For Little Childven—Balder. 85

Animals, flowers, trees, water, air, fire, everything
she asked gladly gave the promise.

They smiled in wonder at the question.

Who could wish to hurt the gentle Baldere

Alas, the mistletoe did not promise.

Frigga saw it growing high up on an oak tree.

Itseemed too small and weak to do any harm.
She did not ask it to promise.

On the tenth day of her journey, she came back
again to Asgard.

She told the sorrowing Odin and his friends what
she had done.

In their joy they found a new way to do Balder
honor.

He stood in their midst while the most. skillful
heroes hurled their arrows at him.

At first, they threw only small twigs and pebbles.

Everything, however, had soon proved itself true
to its promise.

Then the heroes lost all fear of harming him and
threw their warlike weapons.

Balder stood unharmed and smiling among
them.

Each day they met on the plain and in this sport
proved the love of all things for him.

The blind Héder was the only one in Asgard who
could not join in the game.

He was Balder’s ee and loved him very
dearly.