But why didn't tiger-lilies or some other big and showy flowers come, not these pretty little things?"

"I don't know, John; go and ask Venus."

THE MISTLETOE

_Norse_

Baldur, the youngest brother of Thor, was called The Beautiful. His thoughts were so kind and his ways so pleasant that all who lived in Asgard, the home of the Norse gods, loved him.

Baldur's days were the happiest of all in Asgard, but when he slept his dreams were so strange that his nights were often unhappy.

He feared danger. So Frigga, his mother, who was the wife of Woden, went to the sea and made it promise that no water should drown Baldur.

She went to the stones and made them promise not to harm her son.

Everything promised to let no evil come upon Baldur the Beautiful.

Iron and all the other metals, rocks, and trees all promised. Birds, beasts, and creeping things all agreed to help and never to hurt Frigga's youngest son.

Woden, his father, went to ask a wise old woman what his son's dreams meant. She was dead, and Woden had to go to the center of the universe to find her. She gave him what help she could, and Woden and Frigga felt that now nothing could hurt their child.

The other gods that lived in Asgard knew that Baldur was safe from all harm. But to prove this and to have a little fun among themselves, they would sometimes use him as a mark at which to throw their spears or darts.

Setting Baldur in the middle of the ring, these gods of Asgard would each throw something at him.

If a stone struck him it would only glance off and never hurt. No arrow could pierce his skin. Nothing harmed him, and Baldur would smile as they played their rough play, for he knew that no one of them would work him any ill.

But Loki was different from all the others in Asgard. He could not endure to have Baldur so loved, and wished that some one could harm him. At last Loki dressed himself up as an old woman and went to Frigga's palace. Kind Frigga took the old woman by the hand and brought her into Fensalir.

Loki, in the shape of the old woman, pretended to be very friendly.

"Do you know what the gods are doing to Baldur when you are not by?" Loki asked.

"Yes, they are proving that all things have kept their promise not to hurt my boy."

"What!" said the old woman, "have all things promised not to hurt Baldur?"

"All things," said Frigga. "All but one little plant that grows on the eastern side of Valhalla. It is called the mistletoe. It is so weak and small that I did not ask it to join with the others. I thought it could harm no one."

The old woman left Fensalir. In a few moments Loki appeared on the eastern side of Valhalla and plucked a bit of mistletoe from an old oak that shaded Woden's palace. No one saw him, for he was as sly as a fox and as tricky. Hiding the mistletoe in his hand, he hurried back to the circle of gods who were seated around Baldur.

One god who was blind sat outside the ring.

"Why don't you join in the sport?" asked the wicked Loki.

"I cannot see where Baldur is; and nothing could or would harm anyone so good," said the blind god.

"I will show you where to sit and you shall have this little sprig that is in my hand to throw. You must not be left out of the sport because you are blind," and Loki handed the mistletoe to him.

The others welcomed the blind god to the ring and made him happy by telling him that Baldur smiled at all of their strokes.

"Let me throw next," said Hodur, the blind god. Loki stood by him and directed his hand as Hodur threw the mistletoe.

Poor Baldur! The mistletoe pierced his heart through and through. He fell backward dead.

Hodur was wild with grief. The other gods knew that the treacherous Loki had done it, and did not blame Hodur. Frigga asked which of the gods would dare to ride to Loki's home to bring Baldur back.

Hermod, called the nimble, an older brother of Baldur, said he would go.

Woden, his father, told him to take the horse Sleipnir. Sleipnir had never carried any one but Woden himself. He had twice as many legs as any other horse. He made eight tracks instead of four.

Hermod mounted Sleipnir and rode fast for nine days and nine nights until he came to the land of Death, where Loki loved to stay.

Hela, who ruled there, said Baldur might return if all things above mourned for him.

Hermod rode back and asked all things if Baldur should return. All begged for Baldur but one old hag, who sat on the side of a mountain. Everything else wept for Baldur. Tears stood on the rocks about her as we have seen drops of water on the hardest rock in early morning; the leaves of the trees shed tears of grief. This old hag refused to weep. Baldur could not return.

After the test was over, the gods believed that the old creature on the mountain side was Loki disguised in this way. It must have been the evil Loki, for nothing else could have been so cruel.

Loki met his punishment at last, but that did not save Baldur the Beautiful, the golden-haired god, whom his blind brother, dwelling in darkness, slays again at every even fall.

THE FORGET-ME-NOT

_German_

There is a legend connected with the name of the little blue forget-me-not which everyone loves so much.

It is said that a boy and a girl were walking by a river that flows into the Rhine. The girl saw a lovely flower growing just by the water's edge. The bank of the river was steep and the water swift.

"Oh, the beautiful flower!" she cried.

"I will get it for you," said the boy. He sprang over the side of the steep bank and, catching hold of the shrubs and bushes, made his way to the place where the flower grew.

He tried to tear the plant from the earth with both hands, hoping to get it all for her who was watching him from the bank above.

The stem broke and, still clasping the flower, he fell backward into the rushing stream.

"Forget me not!" he cried to her as the waters bore him down to the falls below. She never did forget her blue-eyed friend who had lost his life trying to get her a flower.

"Forget me not!" she would say over and over until her friends called the little blue flower by this name.

Now these blossoms are called forget-me-nots all over the world. And whether this story is true or only a legend, the dear little flower could not have a prettier name.

PEGASUS, THE HORSE WITH WINGS

_Greek_

There is an old myth of a winged horse. Would you like to hear it? Listen.

This wonderful horse was under the care of the nine Muses. These nine fair daughters of Jupiter taught men all that is known of music, poetry, history, and the stars. It was said and believed that they helped people to remember what they taught.

And now even their names are forgotten except by the few who love to remember the things others forget.

One beautiful summer morning this winged horse appeared at the fountain of the Muses on Mount Helicon. The laughing Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, saw him as she dropped from the sky. Dancing Terpsichore tried to take him by the mane, but the white wings flashed in her face and the wonderful steed was gone before she had touched him.

Urania, the Muse who loved the heavens, believed that he was from some star world.

Clio, the Muse of History, knew that no such creature had ever lived on earth before.

They all watched for his return. The next morning he was seen again at the fountain; after that he came every day. The Muses named him Pegasus.

"We know that there is a work for all created things. What can his be?" the sisters asked one another.

Sure enough his work came at last.

In a distant land was a brave young soldier named Bellerophon. He was so bold, so fearless, and so handsome that those who ought to have been his friends became jealous of him. That means trouble, you know.

Bellerophon wished to travel. His king gave him letters on parchment to take to King Iobates of Lycia.

The king did not read the letters for ten days after Bellerophon came to Lycia. During those ten days there was feasting and dancing in honor of the new guest.

After the feasts of welcome were over, King Iobates read the letters and found that the one who sent them wanted Bellerophon punished for certain misdeeds which people said he had done.

It was a sharp trick to send such letters by the very person who was to be punished. King Iobates was puzzled as to what to do.

Then some of his wise men told him of the terrible chimera that was in the west of his kingdom. This strange creature had the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a crocodile. Its breath was flames of fire, so the peasants said. Nobody dared to attack it.

"Just the thing," said Iobates to himself, and sent for Bellerophon.

"You are the one to rid my country of this terrible monster. Do you dare to try such a task?"

Brave Bellerophon answered, "I have no fear; my heart is pure; my strength is as the strength of ten. I will go."

That night he slept in the temple of Minerva, the wise goddess. He dreamed that Minerva brought him a golden bridle and told him to go to the fountain of Pirene and find Pegasus.

When he awoke the golden bridle was in his hand.

He went to the fountain and there he saw Pegasus drinking. Bellerophon held up the bridle and for the first time Pegasus was caught.

The brave soldier leapt on the winged horse's back and Pegasus struck his hoofs once against the earth, and then sprang lightly towards the sky. He spread his wings and the nine Muses saw him sailing in the air with a rider on his back.

"He has found his work," said Clio.

Bellerophon could see over all the land. He found the terrible chimera and slew it. For all its strange shape and fearful looks, it was not such a fierce animal as he had feared.

Pegasus took his rider quickly back to King Iobates' palace and then vanished. He was found the next morning by the nine Muses drinking at their fountain.

Bellerophon was given another hard task to do when the king found that he had lived through his first.

Pegasus came at his call, and with his help everything was easy.

But as soon as one work was done King Iobates found another.

Bellerophon suspected nothing, and went bravely out to help his friend the king.

At last King Iobates said he had nothing more for him to do. After a time Bellerophon married the king's daughter and lived quietly at home in Lycia.

Pegasus, the pet of the nine Muses, became so gentle that he would let them soar to the skies on his back, but no mortal save Bellerophon dared to touch him.

Bellerophon, having no more great earthly tasks to do, called his winged steed one morning and dared to attempt to guide him to Mount Olympus, 011 whose lofty top sat the great Jupiter on his throne in the clouds.

Jupiter, seeing him coming, sent a single gadfly to sting the tender skin of Pegasus. The gadfly dealt a cruel blow and proud Pegasus thought Bellerophon had dared to strike him.

He reared upon his haunches and sent Bellerophon reeling downward to earth, the victim of a selfish wish to outdo others. Bellerophon fell upon a rocky field far from any city. His fall made him both lame and blind. Separated from his friends he wandered alone, living as best he could, and it is not known what became of him. His winged steed fled to the fountain on Mount Helicon, but never again came at his call. He could not forget the sharp sting of the gadfly.

Some have fancied that those who love the Muses see him even in these days, and that the flash of his golden bridle is caught by a gifted few once in each century.

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS

In the earlier ages everything in nature had its myth. We have been too practical and too full of haste in these latter days to listen to nature or to myths, but let us inspire the children to do so. Who among us has not regretted his lack of knowledge of some mythical person, in song, picture, or story?

The greater number of ways in which a truth is presented to the child, the stronger the impression that truth makes upon him. Music, painting, sculpture, architecture, and language, written or spoken, have each told the story of the sun and its glorious power over earthly creatures.

Each nation has its myth concerning the sun's personality. Some may have adapted or adopted those of other nations; some may have originated their own theory to explain the origin of the heat and light which come from the apparent ruler of the skies. The myth is preserved through the ages, and the child in the school perceives its beauty, while he understands as well as his teacher its impossibility.

Let the plain scientific truths of the latest researches be given first. Then the fable, or folklore, or former explanation which once vouched for the origin of the sun, moon, or stars, or other natural objects, seems to the children like their own childish fancies about things unknown.

The story should follow, if possible, a tale or lesson on the subject of the myth. If the children have already had the scientific truths given them, then the myth serves as a reminder of facts already learned.

The special directions are merely suggestive. Teachers will supplement them or substitute others at their pleasure.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE LESSON ON PHAETON.

Secure, if possible, before the reading of the story of Phaeton, a good plaster cast or marble bust of Apollo, or some reproduction of the Aurora of Guido Reni. Show a picture of the temple of Apollo, if one can be obtained; let the children understand how much a part of the life of the Greek was this belief in Apollo's power and Apollo's beauty. The child will then begin to understand how much the ancients strove after beauty in all things.

The Indian, African, and Chinese all have their stories of the origin of light and heat, and history and geography may assist in this lesson on Phaeton.

Sprinkle water on the window sill, and notice its disappearance, caused by the heat of sunshine or of the room. Ask for the reason of a similar loss of water in the street, road, or river. What is the sun's color? What is the color of fire? What is the sun's effect on ice and snow, on vegetable and animal life? Does it work quietly? Is great power usually quiet?

Lower the shades in the schoolroom. Why is it dark? Close the eyes. Why is it dark? What is darkness? What causes dark or dull days? What shapes do clouds take? Are they ever like horses, cattle, sheep, or swans? Is the sun somewhere always shining? Are clouds like curtains? Paint or draw a sunrise or sunset.

Notice a rainbow, when possible, and form one with a prism in the schoolroom. What colors of the prism are shown most in sunset or sunrise? Are all shown each time? How many have seen the same colors on a soap bubble or elsewhere? Mention some other name of the sun, as Sol; the derivation of Sunday; the effect of the sun on the seasons. Describe spring, summer, autumn, and winter as persons. Is the sun king of the hours, the days, the months, and the years? Did the ancients know the real truth concerning the distance, size, and nightly disappearance of the sun? Where is the Great Bear? The Little Bear? Do you think the ancient Greeks really believed the story of Phaeton?

Reproduce it orally after reading.

_Each myth may be developed in a similar way_.

A BIBLIOGRAPHY.

The following list is given as containing many books which will be helpful for reference or study, as indicating the sources of myths and the customs of the ancients, and as supplying an extended account of any mythical person or object referred to in this volume.

While each book is considered valuable, those marked with a star are especially compact, concise, and helpful to readers who can have access to but few books, and that by purchase.

GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHS.

"Age of Fable," compiled by Thomas Bulfinch. _McKay, Philadelphia_ $1 25

"Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, Mythology, and Geography." _D. Appleton & Co., New York_. Half morocco 6 00

"The Mythology of Greece and Rome," with special reference to its use in art, Oscar Seeman. _American Book Company, New York_ 60

"Harper's Dictionary of Classical Literature and Antiquities," edited by Harry Thurston Peck. _Harper Bros., New York_, 1 vol. 6 00 2 vols. 7 00

"Seiffert's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities," from the German of Oskar Seiffert. _The Macmillan Co., New York_ 3 00

"Makers," by John Fiske. _Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston_ 2 00

"The Classic Myths in English Literature," by C.M. Gayley. _Ginn & Co., Boston_ 1 50

"Myths of Greece and Rome," narrated with special reference to literature and art, by H.A. Guerber. _American Book Company, New York_ 1 50

"The Heroes," by Charles Kingsley. Several publishers; various prices.

"The Queen of the Air," by John Ruskin. Several publishers; various prices.

NORSE MYTHS.

"Myths of Northern Lands," by H.A. Guerber. _American Book Company, New York_ 1 50

"Norse Mythology, or the Religion of Our Forefathers," by R.B. Anderson. _Scott, Foresman & Co., Chicago_ 2 50

"Dr. Wilhelm Wagner's Asgard and the Gods, a Manual of Norse Mythology," edited by W.W. Macdowall. _Sonnenshein & Co., London, England_ 2 00

RUSSIAN MYTHS.

"The Hero of Esthonia," and other studies in the romantic literature of that country, compiled by W.F. Kirby. _John C. Nimmo, London, England._ 2 vols. 6 00

"Selections from the Kalevala, the Epic Poem of Finland." _Henry Holt, New York_ 1 50

This epic is in the same measure as Longfellow's "Hiawatha," and is interesting to all those who enjoy that poem.

OLDEST EGYPTIAN TALES.

"Egyptian Tales, Translated from the Papyri." _Frederick A. Stokes & Co., New York._ 2 vols., each 1 50

These tales are interesting from their evident antiquity and from the insight they give as to ancient Egyptian customs.

A PRONOUNCING INDEX

The following key explains the symbols which are used in the pronouncing index to indicate the pronunciation of the words. It is based upon the 1900 edition of Webster's International Dictionary:

a- _as in_ fate. a- _as in_ pref' ace. a- _as in_ add. a- _as in_ air. a- _as in_ far. a- _as in_ grass. a- _as in_ all.

e- _as in_ eve. e- _as in_ e-vent'. e- _as in_ end. e- _as in_ her.

i- _as in_ ice. i- _as in_ i-de' a. i- _as in_ pin.

o- _as in_ row. o- _as in_ o-bey'. o- _as in_ not. o- _as in_ lord.

u- _as in_ use. u- _as in_ u-nite'. u- _as in_ up. u- _as in_ furl. u- _as in_ rude. u- _as in_ full.

y- _as in_ fly. y- _as in_ pit' y.

oo- _as in_ moon. oo- _as in_ good. ou- _as in_ out. oi- _as in_ oil. n=ng _as in_ ink.

Silent letters are italicized. Certain vowels, as _a_ and _e_, when obscured, are also italicized.

A

_Adonis_ (a do' nis). A youth famed for his beauty and beloved by Venus. _Aeneas_ (e ne' as). A valiant Trojan warrior. _Aeolus_ (e' o lus). The king of the winds. _Aetna_ (et'na). The chief mountain in Sicily and highest volcano in Europe. It figures in Greek mythology as the burning mountain. _ambrosia_ (am bro' zha). The fabled food of the gods, which conferred immortality upon those who partook of it. _Ammon_ (am' mun). The Egyptian Jupiter, or supreme god. _ancient_ (an' shent). Old; antique. _anemone_ (a nem' o ne) The windflower. _Antaeus _(an te' us). The son of the sea and earth, or of Neptune and Terra. _Apollo_ (a pol' lo). The god of the sun. _Ares_ (a' rez). The Greek name for Mars. _Argo_ (ar' go). The ship in which Jason sailed. _Argus_ (ar' gus). A mythical person with a hundred eyes, set by Juno to watch Io. _Asgard_ (as' gard). The home of the Northern gods. _Athena_ (a the' na). The Greek name for Minerva. _Athens_ (ath' enz). A city in Greece. _Atlas_ (at' las). The giant who bears up the sky on his shoulders. _Aurora_ (a ro' ra). The goddess of the dawn.

B

_Bacchus_ (bak' kus). The god of wine. _Baldur_ (bal'der). Son of Woden and brother of Thor. The god of summer. _Baucis_ (ba' sis). The wife of Philemon. _Bellerophon_ (bel ler' o fon). The son of Glaucus. The youth who slew the chimera. _Briareus_ (bri a' re us). A famous giant, fabled to have a hundred arms. _Byrgir_ (byr' gir). The well to which Hjuki went for water.

C

_Cadmus_ (kad' mus). Son of a king of Phoenicia, said to be the inventor of letters. _caldron_ (kal' drun). A large metal kettle. _Castor_ (kas' tor). Twin brother of Pollux, noted for his skill in managing horses. _Celeus_ (se' le us). A king of Eleusis, father of Triptolemus. He gave a kind reception to Ceres, who taught his son the cultivation of the earth. _Ceres_ (se' rez). The goddess of grains and fruits. _chamois_ (sham' my). A small species of antelope of remarkable agility. _chimera_ (ki me' ra). A fabulous monster in Lycia, which was slain by Bellerophon. _Clio_ (kli' o). The muse of history. _Clymene_ (kli me' ne). Mother of Phaeton. _Clytie_ (kli' ti e). The maiden who was changed into a sunflower. _Cupid_ (ku' pid). The god of love, possessing eternal youth, son of Mars and Venus.

D

_Daedalus_ (ded' a lus). The builder of the Cretan labyrinth. _Daphne_ (daf' ne). A nymph beloved by Apollo. _Diana_ (di a' na). Goddess of the moon, twin sister of Apollo. _dolphin_ (dol' fin). Large sea fish.

E

_Echo_ (ek' o). A nymph who pined away until nothing was left but her voice. _Epimetheus_ (ep' i me' the us). The Titan who made man and the lower animals.

F