obe.

And this is how it came about.

There once was a shepherd who lived among the mountains with his wife
and children; and so very poor was he that he often found it hard to
give his family enough to satisfy their hunger. But he did not
grumble; he only worked the harder; and his wife, though she had
scarcely any furniture, and never a chance of a new dress, kept the
house so clean, and the old clothes so well mended, that, all unknown
to herself, she rose high in the favour of the all-seeing Frigga.

Now one day, when the shepherd had driven his few poor sheep up the
mountain to pasture, a fine reindeer sprang from the rocks above him
and began to leap upward along the steep slope. The shepherd snatched
up his crossbow and pursued the animal, thinking to himself: "Now we
shall have a better meal than we have had for many a long day."

Up and up leaped the reindeer, always just out of reach and at length
disappeared behind a great boulder just as the shepherd, breathless
and weary, reached the spot. No sign of the reindeer was to be seen,
but, on looking round, the shepherd saw that he was among the snowy
heights of the mountains, and almost at the top of a great glacier.

Presently, as he pursued his vain search for the animal, he saw to his
amazement an open door, leading apparently into the heart of the
glacier. He was a fearless man, and so, without hesitation, he passed
boldly through the doorway and found himself standing in a marvellous
cavern, lit up by blazing torches which gleamed upon rich jewels
hanging from the roof and walls. And in the midst stood a woman, most
fair to behold, clad in snow-white robes and surrounded by a group of
lovely maidens.

The shepherd's boldness gave way at this awesome sight, and he sank to
his knees before the Asa, Frigga, for she it was. But Frigga bade him
be of good cheer, and said: "Choose now whatsoever you will to carry
away with you as a remembrance of this place."

The shepherd's eyes wandered over the glittering jewels on the walls
and roof, but they came back to a little bunch of blue flowers which
Frigga held in her hand. They alone looked homelike to him; the rest
were hard and cold; so he asked timidly that he might be given the
little nosegay.

Then Frigga smiled kindly upon him.

"Most wise has been your choice," said she. "Take with the flowers
this measure of seed and sow it in your field, and you shall grow
flowers of your own. They shall bring pr