The good little dwarfs hung around, weeping and wailing by turns like “a morning shower.”
“We have never done anybody any harm; let us stay on the earth; we will be very good,” they begged and promised. And Odin said: “You must help then with the flowers and insects and wild bees, and help the farmers, or down you go, too.”
“If we only had some one to teach us,” said they. “We are such tiny foolish little people!” Odin looked at them a while, and then sent Niord out to find them a teacher. Niord left the great hall and went out and sat on the side of a mountain. He whistled for a long time a low sweet note, and then out of the sky came two forms—a brother and sister—one named Frey and the other Freyja. Summer and Beauty were their other names. Niord brought Frey to Odin and said:
“Here is my son, the genius of sunshine and flowers, and forests and harvests. He will teach the dwarfs to work.”
Odin liked the gentle Frey and said: “It is well. Take your little people away and put them to work.” And so began the work of all the dwarfs and they are working to this very day.
THE ADVENTURES OF THOR
A legend showing what the Norsemen thought about thunder and lightning.
Thor was the son of Odin, and was one of the strongest men that ever lived. He had a hammer that always returned to him no matter how far or how hard he threw it. Every time he threw the hammer it glowed brighter than the sun. Once upon a time he and Loki, a mischievous friend, set out to fight the giants that lived in Jotunheim. They traveled all day and at night came to a countryman’s home. There was nothing to eat, so Thor killed two goats that drew his chariot, and cooked them for supper.
He said to the countryman’s family: