In the days of the Vikings, a son was born to the noble and bold
Hjorvard and his wife Sigrlin. A feast day was set on which the babe was
to be named. This was the custom for “name fastening” in Viking homes.
On the day for the “name fastening,” people for miles about gathered at
Hjorvard’s home. Hjorvard took his son on his lap. A vessel filled with
water was brought in and Hjorvard poured water on the child. Then he
said in a loud voice so that all the people could hear him,
“Ivar, the boy shall be named after his grandfather. He will fight many
battles. He shall be fair like his mother, and be called his father’s
son, for he will wage war from an early age and wander far and wide.”
Hjorvard placed a sprig of garlic around his son’s neck, as a “name
fastening,” meaning that as the garlic stood high among the grasses so
would little Ivar stand among men. Then he placed by Ivar’s side a
double-edged sword and a coat of mail, a shield, and a helmet of silver.
Every animal born on Hjorvard’s farm on the day of the birth of little
Ivar was to belong to the child.
[Illustration: From “The Viking Age,” Paul du Chaillu.]
Pictures have been found cut into rocks in Norway and Sweden.
This is an old rock picture of a Viking ship, made many, many
years ago. It shows a Viking defending his ship against two
smaller ones.
Ivar grew well. There was great joy in the family when he cut his first
tooth. His father, as was the Viking custom, gave him a “tooth fee.” The
gift was a knife in a gold sheath. This was fastened to a leather belt
sewn with gold thread. He gave him also a large farm where he would live
when he became a man.
As time went on Ivar grew to be a beautiful child; he was fair and had
blue eyes. Like all boys of his age he loved to play. Nothing pleased
him more than to put in the water a toy boat with a sail and watch it go
out to sea.
When Ivar was six years old his parents began to think of sending him to
be fostered. Boys who were to be great warriors were not brought up at
home but sent to some friend who was wise and brave, to be educated.
Ivar’s father and mother chose a brave man named Gudbrand to educate
Ivar.
Ivar’s father made ready to send a messenger to Gudbrand. On the day
when the messenger was to sail, a fleet of fifteen boats was seen coming
towards the shore. Each ship carried a white shield on its mast. This
meant that they were friendly and peaceful.
As the vessels came nearer shore they made a beautiful sight. Along the
sides of the boats were the colored shields of the warriors. The sails,
too, were striped in bright colors. Ahead of the other ships was a
dragon ship flying a flag with an eagle on it. By this flag every one
knew that this was Gudbrand’s ship.
Hjorvard and Sigrlin were glad to see Gudbrand’s ship coming at this
time. Hjorvard went out to meet the great warrior. There were great
feasts that day.
The next day when Gudbrand was talking to some of the warriors, Hjorvard
came up to him with Ivar in his arms. He put Ivar on Gudbrand’s knees.
It was an old custom that the man upon whose knee a child was seated was
bound to become his “fosterer.” Hjorvard’s men shouted with joy to see
Ivar seated upon the knees of Gudbrand, who was known for his wisdom and
bravery.
At last the day came when Ivar was to leave his mother. Sigrlin was sad
to see him go for he was to be away for long years. Ivar walked down to
the shore between his parents, chatting merrily. As the ship left the
shore Sigrlin stood on the headland watching it go. Then, with a deep
sigh, she went homeward.
The wind was fair and after a sail of three days Gudbrand’s ships
reached home. Sigrid, his wife, was well pleased when she saw Ivar. She
prepared a room for him close to her own.
For a few days Ivar was homesick. He missed his father and mother and
his playmates. Everything was new and strange. Soon, however, he grew to
love his new home and his foster parents.
Gudbrand and Sigrid had a son named Hjalmar. He was a year older than
Ivar. The two boys became good friends and learned together. As they
grew older they were taught gymnastic exercises, games of ball, running,
wrestling, jumping, and swimming. They learned how to steer and sail a
boat. They learned how to ride. They even learned ship building and
worked in the ship yards. Both boys were taught how to write on birch
bark and to engrave letters on stone, gold, and silver.
Ivar and Hjalmar were better at sports than any other boys of their age.
They could swim like eels and could shoot straight.
When Ivar was fifteen years old Gudbrand gave him a beautiful ship
called _Stallion of the Surf_. Hjalmar also received a beautiful ship
called _Deer of the Surf_. Gudbrand took the two boys sailing with him
and trained them to build camp and to cook for themselves.
Ivar began to wish to see his own people again. Then the two boys sailed
to the home of Ivar’s father and mother. They were greeted with great
joy by Hjorvard and Sigrlin, who treated Hjalmar as kindly as if he were
their own son.
[Illustration: TREASURES OF THE OLD SEA KINGS
(a)Dragon’s head from prow of boat. (b) An old chest.
(c) Old coins. (d) Gold rings which were used for money.]
After three years Ivar and Hjalmar were ready to sail the seas on
expeditions of their own. They were Vikings, brave and bold.
Adapted from Ivar the Viking,
Paul du Chaillu.