30 Lhe Catskill Fatries.

HOW BIORN DISCOVERED AMERICA.

““Tue Northern nations were a roving people long before
their existence was known in Southern Europe. The Goths
crossed the Baltic Sea in three ships, to grow into a mighty
race capable of subduing Rome; the Swedes were rulers on
the ocean, strong in arms and numbers; the Danes boldly
attacked the English coast, and, after being held in check by
Alfred the Great, established four Danish princes on the
throne. A Scandinavian king ruled in Dublin; early con.
quests were made of the Shetland Isles and the Hebrides;
Scotland was visited by them, when Duncan defeated the in-
vaders, the Scots being commanded by Macbeth and Banquo.

“* The country was too small for all the families to be fed and
lodged, so it was agreed that a certain number of children to
each household should go abroad in search of a living. There
were too many birds in the home nest. The father drove out
his sons when they grew to manhood—except the eldest son,
who was heir to the estate. The sea-kings, or vikings, spread
their sails to discover new lands. Naddod, a Norwegian pirate,
saw one day a dreary looking country, which he named Snow-
land; then Gardar Svarfarson, a Swede, found that it was an
island, and called it Iceland instead, because of its forbidding
aspect. His companions liked the island, and a Norwegian
Jarl took refuge there, founding a colony.