"'We will make the dwarfs, who shall live in the earth and work the mines.'
"But this was not all, for Odin, your favourite among the gods, said to his brothers:
"'Look yonder at those two trees, the ash and the elm, standing side by side. We will make man and woman from them. They shall people the earth and we will care for them as our children.'
"So it came to pass that our race began to live among the hills and valleys, and has been here ever since. But the gods have never deserted us, but are ever ready to help and protect us. At least, all this is what the legend teaches."
"Of course, there are no real gods, are there?" said Mari.
"The only gods are our beautiful souls, my daughter. They can never die nor do evil, any more than these gods in whom our old Vikings really believed. The giants are our earthly natures that are constantly trying to make us forget our godlike souls. But we shall conquer them at last, just as the gods always succeeded in mastering the giants, no matter how strong or clever they were."
"Didn't it take a long time to do it, papa? The Golden Age didn't last after quarrelling began, did it?"
"No. The gods had their troubles and sorrows as well as men. But, as I said before, the gods always ended by being successful."
"Are you too tired to tell another story, father? This time I wish we could hear something about the fairies. Won't you tell us about Ashiepattle?"