"Yes—more like Zeus or Jupiter. He was the all-father—the universally present spirit: above all the other gods. He was the god of the sky. They represented him with two ravens that sat on his shoulders, which every morning brought him news of whatever was going on in Midgard."
"What's Midgard?"
"Our lower earth. And the abode of the gods was called Asgard."
"We did not read anything about Midgard and Asgard to-day."
"No, but I thought you might like to know. And then Walhalla was the place where Odin put half of the brave men who were slain in battle."
"What became of the other half?" said Flora.
"The goddess Freija took care of them. What she did with them, this book does not say. I have read before of the 'halls of Walhalla,' I am glad to know what it means."
"Who was Freija?"
"Wait a bit; I have not got through with Woden, or Odin. His two ravens were called Hunin and Munin—which means, Thought and Memory. That's pretty! Woden is painted also as attended by two dogs. He was the chief and head of the gods, you understand. Now Freija was one of his wives. Naturally, she was the goddess of good weather and harvests—a fair kind of goddess generally. Also the dead were in her care; the other half of the heroes slain in battle came into her hands. She is painted riding in a chariot drawn by two cats."
"But, Ditto, if Woden was the sky god, I don't see why those old Saxons should have fancied he would like such cruel sacrifices. Sunlight looks bright and cheerful."