THE PRICE OF FREYA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2324, 9 January 1890, Page 2

THE PRICE OF FREYA

[Preya, In thß Soandiaavitn mythology, wit the Goddesi of Yon*h aad Eopa, Wnily she remained with the gods and fed them daily with her golden apples they were all-powerful; but when Woodln putted with hen as the price for the building of Walhalla, they suddenly baoame weak and weary, aad a shadow relied over the world. Walhilia was of no worth without Freya.] The towers ate strocg and the towers are fair As they rise and gleam In the icnlit air With bastion aud battlement and aplte Bait tor one tale and one deilre; Fain wo aid we oatec thece and iiray, But the giant builder the door seourts And tnuttore his piloe ai he ban the way; ' Ulve up Pre y», and all Is yoawi' There in the otladol f*noy bnllt Are the rlohsi of ages heaped and split; Diamonds glitter and ruble* gleam, And moon«Uke pearls front the p»le m^oa be»m. Golden the roof Mid gold the fl or; The glittering sp!endoar «roo3 and lares; And the tempties voloe repeats once

more; 'Qthe up F«eya, all is yours, 1 Wh»t! give up hope with Us rabbow

sheen, Give up the sparkle, the song the j sst. The vision of eotae;hlng d.earned, not seen, Which 1b sweetei: by far than the thing posseiaed The fl )wer« of May »nd the f oaes ol Joop, The sweet spring breath of tha April bretz', Tha dew of morn «ad the light of noon— When we pire lap Preya mast wo give all these t Bat we give, and enter the towers of pride And we thread our gemi and we eouct our god, And we bid our hoarta be aa itfied. With ro muoh to have and so mrjch to hid But the smile ?s f^ded from the day: Oar driak lei b t er our bread Is stone— And amid the ahiidows we ait and spy ; 1 Nothing Ji worth with Fceya gone,'

Susan Oooledgh.