es when Balder should at last
be wounded.

Away flew the arrow.

Balder, the beautiful, fell lifeless to the ground.

Then all Asgard was dark with sorrow.

Strong heroes wept and would not be comforted.

The earth grew cold, white and still.

The water would not flow, and the seeds refused to grow.

The birds were silent. No flowers breathed their perfumes into the air.

There was not a smile in all the world.

Odin said, "This cannot be.

"Balder shall return. I, myself, will go and bring him from Hela's dark
regions."

But Frigga had already sent a messenger to the spirit world to beg Queen
Hela to release Balder.

While waiting for the messenger to return, the heroes were not idle.

For twelve days and nights they worked as only love can make men work.
They did not pause for food nor rest.

They built a great funeral pyre, and no one was too small to help in the
work of love.

They found Balder's ship upon the seashore.

They brought great logs from the forest and bound them upon the deck.

Upon these they placed his beautiful white horse, his dogs, his shining
armor, and many things which he had loved on earth.

When it was finished, they raised the sails, set the ship on fire and
pushed it out upon the sea.

They sang and wept all night until at sunrise the sails fell.

They watched the flames die down and the waves wash over the sinking
ship.

As they turned sadly from the shore, they met the messenger from Hela's
regions.

"Rejoice," he said, "Hela says, 'If everything living and lifeless weep
for Balder, he may return to us.'"

There was great happiness in Asgard that day.

"Surely," they thought, "everything in the world will weep for Balder."

They had forgotten the cruel Loki.

He sat with dry eyes though rocks and trees, birds and flowers, wind and
clouds were shedding tears.

When Odin found that Balder could not return to life, his anger and
grief were terrible to see.

In fear, Loki hid himself deep in the earth under a mountain.

Frigga knew that he was conquered, and she patiently waited for the time
when Balder should again be allowed to bring gladness to the earth, and
fill all the heavens with the glory of his smile.

[Illustration]

HOW THE CHIPMUNK GOT THE STRIPES ON ITS BACK.

Do you all know the little striped chipmunk which lives in our woods?

He has a cousin in far off India called the geloori.

It is said the stripes came on the back of th