l of wisdom.

On one occasion there was a disturbance in Asgard. Loki, a bad spirit,
living there in disguise, had been playing tricks on the goddesses, and
setting the gods by the ears through his mischief-making pranks, while
leading them into many dangerous scrapes, though as yet he had not been
found out. His children, too, were just as bad as himself, his son
Fenris (Pain), a hideous howling wolf, being the terror of Asgard, while
Hela, his daughter (Death), was more horrible than I can describe.
Besides these, Loki had brought in other bad spirits, and altogether
Asgard was greatly disturbed. Odin himself did not know what to do. He
asked the Nornas, but they could not answer, although the youngest
hinted that if her lips had not been sealed she could have told
something. At last he determined to see Mimir, and take a drink from his
well. Saddling his eight-footed horse Sleipnir, away he rode in the
night, all alone, over the Rainbow Bridge that joins Asgard with Earth,
down to dark Giant-land. He had often before been there to consult
Mimir; for although Odin was very wise, Mimir was wiser still, since he
guarded the source of wisdom.

The giant was sitting deep in thought by the well, his white beard
flowing down far below his waist, which was clasped by a girdle graven
with curious characters, as old as the world. He heard Odin coming, and
rising to meet him, said this was just what he had known must happen;
for what else could have been expected with such a set as Loki and his
family living in Asgard? The first thing to be done, he said, was to
cast them out from among the gods, then bind them fast in some safe
place far away.

What do you suppose this advice cost? Giant-land, you know, was very
dark, and although the well was full of wisdom, Mimir had not always
light enough to read its secrets. Odin's eye was the sun; so Mimir was
glad enough to give his horn of water for a daily loan of Odin's glowing
eye, while Odin was willing thus to buy the advice that should make
Asgard happy again.

[Begun in HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE No. 37, July 13.]

THE STORY OF THE AMERICAN NAVY.

BY BENSON J. LOSSING.

CHAPTER VII.

Lieutenant Lawrence had gained great renown by his capture of the
_Peacock_. He was promoted to Captain, and when the _Chesapeake_
returned to Boston, after a long cruise, in May, 1813, he was offered
the command of her. He accepted it with reluctance, for she had the
reputation of bei