released him after binding him by a solemn oath to fulfill his promise. The real hair which Loki had cut off he had already lost, so to keep his word to Thor he must find something else which would resemble it closely enough to make Sif believe she had indeed her own hair again. As there was only one place where skillful and cunning work like this could be done, Loki crossed the rainbow bridge that spans the gulf between Asgard and the earth, and hurried to the tall mountain which hides, amid its rocks, the entrance to the lower world. No one but a god or one of the swarthy elves themselves could have found this hidden opening, but Loki knew it well. A small passage led down into the very center of the earth, and down this path Loki stumbled in the darkness, until he came to the underworld. The swarthy elves were busily engaged in their wonderful workshop, lighted only by the fires from the forge; but when they saw Loki they laid down their tools and asked him how they could serve him. "I have brought you a task," answered Loki, "which requires great skill. Make of your gold some locks of hair as soft and beautiful as the golden hair which adorns the head of Sif.” The elves, nothing daunted, set at once to work, and selecting a bar of perfect gold, they pounded it very soft, then spun it into threads so fine that they looked like sunbeams, and so soft that they felt like silk. When the work was finished and placed in Loki's hand, it exceeded in beauty anything he had ever seen, and he felt sure that Thor could not complain of his gift. Then he thanked the swarthy elves, and hastened with his prize back to Asgard and to the palace of Thor, where all the gods had assembled to see the fulfillment of Loki's promise. In spite of the success of his undertaking, the fear of Thor's hasty temper kept Loki somewhat humbled, for the Thunderer had been known to crush the object of his anger with his hammer when once his Divided Quotations 71 wrath was fully roused. His face was now dark and threatening as Loki approached, and beside him stood Sif, weeping bitterly, and trying to cover her head with her hands. But Loki came up boldly and placed the golden hair, which the elves had made, upon her head. To the astonishment of all, it immediately grew fast, and no one could have told that it was not her golden hair. So Sif was proud and happy once again, and Loki was forgiven. - EMILIE K. BAKER, Out of the Northland. After reading the story, try the game of asking and answering questions on it, as in Lessons 10 and 25; or turn the story into a dialog, as in Lessons 28, 34, and 61. 80. WRITTEN LESSON Some of the quotations in the story are interrupted or divided. See the third paragraph and the fifth. Turn to Lesson 37 and note the divided quotations in that Lesson. How are the quotation marks used here? Write three sentences about Loki containing divided quotations. Copy the following proverbs: It's never too late to mend. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. A stitch in time saves nine. Make hay while the sun shines. 81. LANGUAGE LESSON Quotation marks are used to indicate the beginning and the end of an exact quotation. When the quotation is interrupted or divided, each part of the quotation is marked off by commas and inclosed in quotation marks. "I think," said George, "I shall remember next time." Write answers to the following questions, using quotation marks. 1. "Where are you going, my pretty maid?" asked the man. 2. "Am I my brother's keeper?" said Cain. 3. "Where did you leave your hat?" said May. 4. "Whose fault is it that you are late?" said George. 5. "Why did you fall asleep?" said Little Boy Blue's father. Write the following as divided quotations: 1. "I cut it down with my hatchet," said George. 2. "It will not pay to climb the hill," said lazy Ned. 3. The fox thought, "If I can get the crow to open her mouth, she will let the cheese fall." 4. "Who among you all are bold enough to go?" asked the captain. 5. "What's the use of a book without conversation or pictures? said Alice. 82. ORAL LESSON COASTING ""Tis royal fun," said lazy Ned, But then I cannot bear to climb The tiresome hill for every time. Study the picture. How many children are in it? What is each doing? How does the boy in front steer his sled? Do you see George and May? Can you find "lazy Ned"? Have you ever gone coasting? Where? By day or by night? How deep was the snow? Is the fresh-fallen snow the best for coasting? What kind of snow is the best? How do you steer the sled? How long do you think a good coasting hill ought to be? How should the weather be? What other winter sports have you taken part in? Which do you like best? Where do city children have their winter sports? is done with the snow in big cities? 83. WRITTEN LESSON Write a letter to a friend describing either (1) the picture in Lesson 82, or (2) an experience of yours in coasting, or (3) some other sport you have taken part in, as fishing, or swimming or something else. Put the letter in an envelope, and address it, putting the name and home of your friend in the places indicated by this model. Mr. George Lawrence 200 Broad St. Philadelphia Penn. STAMP |