The wise
man told him again that his search was an idle one. The end of the world
was not for mortal eyes to see. At last the king believed him and sailed
homeward. No man to this day has been able to find the far north, the
end of the world.
A LEGEND OF THE NORTH WIND
_Norse_
North Wind likes a bit of fun as dearly as a boy does, and it is with
boys he likes best to romp and play.
One day North Wind saw a brave little fellow eating his lunch under a
tree. Just as he went to bite his bread, North Wind blew it out of his
hand and swept away everything else that he had brought for his lunch.
"You hateful North Wind!" cried the little fellow. "Give me back my
supper. I'm so hungry."
[Illustration: BOREAS, THE GOD OF THE NORTH WIND]
Now North Wind, like all brave beings, is noble, and so he tried to make
up for the mischief he had done.
"Here, take this tablecloth," said North Wind, "and, in whatever house
you stay, spread it on the table; then wish, and you shall have
everything you wish for to eat."
"All right!" said the boy, and he took the tablecloth and ran as fast as
he could to the first house, which proved to be an inn.
"I have enough to pay for lodging, so I'll stay all night," he said
to himself.
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