Old Norse stories . athe left the giant unharmed when he returned toAsgard. BALDER ^ i. balders dream Balder was the favorite son of Odin and Frigga.He was greatly beloved by all living creatures; andall nature smiled upon him. He had passed arestless night. When he slept at all, he saw paleHela beckoning to him from her dark abode. Herose early and went to Fensalir, where his mother,Frigga, was already at work, spinning gold threadsto reward the diligence of men who tilled the soil.Frigga was distressed by her sons wan face andlistless manner, even before he told her of thedream. Then, full o

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Old Norse stories . athe left the giant unharmed when he returned toAsgard. BALDER ^ i. balders dream Balder was the favorite son of Odin and Frigga.He was greatly beloved by all living creatures; andall nature smiled upon him. He had passed arestless night. When he slept at all, he saw paleHela beckoning to him from her dark abode. Herose early and went to Fensalir, where his mother, Frigga, was already at work, spinning gold threadsto reward the diligence of men who tilled the soil.Frigga was distressed by her sons wan face andlistless manner, even before he told her of thedream. Then, full of anxiety, she hastened toOdin, who tried to sooth her fears, saying thatnothing would harm Balder, the Good, the Beau-tiful, the Beloved. But Odin soon learned, from the frost giants, that Balder was really in danger. Anxious to knowthe exact truth, he mounted his eight-footed horse, and rode to the dark land of Hela. In Helas house, he found benches covered withtapestry and gold, and tables prepared for a feast. 105. Frigga, 107 He went on to the grave of Vala, a great prophet-ess, who had long been dead. He chanted threetimes the magic words, and traced the runes, thathad the power to call back the dead. SuddenlyVala stood before him. He asked for whom Helawas making such preparations. She replied thatHela was expecting- Balder, who would soon besent to her by the hand of his twin brother, Hoder, the blind o*od of darkness. Very sorrowful Odin returned to Frigga, withthis sad news. He found her spinning as con-tentedly as ever; for she had been all through theworld, and had taken an oath—from all thingsliving, from things without life, from gods, men, animals, diseases, trees, plants, stones, and metals— that they would not hurt Balder. Balder wascheerful again. The gods were no longer fearful.Surprised and delighted, Odin ordered games anda great feas II. THE NEW GAME In response to Odins invitation, the gods meton the plain of Ida, where the games were usuallyplayed. Knowi