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diff --git a/38070-h/38070-h.htm b/38070-h/38070-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c7dbf1 --- /dev/null +++ b/38070-h/38070-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10689 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Norwegian Fairy Book, by Clara Stroebe. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + +h1,h2 {text-align: center; clear: both; font-weight: normal;} + +h1 {line-height: 150%; font-size: 250%;} +h2 {font-size: 110%; margin-bottom: 1.5em;} + +p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + +p.tp1 {text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 160%; + margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +p.tp2 {text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 120%;} + +hr.l1 {width: 60%; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} +hr.l2 {width: 30%; margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} +hr.l3 {margin-left: .5em; margin-right: .5em; border-top: 1px solid black; + border-bottom: 1px solid black; border-left: none; border-right: none;} +hr.l4 {width: 4em; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; line-height: 60%;} + +table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; font-size: 90%; max-width: 90%;} +td.col1 {text-align: right; padding-right: 1em; vertical-align: top;} +td.col2 {text-align: left; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; + vertical-align: top; font-variant: small-caps;} +td.col3 {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} +td.col4 {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; font-size: 60%;} + +.pagenum {position: absolute; left: 94%; font-size: 60%; text-align: right; + color: #999999; letter-spacing: 0; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;} + +.blockquot {margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; font-size: 80%;} + +.sign {float: right; margin-right: 1em; font-variant: small-caps;} + +.lsoff {list-style-type: none;} +li {font-style: italic;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px; width: 16em; margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 3em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} +.bbox2 {border: solid 4px; padding: 3px; width: 26em; margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 3em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} +.bbox3 {border: solid 2px; margin: auto;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.caption {font-size: 80%; font-weight: normal; color: #6699FF; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} +.flr {float: right; padding-right: 1em; font-style: italic;} + +.r8 {margin-top: 8em;} + +.f8 {font-size: 80%;} +.f9 {font-size: 90%;} +.f12 {font-size: 120%;} + +p.cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; margin: 0 .1em 0 0; + font-size: 200%; line-height: 90%;} +.upper {text-transform: uppercase;} + +.figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center; max-width: 406px; + padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;} +.figcenter1 {margin: auto; text-align: center; + padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;} + +.centered {text-align: center; margin: auto; display: table;} +.poem {text-align: left; font-size: 90%;} +.poem br {display: none;} +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} +.poem span.i0a {display: block; margin-left: -.4em; + padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} +.poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} +.poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 1.2em; + padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + +.footnotes {margin-top: 2em;} +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 80%;} +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right; font-size: 90%;} +.fnanchor {vertical-align: top; font-size: 80%; text-decoration: none;} + +.tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 2em; padding: .5em 1em .5em 1em; font-size: 80%;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Norwegian Fairy Book, by Clara Stroebe + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Norwegian Fairy Book + +Author: Clara Stroebe + +Illustrator: George W. Hood + +Translator: Frederick H. Martens + +Release Date: November 20, 2011 [EBook #38070] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NORWEGIAN FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, eagkw and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter1"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="410" height="656" alt="cover" title="" /> +</div> + +<h1 class="f12">THE NORWEGIAN FAIRY BOOK</h1> + +<div class="bbox"> +<p class="center">BOOKS IN THE “FAIRY SERIES”</p> +<hr class="l3" /> +<ul class="lsoff"> +<li>The English Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Welsh Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Irish Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Scottish Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Italian Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Hungarian Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Indian Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Spanish Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Danish Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Norwegian Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Jewish Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Swedish Fairy Book</li> +<li>The Chinese Fairy Book</li> +</ul> +</div> + + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="frontispiece" id="frontispiece"></a> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="404" height="573" alt="“AN OLD WOMAN CAME LIMPING ALONG, AND ASKED HIM WHAT +HE HAD IN HIS KNAPSACK” +—Page 17" title="" /><br /> +<span class="caption">“AN OLD WOMAN CAME LIMPING ALONG, AND ASKED HIM WHAT +HE HAD IN HIS KNAPSACK”<br /> +<span class="flr">—Page <a href="#Page_17">17</a></span></span> +</div> + + +<div class="bbox2"> +<div class="bbox3"> +<h1>THE NORWEGIAN<br /> +FAIRY BOOK</h1> + +<p class="tp1">EDITED BY<br /> +<span class="f12">CLARA STROEBE</span></p> + +<p class="tp1">TRANSLATED BY<br /> +<span class="f12">FREDERICK H. MARTENS</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/i002.png" width="99" height="128" alt="logo" +title="FREDERICK·A·STOKES·COMPANY·NEW·YORK·ESTABLISHED·EIGHTEEN·EIGHTY·ONE" /> +</div> + +<p class="tp1"><span class="f9">WITH SIX ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR BY</span><br /> +<span class="f12">GEORGE W. HOOD</span></p> + +<p class="tp1"> </p> + +<p class="tp1">NEW YORK<br /> +<span class="f12">FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY</span><br /> +PUBLISHERS</p> +</div></div> + + +<p class="tp2 r8"><i>Copyright, 1922, by</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Frederick A. Stokes Company</span></p> +<hr class="l4" /> +<p class="tp2"><i>All Rights Reserved</i></p> + +<p class="tp2 r8"><i>Printed in the United States of America</i> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="l2" /> + + +<h2>PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>These Norwegian tales of elemental mountain, +forest and sea spirits, handed down by hinds and +huntsmen, woodchoppers and fisherfolk, men who led +a hard and lonely life amid primitive surroundings +are, perhaps, among the most fascinating the Scandinavian +countries have to offer. Nor are they only +meant to delight the child, though this they cannot +fail to do. “Grown-ups” also, who take pleasure in +a good story, well told, will enjoy the original “Peer +Gynt” legend, as it existed before Ibsen gave it more +symbolic meanings; and that glowing, beautiful picture +of an Avalon of the Northern seas shown in +“The Island of Udröst.” What could be more human +and moving than the tragic “The Player on the +Jew’s-Harp,” or more genuinely entertaining than +“The King’s Hares”? “The Master-Girl” is a +Candida of fairy-land, and the thrill and glamor of +black magic and mystery run through such stories as +“The Secret Church,” “The Comrade,” and “Lucky +Andrew.” In “The Honest Four-Shilling Piece” we +have the adventures of a Norse Dick Whittington. +“Storm Magic” is one of the most thrilling sea tales, +bar none, ever written, and every story included in +the volume seems to bring with it the breath of the +Norse mountains or the tang of the spindrift on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span> +Northern seas. Much of the charm of the stories +lies in the directness and simplicity of their telling; +and this quality, which adds so much to their appeal, +the translator has endeavored to preserve in its integrity. +He cannot but feel that “The Norwegian +Fairy Book” has an appeal for one and all, since it +is a book in which the mirror of fairy-tale reflects +human yearnings and aspirations, human loves, ambitions +and disillusionments, in an imaginatively +glamored, yet not distorted form. It is his hope and +belief that those who may come to know it will derive +as much pleasure from its reading as it gave +him to put it into English.</p> + +<p> +<span class="sign">Frederick H. Martens.</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="l2" /> + + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td class="col4">CHAPTER</td><td class="col2"> </td><td class="col4">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">I</td><td class="col2">Per Gynt</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">II</td><td class="col2">The Isle of Udröst</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">III</td><td class="col2">The Three Lemons</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">IV</td><td class="col2">The Neighbor Underground</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">V</td><td class="col2">The Secret Church</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">VI</td><td class="col2">The Comrade</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">VII</td><td class="col2">Aspenclog</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">VIII</td><td class="col2">The Troll Wedding</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">IX</td><td class="col2">The Hat of the Huldres</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_54">54</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">X</td><td class="col2">The Child of Mary</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XI</td><td class="col2">Storm Magic</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XII</td><td class="col2">The Four-shilling Piece</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XIII</td><td class="col2">The Magic Apples</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XIV</td><td class="col2">Self Did It</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XV</td><td class="col2">The Master Girl</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_83">83</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XVI</td><td class="col2">Anent the Giant Who Did Not Have +His Heart About Him</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XVII</td><td class="col2">The Three Princesses in Whiteland</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XVIII</td><td class="col2">Trouble and Care</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XIX</td><td class="col2">Kari Woodencoat</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XX</td><td class="col2">Ola Storbaekkjen</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_152">152</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXI</td><td class="col2">The Cat Who Could Eat So Much</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXII</td><td class="col2">East of the Sun and West of the Moon</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXIII</td><td class="col2">Murmur Goose-egg</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXIV</td><td class="col2">The Troll-Wife</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXV</td><td class="col2">The King’s Hares</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_202">202</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXVI</td><td class="col2">Helge-Hal in the Blue Hill</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXVII</td><td class="col2">The Lord of the Hill and John Blessom</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_224">224</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXVIII</td><td class="col2">The Young Fellow and the Devil</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXIX</td><td class="col2">Farther South Than South, and Farther +North Than North, and in the +Great Hill of Gold</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXX</td><td class="col2">Lucky Andrew</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXXI</td><td class="col2">The Pastor and the Sexton</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXXII</td><td class="col2">The Skipper and Sir Urian</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXXIII</td><td class="col2">The Youth Who Was to Serve Three +Years Without Pay</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXXIV</td><td class="col2">The Youth Who Wanted to Win the +Daughter of the Mother in the +Corner</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXXV</td><td class="col2">The Chronicle of the Pancake</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_274">274</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXXVI</td><td class="col2">Soria-Moria Castle</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col1">XXXVII</td><td class="col2">The Player on the Jew’s-harp</td><td class="col3"><a href="#Page_293">293</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="l2" /> + + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="List of Illustrations"> +<tr><td class="col2">“An Old Woman Came Limping Along, +and Asked Him What He Had in His +Knapsack”</td><td class="col3"><a href="#frontispiece"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td class="col4">FACING PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="col2">“And So He Saw the Lovely Maiden Who Was +Seated Among Its Branches”</td><td class="col3"><a href="#i003">58</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col2">“They At Last Reached the Lake”</td><td class="col3"><a href="#i004">108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col2">“There Murmur Jumped from One Mountain-top +to Another”</td><td class="col3"><a href="#i005">188</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col2">“The King Reckoned and Added Them Up, and +Counted with His Fingers”</td><td class="col3"><a href="#i006">206</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="col2">“‘Hey There!’ The Woman Was After It with +the Pan in One Hand, and the Spoon in the +Other”</td><td class="col3"><a href="#i007">274</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<h1>THE NORWEGIAN FAIRY<br /> +BOOK</h1> + + +<h2>I<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">PER GYNT</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">In</span> the old days there lived in Kvam a marksman +by the name of Per Gynt. He was continually in +the mountains, where he shot bear and elk, for at +that time there were more forests on the Fjäll, and +all sorts of beasts dwelt in them. Once, late in the +fall, when the cattle had long since been driven down +from the mountain pastures, Per Gynt decided to +go up on the Fjäll again. With the exception of +three dairy-maids, all the herd-folk had already left +the mountains. But when Per Gynt reached Hövringalm, +where he intended to stay over-night in a +herdsman’s hut, it already was so dark that he could +not see his hand before his eyes. Then the dogs +began to bark so violently that he felt quite uneasy. +And suddenly his foot struck something, and when +he took hold of it, it was cold, and large and slippery. +Since he felt certain he had not left the path, +he could not imagine what it might be; but he sensed +that all was not in order.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<p>“And who are you?” asked Per Gynt, for he +noticed that it moved.</p> + +<p>“O, I am the crooked one,” was the answer. And +now Per Gynt knew as much as he had before. So +he went along its length, “for sooner or later I will +come to the end of it,” thought he.</p> + +<p>As he went along he again struck against something, +and when he felt it, it was again something +cold, and large and slippery.</p> + +<p>“And who are you?” asked Per Gynt.</p> + +<p>“I am the crooked one,” was again the answer.</p> + +<p>“Well, whether you be crooked or straight, you +will have to let me pass,” said Per Gynt; for he +noticed that he was going around in a circle, and +that the crooked one had coiled himself about the +herdsman’s cottage. At these words the crooked +one moved a little to one side, so that Per Gynt could +get into the cottage. When he entered he found it +as dark inside as it was out; and he stumbled and +felt his way along the walls; for he wanted to lay +aside his firelock and his hunting-bag. But while he +was feeling his way about, he once more noticed +the something large, and cold and slippery.</p> + +<p>“And who are you now?” cried Per Gynt.</p> + +<p>“O, I am the big crooked one,” was the answer. +And no matter where he took hold or where he set his +foot, he could feel the coils of the crooked one laid +around him.</p> + +<p>“This is a poor place to be in,” thought Per Gynt, +“for this crooked one is outside and inside; but I +will soon put what is wrong to rights.” He took<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +his firelock, went out again, and felt his way along +the crooked one until he came to his head.</p> + +<p>“And who are you really and truly?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“O, I am the big crooked one of Etnedal,” said +the monster troll. Then Per Gynt did not waste +any time, but shot three bullets right through the +middle of his head.</p> + +<p>“Shoot again!” cried the crooked one. But Per +Gynt knew better, for had he shot another time, the +bullet would have rebounded and hit him. When +this had been done, Per Gynt and his dogs took hold +of the great troll, and dragged him out of the hut, +so that they might make themselves comfortable +there. And meanwhile the hills about rang with +laughter and jeers. “Per Gynt pulled hard, but the +dogs pulled harder!” rang in his ears.</p> + +<p>In the morning Per Gynt went out hunting. +When he had made his way far into the Fjäll, he +saw a girl driving sheep and goats across a mountain-top. +But when he reached the top of the mountain, +the girl had vanished, as well as her flock, and +all he saw was a great pack of bears.</p> + +<p>“Never yet have I seen bears run together in +packs,” thought Per Gynt. But when he came +nearer, they all disappeared save one alone. Then +a voice called from a nearby hill:</p> + +<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0a">“Guard your boar, for understand,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Per Gynt is without,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With his firelock in his hand!”<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + + +<p>“O, then it is the worse for Per Gynt; but not for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +my boar, because Per Gynt did not wash to-day,” +sounded back from the hill. But Per Gynt spat on +his hands, and washed them thus, and then shot the +bear.</p> + +<p>The hills rang with echoing laughter:</p> + +<p>“You should have guarded your boar better,” +called one voice.</p> + +<p>“I did not think he carried the wash-bowl in his +mouth,” answered the other.</p> + +<p>Per Gynt skinned the bear, and buried his body +among the bowlders; but the head and skin he took +with him. On the way back he met a mountain +fox.</p> + +<p>“See, my little lamb, how fat you are!” rang out +from one hill. “Just see how high Per Gynt carries +his firelock!” sounded from another, as Per Gynt +shouldered his firelock and shot the fox. Him he +also skinned, and took the skin with him, and when +he reached the herdsman’s hut, he nailed the heads, +with jaws wide open, against the outer wall. Then +he made a fire and hung a soup kettle over it; but it +smoked so terribly he could hardly keep his eyes +open, and therefore had to make a loop-hole. Suddenly +up came a troll, and thrust his nose through +the loop-hole; but his nose was so long that it reached +the fireplace.</p> + +<p>“Here is my smeller, so take a good look!” said +he.</p> + +<p>“Here is a taste of the soup that I cook!” said +Per Gynt, and he poured the whole kettleful of soup +over his nose. The troll rushed off lamenting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +loudly; but from all the heights around came laughter +and derision and calls of:</p> + +<p>“Gyri Soupsmeller, Gyri Soupsmeller!”</p> + +<p>Thereupon all was quiet for a time; yet before +very long the noise and tumult outside began again. +Per Gynt looked out, and saw a wagon drawn by +bears, the great troll was loaded upon it, and off +they went with him up the Fjäll. Suddenly a pail +of water was poured down through the chimney, +smothering the fire, and Per Gynt sat in the dark. +Then laughter and jibes came from every corner, +and one voice said: “Now Per Gynt will be no +better off than the dairy-maids in the hut at Val!”</p> + +<p>Per Gynt once more lit the fire, called his dogs, +locked the herdsman’s hut, and went on North, +toward the hut at Val, in which there were three +dairy-maids. After he had covered some distance +he saw a fire, as though the whole hut were ablaze, +and at the same moment he came across a whole pack +of wolves, of whom he shot some and clubbed the +others to death. When he reached the hut at Val, +he found it pitch dark there, and there was no fire +to be seen, far or near. But there were four strangers +in the hut, who were frightening the dairy-maids. +They were four mountain trolls, and their names +were: Gust i Väre, Tron Valfjeldet, Kjöstöl Aabakken, +and Rolf Eldförkungen. Gust i Väre stood at +the door, on guard, and Per Gynt shot at him, but +missed, so he ran away. When Per Gynt entered +the room the dairy-maids were well-nigh frightened +to death; but when the trolls saw who had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +come they began to wail, and told Eldförkungen to +make a fire. At the same moment the dogs sprang +upon Kjöstöl Aabakken, and threw him head over +heels into the hearth, so that the ashes and sparks +flew about.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen my snakes, Per Gynt?” asked +Tron Valfjeldet—for that was what he called the +wolves.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and now you shall travel the same road +your snakes have gone!” cried Per Gynt, and shot +him. Then he made an end of Aabakken with the +butt-end of his firelock; but Eldförkungen had fled +through the chimney. After Per Gynt had done +this, he accompanied the dairy-maids back to their +village, for they did not venture to stay in the hut +any longer.</p> + +<p>When Christmas came, Per Gynt once more got +under way. He had heard of a farmstead at Dovre, +where so many trolls were accustomed to congregate +on Christmas Eve, that the people who lived there +had to flee, and find places to stay at other farms. +This farmstead Per Gynt decided to hunt up; for he +thought he would like to see these trolls. He put on +torn clothing, and took with him a tame bear which +belonged to him, together with an awl, some pitch +and some wire. When he had reached the farmstead, +he went into the house and asked for shelter.</p> + +<p>“May God aid us!” cried the man. “We cannot +shelter you, and have to leave the house ourselves, +because the place is alive with trolls every Christmas +Eve!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Per Gynt thought he could manage to clear +the house of the trolls. So they told him to stay, +and gave him a pig’s skin into the bargain. Then +the bear lay down behind the hearth, Per took out +his awl, his pitch and his wire, and set out to make +a single large shoe out of the pig’s skin. And he +drew a thick rope through it for a lace, so that he +could lace the whole shoe together, and besides he +had two wagon-spokes for wedges at hand. Suddenly +the trolls came along with fiddles and fiddlers, +and some of them danced, and others ate of the +Christmas dinner that stood on the table, and some +fried bacon, and others fried frogs and toads and +disgusting things of that kind—the Christmas dinner +they had brought along themselves. In the +meantime some of them noticed the shoe Per Gynt +had made. Since it was evidently intended for a +large foot, all the trolls wanted to try it on. When +every one of them had thrust in his foot, Per Gynt +laced it, forced in a wedge, and then drew the lace +so taut that every last one of them was caught and +held in the shoe. But now the bear thrust forth his +nose, and sniffed the roast.</p> + +<p>“Would you like to have some cake, little white +cat?” said one of the trolls, and threw a burning +hot, roasted frog into the bear’s jaws.</p> + +<p>“Thump them, Master Bruin!” cried Per Gynt. +And the bear grew so angry that he rushed on the +trolls, raining blows on every side and scratching +them. And Per Gynt hewed into the crowd with +his other wagon-spoke as though he meant to break<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +their skulls. Then the trolls had to make themselves +scarce, but Per Gynt remained, and feasted +on the Christmas fare all of Christmas week, while +for many a long year no more was heard of the +trolls.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“Per Gynt” (Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Norske Huldreeventyr og Folkesagn</cite>, +Christiania, 1859, Part II, p. 77. From the vicinity of the Dover +mountains. The story was told Asbjörnsen by a bird hunter, whom +he accidentally met while hunting reindeer). Like “The Island of +Udröst” which follows it, it is distinctively a Northern tale. The +bold huntsman of Kvam, whose name and weirdly adventurous experience +with the great crooked one of Etnedal, thanks to Ibsen, +have been presented in an altogether different, symbolic form, makes +his appearance here with all the heartfelt spontaneity of the folk-tale, +as it is still recounted, half in pride, half in dread, in the +lonely herdsman’s huts of the Dovre country.</p></div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>II<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE ISLE OF UDRÖST</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there lived at Vaerö, not far +from Röst, a poor fisherman, named Isaac. +He had nothing but a boat and a couple of goats, +which his wife fed as well as she could with fish leavings, +and with the grass she was able to gather on +the surrounding hills; but his whole hut was full of +hungry children. Yet he was always satisfied with +what God sent him. The only thing that worried +him was his inability to live at peace with his neighbor. +The latter was a rich man, thought himself +entitled to far more than such a beggarly fellow as +Isaac, and wanted to get him out of the way, in +order to take for himself the anchorage before +Isaac’s hut.</p> + +<p>One day Isaac had put out a few miles to sea to +fish, when suddenly a dark fog fell, and in a flash +such a tremendous storm broke, that he had to throw +all his fish overboard in order to lighten ship and +save his life. Even then it was very hard to keep +the boat afloat; but he steered a careful course between +and across the mountainous waves, which +seemed ready to swallow him from moment to moment. +After he had kept on for five or six hours +in this manner, he thought that he ought to touch +land somewhere. But time went by, and the storm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +and fog grew worse and worse. Then he began to +realize that either he was steering out to sea, or +that the wind had veered, and at last he made sure +the latter was the case; for he sailed on and on +without a sight of land. Suddenly he heard a hideous +cry from the stern of the boat, and felt certain +that it was the <i lang="no" xml:lang="no">drang</i>, who was singing his death-song. +Then he prayed God to guard his wife and +children, for he thought his last hour had come. +As he sat there and prayed, he made out something +black; but when his boat drew nearer, he noticed +that it was only three cormorants, sitting on a piece +of drift-wood and—swish! he had passed them. +Thus he sailed for a long time, and grew so hungry, +so thirsty and so weary that he did not know +what to do; for the most part he sat with the rudder +in his hand and slept. But all of a sudden the boat +ran up on a beach and stopped. Then Isaac opened +his eyes. The sun broke through the fog, and shone +on a beautiful land. Its hills and mountains were +green to their very tops, fields and meadows lay +among their slopes, and he seemed to breathe a +fragrance of flowers and grass sweeter than any +he had ever known before.</p> + +<p>“God be praised, now I am safe, for this is Udröst!” +said Isaac to himself. Directly ahead of him +lay a field of barley, with ears so large and heavy +that he had never seen their like, and through the +barley-field a narrow path led to a green turf-roofed +cottage of clay, that rose above the field, and on the +roof of the cottage grazed a white goat with gilded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +horns, and an udder as large as that of the largest +cow. Before the door sat a little man clad in blue, +puffing away at a little pipe. He had a beard so +long and so large that it hung far down upon his +breast.</p> + +<p>“Welcome to Udröst, Isaac!” said the man.</p> + +<p>“Good day to you, father,” said Isaac, “and do +you know me?”</p> + +<p>“It might be that I do,” said the man. “I suppose +you want to stay here overnight?”</p> + +<p>“That would suit me very well, father,” was +Isaac’s reply.</p> + +<p>“The trouble is with my sons, for they cannot bear +the smell of a Christian,” answered the man. “Did +you meet them?”</p> + +<p>“No, I only met three cormorants, who were sitting +on a piece of drift-wood and croaking,” was +Isaac’s reply.</p> + +<p>“Well, those were my sons,” said the man, and +emptied his pipe, “and now come into the house, +for I think you must be hungry and thirsty.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll take that liberty, father,” said Isaac.</p> + +<p>When the man opened the door, everything within +was so beautiful that Isaac could not get over his +admiration. He had never seen anything like it. +The table was covered with the finest dishes, bowls of +cream, and salmon and game, and liver dumplings +with syrup, and cheese as well, and there were whole +piles of doughnuts, and there was mead, and everything +else that is good. Isaac ate and drank bravely, +and yet his plate was never empty; and no matter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +how much he drank, his glass was always full. The +man neither ate much nor said much; but suddenly +they heard a noise and clamor before the house, +and the man went out. After a time he returned +with his three sons, and Isaac trembled inwardly +when they came through the door; but their father +must have quieted them, for they were very friendly +and amiable, and told Isaac he must use his guest-right, +and sit down and drink with them; for Isaac +had risen to leave the table, saying he had satisfied +his hunger. But he gave in to them, and they drank +mead together, and became good friends. And they +said that Isaac must go fishing with them, so that +he would have something to take with him when he +went home.</p> + +<p>The first time they put out a great storm was +raging. One of the sons sat at the rudder, the second +at the bow, and the third in the middle; and +Isaac had to work with the bailing-can until he +dripped perspiration. They sailed as though they +were mad. They never reefed a sail, and when the +boat was full of water, they danced on the crests of +the waves, and slid down them so that the water in +the stern spurted up like a fountain. After a time +the storm subsided, and they began to fish. And the +sea was so full of fish that they could not even +put out an anchor, since mountains of fish were piled +up beneath them. The sons of Udröst drew up one +fish after another. Isaac knew his business; but +he had taken along his own fishing-tackle, and as +soon as a fish bit he let go again, and at last he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +caught not a single one. When the boat was filled, +they sailed home again to Udröst, and the sons +cleaned the fish, and laid them on the stands. Meanwhile +Isaac had complained to their father of his +poor luck. The man promised that he should do +better next time, and gave him a couple of hooks; +and the next time they went out to fish, Isaac caught +just as many as the others, and when they reached +home, he was given three stands of fish as his share.</p> + +<p>At length Isaac began to get homesick, and when +he was about to leave, the man made him a present +of a new fishing-boat, full of meal, and tackle and +other useful things. Isaac thanked him repeatedly, +and the man invited him to come back when the season +opened again, since he himself was going to take +a cargo to Bergen, in the second <i lang="no" xml:lang="no">stevne</i>,<a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> and Isaac +could go along and sell his fish there himself. Isaac +was more than willing, and asked him what course +he should set when he again wanted to reach Udröst. +“All you need do is to follow the cormorant when +he heads for the open sea, then you will be on the +right course,” said the man. “Good luck on your +way!”</p> + +<p>But when Isaac got underway, and looked around, +there was no Udröst in sight; far and wide, all +around him, he saw no more than the ocean.</p> + +<p>When the time came, Isaac sailed to join the man +of Udröst’s fishing-craft. But such a craft he had +never seen before. It was two hails long, so that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +when the steersman, who was on look-out in the +stern, wanted to call out something to the rower, the +latter could not hear him. So they had stationed +another man in the middle of the ship, close by the +mast, who had to relay the steersman’s call to the +rower, and even he had to shout as loudly as he +could in order to make himself heard.</p> + +<p>Isaac’s share was laid down in the forepart of the +boat; and he himself took down the fish from the +stands; yet he could not understand how it was that +the stands were continually filled with fresh fish, +no matter how many he took away, and when he +sailed away they were still as full as ever. When +he reached Bergen, he sold his fish, and got so much +money for them that he was able to buy a new +schooner, completely fitted out, and with a cargo to +boot, as the man of Udröst had advised him. Late +in the evening, when he was about to sail for home, +the man came aboard and told him never to forget +those who survived his neighbor, for his neighbor +himself had died; and then he wished Isaac all possible +success and good fortune for his schooner, in +advance. “All is well, and all stands firm that +towers in the air,” said he, and what he meant was +that there was one aboard whom none could see, but +who would support the mast on his back, if need be.</p> + +<p>Since that time fortune was Isaac’s friend. And +well he knew why this was so, and never forgot to +prepare something good for whoever held the winter +watch, when the schooner was drawn up on land in +the fall. And every Christmas night there was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +glow and shimmer of light, the sound of fiddles and +music, of laughter and merriment, and of dancing +on the deserted schooner.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The Island of Udröst” (Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Huldreeventyr</cite>, Part I, p. 259, +from Nordland, narrator not specified) is a legendary paradise, +which appears at the moment of extremest peril to the Norsemen +helplessly shipwrecked in the stormy sea. The Norsemen, whose +fields near the boisterous waves yield but a niggardly return, cannot +say too much regarding its lavish fruitfulness and its abiding +peace. Udröst is almost an Isle of the Blest, an Avalon, to the fisherfolk +whose lives are passed in want and constant danger.</p> +</div> +<div class="footnotes"><div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> A fleet of ships that set sail together from Nordland to Bergen +to sell fish.</p> +</div></div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2>III<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE THREE LEMONS</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there were three brothers +who had lost their parents, and since the latter +had left their sons nothing upon which to live, they +had to wander out into the world, and seek their +fortune. The two older brothers prepared for the +journey as well as they were able; but the youngest, +whom they called “Mike by the Stove,” because he +was always sitting behind the stove whittling, they +did not want to take with them. So they set out at +early dawn; yet for all their hurrying Mike by the +Stove reached the king’s court as soon as they did. +When they got there, they asked to be taken into the +king’s service. Well, said the king, he really had +no work for them to do; but since they were so poor, +he would see that they were kept busy; there was +always something or other to do in such a big establishment: +they could drive nails into the wall, and +when they were through, they could pull them out +again. And when that was done, they could carry +wood and water into the kitchen. Mike by the Stove +was quickest at driving his nails into the wall, and +pulling them out again, and he had been quick, too, +about carrying his wood and water. Therefore his +brothers grew jealous, and said he had declared he +could obtain the most beautiful princess in twelve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +kingdoms for the king—for the king’s wife had died +and he was a widower. When the king heard this, +he told Mike by the Stove he had better do as he +had said, else he would have him brought to the +block, and his head chopped off.</p> + +<p>Mike by the Stove replied that he had neither said +nor thought anything of the kind; but that seeing +the king was so severe, he would try it. So he took +a knapsack full of food and set out. But he had +only pushed a little way into the wood before he +grew hungry, and thought he would sample the provisions +they had given him at the king’s castle. +When he had sat down in all peace and comfort +under a pine-tree by the side of the road, <a href="#frontispiece">an old +woman came limping along, and asked him what he +had in his knapsack</a>. “Meat and bacon, granny,” +said the youth. “If you are hungry, come and share +with me!” She thanked him, satisfied her hunger, +and then telling him she would do him a favor in +turn, limped off into the wood. When Mike by +the Stove had eaten his fill, he slung his knapsack +across his shoulder once more, and went his way; +but he had only gone a short distance before he +found a whistle. That would be fine, thought he, +to have a whistle, and be able to whistle himself a +tune while he traveled, and before long he really +succeeded in making it sound. That very moment +the wood was alive with dwarfs, all of them asking +with one voice: “What are my lord’s commands? +What are my lord’s commands?” Mike by the +Stove said he did not know he was their lord; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +if he had any command to give, he would ask them +to bring him the fairest princess in twelve kingdoms. +That would be easy enough, said the dwarfs; +they knew exactly who she was, and they could show +him the way; then he himself could go and fetch her, +since the dwarfs were powerless to touch her. They +showed him the way, and he reached his goal quickly +and without trouble, for no one interfered with him. +It was a troll’s castle, and in it were three beautiful +princesses; but when Mike by the Stove stepped in, +they acted as though they had lost their wits, ran +around like frightened lambs, and finally turned +into three lemons that lay on the window-ledge. +Mike by the Stove was in despair, and very unhappy +because he did not know what to do. But after he +had reflected a while, he took the three lemons, and +put them in his pocket; because, thought he, he might +be glad he had done so should he grow thirsty during +his journey, for he had heard that lemons were sour.</p> + +<p>After he had traveled a way, he grew very warm +and thirsty. There was no water to be found, and +he did not know how he was to refresh himself. +Then the lemons occurred to him, and he took one +and bit into it. But in it sat a princess, visible up +to her arms, and cried: “Water, water!” If she +could not have some water, said she, she must die. +The youth ran about everywhere like mad, looking +for water; but there was no water there, and none +to be found, and when he returned she was dead.</p> + +<p>After he had gone on again a while, he grew still +more thirsty, and since he found nothing with which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +to refresh himself, he took another lemon and bit +into it. And another princess looked out, up to her +shoulders, and she was even more beautiful than the +first. She cried for water, and said that if she +could not have some water she must die on the spot. +Mike by the Stove ran about and looked under stones +and moss; but he found no water, so this princess +also died.</p> + +<p>Mike by the Stove thought that things were going +from bad to worse, and this was the truth, since the +further he went the warmer it grew. The part of the +country in which he was traveling was so parched +and dried that not a drop of water was to be found, +and he was half-dead with thirst. For a long time +he hesitated before biting into the last lemon; but +at last there was nothing else left to do. When he +had bitten into it, a princess looked out: she was the +most beautiful in twelve kingdoms, and she cried +that if she could have no water, she must die on the +spot. Mike by the Stove ran about and looked for +water, and this time he met the king’s miller, who +showed him the way to the mill-pond. When he had +come with her to the mill-pond, and had given her +water, she came completely out of the lemon. But +she had nothing to wear, and Mike by the Stove had +to give her his smock. She put it on, and hid in a +tree; while he was to go to the castle and bring her +clothes, and tell the king he had found her, and how +it had all happened.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the cook had come down to the pond +to fetch water. When she saw the lovely face that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +was reflected in the pond, she thought it was her +own, and was so pleased that she began to dance and +jump around, because she had grown so beautiful.</p> + +<p>“Let the devil fetch the water, I’m far too handsome +to bother with it!” said she, and threw away +the water-pail. And then she suddenly noticed that +the face in the water was that of the princess who +sat in the tree. This made her so angry that she +pulled her down from the tree, and threw her into +the pond. Then she herself put on Mike by the +Stove’s smock, and climbed into the tree. When the +king arrived, and saw the swart, homely kitchen-maid, +he grew red and white in turn; but when he +heard the people say she was the greatest beauty in +twelve kingdoms, he had to believe, willy-nilly, that +there was something in it, and he did not want to be +unjust to Mike by the Stove, who had taken so much +trouble to find her. She might grow more beautiful +in time, thought he, if she were adorned with jewels, +and dressed in fine clothes, and so he took her home +with him. Then they sent for wig-makers and seamstresses, +and she was adorned and dressed like a +princess; but for all their washing and bedizening, +she remained swart and homely. After a while, +when the kitchen-maid had to go to the pond to fetch +water, she caught a great silver fish in her pail. She +carried it up and showed it to the king, who thought +it was a beauty; but the homely princess declared +it to be the work of witches, and that they were to +burn it, for she had noticed at once what it was. So +the following morning the fish was burned, and they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +found a lump of silver in the ashes. Then the cook +went up and told the king, and he thought it very +strange; but the princess said it was witchcraft pure +and simple, and that they were to bury the silver +under the manure-pile. The king did not want to, +but she gave him no peace until he consented, and +finally said they were to do so. But on the following +day a beautiful linden-tree stood where they had +buried the lump of silver, and the leaves of the linden-tree +glistened like silver, too. When they told +the king he thought it remarkable; but the princess +said it was no more nor less than witchcraft, and +that the linden-tree must be cut down. This the king +did not wish done at all; but the princess tormented +him so that finally he yielded in this as well. When +the maids went out and brought wood for the fire +from the linden-tree, it was pure silver. “We need +not tell the king and the princess anything about it,” +said one of them, “for they would only burn it up and +melt it down. Let us keep it in the wardrobe instead. +It might be very useful to us some day, if some +one comes along, and we want to marry.” They +were all of the same mind, but when they had carried +the wood a while, it grew terribly heavy. And +when they looked to see why this was, the sticks of +wood had turned into a little child, and before long +she had become the most beautiful princess imaginable. +The maids saw that there was some hocus-pocus +about it, gave her clothes, ran off to fetch the +youth who had been sent to find the most beautiful +princess in twelve kingdoms, and told him their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +story. And when Mike by the Stove arrived, the +princess explained to him how everything had happened, +that the cook had thrown her into the pond, +and that she had been the silver fish, the lump of +silver, and the linden-tree, and the sticks of wood, +and that she was the true princess. It was hard to +get at the king, for the swart, homely cook was with +him early and late; but at last they decided to tell +him that a declaration of war had come from a +neighboring monarch, and so they got him out. +When he saw the beautiful princess, he fell so deeply +in love with her that he wanted to marry her out of +hand, and when he heard how badly the swart, +homely cook had treated her, the latter was promptly +punished. Then they held a wedding that was heard +of and talked about in twelve kingdoms.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>The story of “The Three Lemons” is not a native Scandinavian +growth, but of foreign extraction (Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Norske Folkeeventyr, +Ny Samling</cite>, Christiania, 1871, p. 22, No. 66), and is a tale very +popular in the Orient. Yet Asbjörnsen heard it from a plain woman +in Christiania, which would prove that it had become naturalized in +the North.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>IV<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE NEIGHBOR UNDERGROUND</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a peasant who lived +in Telemarken, and had a big farm; yet he had +nothing but bad luck with his cattle, and at last lost +his house and holding. He had scarcely anything +left, and with the little he had, he bought a bit of +land that lay off to one side, far away from the city, +in the wildwood and the wilderness. One day, as +he was passing through his farm-yard, he met a man.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, neighbor!” said the man.</p> + +<p>“Good-day,” said the peasant, “I thought I was +all alone here. Are you a neighbor of mine?”</p> + +<p>“You can see my homestead over yonder,” said +the man. “It is not far from your own.” And +there lay a farm-holding such as he had never before +seen, handsome and prosperous, and in fine condition. +Then he knew very well that this must be one +of the underground people; yet he had no fear, but +invited his neighbor in to drink a glass with him, +and the neighbor seemed to enjoy it.</p> + +<p>“Listen,” said the neighbor, “there is one thing +you must do for me as a favor.”</p> + +<p>“First let me know what it is,” said the peasant.</p> + +<p>“You must shift your cow-stable, because it is in +my way,” was the answer he gave the peasant.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>“No, I’ll not do that,” said the peasant. “I put +it up only this summer, and the winter is coming on. +What am I to do with my cattle then?”</p> + +<p>“Well, do as you choose; but if you do not tear it +down, you will live to regret it,” said his neighbor. +And with that he went his way.</p> + +<p>The peasant was surprised at this, and did not +know what to do. It seemed quite foolish to him +to start in to tear down his stable when the long +winter night was approaching, and besides, he could +not count on help.</p> + +<p>One day as he was standing in his stable, he sank +through the ground. Down below, in the place to +which he had come, everything was unspeakably +handsome. There was nothing which was not of +gold or of silver. Then the man who had called +himself his neighbor came along, and bade him sit +down. After a time food was brought in on a silver +platter, and mead in a silver jug, and the neighbor +invited him to draw up to the table and eat. The +peasant did not dare refuse, and sat down at the +table; but just as he was about to dip his spoon into +the dish, something fell down into his food from +above, so that he lost his appetite. “Yes, yes,” said +the man, “now you can see why we don’t like your +stable. We can never eat in peace, for as soon as we +sit down to a meal, dirt and straw fall down, and no +matter how hungry we may be, we lose our appetites +and cannot eat. But if you will do me the favor to set +up your stable elsewhere, you shall never go short +of pasture nor good crops, no matter how old you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +may grow to be. But if you won’t, you shall know +naught but lean years all your life long.”</p> + +<p>When the peasant heard that, he went right to +work pulling down his stable, to put it up again in another +place. Yet he could not have worked alone, for +at night, when all slept, the building of the new stable +went forward just as it did by day, and well he knew +his neighbor was helping him.</p> + +<p>Nor did he regret it later, for he had enough of +feed and corn, and his cattle waxed fat. Once there +was a year of scarcity, and feed was so short that he +was thinking of selling or slaughtering half his herd. +But one morning, when the milk-maid went into the +stable, the dog was gone, and with him all the cows +and the calves. She began to cry and told the peasant. +But he thought to himself, that it was probably +his neighbor’s doings, who had taken the cattle to +pasture. And sure enough, so it was; for toward +spring, when the woods grew green, he saw the dog +come along, barking and leaping, by the edge of the +forest, and after him followed all the cows and +calves, and the whole herd was so fat it was a pleasure +to look at it.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The Neighbor Underground” (Idem, p. 149, from Halland, told +Asbjörnsen by a Hallander whom he met at Björnsjo, fishing) will +not surprise the reader who knows the Danish tale of the “Ale of +the Trolls.” Now and again the underground folk and trolls show +themselves to be kind and grateful beings, when their wishes are +granted, and when they are not annoyed by obtrusive curiosity.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>V<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE SECRET CHURCH</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> the schoolmaster of Etnedal was staying +in the mountains to fish. He was very fond +of reading, and so he always carried one book or +another along with him, with which he could lie +down, and which he read on holidays, or when the +weather forced him to stay in the little fishing-hut. +One Sunday morning, as he was lying there reading, +it seemed as though he could hear church bells; +sometimes they sounded faintly, as though from a +great distance; at other times the sound was clear, +as though carried by the wind. He listened long +and with surprise; and did not trust his ears—for +he knew that it was impossible to hear the bells of +the parish church so far out among the hills—yet +suddenly they sounded quite clearly on his ear. So +he laid aside his book, stood up and went out. The +sun was shining, the weather was fine, and one group +of churchgoers after another passed him in their +Sunday clothes, their hymn-books in their hands. +A little further on in the forest, where he had never +before seen anything but trees and brush, stood an +old wooden church. After a time the priest came +by, and he was so old and decrepit that his wife and +daughter led him. And when they came to the spot +where the schoolmaster was standing, they stopped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +and invited him to come to church and hear mass. +The schoolmaster thought for a moment; but since +it occurred to him that it might be amusing to see +how these people worshiped God, he said he would +go along, if he did not thereby suffer harm. No, +no harm should come to him, said they, but rather a +blessing. In the church all went forward in a quiet +and orderly manner, there were neither dogs nor +crying children to disturb the service, and the singing +was good—but he could not make out the words. +When the priest had been led to the pulpit he delivered +what seemed to the listening schoolmaster +a really fine and edifying sermon—but one, it appeared +to him, of quite a peculiar trend of thought, +which he was not always able to follow. Nor did the +“Our Father in heaven ...” sound just right, and +the “Deliver us from evil ...” he did not hear at +all. Nor was the name of Jesus uttered; and at the +close no blessing was spoken.</p> + +<p>When mass had been said, the schoolmaster was +invited to the parsonage. He gave the same answer +he had already returned, that he would be glad to +go if he suffered no harm thereby. And as before, +they assured him he would not lose; but rather gain +thereby. So he went with them to the parsonage, +just such an attractive and well-built parsonage like +most in the neighborhood. It had a garden with +flowers and apple-trees, with a neat lattice fence +around it. They invited him to dinner, and the +dinner was well cooked and carefully prepared. As +before, he said that he would gladly accept their invitation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +if he came to no harm thereby, and was +given the same reply. So he ate with them, and said +later that he had noticed no difference between this +food and the Christian dinner he had received when, +once or twice, he had been asked to dinner by the +priest of the village church. When he had drunk +his coffee, the wife and daughter drew him aside +into another room, and the wife complained that her +husband had grown so old and decrepit that he could +not keep up much longer. Then she began to say +that the schoolmaster was such a strong and able +man, and finally, that she and her daughter would +like to have him for priest, and whether he would +not stay and succeed the old father. The schoolmaster +objected that he was no scholar. But they +insisted that he had more learning than was needed +in their case, for they never had any visits from the +bishop, nor did the dean ever hold a chapter, for of +all such things they knew nothing. When the +schoolmaster heard that, he said that even though he +had the necessary scholarship, he doubted very much +that he had the right vocation, and since this was a +most important matter for him and for them, it +would be unwise to act too hurriedly, so he would +ask for a year to think it over. When he had said +that, he found himself standing by a pond in the +wood, and could see neither church nor parsonage. +So he thought the matter was at an end. But a year +later, just as the term he had set was up, he was +working on a house, for during the school vacation +he busied himself either with fishing or carpentering.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +He was just straddling a wall when he saw +the pastor’s daughter, the one whom he had seen +in the mountains, coming straight toward him. She +asked him if he had thought over the matter. +“Yes,” said he, “I have thought it over, but I cannot; +since I cannot answer for it before God and +my own conscience.” That very moment the pastor’s +daughter from underground vanished; but immediately +after he cut himself in the knee with the +ax in such wise that he remained a cripple for life.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The Secret Church” (Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Huldreeventyr</cite>, I, 217, from +Valders, told by a pastor), impresses one with its weirdness, in contrast +to the preceding tale of friendly neighborly understanding +with the underground folk. In Norway stories are still told of these +churches in the wilderness, and of the chiming of their bells, which +are supposed to be of evil omen to those who hear them. The idea +of the church of ice, in Ibsen’s “Brand,” may have its root in such +folk-tale.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>VI<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE COMRADE</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a peasant boy, who +dreamed that he would get a princess, from +far, far away, and that she was as white as milk, +and as red as blood, and so rich that her riches had +no end. When he woke, it seemed to him as though +she were still standing before him, and she was so +beautiful and winning that he could not go on living +without her. So he sold all that he had, and went +forth to look for her. He wandered far, and at last, +in the winter-time, came into a land where the roads +all ran in straight lines, and made no turns. After +he had wandered straight ahead for full three +months, he came to a city. And there a great block +of ice lay before the church door, and in the middle +of it was a corpse, and the whole congregation spat +at it as the people passed by. This surprised the +youth, and when the pastor came out of the church, +he asked him what it meant. “He was a great evil-doer,” +replied the pastor, “who has been executed +because of his misdeeds, and has been exposed here +in shame and derision.” “But what did he do?” +asked the youth.</p> + +<p>“During his mortal life he was a wine-dealer,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +answered the pastor, “and he watered the wine he +sold.”</p> + +<p>This did not strike the youth as being such a terrible +crime. “Even if he had to pay for it with his +life,” said he, “one might now grant him a Christian +burial, and let him rest in peace.” But the pastor +said that this could not be done at all; for people +would be needed to break him out of the ice; and +money would be needed to buy a grave for him from +the church; and the gravedigger would want to be +paid for his trouble; and the sexton for tolling the +bells; and the cantor for singing; and the pastor +himself for the funeral sermon.</p> + +<p>“Do you think there is any one who would pay all +that money for such an arrant sinner’s sake?” inquired +the pastor.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the youth. If he could manage to have +him buried, he would be willing to pay for the wake +out of his own slender purse.</p> + +<p>At first the pastor would hear nothing of it; but +when the youth returned with two men, and asked +him in their presence whether he refused the dead +man Christian burial, he ventured no further objections.</p> + +<p>So they released the wine-dealer from his block of +ice, and laid him in consecrated ground. The bells +tolled, and there was singing, and the pastor threw +earth on the coffin, and they had a wake at which +tears and laughter alternated. But when the youth +had paid for the wake, he had but a few shillings left +in his pocket. Then he once more set out on his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +way; but had not gone far before a man came up +behind him, and asked him whether he did not find it +tiresome to wander along all alone.</p> + +<p>“No,” said the youth, he always had something +to think about. The man asked whether he did not +need a servant.</p> + +<p>“No,” said the youth, “I am used to serving myself, +so I have no need of a servant; and no matter +how much I might wish for one, I still would have +to do without, since I have no money for his keep +and pay.”</p> + +<p>“Yet you need a servant, as I know better than +you do,” said the man, “and you need one upon +whom you can rely in life and death. But if you do +not want me for a servant, then let me be your comrade. +I promise that you will not lose thereby, and +I will not cost you a shilling. I travel at my own +expense, nor need you be put to trouble as regards +my food and clothing.”</p> + +<p>Under these circumstances the youth was glad to +have him for a comrade, and they resumed their +journey, the man as a rule going in advance and +pointing out the way.</p> + +<p>After they had wandered long through various +lands, over hills and over heaths, they suddenly +stood before a wall of rock. The comrade knocked, +and begged to be let in. Then the rock opened before +them, and after they had gone quite a way into +the interior of the hill, a witch came to meet them and +offered them a chair. “Be so good as to sit down, +for you must be weary!” said she.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Sit down yourself!” answered the man. Then +she had to sit down and remain seated, for the chair +had power to hold fast all that approached it. In +the meantime they wandered about in the hill, and +the comrade kept looking around until he saw a +sword that hung above the door. This he wanted to +have, and he promised the witch that he would +release her from her chair if she would let him have +the sword.</p> + +<p>“No,” she cried, “ask what you will. You can +have anything else, but not that, for that is my +Three-Sisters Sword!” (There were three sisters +to whom the sword belonged in common.) “Then +you may sit where you are till the world’s end!” +said the man. And when she heard that she promised +to let him have the sword, if he would release +her.</p> + +<p>So he took the sword, and went away with it; but +he left her sitting there, after all. When they had +wandered far, over stony wastes and desolate heaths, +they again came to a wall of rock. There the comrade +again knocked, and begged to be let in. Just +as before, the rock opened, and when they had gone +far into the hill, a witch came to meet them with a +chair and bade them be seated, “for you must be +tired,” said she.</p> + +<p>“Sit down yourself!” said the comrade. And +what had happened to her sister happened to her, she +had to seat herself, and could not get up again. In +the meantime the youth and his comrade went about +in the hill, and the latter opened all the closets and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +drawers, until he found what he had been searching +for, a ball of golden twine. This he wished to have, +and promised he would release her from the chair if +she would give it to him. She told him he might +have all she possessed; but that she could not give +him the ball, since it was her Three-Sisters Ball. +But when she heard that she would have to sit in the +chair till the Day of Judgment, she changed her +mind. Then the comrade took the ball, and in spite +of it left her sitting where she was. Then they wandered +for many a day through wood and heath, until +they came to a wall of rock. All happened as it had +twice before, the comrade knocked, the hill opened, +and inside a witch came to meet them with a chair, +and bade them sit down. The two had gone through +many rooms before the comrade spied an old hat +hanging on a hook behind the door. The hat he +must have, but the old witch would not part with +it, since it was her Three-Sisters Hat, and if she gave +it away she would be thoroughly unhappy. But +when she heard that she would have to sit there until +the Day of Judgment if she did not give up the hat, +she at last agreed to do so. The comrade took the +hat, and then told her to keep on sitting where she +sat, like her sisters.</p> + +<p>At length they came to a river. There the comrade +took the ball of golden twine and flung it against +the hill on the other side of the river with such force +that it bounded back. And when it had flown back +and forth several times, there stood a bridge, and +when they had reached the other side, the comrade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +told the youth to wind up the golden twine again as +swiftly as possible, “for if we do not take it away +quickly, the three witches will cross and tear us to +pieces.” The youth wound as quickly as he could, +and just as he was at the last thread, the witches +rushed up, hissing, flung themselves into the water +so that the foam splashed high, and snatched at the +end of the thread. But they could not grasp it, and +drowned in the river.</p> + +<p>After they had again wandered on for a few days, +the comrade said: “Now we will soon reach the +castle in which she lives, the princess of whom you +dreamed, and when we reach it, you must go to the +castle and tell the king what you dreamed, and your +journey’s aim.” When they got there, the youth +did as he was told, and was very well received. He +was given a room for himself, and one for his servant, +and when it was time to eat, he was invited to +the king’s own table. When he saw the princess, +he recognized her at once as the vision of his dream. +He told her, too, why he was there, and she replied +that she liked him quite well, and would gladly take +him, but first he must undergo three tests. When +they had eaten, she gave him a pair of gold shears +and said: “The first test is that you take these +shears and keep them, and give them back to me to-morrow +noon. That is not a very severe test,” she +said, and smiled, “but, if you cannot stand it, you +must die, as the law demands, and you will be in the +same case as the suitors whose bones you may see +lying without the castle gate.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>“That is no great feat,” thought the youth to himself. +But the princess was so merry and active, and +so full of fun and nonsense, that he thought neither +of the shears nor of himself, and while they were +laughing and joking, she secretly robbed him of the +shears without his noticing it. When he came to his +room in the evening, and told what had occurred, +and what the princess had said to him, and about the +shears which she had given him to guard, his comrade +asked: “And have you still the shears?”</p> + +<p>The youth looked through all his pockets; but his +shears were not there, and he was more than unhappy +when he realized that he had lost them.</p> + +<p>“Well, well, never mind. I will see whether I can +get them back for you,” said his comrade, and went +down into the stable. There stood an enormous +goat which belonged to the princess, and could fly +through the air more swiftly than he could walk on +level ground. The comrade took the Three-Sisters +Sword, gave him a blow between the horns, and +asked: “At what time does the princess ride to meet +her lover to-night?” The goat bleated, and said he +did not dare tell; but when the comrade had given +him another thump, he did say that the princess +would come at eleven o’clock sharp. Then the comrade +put on the Three-Sisters Hat, which made him +invisible, and waited for the princess. When she +came, she anointed the goat with a salve she carried +in a great horn, and cried out: “Up, up! over +gable and roof, over land and sea, over hill and dale, +to my dearest, who waits for me in the hill!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the goat flew upward, the comrade swung himself +up in back, and then they were off like the wind +through the clouds: it was not a long journey. Suddenly +they stood before a wall of rock, she knocked, +and then they took their way into the interior of the +hill, to the troll who was her dearest. “And now a +new suitor has come who wants to win me, sweetheart,” +said she. “He is young and handsome, but +I will have none but you,” she went on, and made a +great time over the troll. “I have set him a test, +and here are the shears that he was to keep and +guard. You shall keep them now!” Then both of +them laughed as though the youth had already lost +his head. “Yes, I will keep them, and take good +care of them, and a kiss from you shall pledge the +truth, when crows are cawing around the youth!” +said the troll; and he laid the shears in an iron chest +with three locks. But at the moment he was dropping +the shears into the chest, the comrade caught +them up. None could see him, for he was wearing +the Three-Sisters Hat. So the troll carefully locked +the empty chest, and put the key into a hollow +double-tooth, where he kept other magic things. +“The suitor could hardly find it there,” said he.</p> + +<p>After midnight the princess set out for home. The +comrade swung himself up in back again, and the +trip home did not take long.</p> + +<p>The following noon the youth was invited to dine +at the king’s table. But this time the princess kept +her nose in the air, and was so haughty and snappish +that she hardly condescended to glance in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +youth’s direction. But after they had eaten, she +looked very solemn, and asked in the sweetest manner: +“You probably still have the shears I gave you +to take care of yesterday?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, here they are,” said the youth; and he flung +them on the table so that they rang. The princess +could not have been more frightened had he thrown +the shears in her face. But she tried to make the +best of a bad bargain, and said in a sweet voice: +“Since you have taken such good care of the shears, +you will not find it hard to keep my ball of gold twine +for me. I should like to have it back by to-morrow +noon; but if you cannot give it to me then, you must +die, according to the law.” The youth thought it +would not be so very hard, and put the ball of gold +twine in his pocket. Yet the princess once more +began to toy and joke with him, so that he thought +neither of himself nor of the ball of gold twine, and +while they were in the midst of their merry play she +stole the golden ball from him, and then dismissed +him.</p> + +<p>When he came up into his room, and told what she +had said and done, his comrade asked: “And have +you still the ball of gold twine?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed,” said the youth, and thrust his hand +into the pocket in which he had placed it. But there +was no ball in it, and he fell into such despair that +he did not know what to do.</p> + +<p>“Do not worry,” said his comrade. “I will see +whether I cannot get it back for you.” He took his +sword and his hat, and went to a smith and had him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +weld twelve extra pounds of iron to his sword. +Then, when he entered the stable, he gave the goat +such a blow between the horns with it that he staggered, +and asked: “At what time does the princess +ride to her dearest to-night?”</p> + +<p>“At twelve o’clock sharp,” said the goat.</p> + +<p>The comrade once more put on his Three-Sisters +Hat, and waited until the princess came with the +horn of ointment and anointed the goat. Then she +repeated what she had already said: “Up, up! over +gable and tower, over land and sea, over hill and +dale, to my dearest who waits for me in the hill!” +And when the goat arose, the comrade swung himself +up in back, and off they were like lightning through +the air. Soon they had reached the troll-hill, and +when she had knocked thrice they passed through +the interior of the hill till they met the troll who +was her dearest.</p> + +<p>“What manner of care did you take of the golden +shears I gave you yesterday, my friend?” asked the +princess. “The suitor had them, and he gave them +back to me.”</p> + +<p>That was quite impossible, said the troll, for he +had locked them up in a chest with three locks, and +had thrust the key into his hollow tooth. But when +they had unlocked the chest and looked, there were +no shears there. Then the princess told him that +she had now given him her ball of golden twine.</p> + +<p>“Here it is,” said she. “I took it away from him +again without his having noticed it; but what are +we to do if he is a master of such arts?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>The troll could not think of anything to suggest; +but after they had reflected a while they hit on the +idea of lighting a great fire, and burning the ball of +gold twine, for then the suitor could surely not +regain it. Yet when she threw it into the flames, +the comrade leaped forward and caught it, without +being seen, for he was wearing the Three-Sisters +Hat. After the princess had stayed a little while +she returned home, and again the comrade sat up +behind, and the trip home was swiftly and safely +made. When the youth was asked to the king’s +table, the comrade gave him the ball. The princess +was still more sharp and disdainful in her remarks +than before, and after they had eaten she pinched +her lips, and said: “Would it not be possible for +me to get my ball of gold twine again, which I gave +you yesterday?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the youth, “you can have it; there +it is!” and he flung it on the table with such a thud +that the king leaped up in the air with fright.</p> + +<p>The princess grew as pale as a corpse; but she +made the best of a bad bargain, and said that he +had done well. Now there was only one more little +test for him to undergo. “If you can bring me what +I am thinking about by to-morrow noon, then you +may have me and keep me.”</p> + +<p>The youth felt as though he had been condemned +to death; for it seemed altogether impossible for +him to know of what the princess was thinking, and +still more impossible to bring her the thing in question. +And when he came to his room his comrade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +could scarcely quiet him. He said he would take the +matter in hand, as he had done on the other occasions, +and at last the youth grew calmer, and lay +down to sleep. In the meantime the comrade went +to the smith, and had him weld an additional twenty-four +pounds of iron on his sword. When this had +been done, he went to the stable, and gave the goat +such a smashing blow between the horns that he +flew to the other side of the wall.</p> + +<p>“At what time does the princess ride to her dearest +to-night?” said he.</p> + +<p>“At one o’clock sharp,” bleated the goat.</p> + +<p>When the time came, the comrade was standing in +the stable, wearing his Three-Sisters Hat, and after +the princess had anointed the goat and spoken her +formula, off they went through the air as before, +with the comrade sitting in back. But this time he +was anything but gentle, and kept giving the princess +a cuff here, and a cuff there, until she had received +a terrible drubbing. When she reached the +wall of rock, she knocked three times, the hill opened, +and they flew through it to her dearest.</p> + +<p>She complained bitterly to him, and said she would +never have thought it possible that the weather could +affect one so; it had seemed to her as though some +one were flying along with them, beating her and +the goat, and her whole body must be covered with +black and blue spots, so badly had she been thrashed. +And then she told how the suitor had again had the +ball of twine. How he had managed to get it, neither +she nor the troll could guess.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>“But do you know the thought that came to me?” +said she. Of course the troll did not.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said she, “I have told him he is to bring +me the thing I am thinking of by to-morrow noon, +and that thing is your head. Do you think, dear +friend, that he will be able to bring it to me?” and +she made a great time over the troll.</p> + +<p>“I do not think he can,” said the troll, who felt +quite sure of himself, and laughed and chortled with +pleasure in the most malicious way. For he and the +princess were firmly convinced that the youth would +be more apt to lose his own head, and be left to the +ravens, than that he would be able to bring the princess +the head of the troll.</p> + +<p>Toward morning the princess wanted to fly home +again, but she did not venture to ride alone; the troll +must accompany her. He was quite ready to do so, +took his goat from the stable—he had one just like +that of the princess—and anointed him between the +horns. When the troll had mounted, the comrade +swung up in back of him, and off they were through +the air in the direction of the king’s castle. But on +the way the comrade beat away lustily at the troll +and his goat, and gave him thump after thump, and +blow after blow with his sword, until they were flying +lower and lower, and at last nearly fell into the sea +across which their journey led them. When the troll +noticed how stormy the weather was, he accompanied +the princess to the castle, and waited outside to make +sure that she really came home safely. But the +moment when the door closed on the princess, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +comrade hewed off his head, and went up with it to +the youth’s room.</p> + +<p>“Here is the thing of which the princess was +thinking,” said he. Then everything was in apple-pie +order, and when the youth was invited to the +king’s table and they had eaten, the princess grew +as merry as a lark. “Have you, perhaps, the thing +of which I was thinking?” “To be sure,” said the +youth, and he drew forth the head from beneath his +coat, and flung it on the table so that the table and +all that was on it fell over. The princess looked as +though she had come from the grave; yet she could +not deny that this was the thing of which she had +thought, and now she had to take the youth, as +she had promised. So the wedding was celebrated, +and there was great joy throughout the kingdom.</p> + +<p>But the comrade took the youth aside, and said +that on their wedding-night he might close his eyes +and pretend to sleep, but that, if he loved his life, +and followed his advice, he would not sleep a wink +until the princess was freed from her troll-skin. He +must whip it off with nine new switches of birch-wood, +and strip it off with three milk-baths beside; +first he must scrub it off in a tub of year-old whey, +then he must rub it off in a tub of sour milk, and +finally, he must sponge it off in a tub of sweet milk. +He had laid the birch switches beneath the bed, and +had stood the tubs of milk in the corner; all was prepared. +The youth promised to follow his advice, and +do as he had told him. When night came, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +lay in his bed, the princess raised herself on her +elbows, to see if he were really asleep, and she tickled +him under the nose; but he was sleeping quite +soundly. Then she pulled his hair and his beard. But +it seemed to her that he slept like a log. Then she +drew a great butcher’s knife out from beneath her +pillow, and wanted to cut off his head. But the +youth leaped up, struck the knife from her hand, +seized her by the hair, whipped her with the +switches, and did not stop until not one was left. +Thereupon he threw her into the tub of whey, and +then he saw what sort of creature she really was, +for her whole body was coal-black. But when he had +scrubbed her in the whey, and rubbed her in the sour +milk, and sponged her in the sweet milk, the troll-skin +had altogether disappeared, and she was lovelier +than she had ever been before.</p> + +<p>On the following day the comrade said that now +they must get on their way. The youth was ready +to set forth, and the princess, too, for her dower had +long since been made ready. During the night the +comrade had brought all the gold and silver, and +all the valuables which the troll had left in the hill +to the castle, and when they wanted to start in the +morning, the castle court-yard was so full they could +scarcely get through. The dower supplied by the +troll was worth more than the king’s whole country, +and they did not know how they were to take it +home. But the comrade found a way out of the +difficulty. The troll had also left six goats who +could fly through the air. These he loaded so heavily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +with gold and silver that they had to walk on +the ground, and were not strong enough to rise into +the air; and what the goats could not carry, had to +be left at the castle. Thus they traveled for a long +time, but at last the goats grew so weary and +wretched that they could go no further. The youth +and the princess did not know what to do; but when +the comrade saw that they could not move from the +spot, he took the whole treasure on his back, topped +it with the goats, and carried it all until they were +no more than half a mile from the youth’s home. +Then the comrade said: “Now I must part from you, +for I can stay with you no longer.” But the youth +would not hear of parting, and would not let him go +at any price.</p> + +<p>So he went along another half mile, but further +than that he could not go, and when the youth +pressed him, and insisted that he come home with +him, and stay there; or that he at least celebrate +their home-coming, he merely said no, he could not +do so. Then the youth asked him what he wished in +the way of payment for his company and aid. “If I +am to wish for something, then I would like to have +half of all that you may gain in the course of the +next five years,” said his comrade. And this was +promised him.</p> + +<p>Now when the comrade had gone, the youth hid +all his treasure, and went straight home. And there +they celebrated a home-coming feast that was talked +about in seven kingdoms; and when that was over +they spent the whole winter going back and forth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +with the goats, and his father’s twelve horses, bringing +all the gold and silver home.</p> + +<p>After five years the comrade came again and asked +for his share. Then the man divided all his possessions +into two equal parts.</p> + +<p>“Yet there is one thing you have not divided,” +said the comrade.</p> + +<p>“What could that be?” asked the man. “I +thought I had divided everything.”</p> + +<p>“You have been blessed with a child,” said the +comrade, “and that you must also divide into two +equal parts.”</p> + +<p>Yes, such was really the case. Then he took up +his sword, but when he raised it and was about to +divide the child, his comrade seized the point of the +sword so that he could not strike.</p> + +<p>“Are you not happy, since you need not strike?” +said he.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, I never was happier,” said the man.</p> + +<p>“That is how happy I was when you delivered +me out of the block of ice,” said the comrade. +“Keep all you have: I need nothing, for I am a +disembodied spirit.” And he told him he was the +wine-dealer who had lain in the block of ice before +the church door, spat upon by all; and that he had +become his comrade, and had aided him, because the +youth had sacrificed all he had in order that he +might have peace, and a burial in consecrated +ground. He had been permitted to accompany him +for the space of a year, and the time had run out +when he had first parted with him. Now he had once<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +more been allowed to visit him; yet on this occasion +he would have to part for all time, for the bells of +heaven were calling him.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>In no event originally Norse, but thousands of years old, current +in many lands, and even recounted in the book of Tobias—though +in other words—is the story of the grateful dead man, “The Comrade.” +(Asbjörnsen, N.F.E., No. 100, p. 201. From Aadal, together +with variants from Valders and Aamot.)</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>VII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">ASPENCLOG</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Aspenclog’s</span> mother was an aspen-tree. He +slew the man who had chopped her down. +Then he went to the king and asked whether he could +give him work. He wanted no other pay than the +right to give the king three good thumps on the back +when there was no more work for him to do. The +king agreed to this condition, for he thought he +would always have enough work for him to do. +Then he sent him to the forest to gather wood. But +Aspenclog piled up such a tremendous load that two +horses could not pull the wagon. So he took two +polar bears, harnessed them to the wagon, drove +it home, and left the bears in the stable, where they +ate up all the king’s cattle.</p> + +<p>Then he was told to keep a mill grinding which +the evil one often brought to a stop. No sooner +had Aspenclog commenced to grind than, sure +enough, the mill stopped. Aspenclog took a candle +and made a search. No doubt of it, the evil one had +wedged his leg between the mill-stones. No sooner +had Aspenclog seen the leg, than he chopped it off +with his club. Then the evil one came hobbling up +on one leg, and begged fearfully and tearfully for +the leg he had lost. No, he could not have it, said +the youth, unless he gave him a bushel of money<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +for it. But when the evil one had to pay Aspenclog +the money, he thought to cheat him, and said that +they would wager bushel against bushel, as to which +of them could throw the highest. They argued a +while about which was to throw first. At last Aspenclog +had to begin. Now the evil one had a ball with +which they were to throw. Aspenclog stood a long +time looking at the moon. “Why do you do that?” +asked the evil one. “Well, I would like to see +whether I cannot throw the ball into the moon,” said +Aspenclog. “Do you see those black spots? Those +are the balls I have already thrown up into the +moon.” Then the evil one was afraid of losing his +ball, and he did not dare to let Aspenclog throw.</p> + +<p>So they wagered bushel against bushel as to which +one of them could blow the highest note. “You may +blow first,” said Aspenclog. “No, you!” Finally +it was decided that Aspenclog should blow first. +Then he went to a hill, took an enormous fir-tree +and wound it around his horn like a reed. “Why +do you do that?” asked the evil one. “Well, if I +don’t, the horn will burst when I blow it,” was Aspenclog’s +answer. Now the evil one began to get +frightened, and Aspenclog came home with half a +ton of money.</p> + +<p>But soon the king had no corn left to grind. And +war broke out in the land. “Now he will have work +enough to last him a lifetime,” thought the king. +And he told Aspenclog to go out against the enemy. +Aspenclog was quite ready to do so; but wanted to +have plenty of provisions to take with him. Then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +he set forth, and when he saw the enemy he sat down +to eat. The enemy shot at him as hard as they could, +but their bullets did not touch him. When Aspenclog +had satisfied his hunger, he stood up, tore out +an enormous oak by the roots, and lay about him +with it. Before very long he had hewn down all of +the enemy. Then he went back home to the king.</p> + +<p>“Have you any more work for me?” he asked. +“No, now I have no work left,” said the king. +“Then I will give you three good thumps on the +back,” said Aspenclog. The king begged permission +to bolster himself up with pillows. “Yes, take as +many as you want,” said Aspenclog. Then he +thumped, and at his first thump the king burst into +pieces.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“Aspenclog” (Kristoffer Janson, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Folkeeventyr, uppskrivene i Sandeherad</cite>, +Christiania, 1878, No. 8, p. 29) is a giant related to +Murmur Goose-Egg, of whom we have still to hear. The laconic +account of his origin is one of the beliefs of primitive peoples: that +the first human beings were descended from trees, and the <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Voluspa</cite> +even calls the first two human beings Aspen and Elm (Ask and +Embla). Aspenclog is one of these mysterious tree-people.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>VIII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE TROLL WEDDING</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">One</span> summer, a long, long time ago, the folk of +Melbustad went up to the hill pastures with +their herd. But they had been there only a short +time when the cattle began to grow so restless that +it was impossible to keep them in order. A number +of different maidens tried to manage them, but without +avail; until one came who was betrothed, and +whose betrothal had but recently been celebrated. +Then the cattle suddenly quieted down, and were +easy to handle. So the maiden remained alone in the +hills with no other company than a dog. And one +afternoon as she sat in the hut, it seemed to her that +her sweetheart came, sat down beside her, and began +to talk about their getting married at once. But she +sat still and made no reply, for she noticed a strangeness +about him. By and by, more and more people +came in, and they began to cover the table with silverware, +and bring on dishes, and the bridesmaids +brought the bridal crown, and the ornaments, and a +handsome bridal gown, and they dressed her, and +put the crown on her head, as was the custom in +those days, and they put rings on her hands.</p> + +<p>And it seemed to her as though she knew all the +people who were there; they were the women of the +village, and the girls of her own age. But the dog<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +was well aware that there was something uncanny +about it all. He made his way down to Melbustad in +flying leaps, and howled and barked in the most lamentable +manner, and gave the people no rest until +they followed him. The young fellow who was to +marry the girl took his gun, and climbed the hills; +and when he drew near, there stood a number of +horses around the hut, saddled and bridled. He +crept up to the hut, looked through a loop-hole in +the wall, and saw a whole company sitting together +inside. It was quite evident that they were trolls, +the people from underground, and therefore he discharged +his gun over the roof. At that moment the +doors flew open, and a number of balls of gray yarn, +one larger than the other, came shooting out about +his legs. When he went in, there sat the maiden +in her bridal finery, and nothing was missing but +the ring on her little finger, then all would have been +complete.</p> + +<p>“In heaven’s name, what has happened here?” +he asked, as he looked around. All the silverware +was still on the table, but all the tasty dishes had +turned to moss and toadstools, and frogs and toads +and the like.</p> + +<p>“What does it all mean?” said he. “You are sitting +here in all your glory, just like a bride?”</p> + +<p>“How can you ask me?” answered the maiden. +“You have been sitting here yourself, and talking +about our wedding the whole afternoon!”</p> + +<p>“No, I have just come,” said he. “It must have +been some one else who had taken my shape!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then she gradually came to her senses; but not +until long afterward was she altogether herself, and +she told how she had firmly believed that her sweetheart +himself, and all their friends and relatives had +been there. He took her straight back to the village +with him, and so that they need fear no such deviltry +in the future, they celebrated their wedding +while she was still clad in the bridal outfit of the +underground folk. The crown and all the ornaments +were hung up in Melbustad and it is said that they +hang there to this very day.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>Black jugglery and deception are practiced upon the poor dairy-maid +in “The Troll Wedding” (Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Huldreeventyr</cite>, I, p. 50. +From Hadeland, told by a <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Signekjarring</cite>, a kind of wise woman or +herb doctress). Characteristic is the belief that troll magic and +witchery may be nullified if a gun be fired over the place where it +is supposed to be taking place. Then all reverts to its original +form. Curious, also, is the belief that trolls like to turn into skeins +of yarn when disturbed, and then roll swiftly away.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>IX<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE HAT OF THE <i lang="no" xml:lang="no">HULDRES</i></span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a big wedding at a +certain farmstead, and a certain cottager was +on his way to the wedding-feast. As he chanced to +cross a field, he found a milk-strainer, such as are +usually made of cows’ tails, and looking just like an +old brown rag. He picked it up, for he thought it +could be washed, and then he would give it to his +wife for a dish-rag. But when he came to the house +where they were celebrating the wedding, it seemed +as though no one saw him. The bride and groom +nodded to the rest of the guests, they spoke to them +and poured for them; but he got neither greeting +nor drink. Then the chief cook came and asked the +other folk to sit down to the table; but he was not +asked, nor did he get anything to eat. For he did +not care to sit down of his own accord when no one +had asked him. At last he grew angry and thought: +“I might as well go home, for not a soul pays a bit +of attention to me here.” When he reached home, +he said: “Good evening, here I am back again.”</p> + +<p>“For heaven’s sake, are you back again?” asked +his wife.</p> + +<p>“Yes, there was no one there who paid any attention +to me, or even so much as looked at me,” said +the man, “and when people show me so little consideration,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +it seems as though I have nothing to look +for there.”</p> + +<p>“But where are you? I can hear you, but I cannot +see you!” cried his wife.</p> + +<p>The man was invisible, for what he had found was +a <i lang="no" xml:lang="no">huldre</i> hat.</p> + +<p>“What are you talking about? Can’t you see me? +Have you lost your wits?” asked the man. “There +is an old hair strainer for you. I found it outside +on the ground,” said he, and he threw it on the +bench. And then his wife saw him; but at the same +moment the hat of the <i lang="no" xml:lang="no">huldres</i> disappeared, for he +should only have loaned it, not given it away. Now +the man saw how everything had come about, and +went back to the wedding-feast. And this time he +was received in right friendly fashion, and was asked +to drink, and to seat himself at the table.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>A favorite jewel among the treasures of the underground world +plays the leading part of the tale: “The Hat of the <i lang="no" xml:lang="no">Huldres</i>” +(Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Huldreeventyr</cite>, I, p. 157; from the vicinity of Eidsvold, +told by an old peasant woman). Often appearing in legend proper +as the tarn-cap, it here finds a more humble place in everyday life, +neither ennobled by legendary dignity, nor diversified by the rich +incident of fairy-tale. The entertaining picture here afforded of its +powers shows them all the more clearly.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>X<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE CHILD OF MARY</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Far</span>, far from here, in a great forest, there once +lived a poor couple. Heaven blessed them with +a charming little daughter; but they were so poor +they did not know how they were going to get her +christened. So her father had to go forth to see +whether he could not find a god-father to pay for the +child’s christening. All day long he went from one +to another; but no one wanted to be the god-father. +Toward evening, as he was going home, he met a +very lovely lady, who wore the most splendid clothes, +and seemed most kind and friendly, and she offered +to see that the child was christened, if she might +be allowed to keep it afterward. The man replied +that first he must ask his wife. But when he reached +home and asked her she gave him a flat “no.” The +following day the man set out again; but no one +wanted to be the god-father if he had to pay for the +christening himself, and no matter how hard the +man begged, it was all of no avail. When he went +home that evening, he again met the lovely lady, who +looked so gentle, and she made him the same offer as +before. The man again told his wife what had happened +to him, and added that if he could not find a +god-father for his child the following day, they would +probably have to let the lady take her, since she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +seemed to be so kind and friendly. The man then +went out for the third time, and found no god-father +that day. And so, when he once more met the +friendly lady in the evening, he promised to let her +have the child, if she would see that it was baptized. +The following morning the lady came to the man’s +hut, and with her two other men. She then took the +child and went to church with it, and it was baptized. +Then she took it with her, and the little girl +remained with her for several years, and her foster-mother +was always good and kind to her.</p> + +<p>Now when the girl had grown old enough to make +distinctions, and had acquired some sense, it chanced +that her foster-mother once wished to take a journey. +“You may go into any room you wish,” she +said to the girl, “only you are not to go into these +three rooms,” and then she set out on her journey. +But the girl could not resist opening the door to the +one room a little way—and swish! out flew a star. +When her foster-mother came home, she was much +grieved to find that the star had flown out, and was +so annoyed with her foster-child that she threatened +to send her away. But the girl pleaded and cried, +until at last she was allowed to remain.</p> + +<p>After a time the foster-mother wanted to take another +journey, and she forbade the girl, above all, +to go into the two rooms which, as yet, she had not +entered. And the girl promised her that this time +she would obey her. But when she had been alone +for some time, and had had all sorts of thoughts as +to what there might be in the second room, she could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +no longer resist opening the second door a little way—and +swish! out flew the moon. When the foster-mother +returned, and saw the moon had slipped out, +she again grieved greatly, and told the girl she could +keep her no longer, and that now she must go. But +when the girl again began to cry bitterly, and +pleaded with such grace that it was impossible to +deny her, she was once more allowed to remain.</p> + +<p>After this the foster-mother wished to take another +journey, and she told the girl, who was now +more than half-grown, that she must take her request +not to go, or even so much as peep into the +third room, seriously to heart. But when the foster-mother +had been away for some time, and the girl +was all alone and bored, she could at last resist no +longer. “O,” thought she, “how pleasant it would +be to take a peep into that third room!” It is true, +that at first she thought she would not do it, because +of her foster-mother; yet when the thought +returned to her, she could not hold back, after all; +but decided that she should and must by all means +take a peep. So she opened the door the least little +bit—and swish! out flew the sun. When the foster-mother +then returned, and saw that the sun had +flown out, she grieved greatly, and told the girl that +now she could positively stay with her no longer. +The foster-daughter cried and pleaded even more +touchingly than before; but all to no avail. “No, I +must now punish you,” said the foster-mother. +“But you shall have your choice of either becoming +the most beautiful of all maidens, without the power<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +of speech, or the most homely, yet able to talk. But +you must leave this place.” The girl said: “Then I +would rather be the most beautiful of maidens without +the power of speech”—and such she became, but +from that time on she was dumb.</p> + +<p>Now when the girl had left her foster-mother, and +had wandered for a time, she came to a large, large +wood, and no matter how far she went she could not +reach its end. When evening came, she climbed into +a high tree that stood over a spring, and sat down +in its branches to sleep. Not far from it stood a +king’s castle, and early the next morning a serving-maid +came from it, to get water from the spring for +the prince’s tea. And when the serving-maid saw +the lovely face in the spring, she thought it was her +own. At once she threw down her pail and ran back +home holding her head high, and saying: “If I am +as beautiful as all that, I am too good to carry water +in a pail!” Then another was sent to fetch water, +but the same thing happened with her; she, too, came +back and said she was far too handsome and too +good to go to the spring and fetch water for the +prince. Then the prince went himself, for he wanted +to see what it all meant. And when he came to the +spring, he also saw the picture, and at once looked +up into the tree. And so he saw the lovely maiden +who was seated among its branches. He coaxed her +down, took her back home with him, and nothing +would do but that she must be his bride, because she +was so beautiful. But his mother, who was still +living, objected: “She cannot speak,” said she,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +“and, maybe, she belongs to the troll-folk.” But the +prince would not be satisfied until he had won her. +When, after a time, heaven bestowed a child upon +the queen, the prince set a strong guard about her. +But suddenly they all fell asleep, and her foster-mother +came, cut the child’s little finger, rubbed +some of the blood over the mouth and hands of the +queen, and said: “Now you shall grieve just as I did +when you let the star slip out!” And with that she +disappeared with the child. When those whom the +prince had set to keep guard opened their eyes again, +they thought that the queen had devoured her child, +and the old queen wanted to have her burned; but +the prince loved her so very tenderly, that after +much pleading he succeeded in having her saved +from punishment, though only with the greatest +difficulty.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i003" id="i003"></a> +<img src="images/i003.jpg" width="406" height="579" alt="“AND SO HE SAW THE LOVELY MAIDEN WHO WAS SEATED AMONG +ITS BRANCHES.” +—Page 59" title="" /><br /> +<span class="caption">“AND SO HE SAW THE LOVELY MAIDEN WHO WAS SEATED AMONG +ITS BRANCHES.”<br /> +<span class="flr">—Page 59</span></span> +</div> + +<p>When heaven gave her a second child, a guard of +twice as many men as had first stood watch was +again set about her; yet everything happened as before, +only that this time the foster-mother said to +her: “Now you shall grieve as I did when you let the +moon slip out!” The queen wept and pleaded—for +when the foster-mother was there she could speak—but +without avail. Now the old queen insisted that +she be burned. But the prince once more succeeded +in begging her free. When heaven gave her a third +child, a three-fold guard was set about her. The +foster-mother came while the guard slept, took the +child, cut its little finger, and rubbed some of the +blood on the queen’s mouth. “Now,” said she, “you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +shall grieve just as I did when you let the sun slip +out!” And now the prince could in no way save her, +she was to be and should be burned. But at the very +moment when they were leading her to the stake, the +foster-mother appeared with all three children; the +two older ones she led by the hand, the youngest she +carried on her arm. She stepped up to the young +queen and said: “Here are your children, for now +I give them back to you. I am the Virgin Mary, and +the grief that you have felt is the same grief that I +felt aforetimes, when you had let the star, the moon +and the sun slip out. Now you have been punished +for that which you did, and from now on the power +of speech is restored to you!”</p> + +<p>The happiness which then filled the prince and +princess may be imagined, but cannot be described. +They lived happily together ever after, and from +that time forward even the prince’s mother was very +fond of the young queen.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The Child of Mary” (Asbjörnsen, and Moe, N.F.E., p. 34, No. 8, +taken from the Bresemann translation [1847]), is a pious fairy-tale, +which is also current in Germany; a good fairy often takes the place +of the Virgin Mary.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XI<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">STORM MAGIC</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">The</span> cabin-boy had been traveling around all +summer long with his captain; but when they +began to prepare to set sail in the fall, he grew +restless and did not want to go along. The captain +liked him, for though he was no more than a boy, +he was quite at home on deck, was a big, tall lad, +and did not mind lending a hand when need arose; +then, too, he did as much work as an able seaman, +and was so full of fun that he kept the whole crew +in good humor. And so the captain did not like +to lose him. But the youth said out and out that +he was not minded to take to the blue pond in the +fall; though he was willing to stay on board till the +ship was loaded and ready to sail. One Sunday, +while the crew was ashore, and the captain had gone +to a farm-holding near the forest, in order to bargain +for small timber and log wood—presumably on +his own account—for a deck load, the youth had been +left to guard the ship. But you must know that he +was a Sunday child, and had found a four-leaf +clover; and that was the reason he had the second +sight. He could see those who are invisible, but +they could not see him.</p> + +<p>And as he was sitting there in the forward cabin,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +he heard voices within the ship. He peered through +a crack, and there were three coal-black crows sitting +inside the deck-beams, and they were talking about +their husbands. All three were tired of them, and +were planning their death. One could see at once +that they were witches, who had assumed another +form.</p> + +<p>“But is it certain that there is no one here who +can overhear us?” said one of the crows. And by +the way she spoke the cabin-boy knew her for the +captain’s wife.</p> + +<p>“No, you can see there’s not,” said the others, the +wives of the first and second quartermasters. +“There is not a soul aboard.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then I do not mind saying that I know of +a good way to get rid of them,” said the captain’s +wife once more, and hopped closer to the two others. +“We will turn ourselves into breakers, wash them +into the sea, and sink the ship with every man on +board.”</p> + +<p>That pleased the others, and they sat there a long +time discussing the day and the fairway. “But is +it certain that no one can overhear us?” once more +asked the captain’s wife.</p> + +<p>“You know that such is the case,” said the two +others.</p> + +<p>“Well, there is a counter-spell for what we wish +to do, and if it is used, it will go hard with us, for +it will cost us nothing less than our lives!”</p> + +<p>“What is the counter-spell, sister,” asked the wife +of the one quartermaster.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Is it certain that no one is listening to us? It +seemed to me as though some one were smoking in +the forward cabin.”</p> + +<p>“But you know we looked in every corner. They +just forgot to let the fire go out in the caboose, and +that is why there’s smoke,” said the quartermaster’s +wife, “so tell away.”</p> + +<p>“If they buy three cords of birch-wood,” said the +witch,—“but it must be full measure, and they must +not bargain for it—and throw the first cord into the +water, billet by billet, when the first breaker strikes, +and the second cord, billet by billet, when the second +breaker strikes, and the third cord, billet by billet, +when the third breaker strikes, then it is all up +with us!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s true, sister, then it is all up with us! +Then it is all up with us!” said the wives of the +quartermasters; “but there is no one who knows +it,” they cried, and laughed loudly, and with that +they flew out of the hatchway, screaming and croaking +like ravens.</p> + +<p>When it came time to sail, the cabin-boy would not +go along for anything in the world; and all the captain’s +coaxing, and all his promises were useless, +nothing would tempt him to go. At last they asked +him whether he were afraid, because fall was at +hand, and said he would rather hide behind the stove, +hanging to mother’s apron strings. No, said the +youth, he was not afraid, and they could not say +that they had ever seen him show a sign of so land-lubberly +a thing as fear; and he was willing to prove<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +it to them, for now he was going along with them, +but he made it a condition that three cords of birch-wood +were to be bought, full measure, and that on a +certain day he was to have command, just as though +he himself were the captain. The captain asked +what sort of nonsense this might be, and whether +he had ever heard of a cabin-boy’s being entrusted +with the command of a ship. But the boy answered +that was all one to him; if they did not care to buy +the three cords of birch-wood, and obey him, as +though he were captain, for the space of a single +day—the captain and crew should know which day +it was to be in advance—then he would set foot on +the ship no more, and far less would he ever dirty +his hands with pitch and tar on her again. The +whole thing seemed strange to the captain, yet he +finally gave in, because he wanted to have the boy +along with him and, no doubt, he also thought that +he would come to his senses again when they were +once under way. The quartermaster was of the +same opinion. “Just let him command all he likes, +and if things go wrong with him, we’ll help him out,” +said he. So the birch-wood was bought, full-measure +and without haggling, and they set sail.</p> + +<p>When the day came on which the cabin-boy was +to take command, the weather was fair and quiet; +but he drummed up the whole ship’s crew, and with +the exception of a tiny bit of canvas, had all sails +reefed. The captain and crew laughed at him, and +said: “That shows the sort of a captain we have +now. Don’t you want us to reef that last bit of sail<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +this very minute?” “Not yet,” answered the cabin-boy, +“but before long.”</p> + +<p>Suddenly a squall struck them, struck them so +heavily that they thought they would capsize, and +had they not reefed the sails they would undoubtedly +have foundered when the first breaker roared +down upon the ship.</p> + +<p>The boy ordered them to throw the first cord of +birch-wood overboard, billet by billet, one at a time +and never two, and he did not let them touch the +other two cords. Now they obeyed him to the letter, +and did not laugh; but cast out the birch-wood billet +by billet. When the last billet fell they heard a +groaning, as though some one were wrestling with +death, and then the squall had passed.</p> + +<p>“Heaven be praised!” said the crew—and the captain +added: “I am going to let the company know +that you saved ship and cargo.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all very well, but we are not through +yet,” said the boy, “there is worse to come,” and he +told them to reef every last rag, as well as what had +been left of the topsails. The second squall hit them +with even greater force than the first, and was so +vicious and violent that the whole crew was frightened. +While it was at its worst, the boy told them +to throw overboard the second cord; and they threw +it over billet by billet, and took care not to take any +from the third cord. When the last billet fell, they +again heard a deep groan, and then all was still. +“Now there will be one more squall, and that will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +be the worst,” said the boy, and sent every one to +his station. There was not a hawser loose on the +whole ship.</p> + +<p>The last squall hit them with far more force than +either of the preceding ones, the ship laid over on +her side so that they thought she would not right +herself again, and the breaker swept over the deck.</p> + +<p>But the boy told them to throw the last cord of +wood overboard, billet by billet, and no two billets +at once. And when the last billet of wood fell, they +heard a deep groaning, as though some one were +dying hard, and when all was quiet once more, the +whole sea was the color of blood, as far as eye could +reach.</p> + +<p>When they reached land, the captain and the quartermasters +spoke of writing to their wives. “That +is something you might just as well let be,” said the +cabin-boy, “seeing that you no longer have any +wives.”</p> + +<p>“What silly talk is this, young know-it-all! We +have no wives?” said the captain. “Or do you happen +to have done away with them?” asked the quartermasters.</p> + +<p>“No, all of us together did away with them,” answered +the boy, and told them what he had heard +and seen that Sunday afternoon when he was on +watch on the ship; while the crew was ashore, and +the captain was buying his deckload of wood.</p> + +<p>And when they sailed home they learned that their +wives had disappeared the day of the storm, and that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +since that time no one had seen or heard anything +more of them.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>A weird tale of the sea and of witches is that of “Storm Magic” +(Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Huldreeventyr</cite>, I, p. 248. From the vicinity of Christiania, +told by a sailor, Rasmus Olsen). In the “Fritjof Legend” +the hero has a similar adventure at sea with two witches, who call +up a tremendous storm. It would be interesting to know the inner +context of the cabin-boy’s counter magic, and why it is that the +birch-wood, cast into the sea billet by billet, had the power to +destroy the witches.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE FOUR-SHILLING PIECE</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a poor woman, who +lived in a wretched hut far away from the village. +She had but little to bite and less to burn, so +she sent her little boy to the forest to gather wood. +He skipped and leaped, and leaped and skipped, in +order to keep warm, for it was a cold, gray autumn +day, and whenever he had gathered a root or a +branch to add to his bundle, he had to slap his arms +against his shoulders, for the cold made his hands +as red as the whortleberry bushes over which he +walked. When he had filled his barrow, and was +wandering homeward, he crossed a field of stubble. +There he saw lying a jagged white stone. “O, you +poor old stone, how white and pale you are! You +must be freezing terribly!” said the boy; took off +his jacket, and laid it over the stone. And when +he came back home with his wood, his mother asked +him how it was that he was going around in the +autumn cold in his shirt-sleeves. He told her that +he had seen a jagged old stone, quite white and pale +with the frost, and that he had given it his jacket. +“You fool,” said the woman, “do you think a stone +can freeze? And even if it had chattered with frost, +still, charity begins at home. Your clothes cost +enough as it is, even when you don’t hang them on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +the stones out in the field!”—and with that she +drove the boy out again to fetch his jacket. When +he came to the stone, the stone had turned around, +and had raised itself from the ground on one side. +“Yes, and I’m sure it is because you have the jacket, +poor fellow!” said the boy. But when he looked +more closely, there was a chest full of bright silver +coins under the stone. “That must be stolen +money,” thought the boy, “for no one lays money +honestly earned under stones in the wood.” And +he took the chest, and carried it down to the pond +nearby, and threw in the whole pile of money. But +a four-shilling piece was left swimming on the top +of the water. “Well, this one is honest, for whatever +is honest will float,” said the boy. And he took +the four-shilling piece and the jacket home with him. +He told his mother what had happened to him, that +the stone had turned around, and that he had found +a chest full of silver coins, and had thrown it into +the pond because it was stolen money. “But a four-shilling +piece floated, and that I took along, because +it was honest,” said the boy. “You are a fool,” said +the woman—for she was as angry as could be—“if +nothing were honest save what floats on the water, +there would be but little honesty left in the world. +And if the money had been stolen ten times over, +still you had found it, and charity begins at home. +If you had kept the money, we might have passed +the rest of our lives in peace and comfort. But +you are a dunderhead and will stay a dunderhead, +and I won’t be tormented and burdened with you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +any longer. Now you must get out and earn your +own living.”</p> + +<p>So the boy had to go out into the wide world, and +wandered about far and near looking for service. +But wherever he went people found him too small or +too weak, and said that they could make no use +of him. At last he came to a merchant. There they +kept him to work in the kitchen, and he had to fetch +wood and water for the cook. When he had been +there for some time, the merchant decided to journey +to far countries, and asked all his servants what +he should buy and bring back home for them. After +all had told him what they wanted, came the turn of +the little fellow who carried wood and water for the +kitchen. He handed him his four-shilling piece. +“Well, and what am I to buy for it?” asked the +merchant. “It will not be a large purchase.” “Buy +whatever it will bring, it is honest money, that I +know,” said the boy. His master promised to do so, +and sailed away.</p> + +<p>Now when the merchant had discharged his cargo +in foreign parts and had reloaded, and had bought +what his servants had desired, he went back to his +ship, and was about to shove off. Not until then did +he remember that the scullion had given him a four-shilling +piece, with which to buy him something. +“Must I go up to the city again because of this +four-shilling piece? One only has one’s troubles +when one bothers with such truck,” thought the +merchant. Then along came a woman with a bag on +her back. “What have you in your bag, granny?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +asked the merchant. “O, it is only a cat! I can +feed her no longer, and so I want to throw her into +the sea in order to get rid of her,” said the old +woman. “The boy told me to buy whatever I could +get for the four-shilling piece,” said the merchant +to himself, and asked the woman whether he could +have her cat for four shillings. The woman agreed +without delay, and the bargain was closed.</p> + +<p>Now when the merchant had sailed on for a while, +a terrible storm broke loose, a thunderstorm without +an equal, and he drifted and drifted, and did not +know where or whither. At last he came to a land +where he had never yet been, and went up into the +city.</p> + +<p>In the tavern which he entered the table was set, +and at every place lay a switch, one for each guest. +This seemed strange to the merchant, for he could +not understand what was to be done with all the +switches. Yet he sat down and thought: “I will +watch carefully, and see just what the rest do with +them, and then I can imitate them.” Yes, and when +the food came on the table, then he knew why the +switches were there: the place was alive with thousands +of mice, and all who were sitting at the table +had to work and fight and beat about them with their +switches, and nothing could be heard but the slapping +of the switches, one worse than the other. +Sometimes people hit each other in the face, and +then they had to take time to say, “Excuse me!”</p> + +<p>“Eating is hard work in this country,” said the +merchant. “How is it the folk here have no cats?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +“Cats?” said the people: they did not know what +they were. Then the merchant had the cat that he +had bought for the scullion brought, and when the +cat went over the table, the mice had to hurry into +their holes, and not in the memory of man had the +people been able to eat in such comfort. Then they +begged and implored the merchant to sell them his +cat. At last he said he would let them have her; +but he wanted a hundred dollars for her, and this +they paid, and thanked him kindly into the bargain.</p> + +<p>Then the merchant sailed on, but no sooner had he +reached the high seas than he saw the cat sitting at +the top of the main-mast. And immediately after +another storm and tempest arose, far worse than the +first one, and he drifted and drifted, till he came to +a land where he had never yet been. Again the merchant +went to a tavern, and here, too, the table was +covered with switches; but they were much larger +and longer than at the place where he had first been. +And they were much needed; for there were a good +many more mice, and they were twice the size of +those he had first seen.</p> + +<p>Here he again sold his cat, and this time he received +two hundred dollars for her, and that without +any haggling. But when he had sailed off and was +out at sea a way, there sat the cat up in the mast. +And the storm at once began again, and finally he +was again driven to a land in which he had never +been. Again he turned in at a tavern, and there the +table was also covered with switches; but every +switch was a yard and a half long, and as thick as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +a small broom, and the people told him that they +knew of nothing more disagreeable than to sit down +to eat, for there were great, ugly rats by the thousand. +Only with toil and trouble could one manage +to shove a bite of something into one’s mouth once +in a while, so hard was it to defend oneself against +the rats. Then the cat was again brought from the +ship, and now the people could eat in peace. They +begged and pleaded that the merchant sell them his +cat; and for a long time he refused; but at last he +promised that they should have her for three hundred +dollars. And they paid him, and thanked him, +and blessed him into the bargain.</p> + +<p>Now when the merchant was out at sea again, he +considered how much the boy had gained with the +four-shilling piece he had given him. “Well, he +shall have some of the money,” said the merchant +to himself, “but not all of it. For he has to thank +me for the cat, which I bought for him, and charity +begins at home.”</p> + +<p>But while the merchant was thinking these +thoughts, such a storm and tempest arose that all +thought the ship would sink. Then the merchant +realized that there was nothing left for him to do +but to promise that the boy should have all the +money. No sooner had he made his vow, than the +weather turned fair, and he had a favoring wind +for his journey home. And when he landed, he gave +the youth the six hundred dollars and his daughter +to boot. For now the scullion was as rich as the +merchant himself and richer, and thereafter he lived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +in splendor and happiness. And he took in his +mother and treated her kindly. “For I do not believe +that charity begins at home,” said the youth.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The Honest Four-Shilling Piece” (Asbjörnsen and Moe, N.F.E., +p. 306, No. 59) stands for the idealization of childish simplicity +and honesty, which after much travail, and despite the ill-will of +the “experienced,” comes into its deserved own.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XIII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE MAGIC APPLES</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a lad who was +better off than all the others. He was never +short of money, for he had a purse which was never +empty. He never was short of food, for he had a +table-cloth on which, as soon as he spread it, he +found all he wanted to eat and drink. And, besides, +he had a magic wishing cap. When he put it on he +could wish himself wherever he wanted, and there +he would be that very moment.</p> + +<p>There was only one thing that he lacked: he had +no wife, and he was gradually coming into the years +when it would be necessary for him to make haste.</p> + +<p>As he was walking sadly along one fine day, it +occurred to him to wish himself where he would find +the most beautiful princess in the world. No sooner +had he thought of it than he was there. And it was +a land which he had never yet seen, and a city in +which he had never yet been. And the king had a +daughter, so handsome that he had never yet beheld +her like, and he wanted to have her on the spot. But +she would have nothing to do with him, and was very +haughty.</p> + +<p>Finally he despaired altogether, and was so beside +himself that he could no longer be where she was not. +So he took his magic cap and wished himself into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +castle. He wanted to say good-by, so he said. And +she laid her hand in his. “I wish we were far beyond +the end of the world!” said the youth, and +there they were. But the king’s daughter wept, and +begged to be allowed to go home again. He could +have all the gold and silver in the castle in return. +“I have money enough for myself,” said the youth, +and he shook his purse so that money just rolled +about. He could sit down at the royal table and eat +the finest food, and drink the finest wines, said she. +“I have enough to eat and drink myself,” said the +youth. “See, you can sit down at the table,” said +he, and at once he spread his table-cloth. And there +stood a table covered with the best one might wish; +and the king himself ate no better.</p> + +<p>After they had eaten, the king’s daughter said: +“O, do look at the handsome apples up there on the +tree! If you were really kind, you would fetch me +down a couple of them!” The youth was not lazy, +and climbed up. But he had forgotten his table-cloth +and his purse, and these she took. And while +he was shaking down the apples his cap fell off. She +at once put it on and wished herself back in her +own room, and there she was that minute.</p> + +<p>“You might have known it,” said the youth to +himself, and hurried down the tree. He began to +cry and did not know what to do. And as he was +sitting there, he sampled the apples which he had +thrown down. No sooner had he tried one than he +had a strange feeling in his head, and when he +looked more closely, he had a pair of horns. “Well,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +now it can do me no more harm,” said he, and calmly +went on eating the apples. But suddenly the horns +had disappeared, and he was as before. “Good +enough!” said the youth. And with that he put the +apples in his pocket, and set out to search for the +king’s daughter.</p> + +<p>He went from city to city, and sailed from country +to country; but it was a long journey, and lasted a +year and a day, and even longer.</p> + +<p>But one day he got there after all. It was a +Sunday, and he found out that the king’s daughter +was at church. Then he sat himself down with his +apples before the church door, and pretended to be +a peddler. “Apples of Damascus! Apples of +Damascus!” he cried. And sure enough, the king’s +daughter came, and told her maidens to go and see +what desirable things the peddler from abroad might +have to offer. Yes, he had apples of Damascus. +“What do the apples give one?” asked the maiden. +“Wisdom and beauty!” said the peddler, and the +maiden bought.</p> + +<p>When the king’s daughter had eaten of the apples, +she had a pair of horns. And then there was +such a wailing in the castle that it was pitiful to +hear. And the castle was hung with black, and in +the whole kingdom proclamation was made from all +pulpits that whoever could help the king’s daughter +should get her, and half the kingdom besides. Then +Tom, Dick and Harry, and the best physicians in +the country came along. But none of them could +help the princess.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>But one day a foreign doctor from afar came to +court. He was not from their country, he said, and +had made the journey purposely just to try his luck +here. But he must see the king’s daughter alone, +said he, and permission was granted him.</p> + +<p>The king’s daughter recognized him, and grew red +and pale in turn. “If I help you now, will you +marry me?” asked the youth. Yes, indeed she +would. Then he gave her one of the magic apples, +and her horns were only half as large as before. +“But I cannot do more until I have my cap, and +my table-cloth, and my purse back again,” said he. +So she went and brought him the things. Then he +gave her still another magic apple, and now the +horns were no more than tiny hornlets. “But now I +cannot go on until you have sworn that you will be +true to me,” said he. And she swore that she would. +And after she had eaten the third apple, her forehead +was quite smooth again, and she was even +more beautiful than in days gone by.</p> + +<p>Then there was great joy in the castle. They prepared +for the wedding with baking and brewing, and +invited people from East and West to come to it. +And they ate and drank, and were merry and of good +cheer, and if they have not stopped, they are merry +and of good cheer to this very day!</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The Magic Apples” (<cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Norske Eventyr og Sagn</cite>, optegnet av Sophus +Bugge og Rikard Berge, Christiania, 1909, p. 61) is probably a somewhat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +original version of one of the cycles of tales in which people +acquire asses’ ears, long noses, humped backs and other adornments, +through eating some enchanted fruit. The British Isles are believed +to be the home-land of this tale, and it is thought to have emigrated +to Scandinavia by way of France and Germany.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XIV<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">SELF DID IT</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a mill, in which it +was impossible to grind flour, because such +strange things kept happening there. But there was +a poor woman who was in urgent need of a little +meal one evening, and she asked whether they would +not allow her to grind a little flour during the night. +“For heaven’s sake,” said the mill-owner, “that is +quite impossible! There are ghosts enough in the +mill as it is.” But the woman said that she must +grind a little; for she did not have a pinch of flour +in the house with which to make mush, and there was +nothing for her children to eat. So at last he allowed +her to go to the mill at night and grind some +flour. When she came, she lit a fire under a big tar-barrel +that was standing there; got the mill going, +sat down by the fire, and began to knit. After a time +a girl came in and nodded to her. “Good evening!” +said she to the woman. “Good evening!” said the +woman; kept her seat, and went on knitting. But +then the girl who had come in began to pull apart +the fire on the hearth. The woman built it up again.</p> + +<p>“What is your name?” asked the girl from underground.</p> + +<p>“Self is my name,” said the woman.</p> + +<p>That seemed a curious name to the girl, and she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +once more began to pull the fire apart. Then the +woman grew angry and began to scold, and built it +all up again. Thus they went on for a good while; +but at last, while they were in the midst of their +pulling apart and building up of the fire, the woman +upset the tar-barrel on the girl from underground. +Then the latter screamed and ran away, crying:</p> + +<p>“Father, father! Self burned me!”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense, if self did it, then self must suffer +for it!” came the answer from below the hill.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“Self Did It” (Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Huldreeventyr</cite>, I, p. 10. From the +vicinity of Sandakar, told by a half-grown boy) belongs to the cycle +of the Polyphemus fairy-tales, with a possible glimmer of the old +belief that beings low in the mythological scale are most easily controlled +by fire.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XV<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE MASTER GIRL</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a king who had +several sons; I do not just know how many +there were, but the youngest was not content at +home, and insisted on going out into the world to +seek his fortune. And in the end the king had to +give him permission to do so. After he had wandered +for a few days, he came to a giant’s castle, +and took service with the giant. In the morning +the giant wanted to go off to herd his goats, and +when he started he told the king’s son he was to +clean the stable in the meantime. “And when you +are through with that, you need do nothing more +for to-day, for you might as well know that you have +come to a kind master,” said he. “But you must +do what you are told to do conscientiously and, besides, +you must not go into any of the rooms that +lie behind the one in which you slept last night, else +your life will pay the forfeit.”</p> + +<p>“He surely is a kind master,” said the king’s son +to himself, walked up and down the room, and +whistled and sang; for, thought he, there would be +plenty of time to clean the stable. “But it would +be nice to take a look at the other room, there surely +must be something in it that he is alarmed about,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +since I am not so much as to take a look,” thought +he, and went into the first room. There hung a kettle, +and it was boiling, but the king’s son could find +no fire beneath it. “What can there be in it?” +thought he, and dipped in a lock of his hair, and at +once the hair grew just like copper. “That’s a +fine soup, and whoever tastes it will burn his +mouth,” said the youth, and went into the next room. +There hung another kettle that bubbled and boiled; +but there was no fire beneath it, either. “I must try +this one, too,” said the king’s son, and again he +dipped in a lock of his hair and it grew just like +silver. “We have no such expensive soup at home,” +said the king’s son, “but the main thing is, how +does it taste?” and with that he went into the third +room. And there hung still another kettle, a-boiling +just like those in the two other rooms, and the king’s +son wanted to try this one, too. He dipped in a lock +of his hair, and it came out like pure gold, and fairly +shimmered.</p> + +<p>Then the king’s son said: “Better and better! +But if he cooks gold here, I wonder what he cooks +inside, there?” And he wanted to see, so he went +into the fourth room. Here there was no kettle to +be seen; but a maiden sat on a bench who must have +been a king’s daughter; yet whatever she might be, +the king’s son had never seen any one so beautiful +in all his days. “Now in heaven’s name, what are +you doing here?” asked the maiden. “I hired myself +out here yesterday,” said the king’s son. “May +God be your aid, for it is a fine service you have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +chosen!” said she. “O, the master is very friendly,” +said the king’s son. “He has given me no hard work +to do to-day. When I have cleaned out the stable, I +need do nothing more.” “Yes, but how are you going +to manage it?” she went on. “If you do as the +others have done, then for every shovelful you pitch +out, ten fresh shovelfuls will fly in. But I’ll tell you +how to go about it. You must turn around the +shovel, and work with the handle, then everything +will fly out by itself.”</p> + +<p>This he would do, said the king’s son; and he sat +there with her all day long, for they had soon agreed +that they would marry, he and the king’s daughter, +and in this way his first day in the giant’s service +did not weary him at all. When evening came on, +she told him that now he must clean out the stable +before the giant came, and when he got there he +thought he would try out her advice, and began to +use the shovel as he had seen his father’s grooms +use it. And sure enough, he had to stop quickly, for +after he had worked a little while, he hardly had +room in which to stand. Then he did as the king’s +daughter had told him, turned the shovel around +and used the handle. And in a wink the stable was +as clean as though it had been scrubbed. When he +had finished he went to the room that the giant had +assigned him, and walked up and down, whistling +and singing. Then the giant came home with his +goats. “Have you cleaned out the stable?” he asked. +“Yes, indeed, master, it is spick and span,” said the +king’s son. “I’ll have to see that,” said the giant,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +and went into the stable; but it was just as the king’s +son had said. “You surely have been talking to the +Master Girl, for you could not have done that +alone,” said the giant. “Master Girl? What is a +Master Girl?” said the king’s son, and pretended to +be very stupid. “I’d like to see her, too.” “You +will see her in plenty of time,” said the giant.</p> + +<p>The next morning the giant went off again with +his goats. And he told the king’s son he was to fetch +his horse from the pasture, and when he had done +this, he might rest: “For you have come to a kind +master,” said he. “But if you enter one of the +rooms which I forbade you entering yesterday, I will +tear off your head,” he said, and went away with his +herd. “Indeed, you are a kind master,” said the +king’s son, “but in spite of it I’d like to have another +little talk with the Master Girl, for she is just +as much mine as yours,” and with that he went in to +her. She asked him what work he had to do that +day. “O, it is not so bad to-day,” said the king’s +son. “I am only to fetch his horse from the pasture.” +“And how are you going to manage that?” +asked the Master Girl. “Surely it is no great feat +to fetch a horse from pasture,” said the king’s son, +“and I have ridden swift horses before.” “Yet it is +not an easy matter to ride this horse home,” said +the Master Girl, “but I will tell you how to set about +it: When you see the horse, he will come running +up, breathing fire and flame, just as though he were +a burning pine-torch. Then you must take the bit +that is hanging here on the door, and throw it into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +his mouth, for then he will grow so tame that you +can do what you will with him.” He would take +good note of it, said the king’s son, and he sat there +with the Master Girl the whole day long, and they +chatted and talked about this and that, but mainly +about how delightful it would be, and what a pleasant +time they could have, if they could only marry and +get away from the giant. And the king’s son would +have forgotten the pasture and the horse altogether, +had not the Master Girl reminded him of them +toward evening. He took the bit that hung in the +corner, hurried out to the pasture, and the horse +at once ran up, breathing fire and flame; but he +seized the moment when he came running up to him +with his jaws wide open, and threw the bit into his +mouth. Then he stood still, as gentle as a young +lamb, and he had no trouble bringing him to the +stable. Then he went to his room again, and began +to whistle and sing. In the evening the giant came +home with his goats. “Did you fetch the horse?” +he asked. “Yes, master,” said the king’s son. “It +would make a fine saddle-horse, but I just took it +straight to the stable.” “I’ll have to see that,” said +the giant, and went into the stable. But there stood +the horse, just as the king’s son had said. “You +surely must have spoken to my Master Girl, for you +could not have done that alone,” said the giant. +“Yesterday the master chattered about the Master +Girl, and to-day he is talking about her again. I +wish master would show me the creature, for I surely +would like to see her,” said the king’s son, and pretended<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +to be very simple and stupid. “You will get +to see her in plenty of time,” said the giant.</p> + +<p>On the third morning the giant went off again with +his goats. “To-day you must go to the devil, and +fetch me his tribute,” said he to the king’s son. +“When you have done that, you may rest for the +remainder of the time, for you have come to a kind +master, and you might as well know it,” and with +that he went off. “You may be a kind master,” said +the king’s son; “yet you hand over some pretty mean +jobs to me in spite of it, but I think I’ll look after +your Master Girl a bit. You claim that she belongs +to you, but perhaps, in spite of it, she may tell me +what to do,” and with that he went in to her. And +when the Master Girl asked him what the giant had +given him to do that day, he told her he must go to +the devil and fetch a tribute. “But how will you go +about it?” asked the Master Girl. “You will have +to tell me that,” said the king’s son, “for I have +never been to the devil’s place, and even though I +knew the way there, I still would not know how +much to ask for.” “I will tell you what you must +do,” said the Master Girl. “You must go to the +rock behind the pasture, and take the club that is +lying there, and strike the rock with it. Then one +will come out whose eyes flash fire, and you must +tell him your business. And if he asks how much +you want, you must tell him as much as you can +carry.” He would take good note of it, said the +king’s son, and he sat there with the Master Girl +all day long until evening, and he might be sitting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +there yet, if the Master Girl had not reminded him +that he must still go to the devil about the tribute +before the giant came home. So he set out, and did +exactly as the Master Girl had told him: he went +to the rock, took the club and beat against it. Then +one came out from whose eyes and nose the sparks +flew. “What do you want?” he asked. “The giant +has sent me to fetch his tribute,” said the king’s son. +“How much do you want?” the other again inquired. +“I never ask for more than I can carry,” +was the reply of the king’s son. “It is lucky for +you that you did not ask for a whole ton at once,” +said the one on the hill. “But come in with me, and +wait a while.” This the king’s son did, and saw a +great deal of gold and silver lying in the hill like +dead rock in an ore-pile. Then as much as he could +carry was packed up, and with it he went his way. +When the giant came home in the evening with his +goats, the king’s son was running about the room, +whistling and singing as on the two preceding evenings. +“Did you go to the devil for the tribute?” +asked the giant. “Yes, indeed, master,” said the +king’s son. “Where did you put it?” asked the giant +again. “I stood the sack of gold outside on the +bench,” was the reply. “I must see that at once,” +said the giant, and went over to the bench. But the +sack was really standing there, and it was so full +that the gold and silver rolled right out when +the giant loosened the string. “You surely must +have spoken to my Master Girl,” said the giant. +“If that is the case I will tear your head off.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +“With your Master Girl?” said the king’s son. +“Yesterday master talked about that Master Girl, +and to-day he is talking about her again, and the day +before yesterday he talked about her, too! I only +wish that I might get the chance to see her sometime!” +said he. “Well, just wait until to-morrow,” +said the giant, “and then I will lead you to her myself,” +he said. “A thousand thanks, master,” said +the king’s son, “but I think you are only joking!” +The following day the giant took him to the Master +Girl.</p> + +<p>“Now you must slaughter him, and cook him in +the big kettle, you know which one I mean. And +when the soup is ready, you can call me,” said the +giant, and he lay down on the bench to sleep, and +at once began to snore so that the hills shook. Then +the Master Girl took a knife, and cut the youth’s +little finger, and let three drops of blood fall on the +bench. Then she took all the old rags, and old shoes +and other rubbish she could find, and threw them all +into the kettle. And then she took a chest of gold-dust, +and a lick-stone, and a bottle of water that +hung over the door, and a golden apple, and two +golden hens, and left the giant’s castle together with +the king’s son as quickly as possible. After a time +they came to the sea, and they sailed across; though +where they got the ship I do not exactly know.</p> + +<p>Now when the giant had been sleeping quite a +while, he began to stretch himself on his bench. “Is +dinner ready yet?” he asked. “Just begun!” said +the first drop of blood on the bench. Then the giant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +turned around, went to sleep again, and went on +sleeping for quite some time. Then he again turned +around a little. “Is dinner not ready yet?” he said, +but did not open his eyes—nor had he done so the +first time—for he was still half asleep. “It is half +ready!” called out the second drop of blood, and +then the giant thought it was the Master Girl. He +turned around on the bench and took another nap. +After he had slept a couple of hours longer, he once +more began to move about and stretch: “Is dinner +still not ready?” said he. “Ready!” answered the +third drop of blood. The giant sat up and rubbed +his eyes. But he could not see who had called him, +and so he called out to the Master Girl. But no one +answered him. “O, I suppose she has gone out for +a little,” thought the giant, and he dipped his spoon +in the kettle to try the dinner; but there was nothing +but leather soles and rags and like rubbish cooked +together, and he did not know whether it were mush +or porridge. When he noticed this he began to see +a light, and realize how matters had come to pass, +and he grew so angry that he hardly knew what to +do, and made after the king’s son and the Master +Girl in flying haste. In a short time he came to the +sea, and could not cross. “But I know how to help +myself,” said he. “I will fetch my sea-sucker.” So +the sea-sucker came, and lay down and took two or +three swallows, and thus lowered the water so that +the giant could see the king’s son and the Master +Girl out on the ship. “Now you must throw the +lick-stone overboard,” said the Master Girl, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +the king’s son did so. It turned into a tremendous +large rock square across the sea, and the giant could +not get over, and the sea-sucker could drink up no +more of the sea. “I know quite well what I must +do,” said the giant. “I must now fetch my hill-borer.” +So the hill-borer came, and bored a hole +through the rock, so the sea-sucker could get through +and keep on sucking. But no sooner were they thus +far than the Master Girl told the king’s son to pour +a drop or so of the bottle overboard, and the sea +grew so full that they had landed before the sea-sucker +could so much as take a single swallow.</p> + +<p>Now they wanted to go home to the father of +the king’s son; but he would not hear of the Master +Girl’s going afoot, since he did not think this fitting +for either of them. “Wait here a little while, until +I fetch the seven horses that stand in my father’s +stable,” said the king’s son. “It is not far, and I +will soon be back; for I will not have my bride come +marching home afoot.” “No, do not do so, for when +you get home to the castle you will forget me, I know +that positively,” said the Master Girl. “How could +I forget you?” said the king’s son. “We have +passed through so many hardships together, and we +love each other so dearly,” said he. He wanted to +fetch the coach and seven horses at all costs, and +she was to wait by the seashore. So at last the +Master Girl had to give in.</p> + +<p>“But when you get there, you must not take time +to greet a single person. You must at once go to +the stable, harness the horses, and drive back as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +swiftly as you can. They will all come to meet you, +but you must act as though you did not see them, +and must not take a single bite to eat. If you do +not do that, you will make both of us unhappy,” said +she. And he promised to do as she had said.</p> + +<p>But when he got home to the castle, one of his +brothers was just getting married, and the bride and +all the guests were already there. They all crowded +around him and asked him this, and asked him that, +and wanted to lead him in. But he acted as though +he saw none of them, led out the horses, and began to +put them to the coach. And since they could by no +manner of means induce him to come into the castle, +they came out with food and drink, and offered him +the best of all that had been prepared for the wedding +feast.</p> + +<p>But the king’s son would taste nothing, and only +made haste in order to get away. Yet, finally, the +bride’s sister rolled an apple over to him across +the court-yard: “And if you will touch nothing else, +then at least you might take a bite of the apple, for +you must be hungry and thirsty after your long +journey,” said she, and he took the apple and bit +into it. But no sooner did he have the bit of apple +in his mouth than he had forgotten the Master Girl, +and that he was to fetch her. “I think I must be +going mad! What am I doing with the horses and +the coach?” he said, and he led back the horses into +the stable, and went back to the castle, and wanted to +marry the bride’s sister, the one who had thrown +him the apple.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the meantime the Master Girl sat by the seashore, +and waited and waited; but no king’s son +came. Then she went on, and after she had gone a +while, she came to a little hut that lay all by itself +in the forest, near the king’s castle. She went in +and asked whether she might not stay there. Now +the little hut belonged to an old woman, and she +was an arrant and evil witch; at first she did not +want to take in the Master Girl at all; but at last +she agreed to do so for love of money. But the +whole hut was as dark and dirty as a pig-sty; therefore +the Master Girl said she would clean up a bit, +so that things would look as they did in other, decent +people’s houses. The old woman would have none +of it, and was very disagreeable and angry; but the +Master Girl paid no attention to her. She took the +chest of gold dust, and threw a handful into the +fire, so that a ray of gold shone over the whole hut, +and it was gilded outside and in. But when the gold +flamed up, the old woman was so terribly frightened +that she ran out as though the evil one were after +her, and from pure rage she forgot to duck at the +threshold, and ran her head against the door-post. +And that was the end of her.</p> + +<p>The following morning the bailiff came by. He +was much surprised to see the little golden hut, glittering +and sparkling there in the forest, and was +still more surprised at the girl within the hut. He +fell in love with her at once, and asked her whether +she would not become the bailiff’s lady. “Yes, but +have you plenty of money?” said the Master Girl.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +Yes, he had quite a little, said the bailiff. Then he +went home to fetch his money, and came back again +at evening dragging along an enormous sack of it, +which he stood on a bench before the door. The +Master Girl said that, seeing he had so much money, +she would accept him. And then she asked him to +rake the fire, which she said she had forgotten to +do. But as soon as he had the poker in his hand, +the Master Girl cried: “May God grant that you +hold the poker, and the poker hold you, and that +sparks and ashes fly around you until morning!” +And there the bailiff stood the whole night through, +and sparks and ashes flew about him, nor were the +sparks the less hot for all his complaining and begging. +And when morning came, and he could let go +the poker, he did not stay long; but ran off as though +the evil one were at his heels. And those who saw +him stared and laughed, for he ran like a madman, +and looked as though he had been thrashed and +tanned. And all would have liked to have known +where he had come from, but he said not a word, for +he was ashamed.</p> + +<p>On the following day the clerk passed by the +Master Girl’s little house. He saw it glistening and +shining in the woods, and went in to find out who +lived there. When he saw the beautiful girl he fell +even more deeply in love with her than the bailiff +had, and lost no time in suing for her hand. The +Master Girl asked him, as she had asked the bailiff, +whether he had plenty of money. Money he had to +spare, answered the clerk, and ran right home to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +fetch it. By evening he was back again with a great +sack—it must have been as much again as the bailiff +had brought—and stood it on the bench. And so +she promised to take him. Then she asked him to +shut the house-door, which she said she had forgotten +to do. But when he had the door-knob in his +hand, she cried: “May God grant that you hold the +door-knob and that the door-knob hold you, and that +you move back and forth with it all night long until +morning!” And the clerk had to dance the whole +night through, such a waltz as he had never tripped +before, and he had no wish to repeat the experience. +Sometimes he was ahead, and sometimes the door +was, and so they went back and forth all night, from +wall to post and post to wall, and he was nearly +bruised to death. First he cursed, then he wailed +and pleaded; but the door paid no attention to him, +and flung open and shut until it dawned. When it +at last released him, he hurried away as quickly as +though he had stolen something, forgot his sackful +of money, and his wish to marry, and was glad that +the door did not come threshing along after him. +All grinned and stared at the clerk, for he ran +like a madman, and looked worse than if a ram had +been butting him all night long.</p> + +<p>On the third day the magistrate came by, and also +saw the little golden house in the forest. And he, +too, went in to see who lived in it. And when he +saw the Master Girl, he fell so deeply in love with +her that he sued for her hand as soon as he bade +her good-day. But she told him just what she had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +told the others, that if he had plenty of money she +would take him. He had money enough, said the +magistrate, and he went straight home to fetch it. +When he came back in the evening, he had a much +bigger sack of money with him than the clerk had +had, and he stood it on the bench. Then the Master +Girl said she would take him. But first she asked +him to go fetch the calf, which she had forgotten +to bring to the stable. And when he had the calf +by the tail she cried: “May God grant that you hold +the calf’s tail, and the calf’s tail hold you, and that +you fly about the world together until morning!” +And with that the race began, over stick and stone, +over hill and dale, and the more the magistrate +cursed and yelled, the more madly the calf ran +away. When it dawned there was hardly a whole +bone in the magistrate’s body, and he was so happy +to be able to let go the calf’s tail that he forgot his +bag of money, and the whole occurrence. It is true +that he went home more slowly than the bailiff and +the clerk; but the slower he went the more time +the people had to stare and grin at him, so ragged +and badly beaten did he appear after his dance with +the calf.</p> + +<p>On the following day there was to be a wedding +at the castle, and not only was the older prince to +marry, but the one who had stayed with the giant as +well, and he was to get the other bride’s sister.</p> + +<p>But when they entered the coach and were about +to drive to church, one of the axles broke. They +took another, and then a third, but all of them broke,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +no matter what kind of wood they used. It took a +great deal of time, and they did not move from the +spot, and got all out of sorts. Then the bailiff said, +for he had also been invited to the wedding at the +castle, that a maiden lived out in the forest, and “if +they could only get the loan of her poker, it would +be sure to hold.” So they sent to the little house +in the forest, and asked most politely whether the +maiden would not loan them the poker of which the +bailiff had spoken. And they got it, too, and then +they had an axle that would not break.</p> + +<p>But when they wanted to drive on, the bottom of +the coach broke. They made a new bottom as well +as they were able, but no matter how they put it +together, nor what kind of wood they used, it kept +on breaking again as soon as they had left the court-yard. +And they were worse off than they had been +with the axle. Then the clerk said—for if the bailiff +was one of the company, you may be sure they had +not forgotten to invite the clerk—“Out in the forest +lives a maiden, and if you will get the loan of her +house-door, I am sure it would not break.” So they +sent to the little house in the forest, and asked most +politely whether the maiden would not loan them +the golden house-door, of which the clerk had told +them. And they got it, too, and were about to drive +on, when suddenly the horses could not draw the +coach. There were six, so they put to eight, and +then ten and twelve, but though they put as many +as they liked to the coach and helped along with the +whip, still the coach would not budge. The day was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +already far advanced, and they simply had to get +to church, and actually began to despair. But then +the magistrate said that out in the golden house in +the forest lived a maiden, “and if one could only +get the loan of her calf, it would be sure to pull the +coach, and though it were as heavy as a bowlder.” +They did not think it quite the thing to drive to +church with a calf; but still there was nothing to do +but to send to the maiden, and to ask her most politely, +with a kind greeting from the king, if she +would loan them the calf of which the magistrate +had spoken. Nor did the Master Girl refuse them +this time. And then, when they had put the calf to +the coach, it moved from the spot quickly enough. +It flew over stick and stone, hill and dale, so that the +people inside could hardly catch their breath. First +it was on the ground, and next it was in the air, and +when they reached the church, it spun around it like +a top, and they had the greatest difficulty in getting +out and into the church. And going home they went +still faster, and were nearly out of their wits by the +time they reached the castle.</p> + +<p>When they sat down to the table the king’s son—the +same who had been at the giant’s—said it +would be no more than right to invite the maiden, +too, who had lent them the poker, and the door and +the calf: “for if we had not had these things, we +should not have moved from the spot.” This seemed +right to the king, so he sent five of his most distinguished +courtiers to the little golden house. They +were to carry the king’s kindest greetings, and ask<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +that the maiden come up to the castle and take dinner +with them. “A kind greeting to the king, and if +he is too good to come to me, then I am too good to +go to him,” said the Master Girl. So the king had +to go to her himself, and then she went along with +him at once, and the king saw very well that she +was more than she appeared to be, and gave her a +place at the head of the table, next to the young +bridegroom. After they had been at dinner for a +while, the Master Girl produced the rooster and the +hen and the golden apple—they were the three things +she had taken along from the giant’s castle—and +placed them on the table before her. At once the +rooster and the hen began to fight for the golden +apple. “Why, just see how the two fight for the +golden apple!” said the king’s son. “Yes, that is +how we had to fight the time we wanted to get out +of the rock!” said the Master Girl. And then the +king’s son recognized her, and was very happy. The +witch who had rolled the apple over to him was duly +punished, and then the wedding really began, and +the bailiff, and the clerk and the magistrate held out +to the very end, for all that their wings had been so +thoroughly singed.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The Master Girl” (Asbjörnsen and Moe, N.F.E., p. 222. No. 46) +is fitted out with a great wealth of interesting incident. The dream +motive of not being able to get away is most delightfully woven into +the context of the story, and the sea-sucker, whom the giant fetches +to stop the flight of the lovers, is a unique creation of fancy.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XVI<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">ANENT THE GIANT WHO DID NOT HAVE HIS +HEART ABOUT HIM</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a king who had +seven sons, and he was so fond of them that +he never could bear to have them all away from him +at once, and one of them always had to stay with +him. When they had grown up, six of them were to +go forth and look for wives; but the youngest the +king wanted to keep at home, and the others were +to bring along a bride for him. The king gave the +six the handsomest clothes that had ever been seen, +clothes that glittered from afar, and each received +a horse that had cost many hundred dollars, and so +they set forth. And after they had been at the courts +of many kings, and had seen many princesses, they +at last came to a king who had six daughters. Such +beautiful princesses they had not as yet met with, +and so each of them paid court to one of them, and +when each had won his sweetheart, they rode back +home again. But they were so deeply in love with +their brides that they altogether forgot they were +also to bring back a princess for their young brother +who had stayed at home.</p> + +<p>Now when they had already covered a good bit +of the homeward road, they passed close to a steep +cliff-side where the giants dwelt. And a giant came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +out, looked at them, and turned them all to stone, +princes and princesses. The king waited and waited +for his six sons; but though he waited and yearned, +they did not come. Then he grew very sad, and said +that he would never really be happy again. “If I +did not have you,” he told his youngest, “I would +not keep on living, so sad am I at having lost your +brothers.” “But I had already been thinking of +asking your permission to set out and find my brothers +again,” said the youngest. “No, that I will not +allow under any circumstances,” answered the +father, “otherwise you will be lost to me into the +bargain.” But the youth’s mind was set on going, +and he pleaded so long that finally the king had to +let him have his way. Now the king had only a +wretched old nag for him, since the six other princes +and their suite had been given all the good horses; +but that did not worry the youngest. He mounted +the shabby old nag, and “Farewell, father!” he said +to the king. “I will surely return, and perhaps I +will bring my six brothers back with me.” And with +that he rode off.</p> + +<p>Now when he had ridden a while he met a raven, +who was lying in the road beating his wings, and +unable to move from the spot because he was so +starved. “O, dear friend, if you will give me a bite +to eat, then I’ll help you in your hour of direst +need!” cried the raven. “I have not much food, +nor are you likely to be able to help me much,” said +the king’s son, “but still I can give you a little, for +it is easy to see you need it.” And with that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +gave the raven some of the provisions he had with +him. And when he had ridden a while longer, he +came to a brook, and there lay a great salmon who +had gotten on dry land, and was threshing about, +and could not get back into the water. “O, dear +friend, help me back into the water,” said the salmon +to the king’s son, “and I will help you, too, in your +hour of greatest need!” “The help you will be able +to give me will probably not amount to much,” said +the prince, “but it would be a pity if you had to lie +there and pine away.” And with that he pushed the +fish back into the water. Then he rode on a long, +long way, and met a wolf; and the wolf was so +starved that he lay in the middle of the road, and +writhed with hunger. “Dear friend, let me eat your +horse,” said the wolf. “My hunger is so great that +my very inwards rattle, because I have had nothing +to eat for the past two years!” “No,” said the +prince, “I cannot do that: first I met a raven, and +had to give him my provisions; then I met a salmon +and had to help him back into the water; and now +you want my horse. That will not do, for what shall +I ride on then?” “Well, my dear friend, you must +help me,” was the wolf’s reply. “You can ride on +me. I will help you in turn in your hour of greatest +need.” “The help you might give me would +probably not amount to much; but I will let you eat +the horse, since you are in such sorry case,” returned +the prince. And when the wolf had eaten +the horse, the prince took the bit and put it in the +wolf’s mouth, and fastened the saddle on his back,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +and his meal had made the wolf so strong that he +trotted off with the king’s son as fast as he could. +He had never ridden so swiftly before. “When we +have gone a little further I will show you the place +where the giants live,” said the wolf; and in a short +time they were there. “Well, this is where the +giants live,” said the wolf. “There you see your +six brothers, whom the giant turned into stone, and +yonder are their six brides; and up there is the door +through which you must pass.” “No, I would not +dare do that,” said the king’s son. “He would +murder me.” “O no,” was the wolf’s reply, “when +you go in you will find a princess, and she will tell +you how to set about getting rid of the giant. You +need only do as she says.” And the prince went +in, though he was afraid. When he entered the +house the giant was not there; but in one of the +rooms sat a princess, just as the wolf had said, and +such a beautiful maiden the youth had never seen. +“Now may God help you, how did you get in here?” +cried the princess, when she saw him. “It is certain +death for you. No one can kill the giant who lives +here, for he hasn’t his heart about him.”</p> + +<p>“Well, since I do happen to be here, I will at least +make the attempt,” said the prince. “And I want +to try to deliver my brothers, who stand outside, +turned to stone, and I would like to save you as +well.” “Well, if you insist upon it, we must see +what we can do,” replied the princess. “Now you +must crawl under the bed here, and must listen carefully +when I talk to the giant. But you must not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +make a sound.” The prince slipped under the bed, +and no sooner was he there than the giant came +home. “Hu, it smells like the flesh of a Christian +here!” he cried. “Yes,” said the princess, “a jackdaw +flew by with a human bone, and let it fall down +the chimney. I threw it out again at once, but the +odor does not disappear so quickly.” Then the giant +said no more about it. Toward evening he went to +bed, but after he had lain there a while, the princess, +who sat looking out of the window, said: “There is +something I would have asked you about long ago, +if only I had dared.” “And what may that be?” +inquired the giant. “I would like to know where +you keep your heart, since you do not have it about +you?” said the princess. “O, that is something you +need not ask about; at any rate, it lies under the +threshold of the door,” was the giant’s reply. +“Aha,” thought the prince under the bed, “that is +where we will find it!”</p> + +<p>The next morning the giant got up very early, and +went into the forest, and no sooner had he gone than +the prince and the king’s daughter set about looking +for the heart under the threshold of the door. Yet no +matter how much they dug and searched—they found +nothing. “This time he has fooled us,” said the +princess. “We’ll have to try again.” And she +picked the loveliest flowers she could find and +strewed them over the threshold—which they had +put to rights again—and when the time drew near +for the giant’s return, the king’s son crept under the +bed once more. When he was beneath it, the giant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +came. “Hu hu, I smell human flesh!” he cried. +“Yes,” said the princess. “A jackdaw flew by with +a human bone in her beak, and she let it fall down +the chimney. I threw it out at once, but I suppose +one can still smell it.” Then the giant held his +tongue, and said no more about it. After a time he +asked who had strewn the flowers over the threshold. +“O, I did that,” said the princess. “What does it +mean?” the giant then asked. “O, I am so fond of +you that I had to do it, because I know that is where +your heart lies.” “Yes, of course,” said the giant, +“but it does not happen to lie there at all.”</p> + +<p>When he had gone to bed, the princess sat looking +out of the window, and again asked the giant where +he kept his heart, for she was so fond of him, said +she, that she wanted to know above all things. “O, +it is in the wardrobe there by the wall,” said the +giant. “Aha,” thought the king’s son under the +bed, “that is where we will find it!”</p> + +<p>The next morning the giant got up early, and went +into the forest, and no sooner had he gone than the +prince and the king’s daughter set about looking for +his heart in the wardrobe. Yet no matter how much +they looked, they did not find it. “Well, well,” said +the princess, “we will have to try once more.” Then +she adorned the wardrobe with flowers and wreaths, +and toward evening the king’s youngest son again +crawled under the bed. Then the giant came: “Hu +hu, it smells of human flesh here!” he cried. “Yes,” +said the princess. “A jackdaw just this moment +flew by with a human bone in her beak, and she let it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +fall down the chimney. I threw it out again at once, +but it may be that you can still smell it.” When the +giant heard this, he had nothing further to say about +it. But not long afterward he noticed that the wardrobe +was adorned with flowers and wreaths, and +asked who had done it. “I,” said the princess. +“What do you mean by such tomfoolery?” asked the +giant. “O, I am so fond of you that I had to do it, +since I know that is where your heart lies,” was the +reply of the princess. “Are you really so stupid as +to believe that?” cried the giant. “Yes, surely, I +must believe it,” said the princess, “when you tell +me so.” “How silly you are,” said the giant, “you +could never reach the place where I keep my heart.” +“But still I would like to know where it is,” answered +the princess. Then the giant could no longer +resist, and at last had to tell her the truth. “Far, +far away, in a lake there lies an island,” said he, +“and on the island stands a church, and in the +church there is a well, and in the well floats a duck, +and in the duck there is an egg, and in the egg—is +my heart!”</p> + +<p>The next morning, before dawn, the giant went to +the forest again. “Well, now I must get under +way,” said the prince, “and it is a way I wish I +could find.” So he said farewell to the princess for +the time being, and when he stepped out of the door, +the wolf was standing there waiting for him. He +told him what had happened at the giant’s, and said +that now he would go to the well in the church, if +only he knew the way. The wolf told him to climb<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +on his back. He would manage to find the way, said +he. And then they were off as though they had +wings, over rock and wood, over hill and dale. After +they had been underway for many, many days, they +at last reached the lake. Then the king’s son did +not know how they were to get across. But the wolf +told him not to worry, and swam across with the +prince to the island. Then they came to the church. +But the church-key hung high up in the tower, and +at first the king’s son did not at all know how they +were to get it down. “You must call the raven,” +said the wolf, and that is what the king’s son did. +And the raven came at once, and flew right down +with the key, and now the prince could enter the +church. Then, when he came to the well, there was +the duck, sure enough, swimming about as the giant +had said. He stood by the well and called the duck, +and at last he lured her near him, and seized her. +But at the moment he grasped her and lifted +her out of the water, she let the egg fall into the +well, and now the prince again did not know how he +was to get hold of it. “Well, you must call the +salmon,” said the wolf. That is what the king’s son +did, and the salmon came at once, and brought up the +egg from the bottom of the well. Then the wolf told +him to squeeze the egg a little. And when the prince +squeezed, the giant cried out. “Squeeze it again!” +said the wolf, and when the prince did so, the giant +cried out far more dolefully, and fearfully and tearfully +begged for his life. He would do all the king’s +son asked him to, said he, if only he would not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +squeeze his heart in two. “Tell him to give back +their original form to your six brothers, whom he +turned to stone, and to their brides, as well; and +that then you will spare his life,” said the wolf, +and the prince did so. The troll at once agreed, and +changed the six brothers into princes, and their +brides into kings’ daughters. “Now squash the +egg!” cried the wolf. Then the prince squeezed the +egg in two, and the giant burst into pieces.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i004" id="i004"></a> +<img src="images/i004.jpg" width="403" height="573" alt="“THEY AT LAST REACHED THE LAKE.” +—Page 108" title="" /><br /> +<span class="caption">“THEY AT LAST REACHED THE LAKE.”<br /> +<span class="flr">—Page 108</span></span> +</div> + +<p>When the king’s youngest son had put an end to +the giant in this way, he rode back on his wolf to the +giant’s home; and there stood his six brothers as +much alive as ever they had been, together with, +their brides. Then the prince went into the hill to +get his own bride, and they all rode home together. +And great was the joy of the old king when his seven +sons all returned, each with his bride. “But the +bride of my youngest is the most beautiful, after all, +and he shall sit with her at the head of the table!” +said the king. And then they had a feast that lasted +for weeks, and if they have not stopped, they are +feasting to this very day.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>The fairy-tale, “The Giant Who Did Not Have His Heart About +Him” (Asbjörnsen and Moe, N.F.E., p. 171, No. 36), is founded on +the very ancient belief of the corporealization of the soul, and its +existence without the body. It is a belief widely current among +primitive peoples, and Koschei the Deathless of Russian fairy-tale +resembles our giant, though in his case the egg which holds his soul +is shattered on the ground, whereupon he dies at once.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XVII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE THREE PRINCESSES IN WHITELAND</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a fisherman, who +lived near the king’s castle, and caught fish +for the king’s table. One day when he had gone +fishing, he could not catch a thing. Try as he might, +no matter how he baited or flung, not the tiniest fish +would bite; but when this had gone on for a while, a +head rose from the water and said: “If you will give +me the first new thing that has come into your house, +you shall catch fish a-plenty!” Then the man agreed +quickly, for he could think of no new thing that might +have come into the house. So he caught fish all day +long, and as many as he could wish for, as may well +be imagined. But when he got home, he found that +heaven had sent him a little son, the first new thing +to come into the house since he had made his promise. +And when he told his wife about it, she began +to weep and wail, and pray to God because of the vow +her husband had made. And the woman’s grief was +reported at the castle, and when it came to the king’s +ears, and he learned the reason, he promised to take +the boy and see if he could not save him. And so +the king took him and brought him up as though he +were his own son, until he was grown. Then one day +the boy asked whether he might not go out fishing +with his father, he wanted to so very much, said he.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +The king would not hear of it; but at last he was +given permission, so he went to his father, and +everything went well all day long, until they came +home in the evening. Then the son found he had +forgotten his handkerchief, and went down to the +boat to get it. But no sooner was he in the boat +than it moved off with a rush, and no matter how +hard the youth worked against it with the oars, it +was all in vain. The boat drove on and on, all night +long, and at last he came to a white strand, far, far +away. He stepped ashore, and after he had gone a +while he met an old man with a great, white beard. +“What is this country called?” asked the youth. +“Whiteland,” was the man’s answer, and he asked +the youth where he came from, and what he wanted, +and the latter told him. “If you keep right on along +the shore,” said the man, “you will come to three +princesses, buried in the earth so that only their +heads show. Then the first will call you—and she is +the oldest—and beg you very hard to come to her +and help her; and the next will do the same; but you +must go to neither of them; walk quickly past them, +and act as though you neither saw nor heard them. +But go up to the third, and do what she asks of you, +for then you will make your fortune.”</p> + +<p>When the youth came to the first princess, she +called out to him, and begged him most earnestly to +come to her; but he went on as though he had not +seen her. And he passed the next one in the same +manner; but went over to the third. “If you will do +what I tell you to, you shall have whichever one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +us you want,” said she. Yes, he would do what she +wanted. So she told him that three trolls had wished +them into the earth where they were; but that formerly +they had dwelt in the castle he saw on the +edge of the forest.</p> + +<p>“Now you must go to the castle, and let the trolls +whip you one night through for each one of us,” said +she, “and if you can hold out, you will have delivered +us.” “Yes,” said the youth, he could manage +that. “When you go in,” added the princess, “you +will find two lions standing by the door; but if you +pass directly between them, they will do you no +harm. Go on into a dark little room and lie down, +and then the troll will come and beat you; but after +that you must take the bottle that hangs on the wall, +and anoint yourself where he has beaten you, and +you will be whole again. And take the sword that +hangs beside the bottle, and kill the troll with it.” +He did as the princess had told him, passed between +the lions as though he did not see them, and right +into the little room, where he lay down. The first +night a troll with three heads and three whips came, +and beat the youth badly; but he held out, and when +the troll had finished, he took the bottle and anointed +himself, grasped the sword and killed the troll. +When he came out in the morning the princesses +were out of the ground up to their waists. The next +night it was the same; but the troll who came this +time had six heads and six whips, and beat him +worse than the first one. But when he came out in +the morning, the princesses were out of the ground<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +up to their ankles. The third night came a troll who +had nine heads and nine whips, and he beat and +whipped the youth so severely that at last he fainted. +Then the troll took him and flung him against the +wall, and as he did so the bottle fell down, and its +whole contents poured over the youth, and he was +at once sound and whole again. Then he did not +delay, but grasped the sword, killed the troll, and +when he came out in the morning, the princesses +were entirely out of the ground. So he chose the +youngest of them to be his queen, and lived long with +her in peace and happiness.</p> + +<p>But at last he was minded to travel home, and see +how his parents fared. This did not suit his queen; +but since he wanted to go so badly, and finally was +on the point of departure, she said to him: “One +thing you must promise me, that you will only do +what your father tells you to do, but not what your +mother tells you to do.” And this he promised. +Then she gave him a ring which had the power of +granting two wishes to the one who wore it. So he +wished himself home, and his parents could not get +over their surprise at seeing how fine and handsome +he had become.</p> + +<p>When he had been home a few days, his mother +wanted him to go up to the castle and show the +king what a man he had grown to be. His father +said: “No, he had better not do that, for we will +have to do without him in the meantime.” But +there was no help for it, the mother begged and +pleaded until he went. When he got there he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +more splendidly dressed and fitted out than the +other king. This did not suit the latter, and he +said: “You can see what my queen looks like, but +I cannot see yours; and I do not believe yours is as +beautiful as mine.” “God grant she were standing +here, then you would see soon enough!” said +the young king, and there she stood that very minute. +But she was very sad, and said to him: “Why +did you not follow my advice and listen to your +father? Now I must go straight home, and you +have used up both of your wishes.” With that she +bound a ring with her name on it in his hair, and +wished herself home.</p> + +<p>Then the young king grew very sad, and went +about day in, day out, with no other thought than +getting back to his queen. “I must try and see +whether I cannot find out where Whiteland is,” +thought he, and wandered forth into the wide world. +After he had gone a while he came to a hill; and +there he met one who was the lord of all the beasts +of the forest—for they came when he blew his horn—and +him the king asked where Whiteland was. +“That I do not know,” said he, “but I will ask my +beasts.” Then he called them up with his horn, and +asked whether any of them knew where Whiteland +might be; but none of them knew anything about it.</p> + +<p>Then the man gave him a pair of snowshoes. “If +you stand in them,” said he, “you will come to my +brother, who lives a hundred miles further on. He +is the lord of the birds of the air. Ask him. When +you have found him, turn the snowshoes around so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +that they point this way, and they will come back +home of their own accord.” When the king got +there, he turned the snowshoes around, as the lord +of the beasts had told him, and they ran home again. +He asked about Whiteland, and the man called up +all the birds with his horn, and asked whether any +of them knew where Whiteland might be. But none +of them knew. Long after the rest an old eagle +came along; and he had been out for some ten years, +but did not know either.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the man, “I will lend you a pair of +snowshoes. When you stand in them you will come +to my brother, who lives a hundred miles further on. +He is the lord of all the fishes in the sea. Ask him. +But do not forget to turn the snowshoes around +again.” The king thanked him, stepped into the +snowshoes, and when he came to the one who was +lord of all the fishes in the sea, he turned them +around, and they ran back like the others. There +he once more asked about Whiteland.</p> + +<p>The man called up his fishes with his horn, but +none of them knew anything about it. At last there +came an old, old carp, whom he had called with his +horn only at the cost of much trouble. When he +asked him, he said: “Yes, I know it well, for I was +cook there for fully ten years. To-morrow I have +to go back again, because our queen, whose king has +not come home again, is going to marry some one +else.” “If such be the case,” said the man, “I’ll +give you a bit of advice. Out there by the wall +three brothers have been standing for the last hundred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +years, fighting with each other about a hat, a +cloak and a pair of boots. Any one who has these +three things can make himself invisible, and wish +himself away as far as ever he will. You might say +that you would test their possessions, and then decide +their quarrel for them.” Then the king thanked +him, and did as he said. “Why do you stand there +fighting till the end of time?” said he to the brothers. +“Let me test your possessions if I am to decide +your quarrel.” That suited them; but when he had +hat, cloak and boots, he told them: “I will give you +my decision the next time we meet!” and with that +he wished himself far away. While he was flying +through the air he happened to meet the North +Wind. “And where are you going?” asked the North +Wind. “To Whiteland,” said the king, and then +he told him what had happened to him. “Well,” +said the North Wind, “you are traveling a little +quicker than I am; for I must sweep and blow out +every corner. But when you come to your journey’s +end, stand on the steps beside the door, and then +I’ll come roaring up as though I were going to tear +down the whole castle. And when the prince who +is to have the queen comes and looks out to see what +it all means, I’ll just take him along with me.”</p> + +<p>The king did as the North Wind told him. He +stationed himself on the steps; and when the North +Wind came roaring and rushing up, and laid hold of +the castle walls till they fairly shook, the prince +came out to see what it was all about. But that +very moment the king seized him by the collar, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +threw him out, and the North Wind took him and +carried him off. When he had borne him away, the +king went into the castle. At first the queen did not +recognize him, for he had grown thin and pale because +he had wandered so long in his great distress; +but when he showed her the ring, she grew glad at +heart, and then they had a wedding which was such +a wedding that the news of it spread far and wide.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The Three Princesses in Whiteland” (Asbjörnsen and Moe, +N.F.E., p. 38, No. 9), tells a story rich in incident, of the youth +who could not hold his tongue.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XVIII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">TROUBLE AND CARE</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Far,</span> far from here there once lived a king, who +had three beautiful daughters. But he had no +sons, and therefore he grew so fond of the three +princesses that he granted their every wish. But +in time the enemy invaded the country, and the king +had to go to war. When he set out, the oldest princess +begged him to buy her a ring that would prevent +her dying as long as she wore it. The second +princess asked him for a wreath that would make +her happy whenever she looked at it, no matter how +sad and troubled her heart might be. “Buy me +trouble and care!” said the youngest. And the king +promised everything.</p> + +<p>When he had driven the enemy out of his own +land, and out of the neighboring land as well, and +was about to set out for home, he remembered what +he had promised the three princesses. The ring and +the wreath were easy enough to obtain; but trouble +and care were to be had neither in one place nor in +another, for all the people were so happy that the +enemy had been driven out, that there was no sorrow +nor care to be found in the entire kingdom. And +since he could not buy it, it was not to be had at all, +and he had to travel home without it, loathe as he +was to do so.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>When he was not far from the castle, his way +took him through a thick forest. And there sat a +squirrel in a tree by the road. “Buy me! buy me! +My name is trouble and care!” it said. Thought +the king to himself, It is better to have a squirrel +than two empty hands, so he brought it along for +his youngest daughter. And she was quite as well +pleased with her present as her two sisters were +with the ring and the wreath. The squirrel played +about in her room, sometimes it balanced itself on +the bed-posts, at others it would sit on the top of +the wardrobe, and it always had a great deal to +chatter about.</p> + +<p>But as soon as it grew dark, it turned into a man. +And he told her how an evil and malicious giantess +dwelt in the golden forest, who had turned him into +a squirrel because he would not marry her. During +the night she had no power over him; but every +morning at daybreak he had to slip back into his +squirrel form.</p> + +<p>And in the course of time the princess actually +wanted to marry Trouble and Care; but when they +were betrothed, he begged her earnestly, and as best +he knew how, never to light a light at night, and try +to look at him, “for then both of us would be unhappy,” +said he. No, said she, she would be quite +sure not to do so.</p> + +<p>And every evening, when the princess had lain +down and blown out the light, she would hear a man +go into Trouble and Care’s room; but when morning +dawned, the squirrel sat on her bed-post and greeted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +her, and chattered and babbled about all sorts of +things.</p> + +<p>Once, when she thought Trouble and Care had +gone to sleep, she could not help herself; but stood +up quietly, lit a light and crept softly into his room +and to his bed, and when the ray of light fell on him, +she saw that he was far, far handsomer than the +most handsome prince. He was so surpassingly +handsome that she bent over him in order to see +more clearly, and finally she could not help herself, +but had to kiss him. And then, three drops of wax +from the candle fell on his chest, and he awoke.</p> + +<p>“But how could you have done this!” he cried, and +was quite unhappy. “Had you only waited three +days longer, I should have been free!” said he. +“But now I must return to the evil giantess and +marry her, and all is over between us.” “Can I +not follow you there?” asked the princess. “No, +that is something you could not do in all your days, +for if you rest or even so much as bend your knees +to sit down, you will go back during the night as +far as you came forward during the day,” said he; +leaped to the door, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>Then the princess wept and wailed, and waited +for him to return; but she heard and saw nothing +more of him. After a few days she grew so restless +and wretched that she could no longer remain +at home, and implored her maid to go along with her +to search for the golden forest. The girl finally allowed +herself to be moved; but she would not agree +to set out until she had gotten together a yard of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +drilling, a yard of ticking, and a yard of fine linen; +and she got them at once, as you may imagine, for +there was no shortage of such things in the castle.</p> + +<p>So they set out and wandered far, and ever farther, +until their feet ached, and their spirits fell. +Toward evening they came into the middle of a +thick, dark forest; and climbed up into a high +tree. The princess was so tired that the maid had +to hold her in her arms while she slept a little. +But during the night the ground about the tree grew +alive with wolves, in the most sinister fashion, and +they howled and cried, so that the princess did not +venture to close her eyes another moment. But +when daylight appeared in the skies, it seemed as +though the wolves had suddenly all been blown +away.</p> + +<p>The following day they wandered far and ever +farther, until their feet ached more, and their spirits +sank lower. Toward evening they again came to the +middle of a thick, dark forest. And they once more +climbed into a high, high tree; but the princess was +so tired that the maid had to hold her in her arms +while she slept a little. When it grew darker, a most +alarming number of bears flocked together under +the tree, and began to dance and turn in a circle, with +alarming speed, and all at once they tried to climb +the tree. So the princess and her maid had to stand +up in the tree-top the whole night through, and could +not close an eye; but when day came, it seemed as +though the bears sank into the earth in a single +moment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>The third day they wandered far and ever farther, +and then a bit more. Toward evening they +again came to a thick, dark forest. There they again +climbed into a high, high tree; but no sooner were +they up in the tree than the ground beneath the +tree and the whole forest were alive with lions, and +they all roared and howled together in such a gruesome +way that the echoes came back from rock and +woodland. Suddenly they began to dance and whirl +around in such a terrible fashion that the earth +trembled, and in between they would clutch the tree +again, and try to shake and loosen it, as though they +would pull it out root and branch. The princess and +her maid had to stand up in the very tree-top, and +though they were so tired they could have fallen +down from time to time, neither of them dared think +of sleeping. But the moment day dawned, the lions +all suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth, +where they were, walking and standing.</p> + +<p>Then they stumbled along, this way and that, the +whole day long, until their feet ached harder than +hard, and their spirits sank lower than low. They +lost path and direction, and though they hunted +north and south and east and west, they could not +find the way out of the great, dark forest.</p> + +<p>At last the princess grew tired and sad beyond +all measure, and wanted to sit down every moment, +in order to rest a little; but the maid held her and +dragged her forward, and never let her bend her +knees for a moment to sit down, because then they +would have gone back just as far as they had come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +that day; for you must know that the giantess in +the golden forest had so arranged matters.</p> + +<p>In the evening they came to an enormous, horrible +rock. “I will knock here,” said the maid, and tapped +and knocked. “O no,” said the princess, “please +don’t knock here, you can see how ugly everything is +here!” “Who is knocking there at my door?” cried +the giantess in the rock, in a loud, harsh manner, +opened the door, and stuck her nose—it was all of a +yard long—out through the crack.</p> + +<p>“The youngest princess and her maid, they want +to get to a prince in the golden forest, whose name is +Trouble and Care,” was the maid’s reply.</p> + +<p>“O, faugh!” cried the giantess, “that is so far to +the north that one can neither sail nor row there. +But what do you want of Trouble and Care? Is +this, perhaps, the princess who wanted to marry +him?” asked the giantess. Yes, this was the princess. +“Well, she will never get him as long as she +lives,” said the giantess, “for now he must marry +the great giantess in the golden forest. You might +just as well go back home now as later,” said she. +No, they would not turn back for anything, and the +maid asked whether it would not be possible for her +to take them in for the darkest part of the night. +“I can take you in easily enough,” said the giantess, +“but when my husband comes home he will tear off +your heads, and eat you up!” But there was no +help for it, they could not go on in the middle of the +night. Then the maid pulled out the yard of ticking, +and gave it to the giantess for linen. “It can’t<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +be true! It can’t be true!” cried she. “Here I have +been married all of a hundred years, and have never +yet had any ticking!” And she was so pleased that +she invited the wanderers in, received them kindly, +and took the best care of them. After a while, when +they had strengthened themselves with food and +drink, the giantess said to them: “Yes, he is a ferocious +fellow, is my husband, and I will have to hide +you in the anteroom. Perhaps he will not find you +then.” And she prepared a bed for them, as soft +and comfortable as a bed can be; but they did not +care to lie down in it, nor sit in it; no, they could not +even close their eyes, for they had to watch to see +that their knees did not bend. So they stood the +whole night through, and took turns holding each +other up, for by now the maid was so weary and +wretched that she was ready to give in.</p> + +<p>Toward midnight it began to thunder and rumble +in a terrible manner. This was the troll coming +home; and no sooner had he thrust his first head in +at the door than he cried out loudly and harshly: +“Faugh! faugh! I smell Christian bodies!” and he +rushed about in so wild and furious a manner that +the sparks flew. “Yes,” said the giantess, “a bird +flew past with a bone from a Christian, and he let it +drop down the chimney. I threw it out again as +quickly as I could, but perhaps one can smell it +still,” said the giantess, and soothed him again. +And he was satisfied with her explanation. But the +next morning the giantess told him that the youngest +princess and her maid had come in search of a prince<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +named Trouble and Care, in the golden forest. “O +faugh! that is so far to the north that one can +neither sail nor row there!” the troll at once cried. +“It is the princess who wanted to marry him, I +know, but she will never get him as long as she +lives, for he has to marry the great giantess in three +days’ time. But the maidens shall not get away from +me! Where are they, where are they?” he cried, +and sniffed and snuffed about in every corner. “O +no, you must not touch them,” said the giantess. +“They have given me a yard of ticking, and here I +have been married now for more than a hundred +years, and have never owned any ticking. Therefore +you must lend them your seven-mile waistcoat +to the nearest neighbor,” said the giantess, and +pleaded for the girls. And the troll was willing +when he heard how kind they had been to his wife.</p> + +<p>When they had eaten and were ready to travel, +he put his seven-mile waistcoat on them: “And now +you must repeat: ‘Forward over willow bush and +pine-tree, over hill and dale, to the nearest neighbor,’” +said he. “And when you get there you must +say: ‘You are to be hung up this evening where you +were put on this morning!’” The maidens did as +he said, and were carried for miles, over hill and +dale. In the evening, at dusk, they again came to a +great, ugly rock. There they pulled off the seven-mile +waistcoat and said: “You are to be hung up +this evening where you were put on this morning,” +and then the waistcoat ran home by itself.</p> + +<p>“I will knock here,” said the maid, and knocked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +and thumped on the rock. “O no,” said the princess, +“please do not knock here. You can see how +sinister everything is here!” “Who is thumping +at my door?” cried the giantess inside the rock, +more loudly and harshly than the first one, and she +opened the door and thrust her nose, that was all +of two yards long, right through the crack. “Here +stand the youngest princess and her maid, and they +are looking for a prince named Trouble and Care, +who lives in the golden forest,” answered the maid. +And then this giantess also said it was so far north +that one could neither sail nor row there, and wanted +them to turn back by all means. “You might just +as well turn back now as later,” said she. But this +the maidens did not want to do at all, and the maid +asked whether she would not, perhaps, take them in +for the night, and if it were only the darkest part of +the night. “Yes, I can take you in easily enough,” +said the giantess, “but when my husband comes +home to-night, he will tear off your heads and eat +you up!” Then the maid pulled out a yard of drilling, +and gave it to the giantess for linen. “It can’t +be true! It can’t be true! here I have been married +now for over two hundred years, and I have +never yet had any drilling in the house,” cried the +giantess, and she was so pleased that she invited +them in, and received them kindly, and saw that they +wanted for nothing. After a while, when they had +strengthened themselves with food and drink, the +giantess said: “Yes, he is a ferocious fellow, is my +husband, and he eats up every Christian who comes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +here, root and branch. I’ll have to put you in the +anteroom, perhaps he will not find you there,” and +she prepared a bed for the maidens. But they did +not dare either to lie down nor sit on it, not for a +single moment, for they had to watch to see that +they did not bend their knees. So they stood there +the whole night through, and took turns holding each +other up, while each snatched a little sleep.</p> + +<p>Toward midnight it began to rumble and thunder +in such a terrible manner that they could feel the +earth tremble beneath them. Then the troll came +rushing in. “Faugh! faugh! I smell Christian bodies!” +he cried out loudly and harshly, and thrashed +about in such a furious way that the sparks flew +from him as from a fire. “Yes,” said the giantess, +“a bird flew by, and let a bone from a Christian fall +through the chimney. I threw it out again as quickly +as I could, but it may well be the case that the +smell still lingers,” said she, and quieted her husband. +And he was satisfied with her explanation. +But when he got up in the morning, she told him that +the youngest princess and her maid had come in +search of a prince named Trouble and Care, in the +golden forest. When the troll heard that, he also +said that it was so far north that one could neither +sail nor row there. “That is the princess who +wanted to marry him. Yes, I know; but she will +never get him as long as she lives, for he must +marry the great giantess herself in two days’ time,” +said the troll. “And where are they, these maidens? +They shall not escape from me with their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +lives!” he shouted, and sniffed and snuffed about +everywhere. “O no, you must not harm them!” +said the giantess, and told him that they had given +her a yard of drilling for linen. “Therefore you +must lend them your seven-mile waistcoat to the +nearest neighbor,” said she. And he was willing +at once, when he heard how kind they had been to +his giantess. When they had eaten in the morning, +he put his seven-mile waistcoat on them. “When +you reach your goal, you need only say: ‘Where you +were put on this morning, there you are to hang +again to-night!’ and then the seven-mile waistcoat +will travel home by itself,” said the troll. Then +they were carried for miles, over hill and dale, on +and on. In the evening, at dusk, they again came +to a great, ugly rock.</p> + +<p>“I will knock here!” said the maid, and knocked +and thumped on the rock. “O no,” said the princess, +“please do not knock here, you can see how +sinister everything looks here!” “Who is thumping +at my door?” the giantess cried inside the rock, +in a ruder and harsher manner than the other two +giantesses, and she opened the door just far enough +so that she could thrust her nose, which was all of +three yards long, through the crack. “Here stand +the youngest princess and her maid, in search of a +prince named Trouble and Care, who lives in the +golden forest,” was the maid’s reply. “O faugh!” +cried the giantess, “that is so far to the north that +one can neither sail nor row there. But what do +you want of Trouble and Care? Is this, perhaps,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +the princess who wanted to marry him?” asked the +giantess. Yes, this was the princess, was the maid’s +reply. Then this giantess said in turn: “He must +marry the great giantess in the golden forest, so you +might just as well turn back home now as later!” +But this the maidens did not want to do at all, and +the maid asked whether, perhaps, she would not +take them in for the night, and if it were only for +the very darkest part of the night.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I can take you in easily enough,” said the +giantess, “but when my husband comes home to-night +he will tear off your heads and eat you up!” +But there was nothing else to do; they could not +travel on through the wood and wilderness, in the +very darkest part of the night. Then the maid +pulled out the yard of linen and made the giantess +a present of it. “It can’t be true! It can’t be +true!” cried she. “Here I have been married now +for more than three hundred years, and have never +yet had a bit of linen!” And she was so pleased +that she invited the maidens in, and received them +kindly, and let them want for nothing. “He is a +ferocious fellow, is my husband, and he does away +with every Christian soul that strays here,” she +said, when her guests had eaten. “But I will hide +you in the anteroom. Perhaps he will not find you +there.” Then she carefully made up a soft bed for +them, as fine as the finest in the world. But now +the princess was weary and wretched and sleepy beyond +all measure. She could no longer stand up at +all, and finally had to lie down and sleep a little,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +and even though it were but a tiny little while. The +maid was also so weary and wretched that she fell +asleep standing, and fell over from time to time. +Yet she still managed to keep her wits about her to +the extent of seizing the princess, and holding her +up, so that she did not bend her knees. Toward +midnight it began to rumble and thunder so that the +whole house shook, and it seemed as though the +roof and walls would fall in. This was the great +troll, who was coming home. When he thrust his +first nose in at the door, he at once cried out in a +manner so wild and harsh that the like had never +been heard before: “Faugh! faugh! I smell Christian +bodies!” and he fell into a white rage, so that +sparks and flame flew from him. “Yes, a bird flew +by, and let a bone from a Christian fall through +the chimney. I threw it out as quickly as ever I +could; but it may be that the smell still persists!” +said the giantess, and tried to pacify her troll. And +he was satisfied with her explanation. But when he +awoke in the morning, she told him that the youngest +princess and her maid had come in search of a +prince named Trouble and Care, who lived in the +golden forest. “O faugh! That is so far north +that one can neither sail nor row there!” cried the +great troll, just as the smaller trolls had. “But she +will never get him as long as she lives, for to-morrow +he must marry the great giantess. Where are +they, these maidens? Hm, hm, hm, they will make +tasty eating!” he cried, and danced around everywhere, +and sniffed and snuffed with all his nine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +noses at once. “O no, you must not harm them!” +cried the giantess. “They have given me a yard +of linen, and here I have been married for more +than three hundred years, and have never had a bit +of linen yet. Therefore you must lend them your +seven-mile waistcoat to the nearest neighbor.” And +when the super-troll heard that the maidens had +been so kind, he was agreeable.</p> + +<p>When they had strengthened themselves in the +morning, he put his seven-mile waistcoat on them. +“And now you must repeat: ‘On, on! Over willow +brush and pine tree, over hill and dale, to the nearest +neighbor.’ And when you reach your goal, you +need only say: ‘You must hang again to-night on +the nail from which you were taken down this morning!’” +said the great troll. They did as he had +told them, and were carried farther and farther +along, over hills and deep valleys.</p> + +<p>At dusk they came to a large, large forest, where +all the trees were black as coal. If one only so much +as touched them, they made one look like a chimney-sweep. +And in the middle of the forest was a clearing, +and there stood a wretched hut, ready to fall +apart; it was only held together by two beams, and +looked more forlorn than the most wretched herdsman’s +hut. And in front of the door lay a rubbish +heap of old shoes, dirty rags and other ugly stuff. +Here the maid took off the seven-mile waistcoat, and +said: “You must hang again to-night from the nail +from which you were taken down this morning!” +and the waistcoat wandered home all by itself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>“I will knock here!” said the maid. “O no, O +no,” wailed the princess, “please do not knock here, +you can see how ugly everything is!” “If you do +not do as I do, then it will be the worse for both +of us!” said the maid; trampled through the rubbish-pile +and knocked. An old, old troll-woman with +a nose all of three yards long, looked out through the +crack in the door. “If you girls want to come in, +then come in, and if you do not want to, you can stay +out!” said she, and made as though to close the door +in their faces. “Yes, indeed, we want to come in,” +replied the maid, and drew the princess in with her. +“If you girls want to come through the door, then +come through, but if you do not want to, you can +stay out,” the woman said once more. “Yes, thanks, +we want to come in,” said the maid, and tramped +over the threshold through the dirt and rags. +“Alas, alas!” wailed the princess, and tramped +after her. All was black and ugly inside, and as +grimy and dirty as a corn-loft. After a while the +giantess went out, and fetched them some milk to +drink. “If you girls want to drink, why, drink, and +if you do not, why, do without!” said she, and was +about to carry it out again. “Yes, thanks, we want +to drink,” said the maid, and drank. “Alas, alas!” +wailed the princess, when it came her turn, for the +milk was in a pig-trough, and dirt and clots of hair +were swimming in it. Then the giantess gave them +something to eat. “If you girls want to eat, why, +eat, and if you do not, why, do without,” said the +giantess. “Yes, indeed, we will be glad to,” said the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +maid, before the ugly nosey could take the food away +again. The bread was moldly, mice had been nibbling +at the cheese, the meat was so old that one +could smell it at a distance, and two dirty calves’ +tails were draped about the butter. “Alas, alas!” +wailed the princess, and was ready to cry; but she +had to do what her maid did, and taste the horrible +dishes. Then they had to say they were much +obliged. An old man, whom thus far they had not +seen, lay on a bed covered with a few old odds and +ends of fur and other rags. When they went up to +him to thank him, he stood up, and when the princess +gave him her hand he kissed it; and at that very +moment he turned into a prince handsome beyond +all measure, and the princess saw that he was Trouble +and Care, for whom she had so greatly longed. +“Now you have delivered me!” he said. “Woe to +whoever has delivered you!” cried the giantess, and +rushed out of the door; but on the door-step she +stood like a stone, for the forest was no longer black, +and all the trees looked as though they had been +gilded from root to crest, and glittered and sparkled +more brightly than the sun at noon-day. The +wretched, dirty hut had changed into a royal castle, +immensely large and handsome. One might have +thought that the roof and walls were made of the +purest gold and silver, and so they were. “Now +you may bend your knee again,” said the prince, +“and if you have hitherto known nothing but sorrow +and care, you shall henceforth know all the more +happiness.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>The old giantess had brewed and baked, and prepared +the whole wedding dinner. And when the next +day dawned, the prince and the princess, and all +the people in the castle, and in the whole country +over which he was king, celebrated the wedding. +And it lasted for four times fourteen days, so that +the news spread through seven kingdoms, and +reached the bride’s father and her two sisters. And +they would have celebrated it with them, had they +not been so far away. I was invited to the feast +myself, and the bridegroom made me chief cook, +and I had to speak the toast for the bride and groom. +But on the last day of the feast, I had to draw mead +from a large, large cask that lay at the farthest end +of the cellar. Before I sent off the filled jug, I took +a taste myself, and the mead was so strong that it +suddenly went to my head, and I flew through the +air like a bird, and there I was, floating between +heaven and earth for full nine years, and then I +fell down here in the village, in front of the house +up there on the hill. And out came Bertha Friendly, +with a letter for me from the prince, who had become +king in the meantime, and the letter said that +he and the young queen were doing well, and that +they sent me their greetings, and that I was to greet +you for them, and that you and your sisters were +invited to the castle Sunday after Michaelmas, and +then you should see a pair of dear little princes, the +golden forest, and the old stone giantess, who stands +before the door with her nose three yards long.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>The story of Cupid and Psyche is the most celebrated representative +of the type of fairy-tale to which “Trouble and Care” belongs +(Hallv. E. Bergh, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Nye Folkeeventyr og Sagn fra Valdres og Hallindal</cite>, +Coll. III, Christiania, 1882, No. 1). The northern peoples +take special pleasure in tales of faithful women, who try to reach +their vanished lovers by means of wearisome and difficult wanderings. +Peculiar is the transformation of the lover into a squirrel, +in this tale, and the condition that the poor princess must not +bend her knees, that is, sit or crouch down, during her long journey. +The end is a typical fairy-tale close, such as the narrator +likes to add, without any inner relationship to the story itself.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XIX<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">KARI WOODENCOAT</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a king whose wife +had died, but he had a daughter who was so +good and so beautiful that no one could have been +kinder or lovelier than she. The king mourned a +long time for the queen, because he had loved her +greatly; but in the course of time he grew weary of +his lonely life, and married again with the widow +of another king, who also had a daughter; but one +who was just as ugly and evil as the other was +handsome and kind. The step-mother and daughter +were jealous of the king’s daughter, because she +was so handsome; yet so long as the king was at +home, they did not dare harm her, for he was very +fond of her. But after a time, the king began to +war against another king, and went out to battle. +Then the queen thought she now could do as she +wished, and she let the king’s daughter starve, and +beat and pushed her about everywhere. At last +everything else was too good for her, and she had +to herd the cows. So she went out with the cows, +and pastured them in the forest or on the hill. +Food she had little or none, and she grew pale and +thin, and was sad most of the time, and wept. In +the herd there was also a great blue bull, who always +kept himself neat and clean, and often came to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +queen’s daughter and let her scratch him. Once, as +she sat there and cried and was sad, he came to her +again, and asked why she was so unhappy. She did +not answer him but kept on weeping. “Well, I +know what your trouble is,” said the bull, “even +though you will not tell me. You are weeping because +the queen is so unkind to you, and would +gladly starve you to death. But you need not worry +about food, for in my left ear is a cloth and, if you +will take it out and spread it, you can have as much +as you want to eat.” She did so, took out the cloth, +laid it on the grass, and it was at once covered with +the finest dishes one might desire: bread and mead +and honey-cake. Then she soon regained her +strength, and grew so plump, and so rose and white +complexioned that the queen and her daughter, who +was as thin as a rail, turned green and yellow with +envy. The queen could not understand how it was +that her step-daughter came to look so well in spite +of such poor fare. So she told a maid to follow her +to the forest, and watch and see how it came about; +for she thought some of the servants secretly gave +her food. The maid followed her into the forest, and +watched carefully, and saw how the step-daughter +drew the cloth out of the blue bull’s left ear, and +spread it out, and how it covered itself with the +finest dishes, and also how the king’s daughter ate +heartily. And the maid told the queen at home +about it.</p> + +<p>Now the king came home, and he had defeated the +other king, against whom he had warred; and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +whole castle was overjoyed, and none was more joyful +than the king’s daughter. But the queen pretended +to be ill, and gave the physician a great deal +of money so that he should say that she could not +recover unless she had some of the blue bull’s flesh +to eat. The king’s daughter and others as well +asked the physician whether nothing else would do, +and pleaded for the bull; for all liked him, and said +that there was not such another in the whole kingdom. +But no, he must be slaughtered, and he should +be slaughtered, and there was no help for it. When +the king’s daughter heard this, she felt sad, and went +into the stable to the bull. He stood and hung his +head, and looked so mournful that she could not keep +from weeping. “Why do you weep?” asked the bull. +Then she told him that the king had come home, and +that the queen had pretended to be ill, and had forced +the physician to say that she could not recover unless +she had some of the blue bull’s flesh to eat, and +that now he was to be slaughtered. “Once she has +done away with me, it will not be long before she +does away with you,” said the bull. “But if it suits +you, we will run away from here to-night.” The +king’s daughter did say that it would be bad enough +to leave her father, but that at the same time it +would be worse to remain under the same roof with +the queen, and so she promised the bull to go with +him.</p> + +<p>In the evening, while the rest were asleep, the +king’s daughter crept down to the bull in the stable. +He took her on his back, and ran off as quickly as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +ever he could. And when the people rose the following +morning, and wanted to slaughter the bull, he +was gone; and when the king rose and asked for his +daughter, she was gone as well. The king sent out +messengers on all sides, and had the church-bells +rung for her, but no one had seen anything of her.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the bull trotted through many +lands with the king’s daughter, and they came to a +great copper forest, whose trees, leaves and flowers +were all of copper. But before they entered it, the +bull said to the king’s daughter: “Now when we get +into the forest you must be very careful not to touch +so much as a single leaf, or else it is all up with you +and with me; for a troll with three heads lives here, +and the forest belongs to him.” Yes, indeed, she +would be careful, and not touch anything. And she +was very careful, and leaned to one side, and thrust +aside the branches; but the forest was so thick that +it was almost impossible to win through, and for +all that she was so careful, she did tear off a leaf, +and it remained in her hand.</p> + +<p>“Alas, alas!” cried the bull. “What have you +done! Now I must fight for my very life. But see +that you keep the leaf carefully!” Straightway they +reached the end of the forest, and at once a troll +with three heads came rushing up. “Who has +touched my forest?” cried he. “The forest is as +much mine as yours!” was the bull’s reply. “We’ll +see if it is!” shouted the troll. “That suits me!” +cried the bull. Then they rushed at each other, and +the bull gored and butted with might and main. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +the troll was just as strong, and it took all day before +the bull gained the upper hand. And then he had +so many wounds, and was so weak that he could +scarcely walk. So they had to halt for a whole day; +but the bull told the queen’s daughter to take the +horn of ointment that hung at the troll’s girdle, and +anoint him with the salve. Thereupon he grew +strong and well again, and they went on the next +day. Now they wandered for many, many days, and +at last came to a silver forest, whose trees, branches, +leaves, buds and all were of silver.</p> + +<p>Before the bull entered the forest he said to the +king’s daughter: “Now when we get into this forest, +in heaven’s name be careful! You must touch nothing, +and not even tear off so much as a single leaf, +or else it is all up with you and me. A troll with +six heads lives here, and the forest belongs to him, +and I will hardly be able to hold my own against +him!”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the king’s daughter, “indeed I will +be careful, and not touch the least thing, just as you +have told me.” But when they entered the forest, +it was so thick that it was almost impossible to win +through. She was as careful as she could be, and +avoided the branches, and thrust them aside with +her hands; but the branches struck her in the face +each moment, and in spite of all her care a leaf did +remain in her hand.</p> + +<p>“Alas, alas!” cried the bull. “What have you +done! Now I must fight for my very life, for the +troll with six heads is twice as strong as the first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +one; but see that you take care of the leaf and keep +it carefully!”</p> + +<p>At once the troll came rushing up. “Who has +touched my forest?” cried he. “The forest is as +much mine as yours!” cried the bull. “Oho, we’ll +see if it is!” cried the troll. “That suits me!” said +the bull, and rushed on the troll, gored him, and +thrust his horns right through him. But the troll +was just as strong, and it took three whole days +before the bull got the better of him. After that he +was so weak and feeble that he could scarcely move, +and so full of wounds that his blood ran in streams. +Then he told the king’s daughter to take the horn +of ointment that hung at the troll’s girdle, and +anoint him with the salve. She did so, and he recovered +again: yet they had to remain a time on +the spot, until he was once more able to go on.</p> + +<p>At last they set out again; but the bull was still +weak, and at first they went slowly. The king’s +daughter wanted to spare him, and said she was +young and quick on her feet, and could walk very +well; but this he would not allow, and she had to sit +on his back. Thus they wandered for a long time, +and through many lands, and the king’s daughter +had no idea where they might be going; but at length +they came to a golden forest. It was very beautiful, +and the gold dripped down from it, for the trees, +and branches and leaves and buds were all of purest +gold. And here all went as it had in the copper +and silver forests. The bull told the king’s daughter +that in no case was she to touch anything, since a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +troll with nine heads lived here, to whom the forest +belonged. And he was much larger and stronger +than the two others together, and he did not believe +he could hold his own against him. Yes, said she, +she would be sure to pay attention and positively +would not touch a thing. But when they entered +the forest, it was even thicker than the silver forest, +and the further they went the worse it became. The +forest grew thicker and denser, and at last it seemed +as though it would be impossible to push on at all. +She was much afraid of tearing off anything, and +wound and twisted and bent herself in every direction, +in order to avoid the branches, and thrust them +aside with her hands. But each moment they struck +her in the face, so that she could not see where she +was reaching, and before she had a chance to think, +she held a golden apple in her hand. Then she was +terribly frightened, and began to cry, and wanted +to throw it away. But the bull told her to keep it, +and hide it carefully, and consoled her as best he +could. Yet he thought that the battle would be a +hard one, and was in doubt as to whether it would +end well.</p> + +<p>But now the troll with the nine heads came rushing +up, and he was so frightful that the king’s daughter +could scarcely bear to look at him. “Who has +touched my forest?” he shouted. “The forest is as +much mine as yours!” cried the bull. “We’ll see +if it is!” cried the troll. “That suits me!” said the +bull, and with this they rushed on each other, so +that it was a fearsome sight, and the king’s daughter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +nearly fainted. The bull gored the troll through and +through with his horns; but the troll was as strong +as he, and as soon as the bull killed one of his heads, +the others breathed fresh life into it, and it took a +full week before the bull got the better of him. But +then he was so wretched and so weak that he could +not move a bit. His whole body was covered with +wounds; and he could not even tell the king’s daughter +to take the horn of ointment from the troll’s +girdle and anoint him with the salve. But she did +so of her own accord, and then he recovered again. +Yet they had to stay where they were for three whole +weeks, until he was able to go on again.</p> + +<p>At last they once more went slowly on their way; +for the bull said they still had a little further to go, +and they went over many great hills and through +thick forests. After a time they came to a rock. +“Do you see anything?” asked the bull. “No, I see +only the sky and the rock,” said the king’s daughter. +But when they went on up the hills were more level, +so that they had a broader outlook. “Do you see +something now?” asked the bull. “Yes, I see a +small castle, far, far in the distance,” said the princess. +“And yet it is not so small,” said the bull. +At length they came to a great mountain with a +steep, rocky face. “Do you see something now?” +asked the bull. “Yes, now I see the castle close by, +and it is much, much larger,” said the king’s daughter. +“That is where you must go!” said the bull. +“Just below the castle is a pig-sty, and if you go +into it you will find a wooden coat. You must put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +it on, and go with it into the castle, and say your +name is Kari Woodencoat, and ask for a place. But +now take your little knife and cut off my head; then +draw off my skin, roll it up and lay it at the foot +of the rock. But in it you must place the copper +leaf, and the silver leaf, and the golden apple. Outside, +against the hill, is a stick, and if you want +anything of me, all you need do is to knock at the +mountain-side.” At first the princess could not at +all make up her mind to do this; but when the bull +told her that this was the only reward he wanted +for all the good he had done her, she could not refuse. +It made her heart ache, yet in spite of it, she +took her knife and cut until she had cut off the head +of the great beast, and had drawn off his skin, and +then she laid the latter at the foot of the rock, and +in it she placed the copper leaf, and the silver leaf, +and the golden apple.</p> + +<p>When she had done this she went to the pig-sty, +but she wept a great deal and felt sad. Then she +put on the wooden coat, and went to the king’s +castle in it. She asked for a place in the kitchen, +and said her name was Kari Woodencoat. Yes, +said the cook, she might have a place if she cared to +wash up, for the girl who had formerly attended to +it had run away. “And after you have been here +a while, no doubt you will have enough of it, and run +away from us, too,” said he. No, indeed, she would +not do so.</p> + +<p>She was most industrious at her washing up. On +Sunday they expected company at the king’s castle;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +and Kari asked permission to take up water to wash +in to the prince. But the others laughed at her and +cried; “What do you want to do there? Do you +think the prince will have anything to do with you, +homely as you are?” But she kept on asking, and +at length received permission.</p> + +<p>And then, as she ran up the stairs, her wooden +coat clattered so loudly that the prince came out +and asked: “And who are you?” “I came to bring +you water to wash in,” said Kari. “Do you think +I want the water you are bringing me?” cried the +prince, and poured the water out over her head. +So she had to go off; but she asked permission to +go to church. And she received permission, for the +church was close by. But first she went to the rock +and knocked at it with a stick, as the bull had told +her. And a man came out at once and asked what +she wanted. The king’s daughter said that she had +permission to go to church and hear the sermon, but +that she had no dress to wear. Then the man gave +her a dress that shone like the copper forest, and a +horse and a saddle as well. When she came to +church she looked so beautiful that all the people +wondered who she might be, and none of them listened +to the sermon, because they were all looking +at her. She even pleased the prince so much that +he could not keep from looking at her.</p> + +<p>When she left the church, the prince came after +her, and closed the church door behind her, and kept +one of the gloves she wore in his hand. And then +when she wanted to mount her horse, the prince came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +again, and asked her where she came from. “From +Washwaterland!” said Kari, and while the prince +pulled out the glove and wanted to give it to her, +she said:</p> + +<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0a">“Be there light before me, and darkness behind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That the place I ride to the prince may not find!”<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>The prince had never yet seen such a handsome +glove, and he traveled far, looking for the native +land of the noble lady who had abandoned her glove, +but no one could tell him where it might be.</p> + +<p>The following Sunday some one had to go up to +the prince, and bring him a towel. “Cannot I go +up?” begged Kari. “Is that all you want?” said the +rest in the kitchen. “You saw yourself what happened +to you the last time!” But Kari kept on +asking, and finally she received permission, after +all, and ran up the stairs so that her wooden coat +fairly clattered. The prince at once thrust his head +out of the door, and when he saw that it was Kari, +he tore the towel out of her hand and flung it at her +head. “Off with you, you horrid creature!” cried +he. “Do you think I want a towel that you have +touched with your dirty fingers?”</p> + +<p>After that the prince went to church, and Kari +also begged permission to go. The people asked her +why she wanted to go to church, since she had nothing +to wear but her ugly, black wooden coat. But +Kari said the pastor preached so beautifully that +she loved to listen to him, and finally they allowed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +her to go. She went to the wall of rock and knocked, +and the man came out and gave her a dress that was +far handsomer than the first; it was embroidered +all over with silver, and gleamed like the silver forest; +and she also received a splendid horse, with +housings embroidered with silver, and a silver bridle. +When the king’s daughter came to the church, the +people were still standing before the church door. +In their astonishment they all asked each other who +she might be, and the prince came running up at +once, and wanted to hold her horse while she dismounted. +But she jumped right down, and said it +would not be necessary, since the horse was so tame +that it would stand still when she commanded, and +come to her if she wished. Then every one went +into the church. But hardly any one paid any attention +to the sermon; for they were all looking at +Kari, and the prince fell deeper in love with her +than he had the first time. When the sermon was +over, and she left the church and was about to mount +her horse, the prince again came, and asked where +she came from. “From Towelland!” said she, and +let fall her riding-whip. And when the prince +stooped to pick it up, she said:</p> + +<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0a">“Be there light before me, and darkness behind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That the place I ride to the prince may not find!”<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>Off she was, and the prince did not know what had +become of her. He wandered about in the world, +far and wide, looking for her native land. But no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +one could tell him where it might be, and with that +the prince finally had to content himself.</p> + +<p>The following Sunday some one was to go up to +the prince, and bring him a comb. Kari begged that +they would let her go, but the others reminded her +of what had happened the last time, and scolded her +for showing herself to the prince, ugly and black +as she was, and in her wooden coat. But she kept +on asking, and finally they let her go with the comb. +When she once more came clattering up the stairs, +the prince thrust his head out of the door, tore the +comb from her hand, and shouted at her to be off. +Then the prince went to church, and Kari wanted to +go as well. The rest again asked her why she wanted +to go to church, black and ugly as she was, since she +did not even have clothes fit to appear in before +other people. The prince, or some one else might +happen to see her, and that would mean unhappiness +for herself and others. But Kari said that the +people would have other things to look at besides +herself, and finally they let her go.</p> + +<p>Then everything happened exactly as on the other +two occasions. She went to the wall of rock, and +knocked with the stick, and then the man came out, +and gave her a dress that was far more beautiful +than both of the others. It was all pure gold and diamonds, +and she also received a beautiful horse, with +housings embroidered with gold, and a golden bridle.</p> + +<p>When the king’s daughter came to the church, the +pastor and all the congregation were still standing +before the church door, waiting for her. The prince<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +came running up at once, and wanted to hold her +horse, but she jumped down and said: “No, thanks, +it is not necessary, for my horse is so tame that he +will remain standing when I tell him to do so.” So +they all went into the church, and the pastor mounted +the pulpit. But not a soul listened to the sermon, +because all the people were looking at the princess, +and wondering where she came from, and the prince +fell still more deeply in love than he had on the two +other occasions. He paid no attention to anything, +and looked only at her.</p> + +<p>When the sermon was over, and the king’s daughter +left the church, the prince had poured tar on the +floor of the vestibule, so that he might have a chance +to help the king’s daughter across. But she paid +no attention to it, stepped right into the middle of +the tar, and leaped over. But one of her golden +shoes stuck fast, and when she had mounted her +horse, the prince came running out of the church +and asked her whence she came. “From Combland!” +she answered. But when the prince wanted +to hand her the golden shoe, she said:</p> + +<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0a">“Be there light before me, and darkness behind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That the place I ride to the prince may not find!”<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>And again the prince did not know where she had +gone, and he wandered about the world a long time, +looking for Combland; but since no one could tell +him where it might be, he let it be known that he +would marry the girl whose foot the golden shoe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +fitted. Then the handsome and the homely came +scurrying up from the ends of the earth; but none +of them had a foot so small that they could put on +the golden shoe. At last Kari’s evil stepmother +and her daughter also came, and the shoe fitted the +latter. But she was very homely, and looked so unsatisfactory +that the prince kept his promise most +unwillingly. Notwithstanding, preparations were +made for the wedding, and she was adorned with +her bridal finery, but when they rode to church, a +little bird sat in a tree and sang:</p> + +<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0a">“A bit of the heel,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And a bit of the toe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Kari Woodencoat’s shoe<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Is filled with blood, I know!”<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>And when they looked, the bird had told the truth, +for blood was dripping from the shoe. Then all the +maids and all the women who were at the castle had +to try on the shoe, but it would fit none of them. +“But where is Kari Woodencoat?” asked the prince, +for he had understood the song of the bird, and +remembered it well. “O she!” said the others. “It +is not worth while having her come, for she has feet +like a horse.” “Be that as it may,” said the prince. +“But all the rest have tried it on, so she shall try +it on as well. Kari!” he called out through the +door, and Kari came clattering up the stairs so that +everything shook, just as though a whole regiment +of dragoons had arrived. “Now you shall try on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +the golden shoe, and be a princess!” said the others, +and made fun of her. But Kari took the shoe, put +her foot into it without a bit of trouble, cast off her +wooden coat, and stood there in her golden dress, so +that she was all a-sparkle, and on her other foot she +had the golden shoe’s mate. The prince recognized +her at once, put his arm around her, and kissed her. +And she told him that she was a king’s daughter, +which made him still more happy, and then they celebrated +their wedding.</p> + +<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0a">“Spin, span, spun,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now our tale is done!”<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“Kari Woodencoat” (Asbjörnsen and Moe, N.F.E., p. 79, No. 19) +proves how arbitrarily the motives of a fairy-tale are sometimes +handled. The blue bull helps the maiden out of her difficulties, and +we expect that he will turn out to be a handsome prince, or a +guardian spirit sent by the deceased mother. Instead of which he +disappears from the story with hardly a trace, and Kari marries +a foreign prince. The last part of the tale has an independent +existence in a Russian fairy-story, “The Czar’s Daughter in the Underground +Kingdom.”</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XX<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">OLA STORBAEKKJEN</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there lived a man in the forest +of Dovre whose name was Ola Storbaekkjen. +He was of giant build, powerful and fearless. During +the winter he did not work, but traveled from +one fair to another, hunting up quarrels and brawls. +From Christiansmarkt he went to Branaes and +Konigsberg, and thence to Grundsaet, and wherever +he came squabbles and brawls broke out, and in +every brawl he was the victor. In the summer he +dealt in cattle at Valders and the fjords, and fought +with the fjord-folk and the hill people of Halling +and Valders, and always had the best of it. But +sometimes they scratched him a bit with the knife, +did those folk.</p> + +<p>Now once, at the time of the hay harvest, he was +home at Baekkjen, and had lain down to take a little +after-dinner nap under the penthouse. And he was +taken into the hill, which happened in the following +way: A man with a pair of gilded goat’s horns came +along and butted Ola, but Ola fell upon him so that +the man had to duck back, again and again. But +the stranger stood up once more, and began to butt +again, and finally he took Ola under his arm like a +glove, and then both of them flew straight off into +the hill.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the place to which they came all was adorned +with silver plates and dishes, and with ornaments of +silver, and Ola thought that the king himself had +nothing finer. They offered him mead, which he +drank; but eat he would not, for the food did not +seem to him to be appetizing. Suddenly the man +with the gilded goat’s horns came in, and gave Ola +a shove before he knew it; but Ola came back at +him as before, and so they beat and pulled each +other through all the rooms, and along all the walls. +Ola was of the opinion that they had been at it all +night long; but by that time the scuffle had lasted +over fourteen days, and they had already tolled the +church bells for him on three successive Thursday +evenings. On the third Thursday evening he was in +ill ease, for the people in the hill had in mind to +thrust him forth. When the bells stopped ringing, +he sat at a crack in the hill, with his head looking +out. Had not a man come by and happened to spy +him, and told the people to keep on ringing the +church-bells, the hill would have closed over him +again, and he would probably still be inside. But +when he came out he had been so badly beaten, and +was so miserable, that it passed all measure. The +lumps on his head were each bigger than the other, +his whole body was black and blue, and he was quite +out of his mind. And from time to time he would +leap up, run off and try to get back into the hill +to take up his quarrel again, and fight for the gilded +goat’s horns. For those he wanted to break from +the giant’s forehead.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>A primitive enjoyment of brawling and pummeling is betrayed in +the story of “Ola Storbaekkjen” (Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Huldreeventyr</cite>, II, +p. 73. From the vicinity of Osterdalen, told by a reindeer-hunter).</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXI<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE CAT WHO COULD EAT SO MUCH</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a man who had a +cat, and she ate so very much that he did not +want to keep her any longer. So he decided to tie +a stone around her neck, and throw her into the +river; but before he did so she was to have something +to eat just once more. The woman offered her +a dish of mush and a little potful of fat. These she +swallowed, and then jumped out of the window. +There stood the man on the threshing-floor.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, man in the house,” said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat,” said the man. “Have you had +anything to eat yet to-day?”</p> + +<p>“O, only a little, but my fast has hardly been +broken,” said the cat. “I have had no more than a +dish of mush and a little potful of fat, and I am +thinking over whether I ought not to eat you as +well,” said she, and she seized the man and ate him +up. Then she went into the stable. There sat the +woman, milking.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, woman in the stable,” said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat, is that you?” said the woman. +“Have you eaten your food?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little to-day. My fast has hardly been +broken,” said the cat. “I have had no more than a +dish of mush and a little potful of fat and the man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +in the house, and I’m thinking over whether I ought +not to eat you as well,” said she, and she seized the +woman and ate her up.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cow at the manger,” said the cat to +the bell-cow.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat,” said the bell-cow. “Have you +had anything to eat yet to-day?” “O, only a little. +My fast has hardly been broken,” said the cat. “I +have had no more than a dish of mush and a little +potful of fat and the man in the house and the +woman in the stable, and I’m thinking over whether +I ought not to eat you as well,” said the cat, and +seized the bell-cow and ate her up. Then she went +up to the orchard, and there stood a man who was +sweeping up leaves.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, leaf-sweeper in the orchard,” said the +cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat,” said the man. “Have you had +anything to eat yet to-day?”</p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been +broken,” said the cat. “I have had no more than a +dish of mush and a little potful of fat and the man +in the house and the woman in the stable and the +bell-cow at the manger, and I’m thinking over +whether I ought not to eat you up as well,” said +she, and seized the leaf-sweeper and ate him up.</p> + +<p>Then she came to a stone-pile. There stood the +weasel, looking about him.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, weasel on the stone-pile,” said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat,” said the weasel. “Have you had +anything to eat yet to-day?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” +said the cat. “I have had no more than a +dish of mush and a little potful of fat and the man +in the house and the woman in the stable and the +bell-cow at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the +orchard, and I’m thinking over whether I ought not +to eat you as well,” said the cat, and seized the +weasel and ate him up.</p> + +<p>After she had gone a while, she came to a hazel-bush. +There sat the squirrel, gathering nuts.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, squirrel in the bush,” said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat! Have you already had anything +to eat yet to-day?” said the squirrel.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” +said the cat. “I have had no more than a +dish of mush and a little potful of fat and the man +in the house and the woman in the stable and the +bell-cow at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the +orchard and the weasel on the stone-pile, and I’m +thinking over whether I ought not to eat you up as +well,” said she, and seized the squirrel and ate +him up.</p> + +<p>After she had gone a little while longer, she met +Reynard the fox, who was peeping out of the edge +of the forest.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, fox, you sly-boots,” said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat! Have you had anything to eat +yet to-day?” said the fox.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” +said the cat. “I have had no more than a dish +of mush and a little potful of fat and the man in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +house and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow +at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the orchard +and the weasel on the stone-pile and the squirrel in +the hazel-bush, and I’m thinking over whether I +ought not to eat you as well,” said she, and seized +the fox and ate him up too.</p> + +<p>When she had gone a little further, she met a +hare.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, you hopping hare,” said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat! Have you had anything to eat +yet to-day?” said the hare.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” +said the cat. “I have had no more than a dish +of mush and a little potful of fat and the man in the +house and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow +at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the orchard +and the weasel on the stone-pile and the squirrel in +the hazel-bush and the fox, the sly-boots, and I’m +thinking over whether I ought not to eat you up as +well,” said she, and seized the hare and ate him up.</p> + +<p>When she had gone a little further, she met a +wolf.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, you wild wolf,” said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat! Have you had anything to eat +yet to-day?” said the wolf.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” +said the cat. “I have had no more than a +dish of mush and a little potful of fat and the man +in the house and the woman in the stable and the +bell-cow at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the +orchard and the weasel on the stone-pile and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +squirrel in the hazel-bush and the fox, the sly-boots, +and the hopping hare, and I’m thinking over whether +I ought not to eat you up as well,” said she, and +seized the wolf and ate him up, too.</p> + +<p>Then she went into the wood, and when she had +gone far and farther than far, over hill and dale, +she met a young bear.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, little bear brown-coat,” said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat! Have you had anything to eat +yet to-day?” said the bear.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” +said the cat. “I have had no more than a +dish of mush and a little pot of fat and the man in +the house and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow +at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the orchard +and the weasel on the stone-pile and the squirrel +in the hazel-bush and the fox, the sly-boots, and +the hopping hare and the wild wolf, and I’m thinking +over whether I ought not to eat you up as well,” said +she, and seized the little bear and ate him up.</p> + +<p>When the cat had gone a bit further, she met the +mother bear, who was clawing at the tree-stems so +that the bark flew, so angry was she to have lost +her little one.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, you biting mother bear,” said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat! Have you had anything to eat +yet to-day?” said the mother bear.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” +said the cat. “I have had no more than a dish +of mush and a little potful of fat and the man in +the house and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the orchard +and the weasel on the stone-pile and the squirrel +in the hazel-bush and the fox, the sly-boots, and +the hopping hare and the wild wolf and the little +bear brown-coat, and I’m thinking over whether I +ought not to eat you as well,” said she, and seized +the mother bear and ate her, too.</p> + +<p>When the cat had gone on a little further, she met +the bear himself.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, Bruin Good-fellow,” said she.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat! Have you had anything to eat +yet to-day?” asked the bear.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” +said the cat. “I have had no more than a dish +of mush and a little potful of fat and the man in the +house and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow +at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the orchard +and the weasel in the stone-pile and the squirrel in +the hazel-bush and the fox, the sly-boots, and the +hopping hare and the wild wolf and the little bear +brown-coat and the biting mother bear, and now I’m +thinking over whether I ought not to eat you as +well,” said she, and she seized the bear and ate him +up, too.</p> + +<p>Then the cat went far and farther than far, until +she came into the parish. And there she met a bridal +party on the road.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, bridal party on the road,” said the +cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat! Have you had anything to eat +yet to-day?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast is hardly broken,” said +the cat. “I have had no more than a dish of mush +and a little potful of fat and the man in the house +and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow at the +manger and the leaf-sweeper in the orchard and +the weasel on the stone-pile and the squirrel in the +hazel-bush and the fox, the sly-boots, and the hopping +hare and the wild wolf and the little bear +brown-coat and the biting mother bear and bruin +good-fellow and now I’m thinking whether I ought +not to eat you up as well,” said she, and she +pounced on the whole bridal party, and ate it up, +with the cook, the musicians, the horses and all.</p> + +<p>When she had gone a bit farther, she came to the +church. And there she met a funeral procession.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, funeral procession at the church,” +said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat! Have you had anything to eat +yet to-day?” said the funeral procession.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” +said the cat. “I have had no more than a +dish of mush and a little potful of fat and the man +in the house and the woman in the stable and the +bell-cow at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in +the orchard and the weasel on the stone-pile and the +squirrel in the hazel-bush and the fox, the sly-boots, +and the hopping hare and the wild wolf and little +bear brown-coat and the biting mother bear and +bruin good-fellow and the bridal party on the road, +and now I’m thinking over whether I ought not to +eat you up as well,” said she, and pounced on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +funeral procession, and ate up corpse and procession.</p> + +<p>When the cat had swallowed it all, she went +straight on up to the sky, and when she had gone +far and farther than far, she met the moon in a +cloud.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, moon in a cloud,” said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, cat! Have you had anything to eat +yet to-day?” said the moon.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” +said the cat. “I have had no more than a dish +of mush and a little potful of fat and the man in the +house and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow +at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the orchard +and the weasel on the stone-pile and the squirrel in +the hazel-bush and the fox, the sly-boots, and the +wild wolf and little bear brown-coat and the biting +mother bear and bruin good-fellow and the bridal +party on the road and the funeral procession at the +church, and now I’m thinking over whether I ought +not to eat you up as well,” said she, and pounced +on the moon and ate him up, half and full.</p> + +<p>Then the cat went far and farther than far, and +met the sun.</p> + +<p>“Good morning, cat! Have you had anything to +eat yet to-day?” said the sun.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little,” said the cat. “I have had no +more than a dish of mush and a little potful of fat +and the man in the house and the woman in the +stable and the bell-cow at the manger and the leaf-sweeper +in the orchard and the weasel on the stone-pile<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +and the squirrel in the hazel-bush and the fox, +the sly-boots, and the hopping hare and the wild +wolf and little bear brown-coat and the biting mother +bear and bruin good-fellow and the bridal party on +the road and the funeral procession at the church +and the moon in a cloud, and now I’m thinking over +whether I ought not to eat you up as well,” said she, +and pounced on the sun in the sky and ate him up.</p> + +<p>Then the cat went far and farther than far, until +she came to a bridge, and there she met a large billy-goat.</p> + +<p>“Good morning, billy-goat on the broad bridge,” +said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Good morning, cat! Have you had anything to +eat yet to-day?” said the goat.</p> + +<p>“O, only a little. My fast has hardly been broken,” +said the cat. “I had no more than a dish of +mush and a little potful of fat and the man in the +house and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow +at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the orchard +and the weasel on the stone-pile and the squirrel in +the hazel-bush and the fox, the sly-boots, and the +hopping hare and the wild wolf and little bear +brown-coat and the biting mother bear and bruin +good-fellow and the bridal party on the road and +the funeral procession at the church and the moon +in a cloud and the sun in the sky, and now I’m thinking +over whether I ought not to eat you up as well,” +said she.</p> + +<p>“We’ll fight about that first of all,” said the goat, +and butted the cat with his horns so that she rolled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +off the bridge, and fell into the water, and there +she burst.</p> + +<p>Then they all crawled out, and each went to his +own place, all whom the cat had eaten up, and were +every one of them as lively as before, the man in +the house and the woman in the stable and the bell-cow +at the manger and the leaf-sweeper in the orchard +and the weasel on the stone-pile and the squirrel +in the hazel-bush and the fox, the sly-boots, and +the hopping hare and the wild wolf and little bear +brown-coat and the biting mother bear and bruin +good-fellow and the bridal party on the road and +the funeral procession at the church and the moon in +a cloud and the sun in the sky.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>A real nursery fairy-tale is that of “The Cat Who Could Eat So +Much” (Asbjörnsen, N.F.E., No. 102, p. 222. From Gudbrandsdal). +It may be a survival from the time when it was believed that the +sun and moon in the sky were devoured by a monster when they +were obscured by a passing cloud.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a poor tenant +farmer who had a number of children whom +he could feed but poorly, and had to clothe in the +scantiest way. They were all handsome; but the +most beautiful, after all, was the youngest daughter, +for she was beautiful beyond all telling.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that one Thursday evening late +in the fall there was a terrible storm raging outside. +It was pitch dark, and it rained and stormed so that +the house shook in every joint. The whole family +sat around the hearth, and each was busy with some +work or other. Suddenly there were three loud +knocks on the window-pane. The man went out to +see who was there, and when he stepped outside, +there stood a great white bear.</p> + +<p>“Good evening,” said the white bear.</p> + +<p>“Good evening,” returned the man.</p> + +<p>“If you’ll give me your youngest daughter, I will +make you just as rich as now you are poor,” said +the bear.</p> + +<p>The man was not ill-pleased that he was to become +so rich; yet he did think that first he ought to speak +to his daughter about it. So he went in again, and +said that there was a white bear outside, who had +promised to make him just as rich as he was poor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +now, if he could only have the youngest daughter for +his bride. But the girl said no, and would not hear +of it. Then the man went back to the bear again, +and they both agreed that the white bear should +return again the following Thursday and get his answer. +In the meantime, however, the parents worked +upon their daughter, and talked at length about all +the riches they would gain, and how well she herself +would fare. So at last she agreed, washed and +mended the few poor clothes she had, adorned herself +as well as she could, and made ready to travel. +And what she was given to take along with her is +not worth mentioning, either.</p> + +<p>The following Thursday the white bear came to +fetch his bride. The girl seated herself on his back +with her bundle, and then he trotted off. After they +had gone a good way, the white bear asked: “Are +you afraid?”</p> + +<p>“No, not at all,” she answered.</p> + +<p>“Just keep a tight hold on my fur, and then you +will be in no danger,” said the bear. So she rode +on the bear’s back, far, far away, until at last they +came to a great rock. There the bear knocked, and +at once a door opened through which they entered a +great castle, with many brilliantly lighted rooms, +where everything gleamed with gold and silver. +Then they came into a great hall, and there stood a +table completely covered with the most splendid +dishes. Here the white bear gave the maiden a +silver bell, and said that if there were anything she +wanted, she need only ring the bell, and she should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +have it at once. And after the maiden had eaten, +and evening came on, she felt like lying down and +going to sleep. So she rang her bell; and at its very +first peal she found herself transported to a room in +which stood the most beautiful bed one might wish +to have, with silken cushions and curtains with +golden tassels; and all that was in the room was +of gold and silver. Yet when she had lain down and +put out the light, she saw a man come in and cast +himself down in a corner. It was the white bear, +who was allowed to throw off his fur at night; yet +the maiden never actually saw him, for he never came +until she had put out the light, and before dawn +brightened he had disappeared again.</p> + +<p>For a time all went well; but gradually the maiden +grew sad and silent; for she had not a soul to keep +her company the live-long day, and she felt very +homesick for her parents and sisters. When the +white bear asked her what troubled her, she told him +she was always alone, and that she wanted so very +much to see her parents and sisters again, and felt +very sad because she could not do so. “O that can +be managed,” said the white bear. “But first you +must promise me that you will never speak to your +mother alone; but only when others are present. +Very likely she will take you by the hand, and want +to lead you into her room, so that she can speak to +you alone. But this you must not allow, otherwise +you will make us both unhappy.”</p> + +<p>And then, one Sunday, the white bear actually +came and told her that now she might make the trip<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +to her parents. So she seated herself on the bear’s +back, and the bear set out. After they had gone a +very long distance, they at length came to a fine, +large, white house, before which her brothers and +sisters were running about and playing, and all was +so rich and splendid that it was a real pleasure +merely to look at it.</p> + +<p>“This is where your parents live,” said the white +bear. “Only do not forget what I told you, or you +will make us both unhappy.” Heaven forbid that +she should forget it, said the maiden; and when she +had come to the house, she got down, and the bear +turned back.</p> + +<p>When the daughter entered her parents’ home, +they were more than happy; they told her that they +could not thank her enough for what she had done, +and that now all of them were doing splendidly. +Then they asked her how she herself fared. The +maiden answered that all was well with her, also, +and that she had all that heart could desire. I do +not know exactly all the other things she told them; +but I do not believe she told them every last thing +there was to tell. So in the afternoon, when the +family had eaten dinner, it happened as the white +bear had foretold; the mother wanted to talk to her +daughter alone, in her room; but she thought of +what the white bear had told her, and did not want +to go with her mother, but said:</p> + +<p>“All we have to say to each other can just as well +be said here.” Yet—she herself did not know +exactly how it happened—her mother finally did persuade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +her, and then she had to tell just how things +were. So she informed her that as soon as she put +out the light at night, a man came and cast himself +down in the corner of the room. She had never +yet seen him, for he always went away before the +dawn brightened. And this grieved her, for she did +want to see him so very much, and she was alone +through the day, and it was very dreary and lonely.</p> + +<p>“Alas, perhaps he is a troll, after all,” said the +mother. “But I can give you some good advice as to +how you can see him. Here is a candle-end, which +you must hide under your wimple. When the troll +is sleeping, light the light and look at him. But be +careful not to let a drop of tallow fall on him.”</p> + +<p>The daughter took the candle-end and hid it in her +wimple, and in the evening the white bear came to +fetch her.</p> + +<p>After they had gone a way the white bear asked +whether everything had not happened just as he had +said. Yes, such had been the case, and the maiden +could not deny it.</p> + +<p>“If you have listened to your mother’s advice, +then you will make us both unhappy, and all will be +over between us,” said the bear. “O, no, she had +not done so,” replied the maiden, indeed she had not.</p> + +<p>When they reached home, and the maiden had +gone to bed, all went as usual: a man came in and +cast himself down in a corner of the room. But in +the night, when she heard him sleeping soundly, she +stood up and lighted the candle. She threw the light +on him, and saw the handsomest prince one might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +wish to see. And she liked him so exceedingly well +that she thought she would be unable to keep on living +if she could not kiss him that very minute. She +did so, but by mistake she let three hot drops of +tallow fall on him, and he awoke.</p> + +<p>“Alas, what have you done!” cried he. “Now +you have made both of us unhappy. If you had only +held out until the end of the year, I would have been +delivered. I have a step-mother who has cast a spell +on me, so that by day I am a bear, and at night a +human being. But now all is over between us, +and I must return to my step-mother. She lives in +a castle that is east of the sun and west of the moon, +where there is a princess with a nose three yards +long, whom I must now marry.”</p> + +<p>The maiden wept and wailed; but to no avail, for +the prince said he must journey away. Then she +asked him whether she might not go with him. No, +said he, that could not be.</p> + +<p>“But can you not at least tell me the road, so that +I can search for you. For surely that will be permitted +me?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that you may do,” said he. “But there is no +road that leads there. The castle lies east of the +sun and west of the moon, and neither now nor at any +other time will you find the road to it!”</p> + +<p>When the maiden awoke the next morning, the +prince as well as the castle had disappeared. She +lay in a green opening in the midst of a thick, dark +wood, and beside her lay the bundle of poor belongings +she had brought from home. And when she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +had rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and had cried +her fill, she set out and wandered many, many days, +until at last she came to a great hill. And before +the hill sat an old woman who was playing with a +golden apple. The maiden asked the woman whether +she did not know which road led to the prince who +lived in the castle that was east of the sun and west +of the moon, and who was to marry a princess with a +nose three yards long.</p> + +<p>“How do you come to know him?” asked the +woman. “Are you, perhaps, the maiden he wanted +to marry?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am that maiden,” she replied.</p> + +<p>“So you are that girl,” said the woman. “Well, +my child, I am sorry to say that all I know of him +is that he lives in the castle that is east of the sun +and west of the moon, and that you will probably +never get there. But I will loan you my horse, on +which you may ride to my neighbor, and perhaps she +can tell you. And when you get there just give the +horse a blow back of his left ear, and order him to +go home. And here, take this golden apple along!”</p> + +<p>The maiden mounted the horse, and rode a long, +long time. At length she again came to a hill, before +which sat an old woman with a golden reel. +The maiden asked whether she could not tell her the +road which led to the castle that lay east of the +sun and west of the moon. This woman said just +what the other had, no, she knew no more of the +castle than that it lay east of the sun and west of +the moon. “And,” said she, “you will probably<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +never get there. But I will loan you my horse to +ride to the nearest neighbor; perhaps she can tell +you. And when you have reached her just give the +horse a blow back of his left ear, and order him to +go home again.” And finally she gave the maiden +the golden reel, for, said the old woman, it might +be useful to her.</p> + +<p>The maiden then mounted the horse, and again +rode a long, long time. At length she once more +came to a great hill, before which sat an old woman +spinning at a golden spindle. Then the maiden once +more asked after the prince, and the castle that lay +east of the sun and west of the moon. And everything +happened exactly as on the two previous occasions.</p> + +<p>“Do you happen to be the maiden the prince +wanted to marry?” asked the old woman.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am that maiden,” answered the maiden.</p> + +<p>But this old woman knew no more about the road +than the two others. “Yes, the castle lies east of +the sun and west of the moon, that I know,” said +she. “And you will probably never get there. But +I will loan you my horse, and you may ride on it to +the East Wind and ask him. Perhaps he is acquainted +there, and can blow you thither. And when +you reach him, just give my horse a blow back of +the left ear, and then he will return here of his +own accord.” Finally the old woman gave her her +golden spindle. “Perhaps it may be useful to you,” +said she.</p> + +<p>The maiden now rode for many days and weeks,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +and it took a long, long time before she came to the +East Wind. But at last she did find him, and then +she asked the East Wind whether he could show her +the road that led to the prince who lived in the castle +that was east of the sun and west of the moon.</p> + +<p>O, yes, he had heard tell of the prince, and of the +castle as well, said the East Wind, but he did not +know the road that led to it, for he had never blown +so far. “But if you wish, I will take you to my +brother, the West Wind, and perhaps he can tell +you, for he is much stronger than I am. Just sit +down on my back, and I will carry you to him.”</p> + +<p>The maiden did as he told her, and then they +moved swiftly away. When they came to the West +Wind, the East Wind said that here he was bringing +the maiden whom the prince who lived in the +castle that lay east of the sun and west of the moon +had wanted to marry, that she was journeying on her +way to him, and looking for him everywhere, and +that he had accompanied her in order to find out +whether the West Wind knew where this castle +might be.</p> + +<p>“No,” said the West Wind to the maiden, “I +have never blown so far, but if you wish I will take +you to the South Wind, who is much stronger than +both of us, and has traveled far and wide, and perhaps +he can tell you. Seat yourself on my back, and +I will carry you to him.”</p> + +<p>The maiden did so, and then they flew quickly off +to the South Wind. When they found him, the West +Wind asked whether the South Wind could show<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +them the road that led to the castle that lay east of +the sun and west of the moon; and that this was the +maiden who was to have the prince.</p> + +<p>“Well, well, so this is the girl?” cried the South +Wind. “Yes, it is true that I have gone about a +good deal during my life,” said he, “yet I have never +blown so far. But if you wish, I will take you to +my brother, the North Wind. He is the oldest and +strongest of us all. If he does not know where the +castle lies, then no one in the whole world can tell +you. Seat yourself on my back, and I will carry you +to him.”</p> + +<p>The maiden seated herself on the back of the South +Wind, and he flew away with a roar and a rush. The +journey did not take long.</p> + +<p>When they had reached the dwelling of the North +Wind, the latter was so wild and unmannerly that +he blew a cold blast at them while they were still a +good way off. “What do you want?” cried he, as +soon as he caught sight of them, so that a cold shiver +ran down their backs.</p> + +<p>“You should not greet us so rudely,” said the +South Wind. “It is I, the South Wind. And this is +the maiden who wanted to marry the prince who lives +in the castle that lies east of the sun and west of the +moon. She wishes to ask you whether you have ever +been there, and if you can show her the road that +leads to it; for she would like to find the prince +again.”</p> + +<p>“O, yes, I know very well where the castle lies,” +said the North Wind. “I blew an aspen leaf there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +just once, and then I was so weary that I could not +blow at all for many a long day. But if you want to +get there above all things, and are not afraid of me, +I will take you on my back, and see whether I can +blow you there.”</p> + +<p>The maiden said that she must and would get to +the castle, if it were by any means possible, and that +she was not afraid, no matter how hard the journey +might be. “Very well, then you must stay here over +night,” said the North Wind. “For if we are to +get there to-morrow, we must have the whole day +before us.”</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the North Wind awakened +the maiden. Then he blew himself up, and +made himself so large and thick that he was quite +horrible to look at, and thereupon they rushed along +through the air as though they meant to reach the +end of the world at once. And everywhere beneath +them raged such a storm that forests were pulled out +by the roots, and houses torn down, and as they +rushed across the sea, ships foundered by the hundreds. +Further and further they went, so far that no +one could even imagine it, and still they were flying +across the sea; but gradually the North Wind grew +weary, and became weaker and weaker. Finally he +could hardly keep going, and sank lower and lower, +and at last he flew so low that the waves washed his +ankles.</p> + +<p>“Are you afraid?” asked the North Wind.</p> + +<p>“No, not at all,” answered the maiden. By now +they were not far distant from the land, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +North Wind had just enough strength left to be able +to set down the maiden on the strand, beneath the +windows of the castle that lay east of the sun and +west of the moon. And then he was so wearied and +wretched that he had to rest many a long day before +he could set out for home again.</p> + +<p>The next morning the maiden seated herself beneath +the windows of the castle and played with the +golden apple, and the first person who showed herself +was the monster with the nose, whom the prince +was to marry.</p> + +<p>“What do you want for your golden apple?” asked +the princess with the nose, as she opened the window.</p> + +<p>“I will not sell it at all, either for gold or for +money,” answered the maiden.</p> + +<p>“Well, what do you want for it, if you will not sell +it either for gold or for money?” asked the princess. +“Ask what you will!”</p> + +<p>“I only want to speak to-night to the prince who +lives here, then I will give you the apple,” said the +maiden who had come with the North Wind.</p> + +<p>The princess replied that this could be arranged, +and then she received the golden apple. But when +the maiden came into the prince’s room in the evening, +he was sleeping soundly. She called and shook +him, wept and wailed; but she could not wake him, +and in the morning, as soon as it dawned, the princess +with the long nose came and drove her out.</p> + +<p>That day the maiden again sat beneath the windows +of the castle, and wound her golden reel. And +all went as on the preceding day. The princess asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +what she wanted for the reel, and the maiden answered +that she would sell it neither for gold nor +for money; but if she might speak that night to the +prince, then she would give the reel to the princess. +Yet when the maiden came to the prince, he was +again fast asleep, and no matter how much she wept +and wailed, and cried and shook, she could not wake +him. But as soon as day dawned, and it grew bright, +the princess with the long nose came and drove her +out. And that day the maiden again seated herself +beneath the windows of the castle, and spun with her +golden spindle; and, of course, the princess with the +long nose wanted to have that, too. She opened the +window, and asked what she wanted for the golden +spindle. The maiden replied, as she had twice before, +that she would sell the spindle neither for gold +nor money; but that the princess could have it if she +might speak to the prince again that night. Yes, +that she was welcome to do, said the princess, and +took the golden spindle. Now it happened that some +Christians, who were captives in the castle, and +quartered in a room beside that of the prince, had +heard a woman weeping and wailing pitifully in the +prince’s room for the past two nights. So they told +the prince. And that evening when the princess +came to him with his night-cap, the prince pretended +to drink it; but instead poured it out behind his back, +for he could well imagine that she had put a sleeping-powder +into the cup. Then, when the maiden +came in, the prince was awake, and she had to tell +him just how she had found the castle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>“You have come just in the nick of time,” said +he, “for to-morrow I am to marry the princess; but +I do not want the monster with the nose at all, and +you are the only person who can save me. I will +say that first I wish to see whether my bride is a +capable housewife, and demand that she wash the +three drops of tallow from my shirt. She will naturally +agree to this, for she does not know that you +made the spots, for only Christian hands can wash +them out again, but not the hands of this pack of +trolls. Then I will say I will marry none other than +the maiden who can wash out the spots, and ask +you to do so,” said the prince. And then both rejoiced +and were happy beyond measure.</p> + +<p>But on the following day, when the wedding was +to take place, the prince said: “First I would like to +see what my bride can do!” Yes, that was no more +than right, said his mother-in-law. “I have a very +handsome shirt,” continued the prince, “which I +would like to wear at the wedding. But there are +three tallow-spots on it, and they must first be +washed out. And I have made a vow to marry +none other than the woman who can do this. So +if my bride cannot manage to do it, then she is +worthless.”</p> + +<p>Well, that would not be much of a task, said the +women, and agreed to the proposal. And the princess +with the long nose at once began to wash. She +washed with all her might and main, and took the +greatest pains, but the longer she washed and +rubbed, the larger grew the spots.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>“O, you don’t know how to wash!” said her +mother, the old troll-wife. “Just give it to me!” +But no sooner had she taken the shirt in her hand, +than it began to look worse, and the more she washed +and rubbed, the larger and blacker grew the spots. +Then the other troll-women had to come and wash; +but the longer they washed the shirt the uglier it +grew, and finally it looked as though it had been +hanging in the smokestack.</p> + +<p>“Why, all of you are worthless!” said the prince. +“Outside the window sits a beggar-girl. I’m sure +she is a better washer-woman than all of you put together. +You, girl, come in here!” he cried out of +the window; and when the maiden came in he said: +“Do you think you can wash this shirt clean for +me?”</p> + +<p>“I do not know,” answered the maiden, “but I +will try.” And no more had she dipped the shirt +in the water than it turned as white as newly fallen +snow, yes, even whiter.</p> + +<p>“Indeed, and you are the one I want!” said the +prince.</p> + +<p>Then the old troll-woman grew so angry that she +burst in two, and the princess with the long nose +and the rest of the troll-pack probably burst in two +as well, for I never heard anything more of them. +The prince and his bride then freed all the Christians +who had been kept captive in the castle, and packed +up as much gold and silver as they could possibly +take with them, and went far away from the castle +that lies East of the sun and West of the moon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“East of the Sun and West of the Moon” (Asbjörnsen and Moe, +N.F.E., p. 200, No. 41). The maiden’s journeys with the winds +are here recounted in a colorful and imaginative manner, and the +motive of the washing out of the three drops of tallow is a delicate +and ingenious development of the idea of the fateful candle.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXIII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">MURMUR GOOSE-EGG</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there were five women who +were standing in a field, mowing. Heaven had +not given a single one of them a child, and each of +them wanted to have one. And suddenly they saw a +goose-egg of quite unheard-of size, well-nigh as +large as a man’s head. “I saw it first,” said the +one. “I saw it at the same time that you did,” insisted +another. “But I want it, for I saw it first of +all,” maintained a third. And thus they went on, +and fought so about the egg that they nearly came +to blows. Finally they agreed that it should belong +to all five of them, and that all of them should sit +on it, as a goose would do, and hatch out the little +gosling. The first remained sitting on the egg for +eight days, and hatched, and did not move or do a +thing; and during this time the rest had to feed her +and themselves as well. One of them grew angry +because of this and scolded.</p> + +<p>“You did not crawl out of the egg either before +you could cry peep!” said the one who was sitting +on the egg and hatching. “Yet I almost believe that +a human child is going to slip out of the egg, for +something is murmuring inside it without ever stopping: +‘Herring and mush, porridge and milk,’” said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +she. “And now you can sit on it for eight days, +while we bring you food.”</p> + +<p>When the fifth day of the eight had passed, it was +plain to her that there was a child in the egg, which +kept on calling: “Herring and mush, porridge +and milk,” and so she punched a hole in the egg, and +instead of a gosling out came a child, and it was +quite disgustingly homely, with a big head and a +small body, and no sooner had it crawled out than +it began to cry: “Herring and mush, porridge and +milk!” So they named the child Murmur Goose-Egg.</p> + +<p>In spite of the child’s homeliness, the women at +first took a great deal of pleasure in him; but before +long he grew so greedy that he devoured everything +they had. When they cooked a dish of mush or a +potful of porridge that was to do for all six of them, +the child swallowed it all by himself. So they did not +want to keep him any longer. “I have not had a +single full meal since the changling crawled out,” +said one of them; and when Murmur Goose-Egg +heard that, and the rest agreed, he said that he +would gladly go his own gait, for “if they had no +need of him, then he had no need of them,” and with +that he went off. Finally he came to a farmstead +that lay in a rocky section, and asked for work. +Yes, they needed a workman, and the master told +him to gather up the stones in the field. Then Murmur +Goose-Egg gathered up the stones in the field; +he picked up some that were so large that a number +of horses could not have dragged them, and large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +and small, one and all, he put them in his pocket. +Before long he had finished his work, and wanted +to know what he was to do next.</p> + +<p>“You have picked up the stones in the field?” said +his master. “You cannot possibly have finished before +you have really begun!”</p> + +<p>But Murmur Goose-Egg emptied his pockets, and +threw the stones on a pile. Then his master saw +that he had finished his work, and that one would +have to handle such a strong fellow with kid gloves. +So he told him to come in and eat. That suited +Murmur Goose-Egg, and he ate up everything that +was to have supplied the master and his family, and +the help, and then he was only half satisfied.</p> + +<p>He was really a splendid worker; but a dangerous +eater, like a bottomless cask, said the peasant. +“Such a serving-man could eat up a poor peasant, +house and ground, before he noticed it,” said he. +He had no more work for him, and the best thing to +do would be to go to the king’s castle.</p> + +<p>So Murmur Goose-Egg went to the king, and was +at once given a place, and there was enough to eat +and drink in the castle. He was to be the errand-boy, +and help the maids fetch wood and water, and do +other odd jobs. So he asked what he was to do +first.</p> + +<p>For the time being he could chop fire-wood, said +they. So Murmur Goose-Egg began to chop fire-wood, +and hewed to the line in such fashion that the +chips fairly flew. Before long he had chopped up +all that there was, kindling wood and building wood,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +beams and boards, and when he was through with +it, he came and asked what he was to do now.</p> + +<p>“You can finish chopping the fire-wood,” said +they.</p> + +<p>“There is none left,” said Murmur Goose-Egg.</p> + +<p>That could not be possible, said the superintendent, +and looked into the wood-bin. Yes, indeed, +Murmur Goose-Egg had chopped up everything, +large and small, beams and boards. That was very +bad, and therefore the superintendent said that Murmur +Goose-Egg should have nothing to eat until he +had chopped down just as much wood in the forest +as he had just chopped up for fire-wood.</p> + +<p>Then Murmur Goose-Egg went into the smithy, +and had the smith make an iron ax of five hundred-weights. +With that he went into the forest and +began to chop. He chopped down big pine and fir +trees, as thick as masts, and all that he found on the +king’s ground, as well as what he found on that of +his neighbors. But he cut off neither the branches +nor the tree-tops, so that all lay there as though +felled by the storm. Then he loaded a sizable stack +on the sled, and put to the horses. But they could +not move the load from the spot, and when he took +them by the heads, in order to pull them forward, +he tore off their heads. So he unharnessed them, +and left them lying in the field, and put himself to +the sled, and went off alone with the load. When +he came to the king’s castle, there stood the king +with the master carpenter in the entrance, and they +were ready to give him a warm reception, because<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +of the destruction he had wrought in the forest. For +the master carpenter had been there and seen the +havoc he had made. But when Murmur Goose-Egg +came along with half the forest, the king grew frightened +as well as angry, and he thought that if Murmur +was so strong, it would be best to handle him +with care.</p> + +<p>“Why, you are a splendid workman,” said the +king, “but tell me, how much do you really eat at +once,” he continued, “for I am sure you are +hungry?”</p> + +<p>If he were to have enough porridge, they would +have to take twelve tons of meal to make it; but +after he had eaten that, then he could wait a while, +said Murmur Goose-Egg.</p> + +<p>It took some time before so much porridge could +be prepared, and in the meantime Murmur was to +carry wood into the kitchen. So he piled the whole +load of wood on a sled, but when he drove it through +the door, he did not go to work about it very gently. +The house nearly broke from its joints, and he well-nigh +tore down the entire castle. When at last dinner +was ready, they sent him out into the field, to +call the help. He called so loudly that hill and vale +reëchoed the sound. But still the people did not +come quick enough to suit him. So he picked a quarrel +with them, and killed twelve.</p> + +<p>“You kill twelve of my people, and you eat for +twelve times twelve of them, but how many men’s +work can you do?” asked the king.</p> + +<p>“I do the work of twelve times twelve, too,” said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +Murmur. When he had eaten, he was to go to the +barn and thresh. So he pulled the beam out of the +roof-tree, and made a flail out of it, and when the +roof threatened to fall in, he took a pine-tree with +all its boughs and branches, and set it up in place +of the roof-beam. Then he threshed corn and hay +and straw, all together, and it seemed as though a +cloud hung over the royal castle.</p> + +<p>When Murmur Goose-Egg had nearly finished +threshing, the enemy broke into the land, and war +began. Then the king told him to gather people +about him, and go to meet the foe, and do battle +with him, for he thought the enemy would probably +kill him.</p> + +<p>No, said Murmur Goose-Egg, he did not want to +have the king’s people killed, he would see that he +dealt with the enemy himself.</p> + +<p>All the better, thought the king, then I am sure +to get rid of him. But he would need a proper club, +said Murmur.</p> + +<p>So they sent to the smith, and he forged a club of +two hundred-weights. That would only do for a +nut-cracker, said Murmur Goose-Egg. So he forged +another that weighed six hundred-weights, and that +would do to hammer shoes with, said Murmur Goose-Egg. +But the smith told him that he and all his +workmen together could not forge a larger one.</p> + +<p>Then Murmur Goose-Egg went into the smithy +himself, and forged himself a club of thirty hundred-weights, +and it would have taken a hundred men +just to turn it around on the anvil. This might do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +at a pinch, said Murmur. Then he wanted a knapsack +with provisions. It was sewn together out of +fifteen ox-skins, and stuffed full of provisions, and +then Murmur wandered down the hill with the knapsack +on his back, and the club over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>When he came near enough for the soldiers to +see him, they sent to ask whether he had a mind to +attack them.</p> + +<p>“Just wait until I have eaten,” said Murmur, and +sat him down behind his knapsack to eat. But the +enemy would not wait, and began to fire at him. +And it fairly rained and hailed musket-balls all +around Murmur.</p> + +<p>“I don’t care a fig for these blueberries,” said +Murmur Goose-Egg, and feasted on quite at ease. +Neither lead nor iron could wound him, and his knapsack +stood before him, and caught the bullets like +a wall.</p> + +<p>Then the enemy began to throw bombs at him, and +shoot at him with cannon. He hardly moved when +he was struck. “O, that’s of no account!” said he.</p> + +<p>But then a bomb flew into his wind-pipe. +“Faugh!” said he, and spat it out again, and then +came a chain-bullet and fell into his butter-plate, +and another tore away the bit of bread from between +his fingers.</p> + +<p>Then he grew angry, stood up, took his club, +pounded the ground with it, and asked whether they +wanted to take the food from his mouth with the +blueberries they were blowing out at him from their +clumsy blow-pipes. Then he struck a few more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +blows, so that the hills and valleys round about trembled, +and all the enemy flew up into the air like +chaff, and that was the end of the war.</p> + +<p>When Murmur came back and asked for more +work, the king was at a loss, for he had felt sure +that now he was rid of him. So he knew of nothing +better to do than to send him to the devil’s place.</p> + +<p>“Now you can go to the devil, and fetch the tribute +from him,” said the king. Murmur Goose-Egg went +off with his knapsack on his back, and his club over +his shoulder. He had soon reached the right spot; +but when he got there the devil was away at a trial. +There was no one home but his grandmother, and +she said she had never yet heard anything about a +tribute, and that he was to come back some other +time.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, come again to-morrow,” said he. +“I know that old excuse!” But since he was there, +he would stay there, for he had to take home the +tribute, and he had plenty of time to wait. But when +he had eaten all his provisions, he grew weary, and +again demanded the tribute from the grandmother.</p> + +<p>“You will get nothing from me, and that’s as flat +as the old fir-tree outside is fast,” said the devil’s +grandmother. The fir-tree stood in front of the gate +to the devil’s place, and was so large that fifteen +men could hardly girdle it with their arms. But +Murmur climbed up into its top and bent and shook +it to and fro as though it were a willow wand, and +then asked the devil’s grandmother once more +whether she would now pay him the tribute.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>So she did not dare to refuse any longer, and +brought out as much money as he could possibly +carry in his knapsack. Then he set out for home +with the tribute, and now no sooner had he gone +than the devil came home, and when he learned that +Murmur had taken along a big bag of money, he +first beat his grandmother, and then hurried after +Murmur. And he soon caught up to him, for he ran +over sticks and stones, and sometimes flew in between; +while Murmur had to stick to the highway +with his heavy knapsack. But with the devil at his +heels, he began to run as fast as he could, and +stretched out the club behind him, to keep the devil +from coming to close quarters. And thus they ran +along, one behind the other; while Murmur held +the shaft and the devil the end of the club, until they +reached a deep valley. There Murmur jumped from +one mountain-top to another, and the devil followed +him so hotly that he ran into the club, fell down +into the valley and broke his foot—and there he +lay.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i005" id="i005"></a> +<img src="images/i005.jpg" width="405" height="573" alt="“THERE MURMUR JUMPED FROM ONE MOUNTAIN-TOP +TO ANOTHER” +—Page 189" title="" /><br /> +<span class="caption">“THERE MURMUR JUMPED FROM ONE MOUNTAIN-TOP +TO ANOTHER”<br /> +<span class="flr">—Page 189</span></span> +</div> + +<p>“There’s your tribute!” said Murmur Goose-Egg, +when he had reached the royal castle, and he flung +down the knapsack full of money before the king, +so that the whole castle tottered. The king thanked +him kindly, and promised him a good reward, and a +good character, if he wanted it; but Murmur only +wanted more work to do.</p> + +<p>“What shall I do now?” he asked. The king reflected +for a while, and then he said Murmur should +travel to the hill-troll, who had robbed him of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +sword of his ancestors. He lived in a castle by the +sea, where no one ventured to go.</p> + +<p>Murmur was given a few cart-loads of provisions +in his big knapsack, and once more set out. Long +he wandered, though, over field and wood, over hills +and deep valleys, till he came to a great mountain +where the troll lived who had robbed the king of +the sword.</p> + +<p>But the troll was not out in the open, and the +mountain was closed, so Murmur could not get it. +So he joined a party of stone-breakers, who were +working at a mountainside, and worked along with +them. They had never had such a helper, for Murmur +hewed away at the rocks till they burst, and +stone bowlders as large as houses came rolling down. +But when he was about to rest and eat up the first +cart-load of his provisions, it had already been eaten +up. “I have a good appetite myself,” said Murmur, +“but whoever got hold of it has an even better one, +for he has eaten up the bones as well!”</p> + +<p>Thus it went the first day, and the second was no +better. On the third day he went to work again, and +took along the third cart-load, lay down behind it, +and pretended to be sleeping.</p> + +<p>Then a troll with seven heads came out of the hill, +began to smack his lips, and eat of his provisions.</p> + +<p>“Now the table is set, so now I am going to eat,” +said he.</p> + +<p>“First we’ll see about that,” said Murmur, and +hewed away at the troll so that the heads flew from +his body.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he went into the hill out of which the troll +had come, and inside stood a horse eating out of a +barrel of glowing ashes, while behind him stood a +barrel filled with oats.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you eat out of the barrel of oats?” +asked Murmur Goose-Egg.</p> + +<p>“Because I cannot turn around,” said the horse.</p> + +<p>“I will turn you around,” said Murmur Goose-Egg.</p> + +<p>“Tear my head off instead,” pleaded the horse.</p> + +<p>Murmur did so, and then the horse turned into +a fine-looking man. He said that he had been enchanted, +and turned into a horse by the troll. Then +he helped Murmur look for the sword, which the +troll had hidden under the bed. But in the bed lay +the troll’s grandmother, and she was snoring.</p> + +<p>They went home by water, and just as they sailed +off the old troll grandmother came after them; but +she could not get at them, hence she commenced to +drink, so that the water went down and grew lower. +But at last she could not drink up the whole sea, +and so she burst.</p> + +<p>When they came ashore, Murmur sent to the king, +and had him told to have the sword fetched; but +though the king sent four horses, they could not +move it from the spot. He sent eight, he sent twelve, +but the sword remained where it was, and could not +be moved from the spot by any means. Then Murmur +Goose-Egg took it up, and carried it alone.</p> + +<p>The king could not believe his eyes when he saw +Murmur once more; but he was very friendly and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +promised him gold and green forests. But when +Murmur asked for more work, he told him to travel +to his troll’s castle, where no one dared go, and to +remain there until he had built a bridge across the +sound, so that people could cross. If he could do +that, he would reward him well, yes, he would even +give him his daughter, said the king. He would +attend to it, said Murmur.</p> + +<p>Yet no human being had ever returned thence +alive; all who had gotten so far, lay on the ground +dead, and crushed to a jelly, and the king thought, +when sending him there, that he would never see +him again.</p> + +<p>But Murmur set out. He took with him his knapsack +full of provisions, and a properly turned and +twisted block of pine-wood, as well as an ax, a wedge +and some wooden chips.</p> + +<p>When he reached the sound, the river was full +of drifting ice, and it roared like a waterfall. But +he planted his legs firmly on the ground, and waded +along until he got across. When he had warmed +himself and satisfied his hunger, he wanted to sleep; +but a tumult and rumbling started, as though the +whole castle were to be turned upside down. The +gate flew wide open, and Murmur saw nothing but +a pair of yawning jaws that reached from the +threshold to the top of the door.</p> + +<p>“Let’s see who you may be? Perhaps you are +an old friend of mine,” said Murmur. And sure +enough, it was Master Devil. Then they played +cards together. The devil would gladly have won<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +back some of the tribute Murmur had forced from +his grandmother for the king. Yet, no matter how +he played, Murmur always won; for he made a cross +on the cards. And after he had won all the devil +had with him, the latter had to give him some of +the gold and silver that was in the castle.</p> + +<p>In the midst of their game the fire went out, so +that they could no longer tell the cards apart.</p> + +<p>“Now we must split wood,” said Murmur. He +hewed into the block of pine-wood with his ax, and +drove in the wedge, but the tree-stump was tough, +and would not split at once, though Murmur gave +himself all manner of pains.</p> + +<p>“You are supposed to be strong,” he said to the +devil. “Spit on your hands, slap in your claws here, +and pull the block apart, so that I can see what you +can do!”</p> + +<p>The devil obediently thrust both hands into the +split, and tore and clawed with all his might; but +suddenly Murmur Goose-Egg knocked out the wedge, +and there the devil was caught in a vice, while Murmur +belabored his back with the ax. The devil +wailed, and begged Murmur to let him go; but Murmur +would hear nothing of it until he had promised +never to come back and make a nuisance of himself +again. Besides that, he had to promise to build a +bridge over the sound, on which one could go back +and forth at all seasons of the year. And the bridge +was to be completed immediately after the breaking +up of the ice-drift.</p> + +<p>“Alas!” said the devil, but there was nothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +for it but to promise if he wished to go free. Yet +he made one condition, that he was to have the first +soul that crossed the bridge as sound-toll.</p> + +<p>He could have it, said Murmur. Then he let the +devil out, and he ran straight home. But Murmur +lay down and slept until far into the following day.</p> + +<p>Then the king came to see whether Murmur Goose-Egg +were lying crushed on the ground, or had merely +been badly beaten. He had to wade through piles +of money before he could reach the bed. The money +was stacked up high along the walls in heaps and in +bags, and Murmur lay in the bed and snored.</p> + +<p>“May heaven help me and my daughter!” cried +the king, when he saw that Murmur Goose-Egg was +in the best of health. Yes, and no one could deny +that everything had been well and thoroughly done, +said the king; but there could be no talk of marriage +as long as the bridge had not been built.</p> + +<p>Then one day the bridge was finished; and on it +stood the devil, ready to collect the toll promised +him.</p> + +<p>Murmur Goose-Egg wanted the king to be the first +to try the bridge with him; but the king had no +mind to do so, therefore Murmur himself mounted +a horse, and swung up the fat dairy-maid from the +castle before him on the saddle-bow—she looked +almost like a gigantic block of wood—and dashed +across the bridge with her so that the planks fairly +thundered.</p> + +<p>“Where is my sound-toll? Where is the soul?” +cried the devil. “Sitting in this block of wood! If<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +you want her, you must spit on your hands and catch +hold of her,” said Murmur Goose-Egg. “No, thank +you! If she does not catch hold of me, then I’ll +certainly not catch hold of her,” said the devil. +“You caught me in a vice once, but you can’t fool +me a second time,” said he, and flew straight home +to his grandmother, and since then nothing more +has been heard or seen of him.</p> + +<p>But Murmur Goose-Egg hurried back to the castle +and asked for the reward the king had promised +him. And when the king hesitated and began to +make all sorts of excuses, in order not to have to +keep his promise, Murmur said it would be best to +have a substantial knapsackful of provisions made +ready, since now he, Murmur, was going to take his +reward himself. This the king did, and when the +knapsack was ready, Murmur took the king along +with him in front of the castle, and gave him a +proper shove, so that he flew high up into the air. +And he threw the knapsack up after him, so that +he would not be left altogether without provisions; +and if he has not come down yet, then he, together +with the knapsack, is floating between heaven and +earth to this very day.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“Murmur Goose-Egg” (Asbjörnsen, N.F.E., p. 172, No. 96. From +Gudbrandsdal, title and introduction after a variant from the vicinity +of Christiania) is predestined to great deeds from birth, like his +Swedish counterpart Knös. This giant fellow, who fears neither +death nor the devil, if he only has enough to eat, is of old a favorite +figure in Norse fairy-tale. It is by means of similar giant fooleries<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +that Thor, the god of the Norwegian peasant, was made ridiculous, +and shown up as a braggart; and in the Song of Harbord he is +mocked because of his fondness for herring and mush, the very dish +Murmur demands before he crawls from the egg. Thor is also +credited with a trip to the nether world, just as Murmur is sent +to the devil in hell, to collect a tribute.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXIV<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE TROLL-WIFE</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time, long, long years ago, there +lived a well-to-do old couple on a homestead +up in Hadeland. They had a son, who was a dragoon, +a big, handsome fellow. They had a pasture in +the hills, and the hut was not like most of the herdsmen’s +huts; but was well and solidly built, and even +had a chimney, a roof and a window. And there +they spent the summer; but when they came back +home in the fall, the wood-cutters and huntsmen and +fishermen, and whoever else had business in the +woods at that time, noticed that the mountain folk +had carried on its tricks with their herd. And among +the mountain folk was a maiden who was so beautiful +that her like had never been seen.</p> + +<p>The son had often heard tell of her, and one fall, +when his parents had already come home from the +mountain pasture, he put on his full uniform, saddled +his service horse, thrust his pistols in the holsters, +and thus rode up into the hills. When he +rode toward the pasture, such a fire burned in the +herdsman’s hut that it lit up every road, and then +he knew that the mountain folk were inside. So he +tied his horse to a pine-tree, took a pistol from its +holster, crept up to the hut, and peeped through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +window. And there sat an old man and a woman +who were quite crooked and shriveled up with age, +and so unspeakably ugly that he had never seen anything +like it in his life; but with them was a maiden, +and she was so surpassingly beautiful that he fell in +love with her at once, and felt that he could not +live without her. All had cow’s tails, and the lovely +maiden, too. And he could see that they had only +just arrived, for everything was in disorder. The +maiden was busy washing the ugly old man, and the +woman was building a fire under the great cheese-kettle +on the hearth.</p> + +<p>At that moment the dragoon flung open the door, +and shot off his pistol right above the maiden’s +head, so that she tottered and fell to the ground. +And then she grew every bit as ugly as she had been +beautiful before, and she had a nose as long as a +pistol-case.</p> + +<p>“Now you may take her, for now she belongs to +you!” said the old man. But the dragoon stood as +though rooted to the spot; stood where he stood, +and could not take a single step, either forward or +backward. Then the old man began to wash the +girl; and she looked a little better; her nose was +only half its original size, and her ugly cow’s tail +was tied back; but she was not as handsome, and +any one who said so would not have been telling the +truth.</p> + +<p>“Now she is yours, my proud dragoon! Take her +up before you on your horse, and ride into town +and marry her. And you need only set the table<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +for us in the little room in the bake-house; for we +do not want to be with the other wedding-guests,” +said the old monster, her father, “but when the +dishes make the round, you can stop in where we +are.”</p> + +<p>He did not dare do anything else, and took her +up before him on his horse, and made ready to +marry her. But before she went to church, the bride +begged one of the bridesmaids to stand close behind +her, so that no one could see her tail fall off when +the priest joined their hands.</p> + +<p>So the wedding was celebrated, and when the +dishes made the round, the bridegroom went out +into the room where the table had been set for the +old folk from the mountain. And at that time there +was nothing to be seen there; but after the wedding-guests +had gone, there was so much gold and silver, +and such a pile of money lying there, as he had +never seen together before.</p> + +<p>For a long time all went well. Whenever guests +came, his wife laid the table for the old folk in the +bake-house, and on each occasion so much money +was left lying there, that before long they did not +know what to do with it all. But ugly she was, and +ugly she remained, and he was heartily weary of +her. So it was bound to happen that he sometimes +flew into a rage, and threatened her with cuffs and +blows. Once he wanted to go to town, and since it +was fall, and the ground already frozen, the horse +had first to be shod. So he went into the smithy—for +he himself was a notable farrier—but, no matter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +what lie did, the horse-shoe was either too large or +too small, and would not fit at all. He had no other +horse at home, and he toiled away until noon and +on into the afternoon. “Will you never make an +end of your shoeing?” asked his wife. “You are +not a very good husband; but you are a far worse +farrier. I see there is nothing left for me but to +go into the smithy myself and shoe the horse. This +shoe is too large, you should have made it smaller, +and that one is too small, you should have made it +larger.”</p> + +<p>She went into the smithy, and the first thing she +did was to take the horse-shoe in both hands and +bend it straight.</p> + +<p>“There, look at it,” said she, “that is how you +must do it.” And with that she bent it together +again as though it were made of lead. “Now hold +up the horse’s leg,” said she, and the horse-shoe +fitted to a hair, so that the best farrier could not +have bettered it.</p> + +<p>“You have a great deal of strength in your fingers,” +said her husband, and he looked at her.</p> + +<p>“Do you think so?” was her reply. “What would +have happened to me had you been as strong? But +I love you far too dearly ever to use my strength +against you,” said she.</p> + +<p>And from that day on he was the best of husbands.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The Troll-Wife” (Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Huldreeventyr</cite>, I, p. 77. From +Hadeland, told by a farrier who knew a number of fairy-tales)<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +deals with a marriage between a Christian and a Troll. Strange to +say, the woman is kind and gentle beyond all reproach, while her +husband grows less kind and more brutal, and does not improve +until his wife shows that troll strength and skill are still at her +command.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXV<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE KING’S HARES</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a man who lived in +the little back room. He had given up his +estate to the heir; but in addition he had three +sons, who were named Peter, Paul and Esben, who +was the youngest. All three hung around at home +and would not work, for they had it too easy, and +they thought themselves too good for anything like +work, and nothing was good enough for them. +Finally Peter once heard that the king wanted a +shepherd for his hares, and he told his father he +would apply for the position, as it would just suit +him, seeing that he wished to serve no one lower in +rank than the king. His father, it is true, was of +the opinion that there might be other work that +would suit him better, for whoever was to herd +hares would have to be quick and spry, and not a +sleepy-head, and when the hares took to their heels +in all directions, it was a dance of another kind than +when one skipped about a room. But it was of no +use. Peter insisted, and would have his own way, +took his knapsack, and shambled down hill. After +he had gone a while, he saw an old woman who had +got her nose wedged in a tree-stump while chopping +wood, and when Peter saw her jerking and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +pulling away, trying to get out, he burst into loud +laughter.</p> + +<p>“Don’t stand there and laugh in such a stupid +way,” said the woman, “but come and help a poor, +feeble old woman. I wanted to split up some fire-wood, +and caught my nose here, and here I have +been standing for more than a hundred years, pulling +and jerking, without a bit of bread to chew in +all that time,” said she.</p> + +<p>Then Peter had to laugh all the harder. He found +it all very amusing, and said that if she had already +been standing there a hundred years, then she could +probably hold out for another hundred years or +more.</p> + +<p>When he came to court they at once took him on +as a herdsman. The place was not bad, there was +good food, and good wages, and the chance of winning +the princess besides; yet if no more than a +single one of the king’s hares were to be lost, they +would cut three red strips from his back, and throw +him into the snake-pit.</p> + +<p>As long as Peter was on the common or in the +enclosure, he kept his hares together nicely, but +later, when they reached the forest, they ran away +from him across the hills. Peter ran after them +with tremendous leaps, as long as he thought he +could catch even a single hare, but when the very +last one had vanished, his breath was gone, and he +saw no more of them. Toward noon he went home, +taking his time about it, and when he reached the +enclosure, he looked around for them on all sides,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +but no hares came. And then, when he came to the +castle, there stood the king with the knife in his hand. +He cut three red strips from his back, and cast him +into the snake-pit.</p> + +<p>After a while Paul decided to go to the castle and +herd the king’s hares. His father told him what he +had told Peter, and more besides; but he insisted +on going, and would not listen, and he fared neither +better nor worse than Peter had. The old woman +stood and pulled and jerked at her nose in the tree-trunk, +and he laughed, found it very amusing, and +let her stand there and torment herself. He was +at once taken into service, but the hares all ran +away across the hills, though he pursued them, and +worked away like a shepherd dog in the sun, and +when he came back to the castle in the evening minus +his hares, there stood the king with the knife in his +hand, cut three broad strips from his back, rubbed +in pepper and salt, and flung him into the snake-pit.</p> + +<p>Then, after some time had passed, the youngest +decided to set out to herd the king’s hares, and told +his father of his intention. He thought that would +be just the work for him, to loaf about in forest +and field, look for strawberry patches, herd a flock +of hares, and lie down and sleep in the sun between +times. His father thought that there was other work +that would suit him better, and that even if he fared +no worse than his brothers, it was quite certain that +he would fare no better. Whoever herded the king’s +hares must not drag along as though he had lead +in his soles, or like a fly on a limerod; and that when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +the hares took to their heels, it was a horse of another +color from catching flees with gloved hands; +whoever wanted to escape with a whole back, would +have to be more than quick and nimble, and swifter +than a bird. But there was nothing he could do. +Esben merely kept on saying that he wanted to go +to court and serve the king, for he would not take +service with any lesser master, said he; and he +would see to the hares, they could not be much +worse than a herd of goats or of calves. And with +that he took his knapsack and strolled comfortably +down the hill.</p> + +<p>After he had wandered a while, and began to feel +a proper hunger, he came to the old woman who was +wedged by the nose in the tree-trunk and who was +pulling and jerking away, in order to get loose.</p> + +<p>“Good day, mother,” said Esben, “and why are +you worrying yourself so with your nose, you poor +thing?” “No one has called me mother for the last +hundred years,” said the old woman, “but come and +help me out, and give me a bite to eat; for I have +not had a bit to eat in all that time. And I will +do something for your sake as well,” said she.</p> + +<p>Yes, no doubt she would need something to eat +and drink badly, said Esben.</p> + +<p>Then he hewed the tree-trunk apart, so that she +got her nose out of the cleft, sat down to eat, and +shared with her. The old woman had a good appetite, +and she received a good half of his provisions.</p> + +<p>When they were through she gave Esben a whistle +which had the power that if he blew into one end,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +whatever he wished scattered was scattered to all +the winds, and when he blew into the other, all came +together again. And if the whistle passed from +his possession, it would return as soon as he wished +it back.</p> + +<p>“That is a wonderful whistle!” thought Esben.</p> + +<p>When he came to the castle, they at once took him +on as a shepherd; the place was not bad, he was +to have food and wages, and should he manage to +herd the king’s hares without losing one of them, +he might possibly win the princess; but if he lost so +much as a single hare, and no matter how small it +might be, then they would cut three red strips from +his back, and the king was so sure of his case that +he went right off to whet his knife. It would be +a simple matter to herd the hares, thought Esben; +for when they went off they were as obedient as a +herd of sheep, and so long as they were on the common, +and in the enclosure, they even marched in +rank and file. But when they reached the forest, +and noon-time came, and the sun burned down on hill +and dale, they all took to their heels and ran away +across the hills.</p> + +<p>“Hallo, there! So you want to run away!” called +Esben, and blew into one end of his whistle, and then +they scattered the more quickly to all the ends of the +earth. But when he had reached an old charcoal-pit, +he blew into the other end of his whistle, and +before he knew it the hares were back again, and +standing in rank and file so he could review them, +just like a regiment of soldiers on the drill-ground.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>“That is a splendid whistle!” thought Esben; lay +down on a sunny hillock, and fell asleep. The hares +were left to their own devices, and played until evening; +then he once more whistled them together, +and took them along to the castle like a herd of +sheep.</p> + +<p>The king and queen and the princess, too, stood in +the hall-way, and wondered what sort of a fellow +this was, who could herd hares without losing a +single one. The king reckoned and added them up, +and counted with his fingers, and then added them +up again; but not even the teeny-weeniest hare was +missing. “He is quite a chap, he is,” said the princess.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i006" id="i006"></a> +<img src="images/i006.jpg" width="405" height="573" alt="“THE KING RECKONED AND ADDED THEM UP, AND COUNTED +WITH HIS FINGERS.” +—Page 207" title="" /><br /> +<span class="caption">“THE KING RECKONED AND ADDED THEM UP, AND COUNTED +WITH HIS FINGERS.”<br /> +<span class="flr">—Page 207</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The following day he again went to the forest, and +herded his hares; but while he lay in all comfort +beside a strawberry patch, they sent out the chamber-maid +from the castle to him, and she was to find +out how he managed to herd the king’s hares.</p> + +<p>He showed her his whistle, and blew into one +end, and all the hares darted away across the hills in +all directions, and then he blew into the other, and +they came trotting up from all sides, and once more +stood in rank and file. “That is a wonderful whistle,” +said the chamber-maid. She would gladly give +him a hundred dollars, if he cared to sell it.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is a splendid whistle,” said Esben, “and +I will not sell it for money. But if you give me a +hundred dollars, and a kiss with every dollar to +boot, then I might let you have it.”</p> + +<p>Yes, indeed, that would suit her right down to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +ground; she would gladly give him two kisses with +every dollar, and feel grateful, besides.</p> + +<p>So she got the whistle, but when she reached the +castle, the whistle disappeared all of a sudden. +Esben had wished it back again, and toward evening +he came along, driving his hares like a herd +of sheep. The king reckoned and counted and added, +but all to no purpose, for not the least little hare was +missing.</p> + +<p>When Esben was herding his hares the third day, +they sent the princess to him to get away his pipe +from him. She was tickled to death, and finally offered +him two hundred dollars if he would let her +have the whistle, and would also tell her what she +had to do in order to fetch it safely home with her.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is a very valuable whistle,” said Esben, +“and I will not sell it,” but at last, as a favor to +her, he said he would let her have it if she gave him +two hundred dollars, and a kiss for every dollar to +boot. But if she wanted to keep it, why, she must +take good care of it, for that was her affair.</p> + +<p>“That is a very high price for a hare-whistle,” +said the princess, and she really shrank from kissing +him, “but since we are here in the middle of the +forest, where no one can see or hear us, I’ll let it +pass, for I positively must have the whistle,” said +she. And when Esben had pocketed the price agreed +upon, she received the whistle, and held it tightly +clutched in her hand all the way home; yet when she +reached the castle, and wanted to show it, it disappeared +out of her hands. On the following day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +the queen herself set out, and she felt quite sure that +she would succeed in coaxing the whistle away from +him.</p> + +<p>She was stingier, and only offered fifty dollars; but +she had to raise her bid until she reached three hundred. +Esben said it was a magnificent whistle, and +that the price was a beggarly one; but seeing that +she was the queen, he would let it pass. She was to +pay him three hundred dollars, and for every dollar +she was to give him a buss to boot, then she should +have the whistle. And he was paid in full as agreed, +since as regards the busses the queen was not so +stingy.</p> + +<p>When she had the whistle in her hands, she tied +it fast, and hid it well, but she fared not a whit better +than either of the others; when she wanted to show +the whistle it was gone, and in the evening Esben +came home, driving his hares as though they were +a well-trained flock of sheep.</p> + +<p>“You are stupid women!” said the king. “I suppose +I will have to go to him myself if we really are +to obtain this trumpery whistle. There seems to be +nothing else left to do!” And the following day, +when Esben was once more herding his hares, the +king followed him, and found him at the same place +where the women had bargained with him.</p> + +<p>They soon became good friends, and Esben showed +him the whistle, and blew into one end and the other, +and the king thought the whistle very pretty, and +finally insisted on buying it, even though it cost him +a thousand dollars.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, it is a magnificent whistle,” said Esben, +“and I would not sell it for money. But do you see +that white mare over yonder?” said he, and pointed +into the forest.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she belongs to me, that is my Snow Witch!” +cried the king, for he knew her very well.</p> + +<p>“Well, if you will give me a thousand dollars, and +kiss the white mare that is grazing on the moor by +the big pine, to boot, then you can have my whistle!” +said Esben.</p> + +<p>“Is that the only price at which you will sell?” +asked the king.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Esben.</p> + +<p>“But at least may I not put a silken handkerchief +between?” asked the king.</p> + +<p>This was conceded him, and thus he obtained the +whistle. He put it in the purse in his pocket, and +carefully buttoned up the pocket. Yet when he +reached the castle, and wanted to take it out, he was +in the same case as the women, for he no longer had +the whistle. And in the evening Esben came home +with his herd of hares, and not the least little hare +was missing.</p> + +<p>The king was angry, and furious because he had +made a fool of them all, and had swindled the king’s +self out of the whistle into the bargain, and now he +wanted to do away with Esben. The queen was +of the same opinion, and said it was best to +behead such a knave when he was caught in the +act.</p> + +<p>Esben thought this neither fair nor just; for he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +had only done what he had been asked to do, and had +defended himself as best he knew how.</p> + +<p>But the king said that this made no difference to +him; yet if Esben could manage to fill the big brewing-cauldron +till it ran over, he would spare his life.</p> + +<p>The job would be neither long nor hard, said +Esben, he thought he could warrant that, and he began +to tell about the old woman with her nose in +the tree-trunk, and in between he said, “I must make +up plenty of stories, to fill the cauldron,”—and then +he told of the whistle, and the chamber-maid who +came to him and wanted to buy the whistle for a +hundred dollars, and about all the kisses that she +had had to give him to boot, up on the hillock by +the forest; and then he told about the princess, how +she had come and kissed him so sweetly for the +whistle’s sake, because no one could see or hear it +in the forest—“I must make up plenty of stories, +in order to fill the cauldron,” said Esben. Then he +told of the queen, and of how stingy she had been +with her money, and how liberal with her busses—“for +I must make up plenty of stories in order to +fill the cauldron,” said Esben.</p> + +<p>“But I think it must be full now!” said the queen.</p> + +<p>“O, not a sign of it!” said the king.</p> + +<p>Then Esben began to tell how the king had come +to him, and about the white mare who was grazing on +the moor, “and since he insisted on having the whistle +he had to—he had to—well, with all due respect, +I have to make up plenty of stories in order to fill +the cauldron,” said Esben.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Stop, stop! It is full, fellow!” cried the king. +“Can’t you see that it is running over?”</p> + +<p>The king and the queen were of the opinion that +it would be best for Esben to receive the princess +and half the kingdom; there did not seem anything +else to do.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it was a magnificent whistle!” said Esben.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The King’s Hares” (Asbjörnsen, N.F.E., p. 190, No. 98. After +different variants from Röken, Aadal, Bier and Asker, Riugerike and +Hardanger) is the story of the cauldron full of lies, which has probably +found special favor in Norway because of its outcome, not very +flattering for the king and queen. It is noticeable that in Northern +fairy-tales those kings who will not give up their daughters to the +heroes at any cost are handled with considerable disrespect.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXVI<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">HELGE-HAL IN THE BLUE HILL</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a sinister old +couple, who lived out under the open sky. All +that they had were three sons, an old cook-pot, an +old frying-pan, and an old cat. Then the man died, +and after a time his wife died, too. Now their estate +was to be divided. So the oldest took the old cook-pot, +and the second took the old frying-pan, and Ebe +Ashpeter had no choice. He had to take the old cat, +and they did not ask him whether he wanted to or +not.</p> + +<p>“Brother Peter can scrape out the cook-pot after +he has loaned it out,” said Ebe. “Brother Paul gets +a crust of bread when he lends out his frying-pan; +but what am I to do with this wretched cat?” And +he was angry and envious. Yet he scratched the +cat and stroked it, and this pleased the cat so that +she began to purr, and raised her tail in the air.</p> + +<p>“Wait, wait, I’ll help you yet,” said the cat, +“wait, wait, I’ll help you yet!”</p> + +<p>There was nothing to bite or break in the hut. +Brother Peter and Brother Paul had each of them +gone off in a different direction. So Ebe set out, too, +with the cat in the lead, himself following; but after +a time he turned and went home again, to see +whether the floor had been swept, and the cat tripped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +on alone. After she had gone her way, tipp, tapp, +tipp, tapp, for a while, she came to a great rock, +and there she met an enormous herd of reindeer. +The cat crept softly around the herd, and then with +one leap sprang between the horns of the finest +buck.</p> + +<p>“If you do not go where I want you to, I’ll +scratch out your eyes, and drive you over rock +and precipice!” said she. So the buck did not dare +do anything save what the cat wished, and off they +went over stick and stone, from cliff to cliff, close +by Ebe, who was just polishing the door-sill of his +house, and with one bound right into the castle.</p> + +<p>“I am to deliver a kind greeting from Ebe, and +ask whether my lord king might care to have this +buck reindeer to drive,” said the cat. Yes, he could +make good use of such a young, handsome animal, +some time, when he had occasion to drive out to visit +a neighboring king.</p> + +<p>“This Ebe must be a proud and powerful lord,” +said the king, “if he can make me such presents.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he is the greatest lord in all your land and +kingdom,” said the cat, but no matter how many +questions the king asked, he learned nothing more.</p> + +<p>“Tell him that I am much obliged,” said the king, +and he sent him a whole cart-load of handsome presents. +But Ebe looked past them and paid no attention +to them.</p> + +<p>“Brother Peter can scrape out his cook-pot when +he has loaned it out, and Brother Paul gets a crust +of bread when he lends out his frying-pan; but what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +am I to do with this wretched cat!” said he, and felt +angry and envious; but still he scratched the cat, and +stroked her, and this pleased her so much that she +began to purr, and raised her tail in the air.</p> + +<p>“Wait, wait, I will help you yet,” said the cat, +“wait, wait, I will help you yet!”</p> + +<p>The next day they both set out again, the cat in +the lead, and Ebe following. After a while he turned +back to see whether the folding-table at home had +been scoured. And the cat tripped on alone. After +she had gone her way, tipp, tapp, tipp, tapp, for a +while, she came to a dense forest slope. There she +found an enormous herd of elk. The cat crept softly +up, and suddenly there she sat between the horns of +one of the stateliest of the bull elks.</p> + +<p>“If you do not go where I want you to, I will +scratch out your eyes, and drive you over rock and +precipice!” said the cat. The elk did not dare do +anything save what the cat wished, and so off they +went, like lightning, over stick and stone, from cliff +to cliff, right past Ebe, who stood before the house +scouring the shutters, and with one bound into the +king’s castle.</p> + +<p>“I am to deliver a kind greeting from Ebe, and +ask whether my lord king might not care to have +this bull elk for courier service.” It was quite clear +that should the king want a swift messenger, some +time, he could not find a swifter in all his kingdom.</p> + +<p>“This Ebe must be a most distinguished lord, since +he finds such presents for me,” said the king.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, one might call him a distinguished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +lord,” said the cat, “his wealth is without end or +limit.” But no matter how many other questions the +king asked, he received no more explicit information.</p> + +<p>“Tell him that I am much obliged, and to do me +the honor to call when he is passing here some +time,” said the king, and sent him a robe as handsome +as the one he himself was wearing, and three +cartloads of handsome presents. But Ebe did not +even want to put on the royal robe, and hardly +looked at the other presents.</p> + +<p>“Brother Peter can scrape out his cook-pot when +he has loaned it out, Brother Paul gets a crust of +bread when he lends out his frying-pan; but of what +use is this wretched cat to me!” he said, in spite +of all. Yet he stroked the cat, and pressed her to +his cheek, and scratched her, and this pleased the +cat so very much that she purred more than on the +other occasions, and stuck her tail up into the air as +straight as a rod.</p> + +<p>“Wait, wait, I will help you yet,” said the cat, +“wait, wait, I will help you yet!”</p> + +<p>On the third day they set out again, the cat in the +lead, and Ebe following. After a time it occurred +to him to go back and let the mice out of the house, +so that they would not be altogether starved in the +old hut; and the cat tripped on alone. After she +had gone her way, tipp, tapp, tipp, tapp, for a while, +she came to a dense pine forest, and there she met +a father bear, a mother bear and a baby bear. The +cat crept softly up to them, and all at once she was +hanging by her claws to the father bear’s head.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + +<p>“If you do not go where I want you to, I will +scratch out your eyes, and drive you over rock and +precipice!” said the cat, and spit and arched her +back. Then the father bear did not dare do anything +save what the cat wished, and now they dashed +past Ebe, who had just carried all the young mice +over the threshold, like a storm, over stick and stone, +from cliff to cliff, so that the earth trembled and +shook. The king was just standing in the hallway, +and was not a little surprised to see such guests +arriving.</p> + +<p>“I am to deliver a kind greeting from Ebe, and +ask whether my lord king might not care to have +this bear for a general or royal counselor,” said the +cat. The king was more than pleased to secure such +a creature for his nearest adviser, who could +doubt it.</p> + +<p>“Tell him that I am much obliged, but that I do +not at all know how to show my appreciation,” said +the king.</p> + +<p>“Well, he would like to marry your youngest +daughter!” said the cat.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but that is asking a good deal,” said the +king. “He really ought to pay me a visit.”</p> + +<p>“Ebe does not enter such plain houses,” said the +cat.</p> + +<p>“Has he a handsomer castle than this?” asked +the king.</p> + +<p>“Handsomer? Why, your castle seems like the +shabbiest hut in comparison with his!” was the cat’s +reply.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>“You dare come into my presence, and tell me +that there is some one living in my kingdom who +is more handsomely housed than I, the king!” +shouted the king, beside himself with rage. He came +near wringing the cat’s neck.</p> + +<p>“You might wait until you see it,” said the cat. +And the king said yes, he would wait. “But if you +have told me a falsehood, you shall die, and though +you had seven lives,” said he.</p> + +<p>In the morning the king and the whole court set +out to travel to Ebe Ashpeter’s castle. The cat was +in the little hut, and called for Ebe, thinking it would +be best if both of them got underway an hour earlier. +After they had gone a while, they met some +folk who were herding sheep; and the sheep were +bleating and grazing over the whole plain. They +were as large as full-grown calves, and their wool +was so long that it dragged along the ground after +them. “To whom do the sheep belong?” asked the +cat. “To Helge-Hal in the Blue Hill,” said the +shepherds.</p> + +<p>“The court is coming past in a moment,” said +the cat, “and if then you do not at once say that +they belong to Ebe, I will scratch out your eyes, and +drive you over rock and precipice!” said the cat, +and spat and arched her back, and showed her teeth. +Then the shepherds were so frightened that they +at once promised to do as the cat had ordered.</p> + +<p>“But to whom do all these sheep belong?” asked +the king, when he came by with the court somewhat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +later. “They are every bit as handsome as my +own!”</p> + +<p>“They belong to Ebe,” said the shepherds.</p> + +<p>Then the cat and Ebe wandered on for a while, and +came to a dense forest slope. There they met folk +who were tending goats. The goats skipped and +leaped about everywhere, and gave such fine milk +that better could no where be found.</p> + +<p>“To whom do the goats belong?” asked the cat.</p> + +<p>“To Helge-Hal in the Blue Hill,” said the herdsmen. +Then the cat again went through her ferocious +preparations, and the herdsmen were so frightened +that they did not dare oppose her wishes.</p> + +<p>“Now who in the world can be the owner of so +many goats?” asked the king. “I myself have none +finer!”</p> + +<p>“They belong to Ebe,” said the herdsmen.</p> + +<p>Then they wandered on for a while, and met folk +who were tending cows: wherever one looked the +cows lowed and glistened, and each yielded milk +enough for three. When the cat heard that these +herdsmen were also in the service of Helge-Hal of +the Blue Hill, she spat once more, and arched her +back, and then all the herdsmen were ready that +moment to say what she wished.</p> + +<p>“But in heaven’s name, to whom do all these +beautiful cattle belong?” asked the king. “There +are no such cattle in my whole kingdom!”</p> + +<p>“They belong to Lord Ebe,” said the herdsmen.</p> + +<p>Then they wandered on for a long, long time. At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +last they came to a great plain, and there they met +horse-herders; and horses whinnied and disported +themselves over the whole plain, and their coats were +so fine that they glistened as though gilded, and each +horse was worth a whole castle.</p> + +<p>“For whom do you herd these horses?” asked the +cat.</p> + +<p>“For Helge-Hal in the Blue Hill,” the herders +replied.</p> + +<p>“Well, the court will come by here in a little +while,” said the cat, “and if you do not say you +are herding them for Ebe, I will scratch out your +eyes, and drive you over rock and precipice!” said +the cat, and she spat, and showed her teeth and claws, +and grew so angry her hair stood up all along her +back. Then the herders were terribly frightened, +and did not dare do anything but what the cat +wished.</p> + +<p>“But in the name of heaven, to whom do all these +horses belong?” asked the king, when he came by +with his court.</p> + +<p>“They belong to Ebe,” said the herders.</p> + +<p>“I never have seen or heard anything like it in +all my life!” cried the king. “This Ebe is such a +distinguished lord that it is past my understanding!”</p> + +<p>The cat and Ebe had long since gone on their way, +and had wandered far and ever farther over hill and +rock. In the evening, at dusk, they came to a royal +castle that glittered and shimmered as though it +were of the purest silver and gold—which it was.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +Yet it was gloomy and depressing, and lonely and +barren there, and nowhere was there a sign of life.</p> + +<p>Here they went in, and the cat stood with a cake +of rye meal just below the door. Suddenly there +came a thundering and a thumping so that the earth +trembled, and the whole castle shook, and that was +the troll who was coming home. And suddenly all +was quiet again, and before they knew it, Helge-Hal +in the Blue Hill had thrust his three great horrible +heads in at the door.</p> + +<p>“Let me in! Let me in!” he cried, so that every +one shivered. “Wait, wait a bit while I tell you +what the rye had to go through before he was made +into this cake,” said the cat, and spoke to him in the +sweetest way. “First he was threshed, and then he +was beaten, and then he was pounded, and then he +was thumped, and then he was thrown from one wall +to another, and then he was sifted through a +sieve....”</p> + +<p>“Let me in! Let me in, you chatterbox!” cried +the troll, and he was so furious that the sparks flew +from him.</p> + +<p>“Wait a bit, wait a bit. I will tell you what the +rye had to go through before he was made into this +cake!” said the cat, and he spoke to him still more +sweetly.</p> + +<p>“First he was threshed, and then he was beaten, +and then he was pounded, and then he was thumped, +and then he was thrown from one wall to another, +and then he was sifted through a sieve, and shaken +here and there, and then he was put on the drying-board,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +and then in the stove, until it grew so hot +that he puffed up more and more, and wanted to +get out, but could not,” said the cat, and took her +time.</p> + +<p>“Get out of the way and let me in!” cried the +troll once more, and nearly burst with rage; but the +cat acted as though she did not hear him, and talked +down the blue from the sky, and went up and down +the while, and whenever the troll tried to come in, +she met him beneath the door with the cake.</p> + +<p>“O, but do take a look at the shining maiden coming +up there behind the mountain!” said the cat, +after she had talked at length about the sufferings +of the rye. And Helge-Hal in the Blue Hill turned +his three heads around in order to see the beautiful +maiden, too. Then the sun rose, and the troll stiffened +into stone. Now Ebe obtained all the riches +that the troll had possessed, the sheep and goats, +the cows and all the spirited horses, and the handsome +golden castle, and some big bags of money besides.</p> + +<p>“Here come the king and all his court,” said the +cat. “Just go out before the door and receive +them!” So Ebe got up and went to meet them.</p> + +<p>“You are indeed a very distinguished lord!” said +the king to him. “So far as I am concerned you may +have the youngest princess!”</p> + +<p>Then they started brewing and baking on a large +scale in the greatest haste, and everything was made +ready for the wedding. On the first day of the feast +the cat came and begged the bridegroom to cut off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +her head. This he did not at all want to do; but the +cat spat and showed her teeth, and then Ebe did not +dare disobey her. But when the head fell to the +ground, the cat turned into a most handsome prince. +He married the second princess, and as the wedding +procession was on its way to church, they met a +third prince who was looking for a wife, and he took +the oldest princess. Then they all three celebrated +their weddings so that the story went the rounds in +twelve kingdoms.</p> + +<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0a">“Spin, span, spun,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now our tale is done!”<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>The tale of “Helge-Hal in the Blue Hill” (Bergh, No. 2, p. 19) is +delightfully told. There is the timid, abidingly helpless nit-wit, and +the wise and energetic cat, who is quite at home in the ancient +wisdom that enables her to render trolls harmless. Their attention +must be held through the night by means of some pretext, a meaningless +tale, for instance, until the first ray of the rising sun falls +on them, when they turn to stone, or have to burst. In the Edda +this is what happens to the dwarf Alvis, so full of sinister lore.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXVII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE LORD OF THE HILL AND JOHN BLESSOM</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">John Blessom</span> once upon a time had gone +down to Copenhagen to carry on a suit at law, +for in those days one could not get justice in the +land of Norroway; and if a man wanted his rights, +there was nothing left for him to do but to travel +to Copenhagen. This is what Blessom had done, +and what his son did after him, for he, too, carried +on a law-suit. Now it chanced that on Christmas +Eve John had had speech with the gentleman in +authority, and had attended to his business, and was +going along the street in a low-spirited manner, for +he was homesick. And as he went along, a man +from Vaage, in a white blouse, with a knapsack, and +buttons as big as silver dollars, passed him. He was +a large, heavily-built man. It seemed to Blessom +that he must know him; but he was walking very +fast.</p> + +<p>“You are walking very fast,” said John.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but then I’m in a hurry,” answered the +man. “I have to get back to Vaage this very evening.”</p> + +<p>“I only wish that I could get there!” sighed John.</p> + +<p>“You can stand on the runner of my sledge,” said +the man, “for I have a horse that covers a mile in +twelve steps.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> + +<p>So they set out, and Blessom had all that he could +do to hold fast to the runner of the sledge; for they +went through weather and wind, and he could see +neither heaven nor earth.</p> + +<p>Once they stopped and rested. He could not tell +exactly where it was, but when they began to hurry +on again, he thought that he spied a skull on a pole. +After they had gone on a while, John Blessom began +to freeze.</p> + +<p>“Alas, I forgot one of my gloves where we +stopped, and now my hand is freezing!” said he.</p> + +<p>“Well, Blessom, you’ll have to make the best of +it,” said the man. “We are not far from Vaage +now. When we stopped to rest we had covered half +the way.”</p> + +<p>When they crossed the Finnebridge, the man +stopped and set John down.</p> + +<p>“Now you are not far from home,” said he, “but +you must promise me that you will not look around, +when you hear a roaring and notice a flare of light.”</p> + +<p>John promised, and thanked him for the quick +journey. The man drove off on his way, and John +crossed the hill to his home. As he went he heard +a roaring in the Jutulsberg, and the path before him +suddenly grew so bright that one could have picked +a needle from the ground. And he forgot what he +had promised, and turned his head to see what was +happening. There stood the giant gate of the +Jutulsberg wide open, and out of it streamed a light +and radiance as of thousands of candles. In the +midst of it all stood the giant, and he was the man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +with whom he had driven. But from that time forward +John’s head was twisted, and so it remained +as long as he lived.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The Lord of the Hill and John Blessom” (Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Huldreeventyr</cite> +I, p. 189. From Gudbrandsdal, told by an old peasant of the +valley) is a tale of one of those kindly beings among the helpful +underground folk, who nevertheless severely punish any disobedience +to their command.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXVIII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE YOUNG FELLOW AND THE DEVIL</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a young fellow, who +was going along cracking nuts. He found a +wormy one, and at the selfsame moment he met the +devil. “Is it true,” said the young fellow, “that the +devil can make himself as small as he likes, and can +slip through the eye of a needle, as the people say?” +“Yes,” answered the devil. “Well, I should certainly +like to see you crawl into that nut!” said the +young fellow. The devil did so. But when he had +crawled through the hole, the young fellow stopped +it up with a bit of wood. “Now I’ve got you!” said +he, and put the nut in his pocket. After he had gone +a while, he came to a smithy, and went in and asked +the smith to break the nut for him. “Why, that is +a mere trifle!” said the smith, took his smallest +hammer, laid the nut on the anvil, and struck it; but +the nut would not break. Then he took a somewhat +larger hammer; but that was not heavy enough +either. Then he took a still larger one, but could do +nothing with it at all, and thereupon he grew angry, +and took his heaviest hammer. “I’ll break you +yet!” said he, and struck it with all his might. And +then the nut cracked, so that half the smithy roof +was carried away, and there was a crash as though +the whole hut were falling in. “I believe the devil<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +was in that nut!” said the smith. “And so he was!” +answered the young fellow.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>This getting the better of the devil, as in “The Young Fellow and +the Devil” (Asbjörnsen and Moe, N.F.E., p. 133, No. 30), already +occurs in the fairy-tale from the “Thousand and One Nights,” where +a spirit slips, not into a nut, but into a bottle, in order to show +what he can do. Ibsen, too, allows Per Gynt to dwell on this fairy-tale.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXIX<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">FARTHER SOUTH THAN SOUTH, AND FARTHER +NORTH THAN NORTH, AND IN THE GREAT +HILL OF GOLD</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a peasant who had +a wheat-field, which was trampled down every +Saturday night. Now the peasant had three sons, +and he told each one of them to spend a Saturday +night in the field, and to watch and see who trampled +it down. The oldest was to make the first trial. So +he lay down by the upper ridge of the field, and +after he had lain there a while he fell asleep. The +following morning the whole field had been trampled +down, and the young fellow was unable to tell how it +had happened.</p> + +<p>Now the second son was to make the attempt; but +he had the same experience. After he had lain a +while he fell asleep, and in the morning he was unable +to tell how the field had come to be trampled +down.</p> + +<p>Now it was the turn of John by the Ashes. He +did not lie down by the upper ridge of the field; but +lower down, and stayed awake. After he had lain +there a while, three doves came flying along. They +settled in the field, and that very moment shook off +all their feathers, and turned into the most beautiful +maidens one might wish to see. They danced with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +each other over the whole field; and while they did +so, the young fellow gathered up all their feathers. +Toward morning they wanted to put on their feathers +again, but could not find them anywhere. Then +they were frightened, and wept and searched and +searched and wept. Finally, they discovered the +young fellow, and begged him to give them back their +feathers. “But why do you dance in our wheat-field?” +said the young fellow. “Alas, it is not our +fault,” said the maidens. “The troll who has enchanted +us sends us here every Saturday night to +trample the field. But now give us our feathers, for +morning is near.” And they begged for them in the +sweetest way. “I do not know about that,” said the +young fellow, “you have trampled down the field so +very badly; perhaps—if I might choose and have one +of you?” “That would please us,” returned the +maidens, “but it would not be possible; for three +trolls guard us, one with three, one with six and one +with nine heads, and they kill all who come to the +mountain.” But the young fellow said that one of +them pleased him so very much that he would make +the attempt, in spite of what they had told him. So +he chose the middle one, for she seemed the most +beautiful to him, and she gave him a ring and put it +on his finger. And then the maidens at once put on +their garments of dove feathers, and flew back across +forest and hill.</p> + +<p>When the young fellow returned home, he told +what he had seen. “And now I must set out and try +my luck,” said he. “I do not know whether I will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +return, but I must make the venture.” “O John, +John by the Ashes!” said his brothers, and laughed +at him. “Well, it makes no difference, even though I +am worthless,” said John by the Ashes. “I must +try my luck.” So the young fellow set out to +wander to the place where the maidens lived. They +had told him it was farther south than south, and +farther north than north, in the great hill of gold. +After he had gone a while, he met two poor lads who +were quarreling with each other about a pair of old +shoes and a bamboo cane, which their mother had +left them. The young fellow said it was not worth +quarreling about such things, and that he had better +shoes and better canes at home. “You cannot say +that,” returned the brothers, “for whoever has these +shoes on can cover a thousand miles in a single step, +and whatever is touched with this cane must die at +once.” The young fellow went on to ask whether +they would sell the things. They said that they ought +to get a great deal for them. “But what you say +of them is not true at all,” the young fellow replied. +“Yes, indeed, it is absolutely true,” they answered. +“Just let me see whether the boots will fit me,” said +the young fellow. So they let him try them on. But +no sooner did the young fellow have the boots on +his feet, and the cane in his hand, than he took a +step and off he was, a thousand miles away.</p> + +<p>A little later he met two young fellows who were +quarreling over an old fiddle, which had been left +them. “Now is that worth while doing?” said the +young fellow. “I have a brand-new fiddle at home.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +“But I doubt if it has such a tone as ours,” said one +of the youths, “for if some one is dead, and you +play this fiddle, he will come to life again.” “That +really is a good deal,” said the young fellow. “May +I draw the bow across the strings?” They told him +he might, but no sooner did he have the fiddle in his +hand than he took a step, and suddenly he was a +thousand miles away.</p> + +<p>A little later he met an old man, and him he asked +whether he knew where the place might be that was +“farther south than south, and farther north than +north, and in the great hill of gold.” The man said +yes, he knew well enough, but it would not do the +young fellow much good to get there, for the troll +who lived there killed every one. “O, I have to +make the attempt, whether it lead to life or death,” +said the young fellow, for he was fonder than fond +of the middle one of the three maidens. So he +learned the way from the old man, and finally +reached the hill. There he had to pass through three +rooms, before he came into the hall to the maidens. +And there were locks on every door, and at each +stood a watchman. “Where do you want to go?” +asked the first watchman. “In to the maidens,” +said the young fellow. “In you may go, but you’ll +not get out again,” said the watchman, “for now the +troll will be along before long.” But the young +fellow said that, at any rate, he would make the attempt, +and went on. So he came to the second +watchman. “Where do you want to go?” asked the +latter. “In to the maidens,” said the young fellow.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +“In you may go, but you’ll not get out again,” said +the watchman, “for the troll will be here any minute.” +“And yet I will make the attempt,” said the +young fellow, and the watchman let him pass. So he +came to the third watchman. “Where do you want +to go?” the latter asked him. “In to the maidens,” +said the young fellow. “In you may go, but you’ll +never get out again, for the troll will be here in +three shakes of a lamb’s tail,” said the watchman. +“And yet I will make the attempt,” said the young +fellow, and this watchman also let him pass. Then +he reached the inner chamber where the maidens sat. +They were so beautiful and distinguished, and the +room was so full of gold and silver, that the young +fellow never could have imagined anything like it. +Then he showed the ring, and asked whether the +maidens recognized it. Indeed they did recognize +him and the ring. “But you poor unfortunate, this +is the end of us and of you!” said they. “The troll +with three heads will be along before long, and you +had better hide behind the door!” “O, I’m so +frightened, I’m so frightened!” wailed the maiden +whom the young fellow had chosen. “Just you stop +crying,” said the young fellow. “I think fortune +will favor us!”</p> + +<p>The troll came that very moment and thrust his +three heads into the door. “Uff, it smells like Christian +blood here!” said he. The young fellow struck +at the heads with his bamboo cane, and the troll +was dead in a minute. So they carried out the body +and hid it. A little later the troll with six heads<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +came home. “Uff, it smells like Christian blood +here!” said he. “Some one must have crept into the +place! But what has become of the other troll?” +said he, when he did not see the troll with three +heads. “He has not yet come home,” said the +maidens. “He must have come home,” said the +troll. “Perhaps he has gone to look for the fellow +who crept in here.” At that moment the young +fellow struck all six of his heads with his bamboo +cane, and the troll at once fell dead to the ground. +Then they dragged out the corpse.</p> + +<p>A while later came the troll with nine heads. +“Uff, it smells like Christian blood here!” said he, +and grew very angry. “But where are the two +others?” said he. “They have not yet come home,” +said the maidens. “Indeed they have come,” said +the troll, “but they are probably looking for the +Christian who has crept in here!” At that moment, +the young fellow sprang from behind the door, and +struck one head after another with his bamboo cane. +But he had no more than reached the eighth than +it seemed to him that the troll was getting the upper +hand, and he ran out of the door. The troll was +so furious that he came near bursting. He seized +all the maidens and killed them, and then out he +flew after the young fellow. The latter had hidden +behind a big rock, and when the troll came darting +up, showering sparks in his rage, he struck at his +ninth head, too, and the troll fell on his back, dead. +Then the young fellow ran in again, took his fiddle +and played, and all the maidens came back to life.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +Now they wanted to go home; but did not know how +to find the long road back. “I know what we must +do,” said the young fellow, “I will take you on my +back, one by one, and then the journey will not be +long for us.” And this he did. He carried home +all the gold and silver he found in the hill, and then +celebrated his wedding with the middle one of the +maidens, and if they have not died, they are living +this very day.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“Farther South Than South, and Farther North Than North, and +in the Great Hill of Gold” (Janson, No. 12, p. 39) begins with the +story of three maidens in feather dress who have to keep their +human form if robbed of their feathers. The legend of Wieland and +Smith introduces three similar maidens in swan’s plumage, one +of whom he wins for himself; yet when she finds her swan dress +again after long years, yearning overpowers her, and she flies away. +Our fairy-tale is kindlier, and allows the young fellow to gain his +dove princess after strenuous adventures.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXX<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">LUCKY ANDREW</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">There</span> was once a rich peasant who had two +sons, named John Nicholas and Lucky Andrew. +The oldest was one of those fellows of whom one +never can quite make head or tail. He was a most +unpleasant customer to deal with, and he was more +grasping and greedy than the folk of the Northland +are, as a rule, though it is only too rare to find them +unblessed with these attractive qualities. The other, +Lucky Andrew, was wild and high spirited, but always +good natured, and no matter how badly off he +might be, he would always insist that he had been +born under a lucky star. When the eagle, in order +to defend his nest, belabored his head and face till +the blood ran, he would still maintain that he was +born under a lucky star, if only he managed to bring +home a single eaglet. Did his boat capsize, which +occasionally happened, and did they discover him +hanging to it, quite overcome with the water, cold +and exertion, and asked him how he felt, he would +reply: “O, quite well. I have been saved. I surely +am in luck!”</p> + +<p>When their father died, both of them were of +age, and not long after they both had to go out to +the sand-banks to fetch some fishing-nets, which had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +been left there since the summer fishing. It was +late in the fall, after the time when most fishermen +are busy with the summer fishing. Andrew had his +gun along, which he carried with him wherever he +went. John Nicholas did not say much while they +were underway; but he thought all the harder. They +were not ready to set out for home again until near +evening.</p> + +<p>“Hark, Lucky Andrew, do you know there will be +a storm to-night?” said John Nicholas, and looked +out across the sea. “I think it would be best if we +stayed here until morning!”</p> + +<p>“There’ll be no storm,” said Andrew. “The +Seven Sisters have not put on their fog-caps, so you +may be quite at rest.”</p> + +<p>But his brother complained of being weary, and +at length they decided to remain there for the night. +When Andrew awoke he found himself alone; and +he saw neither brother nor boat, until he came to +the highest point of the island. Then he discovered +him far out, darting for land like a sea-gull. +Andrew did not understand the whole affair. There +were still provisions there, as well as a dish of +curd, his gun and various other things. So Andrew +wasted but little time in thought. “He will come +back this evening,” said he. “Only a fool loses +heart so long as he can eat.” But in the evening +there was no brother to be seen, and Andrew waited +day by day, and week by week; until at last, he +realized that his brother had marooned him on this +barren island in order to be able to keep their inheritance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +for himself, and not have to divide it. +And such was the case, for when John Nicholas came +in sight of land on his homeward trip, he had capsized +the boat, and declared that Lucky Andrew had +been drowned.</p> + +<p>But the latter did not lose heart. He gathered +drift-wood along the strand, shot sea-birds, and +looked for mussels and roots. He built himself a +raft of drift-timber, and fished with a pole that +had also been left behind. One day, while he was +at work, he happened to notice a depression or hollow +in the sand, as though made by the keel of a +large Northland schooner, and he could plainly trace +the braidings of the hawsers from the strand up to +the top of the island. Then he thought to himself +that he was in no danger, for he saw there was truth +in the report he had often heard, that the meer-folk +made the island their abode, and did much business +with their ships.</p> + +<p>“God be praised for good company! That was +just what I needed. Yes, it is true, as I have always +said, that I was born under a lucky star,” thought +Andrew to himself; perhaps he said so too, for occasionally +he really had to talk a little. So he lived +through the fall. Once he saw a boat, and hung a +rag on a pole and waved with it; but that very moment +the sail dropped, and the crew took to the +oars and rowed away at top speed, for they thought +the meer-trolls were making signs and waving.</p> + +<p>On Christmas Eve Andrew heard fiddles and +music far out at sea; and when he came out, he saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +a glow of light that came from a great Northland +schooner, which was gliding toward the land—yet +such a ship he had never yet seen. It has a main-sail +of uncommon size, which looked to him to be of +silk, and the most delicate tackling, as thin as though +woven of steel wire, and everything else was in proportion, +as fine and handsome as any Northlander +might wish to have. The whole schooner was filled +with little people dressed in blue, but the girl who +stood at the helm was adorned like a bride, and +looked as splendid as a queen, for she wore a crown +and costly garments. Yet any one could see that she +was a human being, for she was tall, and handsomer +than the meer-folk. In fact, Lucky Andrew thought +that she was handsomer than any girl he ever had +seen. The schooner headed for the land where Andrew +stood; but with his usual presence of mind, he +hurried to the fisherman’s hut, pulled down his gun +from the wall, and crept up into the large loft and +hid himself, so that he could see all that passed in +the hut. He soon noticed that the whole room was +alive with people. They filled it completely and +more, and still more of them came in. Then the +walls began to crack, and the little hut spread out +at all corners, and grew so splendid and magnificent +that the wealthiest merchant could not have had +its equal; it was almost like being in a royal castle. +Tables were covered with the most exquisite silver +and gold. When they had eaten they began to dance. +Under cover of the noise, Andrew crept to the look-out +at the side of the roof, and climbed down. Then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +he ran to the schooner, threw his flint-stone over it, +and in order to make certain, cut a cross into it with +his sharp-cutting knife. When he came back again, +the dance was in full swing. The tables were dancing +and the benches and chairs—everything else in +the room was dancing, too. The only one who did +not dance was the bride; she only sat there and +looked on, and when the bridegroom came to fetch +her, she sent him away. For the moment there was +no thought of stopping. The fiddler knew neither +rest nor repose, and did not pass his cap, but played +merrily on with his left hand, and beat time with his +foot, until he was dripping with sweat, and the fiddle +was hidden by the dust and smoke. When Andrew +noticed that his own feet began to twitch where he +was standing, he thought to himself: “Now I had +better shoot away, or else he will play me right off +the ground!” So he turned his gun, thrust it +through the window, and shot it off over the bride’s +head; but upside down, otherwise the bullet would +have hit him. The moment the shot crashed, all the +troll-folk tumbled out of the door together; but when +they saw that the schooner was banned on the shore, +they wailed and crept into a hole in the hill. But +all the gold and silver dishes were left behind, and +the bride, too, was still sitting there. She told +Lucky Andrew that she had been carried into the +hill when she was only a small child. Once, when +her mother had gone to the pen to attend to the +milking, she had taken her along; but when she had +to go home for a moment, she left the child sitting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +under a juniper-bush, and told her that she might +eat the berries if she only repeated three times:</p> + +<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0a">“I eat juniper-berries blue,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wherein Jesu’s cross I view.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I eat whortle-berries red,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Since ’twas for my sake He bled!”<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>But after her mother had gone, she found so many +berries that she forgot to say her verse, and so she +was enchanted and taken into the hill. And there +no harm had been done her, save that she had lost +the top joint of the little finger of her left hand, and +the goblins had been kind to her; yet it had always +seemed to her as though something were not as it +should be, she felt as though something weighed +upon her, and she had suffered greatly from the advances +of the dwarf who had been chosen for her +husband. When Andrew learned who her mother +and her people were, he saw that they were related +to him, and they became very good friends. So Andrew +could truly say he had been born under a lucky +star. Then they sailed home, and took along the +schooner, and all the gold and silver, and all the +treasure which had been left in the hut, and then +Andrew was far wealthier than his brother.</p> + +<p>But the latter, who suspected where all this wealth +had come from, did not wish to be any poorer than +Andrew. He knew that trolls and goblins walk +mainly on Christmas Eve, and for that reason he +sailed out to the sand banks at that time. And on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +Christmas Eve he did see a light or fire, but it +seemed to be like will-o’-the-wisps fluttering about. +When he came nearer he heard splashes, horrible +howls, and cold, piercing cries, and there was a smell +of slime and sea-weed, as at ebb-tide. Terrified, he +ran up into the hut, from whence he could see the +trolls on the shore. They were short and thick like +hay-ricks, completely covered with fur, with kirtles +of skins, fishing boots, and enormous fist-gloves. In +place of head and hair they had bundles of sea-weed. +When they crawled up from the strand there was a +gleam behind them like that of rotting wood, and +when they shook themselves they showered sparks +about them. When they drew nearer, John Nicholas +crawled up into the loft as his brother had done. +The goblins dragged a great stone into the hut, and +began to beat their gloves dry against it, and meanwhile +they screamed so that John Nicholas’s blood +turned to ice in his hiding-place. Then one of them +sneezed into the ashes on the hearth in order to +make the fire burn again; while the others carried +in heather-grass and drift-wood, as coarse and heavy +as lead. The smoke and the heat nearly killed the +eavesdropper in the loft, and in order to catch his +breath and get some fresh air, he tried to crawl out +of the look-out in the roof; yet he was of much heavier +build than his brother, stuck fast and could move +neither in nor out. Then he grew frightened and +began to scream; but the goblins screamed much +louder, and roared and howled, and thumped and +clamored inside and outside the hut. But when the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +cock crowed they disappeared, and John Nicholas +freed himself, too. Yet when he returned home from +his trip, he had lost his reason, and after that the +same cold, sinister screams which are the mark of +the troll in the Northland, might often be heard +sounding from store-rooms and lofts where he happened +to be. Before his death, however, his reason +returned, and he was buried in consecrated ground, +as they say. But after that time no human foot +ever trod the sand-banks again. They sank, and the +meer-folk, it is believed, went to the Lekang Islands. +Andrew’s luck held good; no ship made more successful +trips than his own; but whenever he came +to the Lekang Islands he lay becalmed—the goblins +went aboard or ashore with their goods—but after +a time he had fair winds, whether he happened to +want to go to Bergen, or sail home. He had many +children, and all of them were bright and vigorous, +yet every one of them lacked the upper joint of the +little finger of his left hand.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“Lucky Andrew” (Asbjörnsen, <cite lang="no" xml:lang="no">Huldreeventyr</cite>, I, p. 286. From +Heligoland) is one of a type which is a favorite character in the +fairy-tale, care-free, brave and always happy, though he dwells in +awful loneliness in the midst of the sea, and comes across the most +sinister goblins.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXXI<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE PASTOR AND THE SEXTON</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a pastor who was +such a boor that when any one was driving +toward him along the highway, he would shout to +them, while still some distance off: “Get out of the +way! Get out of the pastor’s way!” One day, while +he was doing this, along came the king. “Get out of +the way! Get out of the way!” shouted the pastor. +But the king drove as he had a mind to, and he +drove so fast that this time it was the pastor who +had to get out of the way, and when the king passed +him, he called out: “See that you come to me at the +castle to-morrow, and if you cannot answer three +questions I put to you, then you will have to take +off your pastor’s gown as a punishment for your +arrogance!”</p> + +<p>This sounded different from what the pastor was +used to hearing. Shout and bluster, and completely +forget himself in his arrogance, that he knew how +to do; but returning a plain answer to a plain question +was not his strong point. So he went to the +sexton, who was supposed to have more in his upper +story than the pastor. He told him he did not venture +to go to the castle, because “a fool can ask +more than ten wise men can answer,” said he, and +he induced the sexton to go in his stead.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>The sexton set forth, and came to the castle +dressed in the pastor’s gown and ruff. The king +received him out in the entrance with crown and +scepter, and was so splendidly dressed that he fairly +gleamed and shone.</p> + +<p>“Well, are you here?” Yes, indeed, there he was. +“First tell me,” said the king, “the distance from +East to West.” “It is one day’s journey,” said +the sexton.</p> + +<p>“And how is that?” asked the king. “Well, the +sun rises in the East and goes down in the West, and +manages to do so nicely in the course of a single +day,” said the sexton.</p> + +<p>“Good,” said the king, “but now tell me how much +I am worth, just as I stand.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if our Lord Christ himself was valued at +thirty pieces of silver, then I can hardly value you +at more than twenty-nine,” said the sexton.</p> + +<p>“Well and good,” said the king, “but since you +are so wondrous wise, tell me what I am thinking +now.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, my lord king, you are probably thinking that +this is the pastor who is standing before you, but +there you are greatly mistaken, for I am the sexton.”</p> + +<p>“Then drive straight home, and be the pastor, +and the pastor shall be the sexton,” said the king, +and that is what happened, too.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>The droll tale of “The Pastor and the Sexton” is widely known +and emphasizes in humorous guise the value of politeness and consideration, +as well as a ready wit. (Asbjörnsen, N.F.E., p. 126, +No. 86. From Valsers.)</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXXII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE SKIPPER AND SIR URIAN</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a master mariner +who had the most unheard of good fortune in +all that he undertook; none had such splendid cargoes, +and none earned so much money as he did, +for everything seemed to come to him. And it is +quite certain that there were none who could risk +taking the trips he did, for wherever he sailed he +had fair winds, yes, it was even said that when he +turned around his cap, the wind turned with it, to +suit his wish.</p> + +<p>Thus he sailed for many years with cargoes of +lumber, and even went as far as China, and earned +money like hay. But once he sailed the North Sea +with all sails set, as though he had stolen ship and +cargo. But the one who was after him sailed even +more swiftly. And that was Sir Urian, the devil! +With him the master mariner, as you may imagine, +had made a bargain, and that very day and hour +the contract expired, and the mariner had to be prepared, +from moment to moment, to see him arrive +to fetch him.</p> + +<p>So he came up on deck, out of the cabin, and took +a look at the weather. Then he called the ship’s carpenter +and several others, and told them to go down +at once into the ship’s hold, and bore two holes in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +the ship’s bottom. Then they were to take the +pumps from out their frames, and set them closely +over the holes, so that the water would rise quite +high in the pipes.</p> + +<p>The men were surprised, and thought his orders +passing strange, yet they did as he told them. They +bored the holes, and set up the pumps closely over +them, so that not even a drop of water could get +at the cargo; yet the North Sea stood seven feet +high in the pumps.</p> + +<p>No more had they cast overboard their chips and +litter than Sir Urian came along in a squall, and +grabbed the master mariner by the collar. “Wait, +old boy, the matter is not so terribly urgent!” said +he, and began to defend himself, and pry loose the +claws that held him with an awl. “Did you not +bind yourself in your contract always to keep my +ship tight and dry?” said the master mariner. +“You are a nice article! Just take a look at the +pumps! The water stands seven feet high in the +pipes! Pump, devil, pump my ship dry, then you +may take me to have and to hold as long as ever +you wish!”</p> + +<p>The devil was fool enough, and allowed himself to +be hoaxed. He worked and sweat, and the perspiration +ran down his cheeks in such streams that one +might have run a mill with them, but he merely kept +on pumping out of the North Sea into the North Sea. +At last he had enough of it, and when he could pump +no longer, he flew home to his grandmother to rest. +He let the master mariner stay master mariner as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +long as he might choose, and if he has not died he is +still sailing the seas at his own sweet will, and letting +the wind blow according to how he turns his +cap.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>In the story of “The Skipper and Sir Urian” (Asbjörnsen, +N.F.E., p. 33, No. 69. From the vicinity of Drontheim) we once +more have the devil, “Old Eric,” as the Norwegians call him, playing +the part of the dupe, this time as the victim of a cunning old +sea-dog.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXXIII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE YOUTH WHO WAS TO SERVE THREE YEARS +WITHOUT PAY</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a poor man, who +had only one son; but one who was so lazy and +clumsy that he did not want to do a stroke of work. +“If I am not to feed this bean-pole for the rest of +my life, I’ll have to send him far away, where not +a soul knows him,” thought the father. “Once he +is knocking about in the world, he will not be so +likely to come home again.” So he took his son and +led him about in the world, far and wide, and tried +to get him taken on as a serving man; but no one +would have him. Finally, after wandering a long +time, they came to a rich man, of whom it was said +that he turned every shilling around seven times before +he could make up his mind to part with it. He +was willing to take the youth for a servant, and he +was to work three years without pay. But at the +end of the three years, his master was to go into +town, two days in succession, and buy the first thing +he saw, and on the third morning the youth himself +was to go to town and also buy the first thing he +met. And all this he was to receive in lieu of his +wage.</p> + +<p>So the youth served out his three years, and did +better than they had expected him to do. He was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +by no means a model serving-man; but then his master +was none of the best, either, for he let him go +all that time in the same clothes he had worn when +he entered his service, until, finally, one patch elbowed +the other.</p> + +<p>Now when his master was to go to do his buying, +he set out as early as possible in the morning. +“Costly wares are only to be seen by day,” said he, +“they are not drifting about the street so early. It +will probably cost me enough as it is, for what I find +is a matter of purest chance.” The first thing he +saw on the street was an old woman, who was carrying +a covered basket. “Good-day, granny,” said +the man. “And good-day to you, daddy,” said the +old woman.</p> + +<p>“What have you in your basket?” asked the man. +“Would you like to know?” said the woman. +“Yes,” said the man, “for I have to buy the first +thing that comes my way.” “Well, if you want to +know, buy it!” said the old woman. “What does +it cost?” asked the man. She must have four shillings +for it, declared the woman. This did not seem +such a tremendous price to him, he would let it go +at that, said he, and raised the cover. And there lay +a pup in the basket. When the man got home from +his journey to town, there stood the youth full of +impatience and curiosity, wondering what his wage +for the first year might be. “Are you back already, +master?” asked the youth. “Yes, indeed,” said +his master. “And what have you bought?” asked +the youth. “What I have bought is nothing so very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +rare,” said the man. “I don’t even know whether I +ought to show it to you; but I bought the first thing +to be had, and that was a pup,” said he. “And I +thank you most kindly for it,” said the youth. “I +have always been fond of dogs.”</p> + +<p>The following morning it was no better. The man +set out as early as possible, and had not as yet +reached town before he met the old woman with the +basket. “Good-day, granny,” said the man. “And +good-day to you, daddy,” said the old woman. +“What have you in your basket to-day?” asked the +man. “If you want to know, then buy it!” was again +the answer. “What does it cost?” asked the man. +She wanted four shillings for it, she had only the one +price. The man said he would buy it, for he thought +that this time he would make a better purchase. He +raised the cover, and this time a kitten lay in the +basket. When he reached home, there stood the +youth, waiting to see what he was to get in lieu of +his second year’s wages. “Are you back again, +master!” said he. “Yes, indeed,” said the master. +“What did you buy to-day?” asked the youth. +“Alas, nothing better than I did yesterday,” said +the man, “but I did as we agreed, and bought the +first thing I came across, and that was this kitten.” +“You could not have hit on anything better,” said +the youth, “for all my life long I have been fond +of cats as well as of dogs.” “I do not fare so badly +this way,” thought the man, “but when he sets out +for himself, then the matter will probably turn out +differently.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p> + +<p>So the third morning the youth set out for himself, +and when he entered town, he came across the +same old woman with her basket on her arm. “Good +morning, granny,” said he. “And good morning to +you, my boy,” said the old woman. “What have +you in your basket?” asked the youth. “If you want +to know, then buy it!” answered the old woman. +“Do you want to sell it?” asked the youth. Yes, +indeed, and it would cost four shillings, said the old +woman. That is a bargain, thought the youth, and +wanted to take it, for he had to buy the first thing +that came his way. “Well, you can take the whole +blessed lot,” said the old woman, “the basket and +all that’s in it. But do not look into it before you +get home, do you hear!” No, indeed, he would be +sure not to look in the basket, said he. But on the +way, he kept wondering as to what might be in the +basket, and willy-nilly—he could not keep from raising +the cover a little, and looking through the crack. +But that very minute a little lizard popped out of the +crack, and ran across the road so quickly that it +fairly hummed—and aside from the lizard there was +nothing in the basket. “Stop, wait a minute, and +don’t run away! I just bought you,” said the youth. +“Stab me in the neck! Stab me in the neck!” cried +the lizard. The youth did not have to be told twice. +He ran after the lizard and stabbed it in the neck +just as it was slipping into a hole in a wall. And +that very moment it turned into a man, as handsome +and splendid as the handsomest prince, and +a prince he was, if truth be told.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Now you have delivered me,” said he, “for the +old woman, with whom you and your master have +been dealing, is a witch, and she turned me into a +lizard, and my brother and sister into a dog and +cat.” The youth thought this a remarkable tale. +“Yes, indeed,” said the prince. “She was actually +on the way to throw us into the sea and drown us; +but if any one were to appear and want to buy us, +she had to sell us for four shillings apiece, that had +been agreed upon. And now you shall go home with +me to my father, and be rewarded for your good +deed.” “Your home must be a good way off,” said +the youth. “O, it is not so far,” declared the prince, +“there it is!” And he pointed to a high hill in the +distance.</p> + +<p>They marched along as fast as they could, but still +it was farther away than it seemed. So it was late +at night before they reached their goal. The prince +knocked. “Who is knocking at my door, and disturbing +my sleep?” came a voice within the hill. +And the voice was so powerful that the earth trembled. +“Open, father, your son has come home!” +cried the prince. Then the father was glad to open +the door quickly. “I thought you were already lying +at the bottom of the sea,” said the old man. +“But you are not alone?” “This is the chap who +delivered me,” said the prince, “and I asked him +to come with me so that you could reward him.” +That he would attend to, said the old man. “Now +you must come right in,” said he, “for here you may +rest in safety.” They went in and sat down, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +the old man laid an armful of wood and a couple of +big logs on the fire, until every corner was as bright +as day, and wherever they looked everything was +indescribably splendid. The youth had never seen +anything like it, and such fine things to eat and +drink as the old man served up to him, he had never +yet tasted. And the bowls and dishes, and goblets +and plates, were all of pure silver and shining gold.</p> + +<p>There was no need to urge the young folk. They +ate and drank and enjoyed themselves, and then slept +far into the next day. The youth was still asleep +when the old man came and offered him a morning +draft in a golden goblet. And when he had put +on his rags and breakfasted, he was allowed to pick +out what he wanted, as a reward for delivering the +prince. There was much to see and still more to +take, as you may believe. “Well, what do you +want?” asked the king. “You may take what you +will; for as you see there is enough from which to +choose.” The youth said he would have to think it +over a bit, and speak to the prince. And that he was +allowed to do. “Well, I suppose you have seen all +sorts of beautiful things?” asked the prince. “That +is a fact,” said the youth. “But tell me, what ought +I to choose among all these magnificent things? +Your father said I might pick out whatever I +wished.” “You must choose none among all the +things you have seen,” answered the prince, “but +my father wears a ring on his little finger, and you +must ask him for that.” This the youth did, and +begged the king for the ring on his finger. “It is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +dearer to me than anything else I have,” said the +king, “but my son is just as dear to me, and therefore +I will give you the ring. Do you know what +powers it has?” No, that the youth did not know. +“While you wear it on your finger, you can get +everything that you want to have,” said the king. +The youth thanked him most kindly, and the king +and the prince wished him all manner of luck on his +journey, and charged him to take the best care of +the ring.</p> + +<p>He had not been long underway before it occurred +to him to test what the ring could do. So he wished +to be dressed in new clothes from head to toe, and +no more had he uttered the wish than there he was +in them. And he looked as handsome and bright as +a new nickel. Then he thought to himself it would +be pleasant to play a trick on his father. “He was +none too friendly to me while I was still at home.” +And so the youth wished he were standing before +his father’s door, just as ragged as he had been before. +And that very minute there he stood.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, father, and many thanks for the last +time!” said the youth. But when his father saw he +had come home far more tattered and torn than when +he had gone away, he grew angry and began to +scold: “There is nothing to be made of you, if during +all the long years of your service you have not +even been able to earn a suit of clothes to your +back.”</p> + +<p>“Now do not be so angry, father,” said the youth. +“You need not take for granted that a fellow is a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +vagabond because he goes about in rags. Now I want +you to go to the king as my proxy, and ask his +daughter’s hand for me.” “Come, come, why, that +is utter folly and nonsense!” cried his father. But +the youth insisted that it was gospel truth, and took +a birch bough, and drove his father to the king’s +castle-gate. And the latter came stumbling right in +to the king, and wept so that the tears just tumbled +out.</p> + +<p>“Well, what has happened to you, my dear fellow?” +asked the king. “If a wrong has been done +you, I will see that you get your rights.” No, no +wrong had been done him, said the man, but he had +a son who gave him a great deal of trouble: it was +impossible to make a man of him, and now he had +evidently lost what few senses he did possess. “Because +he has just chased me to the castle-gate with +a birch bough, and threatened me, if I do not get +him the king’s daughter for a bride,” said the man. +“Set your mind at rest, my good fellow,” said the +king, “and send your son to me. Then we will see +whether we can come to an understanding.”</p> + +<p>The youth came rushing in to the king, so that his +rags fairly fluttered. “Do I get your daughter?” he +cried. “Well, that is just what we are going to discuss,” +said the king, “perhaps she would not answer +for you, and perhaps you would not answer for her,” +said he. That might be the case, said the youth.</p> + +<p>Now a great ship from abroad had shortly before +come into port, and one could see it from the castle +window. “Now we’ll see,” said the king. “If you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +can build a ship that is the exact counterpart of the +one outside, and just as handsome, in the space of +an hour or two, then, perhaps, you may get my +daughter,” said the king.</p> + +<p>“If it be no more than that ...” said the youth. +Then he went down to the shore and sat on a sand-pile, +and when he had sat there long enough, he +wished that a ship might lie out in the fjord, completely +equipped with masts and sails and all that +goes with them, and that it might resemble the ship +already lying there in every particular. And that +very minute there lay the ship, and when the king +saw that there were two ships at anchor instead of +one, he came down to the shore himself to look more +closely into the matter. And then he saw the youth. +He was standing in a boat, with a broom in one +hand, as though he meant to give the ship a final +cleaning; but when he saw the king coming, he threw +away the broom and cried: “Now the ship is finished. +Do I get your daughter now?”</p> + +<p>“That is all very fine,” said the king, “but you +must stand yet another test. If you can build a +castle that is just like mine in every particular +within an hour or so, then we will go further into +the matter.”</p> + +<p>“No more than that?” cried the youth. After he +had strolled around for a long while, and the time +set was nearly over, he wished that a castle might +stand there that resembled the king’s castle in every +particular. And before long there it stood, as you +may believe. And it did not take long, either, before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +the king, together with the queen and the princess, +came to look at the new castle. The youth +stood there with his broom again, and swept and +cleaned. “Now the castle is in apple-pie order. Do +I get her now?” he cried.</p> + +<p>“That’s all very fine,” declared the king, “just +come in and we’ll talk it over,” said he, for he had +noticed that the youth knew a thing or two, and he +was thinking over how he might get rid of him. The +king went on ahead, and after him the queen, and +then went the princess, just in advance of the youth. +Then he at once wished to be the handsomest man +in the world, and so he was, that very minute. When +the princess saw what a splendid figure he suddenly +cut, she nudged the queen, who in turn nudged the +king, and after they had stared at him long enough, +they at last realized that the youth was more +than he had at first appeared to be, in his rags. +So they decided that the princess was to treat him +nicely, in order to find out how matters really stood, +and the princess was as sweet and amiable as sugar-bread, +and flattered the youth, and said that she +could not do without him, night or day. And when +it came toward the end of the first evening, she said: +“Since you and I are to be married in any case, I +am sure you will have no secrets from me, and you +will not want to hide from me how you managed to +do all these fine things.”</p> + +<p>“O, yes,” said the youth. “You shall know about +it, but first of all let us be married; before that nothing +counts!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span></p> + +<p>The following evening the princess pretended to +be quite unhappy. She was well aware, said she, +that he did not attach much importance to her love, +when he would not even tell her what she wanted +so much to know. If he could not even oblige her +in such a small matter, his love could not amount +to a great deal. Then the youth fell into despair, +and to make up with her again, he told her everything. +She lost no time, and let the king and queen +know all about it. Thereupon they agreed as to +how they would go about getting the youth’s ring +away from him, and then, thought they, it would not +really be hard to get rid of him.</p> + +<p>In the evening the princess came with a sleeping +potion, and said she wanted to give her lover a drink +that would increase his love for her, since it was +plain he did not love her enough. The youth suspected +nothing, and drank, and at once fell so fast +asleep that they could have pulled down the house +over his head. Then the princess drew the ring +from his finger, put it on herself, and wished the +youth might be lying on the garbage-pile in the +street, just as tattered and torn as he had come +to them, and in his place she wanted the handsomest +prince in the world. And that very minute everything +happened just as she wished. After a time +the youth woke up, out on the garbage-pile, and at +first thought he was dreaming: but when he saw the +ring was gone, he understood how it all had happened, +and fell into such despair that he got up and +wanted to jump right into the sea.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> + +<p>But then he met the cat his master had bought +for him. “Where are you going?” she asked. “To +throw myself into the sea and drown,” was the +youth’s reply.</p> + +<p>“Do not do so on any account,” said the cat. +“You will get your ring again.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, if that were so, then ...” said the +youth.</p> + +<p>The cat ran away. Suddenly a rat crossed her +path. “Now I will pounce on you!” said the cat. +“O do not do that,” said the rat, “you shall have +the ring again!”</p> + +<p>“Well, if that is so, then ...” said the cat.</p> + +<p>When the folk at the castle had gone to bed, the +rat crept around, and sniffed and spied out the +room of the prince and princess; and at last he found +a little hole through which he crawled. Then he +heard the prince and princess talking to each other, +and saw that the prince was wearing the ring on his +finger. Before she went, the princess said: “Good +night. And see that you take good care of the ring, +my dearest!”</p> + +<p>“Pooh! no one will come in through the walls for +the sake of a ring,” said the prince, “but if you think +it is not safe enough on my hand, why, I can put it +in my mouth.”</p> + +<p>After a time he lay down on his back, and prepared +to go to sleep. But just then the ring slipped +down his throat, and he had to cough, so that the +ring flew out and rolled along the ground. Swish!—the +rat had caught it, and crept out with it to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +cat, who was waiting at the rat-hole. But in the +meantime the king had caught the youth, and had +had him put in a great tower and condemned to +death, because he had made a mock of his daughter—so +the king said. And the youth was to sit in the +tower until he was beheaded. But the cat kept +prowling around the tower all the time, trying to +sneak in with the ring. And then an eagle came +along, caught her up in his claws and flew across +the sea with her. And suddenly a hawk appeared, +and flung himself on the eagle, and the eagle let the +cat fall into the sea. When she felt the water, she +grew afraid, let the ring fall, and swam to land. No +sooner had she shaken the water from her fur than +she met the dog whom the youth’s master had bought +for him.</p> + +<p>“Well, what am I to do now?” said the cat, and +wept and lamented. “The ring is gone, and they +want to murder the youth.” “That I do not know,” +said the dog, “but what I do know is that I have +the very worst kind of an ache in my stomach,” +said he.</p> + +<p>“There you have it. You have surely over-eaten,” +said the cat.</p> + +<p>“I never eat more than I need,” said the dog, +“and just now I have eaten nothing at all, save a +dead fish that was left here by the ebb-tide.”</p> + +<p>“Could the fish have swallowed the ring?” asked +the cat. “And must you, also, lose your life, because +you cannot digest gold?”</p> + +<p>“That may well be the case,” said the dog. “But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +then it would be best if I died at once, for then the +youth might still be saved.”</p> + +<p>“O, that is not necessary!” said the rat—who was +there, too—“I do not need a very large opening +through which to crawl, and if the ring is really +there, I am sure I can find it.” So the rat slipped +down into the dog, and before very long he came out +again with the ring. And then the cat made her +way to the tower, and clawed her way up till she +found a hole through which she could thrust her +paw, and thus brought back the ring to the youth.</p> + +<p>No sooner was it on his finger than he wished +that the tower might break down, and that very +moment he was standing just before the tower-gate, +and reviling the king and the queen and the king’s +daughter as though they were the lowest of the low. +The king hastily called together his army, and told +it to surround the tower, and take the youth prisoner, +dead or alive. But the youth only wished the +whole army might be sticking up to their necks in +the big swamp in the hills, and there they had trouble +enough getting out—those among them who did +not stick fast. Then he went right on reviling +where he had stopped, and finally, when he had told +them all just what he thought of them, he wished +that the king, the queen and the king’s daughter +might sit for the rest of their lives in the tower +into which they had thrust him. And when they +were sitting there, he took possession of the king’s +land and country on his own account. Then the +dog changed into a prince, and the cat into a princess,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +and he made the latter his wife, and they were +married and celebrated their wedding long and profusely.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>In “The Youth Who Was to Serve Three Years Without Pay” +(Asbjörnsen, N.F.E., No. 63, p. 8. From Gudbrandsdal) we have +the tale of a magic ring, whose possessor is robbed of it by a faithless +woman, and which is brought back to him by faithful animals, +after various vicissitudes.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXXIV<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE YOUTH WHO WANTED TO WIN THE DAUGHTER +OF THE MOTHER IN THE CORNER</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a woman who had a +son, and he was so lazy and slow that there +was not a single blessed useful thing he would do. +But he liked to sing and to dance, and that is what +he did all day long, and far into the night as well. +The longer this went on, the worse off his mother +was. The youth was growing, and he wanted so +much to eat that it was barely possible to find it, +and more and more went for his clothes the older he +grew, since his clothes did not last long, as you may +imagine, because the youth skipped and dance about +without stopping, through forest and field.</p> + +<p>At length it was too much for his mother, so one +day she told the young fellow that he ought at last +to get to work, and really do something, or both of +them would have to starve to death. But the youth +had no mind to do so, he said, and would rather try +to win the daughter of the mother in the corner, for +if he got her, then he would live happily ever after, +and could sing and dance, and would not have to +plague himself with work.</p> + +<p>When the mother heard that she thought it might +not be such a bad idea after all, and she dressed up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +the youth as well as she could, so that he would +make a good showing when he came to the mother +in the corner, and then he set forth.</p> + +<p>When he stepped out the sun was shining bright +and warm; but it had rained during the night, and +the ground was soft and full of water puddles. The +youth took the shortest path to the mother in the +corner, and sang and danced, as he always did. But +suddenly, as he was hopping and skipping along, he +came to a swamp, and there were only some logs +laid down to cross it; and from the one log he had +to jump over a puddle to a clump of grass, unless he +wanted to dirty his shoes. And then he went kerflop! +The very moment he set foot on the clump +of grass, he went down and down until he was +standing in a dark, ugly hole. At first he could see +nothing at all, but when he had been there a little +while, he saw that there was a rat, who was wiggling +and waggling around, and had a bunch of keys hanging +from her tail.</p> + +<p>“Have you come, my boy?” said the rat. “I must +thank you for coming to visit me: I have been expecting +you for a long time. I am sure you have +come to win me, and I can well imagine that you +are in a great hurry. But you must have a little +patience. I am to receive a large dower, and am +not yet ready for the wedding; but I will do my +best to see that we are married soon.”</p> + +<p>When she had said this, she produced a couple of +egg-shells, with all sorts of eatables such as rats eat, +and set them down before the youth, and said: “Now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +you must sit down and help yourself, for I am sure +you are tired and hungry.”</p> + +<p>The youth had no great appetite for this food. +“If I were only away and up above again,” thought +he, but he said nothing.</p> + +<p>“Now I think you must surely want to get home +again,” said the rat. “I am well aware that you +are waiting impatiently for the wedding, and I will +hurry all I can. Take this linen thread along, and +when you get up above, you must not turn around, +but must go straight home, and as you go you must +keep repeating: ‘Short before and long behind!’” +and with that she laid a linen thread in his hand.</p> + +<p>“Heaven be praised!” said the youth when he +was up above once more. “I’ll not go down there +again in a hurry.” But he held the thread in his +hand, and danced and sang as usual. And although +he no longer had the rat-hole in mind, he began to +hum:</p> + +<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0a">“Short before and long behind!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Short before and long behind!”<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>When he stood before the door at home, he turned +around; and there lay many, many hundred yards of +the finest linen, finer than the most skillful weaver +could have spun.</p> + +<p>“Mother, come out, come out!” called and cried +the youth. His mother came darting out, and asked +what was the matter. And when she saw the linen, +stretching as far as she could see, and then a bit,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +she could not believe her eyes, until the youth told +her how it all happened. But when she had heard +that, and had tested the linen between her fingers, +she was so pleased that she, too, began to sing and +dance.</p> + +<p>Then she took the linen, cut it, and sewed shirts +from it for her son and herself, and the remainder +she took to town and sold for a good price. Then +for a time they lived in all joy and comfort. But +when that was over the woman had not a bite to eat +in the house, and so she told her son that it was the +highest time for him to take service, and really do +something, or else both of them would have to starve +to death.</p> + +<p>But the youth preferred to go to the mother in +the corner, and try to win her daughter. His mother +did not think this such a bad idea, for now the youth +was handsomely dressed, and made a good showing.</p> + +<p>So she brushed him, and furbished him up as well +as she could, and he himself took a pair of new shoes, +and polished them till they shone like a mirror, and +when he had done so, off he went. Everything happened +as before. When he stepped out, the sun was +shining bright and warm; but it had rained during +the night, and the road was soft and muddy, and +every puddle was full of water. The youth took the +shortest way to the mother in the corner, and sang +and danced and danced and sang, as he always did. +He followed another road, not the one he had taken +before; but as he was hopping and skipping along, +he suddenly came to the log across the swamp, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +from the log he had to jump over a puddle to a clump +of grass, unless he wanted to dirty his shoes. And +then he went kerflop. And he sank down and could +not stop, until he reached a horrible, dark, ugly hole. +At first he could see nothing; but after he had +stood there a while, he discovered a rat with a bunch +of keys at the end of her tail, which she was wiggling +and waggling in front of him.</p> + +<p>“Have you come, my boy?” said the rat. “You +are welcome among us! It was kind of you to come +and visit me again so soon; no doubt you are very +impatient, I can well imagine it. But you must +really be patient a little while longer; for my trousseau +is not quite complete, but by the time you come +again all shall be ready.” When she had said this +she offered him egg-shells containing all sorts of +food such as rats like. But it looked to the youth +like food that had been eaten, and he said that he +had no appetite. “If I were only safely away, and +up above again,” thought he, but he said nothing. +After a time the rat said: “Now I think you must +surely want to get up above again. I will hurry on +the wedding as quickly as I can. And now take this +woolen thread along, and when you get up above, +you must not turn around, but go straight home, and +underway you must keep on repeating: ‘Short before +and long behind!’” and with that she laid the +woolen thread in his hand.</p> + +<p>“Thank heaven, I have escaped!” said the youth +to himself. “I am sure I’ll never go there again,” +and then he sang and danced again as usual. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +thought no more of the rat-hole, but fell to humming, +and sang without stopping:</p> + +<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0a">“Short before and long behind!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Short before and long behind!”<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>When he stood at the door of the house, he happened +to look around; and there lay the finest +woolen goods, many hundred yards of it, stretching +for half a mile, and so fine that no city counselor +wore a coat of finer cloth.</p> + +<p>“Mother, mother, come out, come out!” cried the +youth. His mother came to the door, clasped her +hands together over her head, and nearly fainted +with joy when she saw all the fine goods. And then +the youth had to tell her how it had come to him, +and all that had taken place, from beginning to end. +This brought them a small fortune, as you may +imagine. The youth had new clothes, and his +mother went to town and sold the goods, yard by +yard, and was handsomely paid for them. And then +she decorated her room, and she herself, in her old +days, went about in such style that she might have +been taken for some lady of distinction. So they +lived splendidly and happily, but finally this money, +too, came to an end; and one day the woman had not +a bite to eat left in the house, and told her son that +now he had better look for work, and really do something, +or both of them would starve to death.</p> + +<p>But the youth thought it would be much better +to go to the mother in the corner and try to win<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +her daughter. This time his mother again agreed +with him, and did not contradict the youth; for now +he had fine new clothes, and looked so distinguished +that it seemed out of the question to her that such +a good-looking fellow would be refused. So she furbished +him up and tricked him out in the handsomest +way, and he himself took out his new shoes and polished +them so brightly that you could see yourself in +them, and when he had done so he set forth.</p> + +<p>This time he did not choose the shortest road; but +took a roundabout way, the longest he could find, for +he did not want to go down to the rat again because +he was sick of her eternal wiggling and waggling, +and the talk about marriage. The weather +and the road were exactly the same as when he had +gone before. The sun shone, the swamp and the +puddles gleamed, and the youth sang and danced as +usual. And in the midst of his skipping and jumping, +before he knew it, there he stood at the same +crossing which led across the swamp. There he had +to jump over a puddle to a clump of grass, unless he +wanted to dirty his brightly polished shoes. “Kerflop!” +and down he went, and did not stop until he +stood once more in the same dark, ugly, dirty hole. +At first he was pleased because he could see nothing. +But after he had stood there a while, he once more +discovered the ugly rat who was so repulsive to him, +with the bunch of keys hanging from her tail.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, my boy,” said the rat. “You are welcome! +I see that you can no longer live without +me, and I thank you. And now everything is in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +readiness for our wedding, and we will go straight +to church.” Nothing will come of that, thought the +youth, but he did not say a word. Then the rat +whistled, and at once every corner was alive with +swarms of mice and small rats, and six large rats +came dragging along a frying-pan. Two mice sat +up behind as grooms, and two sprang up in front to +drive the coach. Several seated themselves within, +and the rat with the bunch of keys took her place in +their midst. To the youth she said: “The road is a +little narrow here, so you will have to walk beside +the coach, sweetheart, until the road is broader. +And then you may sit beside me in the coach.”</p> + +<p>“How fine that will be!” thought the youth. “If +I were only safely up above once more, I would run +away from the whole pack of them,” thought he, +but he said nothing. He went along with the procession +as well as he could; at times he had to crawl, +at others he had to stoop, for the way was very +narrow. But when it grew better, he walked in advance, +and looked about to see how he might most +easily steal away and make off. And then he suddenly +heard a clear, beautiful voice behind him say: +“Now the road is good! Come, sweetheart, and get +into the coach!”</p> + +<p>The youth turned around quickly, and was so astonished +that his nose and ears nearly fell off. +There stood a magnificent coach with six white +horses, and in the coach sat a maiden as fair and +beautiful as the sun, and about her were sitting +others, as bright and kindly as the stars. It was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +a princess and her playmates, who had all been enchanted +together. But now they were delivered, because +he had come down to them, and had never +contradicted.</p> + +<p>“Come along now!” said the princess. Then the +youth got into the coach, and drove to church with +her. And when they drove away from the church, +the princess said: “Now we will first drive to my +home, and then we will send for your mother.”</p> + +<p>“That’s all very fine,” thought the youth—he said +nothing, but he thought it would be better, after all, +to drive to his home, instead of down into the hideous +rat-hole. But suddenly they came to a beautiful +castle, and there they turned in, for there it was they +were to live. And at once a fine coach with six +horses was sent for the youth’s mother, and when +she came the wedding festivities began. They celebrated +for fourteen days, and perhaps they are celebrating +yet. We must hurry, and perhaps we may +still get there in time, and can drink the groom’s +health and dance with the bride!</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>Told with much charm and wealth of detail is the story of “The +Youth Who Wanted to Win the Daughter of the Mother in the +Corner” (Asbjörnsen, N.F.E., No. 77, p. 73). It is another tale of +a deliverance from enchantment, and the conditions are silence and +lack of contradiction on the part of the deliverer.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXXV<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE CHRONICLE OF THE PANCAKE</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a woman who had +seven hungry children, and she was baking +pancakes for them. There was dough made with +new milk, and it lay in the pan, and was rising so +plumply and comfortably, that it was a pleasure to +watch it. The children stood around it, and their +grandfather sat and looked on.</p> + +<p>“Give me a little bit of pancake, mother, I’m so +hungry!” said one of the children.</p> + +<p>“Dear mother!” said the second.</p> + +<p>“Dear, sweet mother!” said the third.</p> + +<p>“Dear, sweet, good mother!” said the fourth.</p> + +<p>“Dear, best, sweet, good mother!” said the fifth.</p> + +<p>“Dear, best, sweet, good, dearest mother!” said +the sixth.</p> + +<p>“Dear, best, sweet, good, dearest, sweetest +mother!” said the seventh, and so they all begged +around the pancake, one more sweetly than the other, +for they were all so hungry and so well-behaved.</p> + +<p>“Yes, children, wait until it turns around,” said +she—until I have turned it around, she should have +said—“then you shall all have a pancake, a lovely +best-milk pancake. Just see how fat and comfortable +it is lying there!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the pancake heard that it was frightened, +turned itself around suddenly, and wanted to get out +of the pan; but it only fell on its other side, and +when this had baked a little, so that it took shape +and grew firmer, it leaped out on the floor, and +rolled off like a wheel, out of the door, and down the +street.</p> + +<p>Hey there! The woman was after it with the pan +in one hand, and the spoon in the other, as fast as +she could, and after her came the children, and last +of all, their grandfather came hobbling along.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="i007" id="i007"></a> +<img src="images/i007.jpg" width="403" height="573" alt="“HEY THERE!' THE WOMAN WAS AFTER IT WITH THE +PAN IN ONE HAND AND THE SPOON IN THE OTHER."“ +—Page 275" title="" /><br /> +<span class="caption">“‘HEY THERE!’ THE WOMAN WAS AFTER IT WITH THE +PAN IN ONE HAND AND THE SPOON IN THE OTHER.”<br /> +<span class="flr">—Page 275</span></span> +</div> + +<p>“Will you wait! Halt! Catch it! Hold it!” they +all cried together, and wanted to catch up with it +and grab it on the run; but the pancake rolled and +rolled, and sure enough, it got so far ahead of them +that they could no longer see it, for it had nimbler +legs than all of them. After it had rolled a while +it met a man.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, pancake,” said the man.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, Man Tan,” said the pancake.</p> + +<p>“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast; but wait +a little and let me eat you!” said the man.</p> + +<p>“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and +the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, so I think I can +leave you as well, Man Tan!” said the pancake, and +rolled and rolled until it met a hen.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, pancake,” said the hen.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, Hen Glen,” said the pancake.</p> + +<p>“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast, wait a +little and I will eat you up!” said the hen.</p> + +<p>“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, and Man Tan, so +I think I can leave you as well, Hen Glen!” said +the pancake, and rolled along the road like a wheel. +Then it met a rooster.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, pancake,” said the rooster.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, Rooster Booster,” said the pancake.</p> + +<p>“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast. Wait +a little and I will eat you up!” said the rooster.</p> + +<p>“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and +the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, and Man Tan +and Hen Glen, and so I think I can leave you as +well, Rooster Booster,” said the pancake, and rolled +and rolled as fast as ever it could. And after it had +rolled a long time it met a duck.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, pancake,” said the duck.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, Duck Tuck,” said the pancake.</p> + +<p>“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast. Wait a +little and I will eat you up!” said the duck.</p> + +<p>“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and +the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, and Man Tan, +and Hen Glen and Rooster Booster, so I think I can +leave you as well,” said the pancake, and rolled on +as fast as ever it could. After it had rolled a long, +long time, it met a goose.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, pancake,” said the goose.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, Goose Loose,” said the pancake.</p> + +<p>“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast. Wait a +little and I will eat you up!” said the goose.</p> + +<p>“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and +the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, and Man Tan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +and Hen Glen and Rooster Booster and Duck Tuck, +and I think I can leave you as well, Goose Loose,” +said the pancake, and rolled away.</p> + +<p>After it had again rolled for a long, long time, it +met a gander.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, pancake,” said the gander.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, Gander Meander,” said the pancake.</p> + +<p>“Dear, good pancake, don’t roll so fast. Wait a +little and I will eat you up!” said the gander.</p> + +<p>“Mother Gray and grandpa I’ve left behind, and +the seven squallers, too, you’ll find, and Man Tan +and Hen Glen and Rooster Booster and Duck Tuck +and Goose Loose, and I think I can leave you as +well, Gander Meander,” said the pancake, and began +to roll as fast as ever it could.</p> + +<p>After it had rolled a long, long time, it met a +pig.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, pancake,” said the pig.</p> + +<p>“Good-day, Pig Snig,” said the pancake, and began +to roll as fast as ever it could.</p> + +<p>“Now wait a little,” said the pig. “You need not +hurry so, for we can keep each other company going +through the forest and take our time, for it is said +to be haunted.” The pancake thought that such was +quite apt to be the case, and so they started off; +but after they had gone a while they came to a +brook.</p> + +<p>The pig swam across on his own bacon, which was +easy enough; but the pancake could not get across.</p> + +<p>“Sit down on my snout,” said the pig, “and I will +carry you over that way.” The pancake did so.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Uff, uff!” said the pig, and swallowed the pancake +in one mouthful.</p> + +<div class="centered"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0a">“And now, since the pancake no further goes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This little chronicle comes to a close.”<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>“The Chronicle of the Pancake” (Asbjörnsen, N.F.E., No. 104, +p. 233. From Sell, Froen and Faaberg) is a merry, harmless, +nursery tale, belonging to the type of “The House That Jack Built,” +in an accumulation of repeated sentences and characteristic names.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXXVI<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">SORIA-MORIA CASTLE</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Once</span> upon a time there was a couple who had an +only son named Halvor. While he was still +but a little lad, he would do nothing at all; but +was always sitting at the hearth, digging in the +ashes. His parents apprenticed him here and apprenticed +him there, to be taught something, but +Halvor never stayed. When he had been anywhere +for a few days, he ran away again, went back home, +sat down at the hearth, and dug in the ashes. But +once a master mariner came along and asked whether +Halvor would not like to go with him, and sail the +seas, and see foreign lands. Indeed, Halvor would +like to do so very much, and it did not take him long +to make up his mind.</p> + +<p>How long they sailed the seas I do not know, but +suddenly a powerful storm arose, and when it had +passed, and all had grown quiet once more, they did +not know where they were. They had been driven off +their course to a foreign shore, which none among +them recognized.</p> + +<p>And then, since not a breeze was stirring, they lay +there, and Halvor begged the master mariner for +permission to go ashore, and look around, for he +would rather do that than lie down and sleep. “Do +you think you are fit to appear before people?” asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +the master mariner. “The only clothes you have are +the rags in which you stand and walk!” Yet Halvor +insisted, and finally he was given permission. But +he was to come back when the wind blew up. Halvor +went, and it was a fair land. No matter where he +came, there were great plains, with fields and pastures; +but he saw no people at all. The wind blew +up again, but Halvor decided that he had not yet +seen enough, and wanted to go a little further, and +see whether there were no people to be found at all. +After a time he came to a great highway, which was +so even one could have rolled an egg along it with +ease. Halvor went on along this highway, and as +evening drew near, he saw a great castle in the +distance, that shone afar. Since he had been wandering +all day long, without much in the way of +food, he had a fine appetite; but the nearer he came +to the castle, the more frightened he grew.</p> + +<p>In the castle there was a fire on the hearth, and +Halvor went into the kitchen, which was beautiful. +The kitchenware was all of silver and gold; but there +were no human beings to be seen. After Halvor had +waited a while, and no one came out, he went and +opened a door. There he saw a princess sitting and +spinning. “Alas, no!” cried she. “Has a Christian +soul really come here! But it would be best for +you to go again, if you do not want the troll to swallow +you; for a troll with three heads lives here.”</p> + +<p>“And though he had four, I should like to see +him,” said the youth. “And I am not going away, +for I have done no wrong. But you must give me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +something to eat, for I am terribly hungry.” When +Halvor had eaten his fill, the princess told him to try +and see whether he could swing the sword that hung +on the wall. But he could not swing it, nor even +raise it. “Well,” said the princess, “you must take +a swallow from the bottle that hangs beside it, for +that is what the troll does when he wants to use the +sword.” Halvor took the swallow, and then could +swing the sword at once as though it were nothing at +all. Now, thought he, the troll could just come along +any time. And sure enough, he did come along, +roaring. Halvor placed himself behind the door. +“Hu! it smells like Christian blood here!” said +the troll, and poked his head in through the door. +“Yes, you shall find out it is here and at once,” cried +Halvor, and hewed off all his heads. The princess +was filled with joy at her deliverance, and danced +and sang. But then she happened to think of her +sisters, and said: “If only my sisters could also be +delivered!” “Where are they?” asked Halvor. So +she told him that one of them had been carried off +by a troll to a castle six miles further away, and +the other to a castle that lay nine miles away from +the other.</p> + +<p>“But now,” said she, “you must first help me get +this body out.” Halvor was very strong, so he +quickly cleared everything out, cleaned up, and put +all in order. Then they ate, and the following morning +he started off at dawn. He did not rest for a +moment, but wandered all day long. When he spied +the castle, he once more felt a little afraid; it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +even handsomer than the other one; but here, too, +there was not a human being to be seen. Then Halvor +went into the kitchen, yet did not stop at all, but +stepped right into the next room. “No, it cannot be +possible that a Christian should venture here!” cried +the princess. “I do not know how long I have been +here; but during all that time I have not seen a single +Christian soul. It would probably be best if you went +away quickly; for a troll with six heads lives here.” +“No, I am not going,” said Halvor, “not even if +he had six heads more.” “He will seize you and +swallow you alive!” said the princess. But that +made no difference, Halvor would not go, and he did +not fear the troll. But he would have to eat and +drink, for he was hungry and thirsty after his long +tramp. He had as much as he wanted; and then the +princess wanted to send him away again. “No,” +cried Halvor, “I am not going. I have done no +wrong, and need not fear any one.”</p> + +<p>“That will not worry the troll,” said the princess. +“He will seize you without any questions +asked. Yet, if you positively will not go, why, try +and see whether you can swing the sword that the +troll uses in war.” He could not swing it; but then +the princess told him to take a swallow from the +bottle that hung beside it, and when he had done so +he could swing the sword. Suddenly the troll came, +and he was so large and so fat that he had to move +sideways in order to get through the door. When +he had thrust in his first head, he cried: “Huhu! I +smell the blood of a Christian!” And that very moment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +Halvor hewed off his first head, and then all +the rest. The princess was pleased beyond measure; +but then she happened to think of her sisters, +and she wished that they also might be delivered. +Halvor thought this might be done, and wanted to +start out at once. But first he had to help the princess +get the dead troll out of the way and then, the +following morning, he set out. It was a long way to +the castle, and he hurried and ran in order to get +there in good time. Toward evening he spied the +castle, and it was much handsomer than both the +others. This time he felt hardly any fear at all; but +went through the kitchen and right on in. There +sat a princess who was extraordinarily beautiful. +Like the others, she said that no Christian soul had +ever come to the castle since she had been there, and +told him to go away again, as otherwise the troll +would swallow him alive, for he had nine heads. +“And though he had nine more, and nine on top of +those, I will not go,” said Halvor, and stood by the +stove. The princess earnestly begged him to go, so +that the troll would not devour him, but Halvor said: +“Let him come whenever he wishes!” Then she +gave him the troll sword, and told him to take a +swallow from the bottle, so that he could swing it.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the troll came roaring along. He was +even larger and more powerful than both the others, +and he also had to squeeze himself in at the door +sideways. “Hu! I smell the blood of a Christian!” +That very moment Halvor hewed off his first head, +and then all of the others; but the last clung to life<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +most toughly, and it cost Halvor a good deal of +trouble to cut it off, though he found himself so very +strong.</p> + +<p>Now all the princesses met at the castle, and were +happy as they never had been before, in all their +lives, and they fell in love with Halvor and he with +them, and he was to choose the one whom he loved +best; but it was the youngest who loved him the +most of all. Yet Halvor acted strangely, and grew +quite silent and uncommunicative; so the princess +asked him what he was longing for, and whether he +did not enjoy being with them. Yes, he enjoyed it +very much, for they had enough to live on, and he +was well enough off, but yet he was homesick, for his +parents were still living, and he would like to see +them again. That could easily be arranged, said the +princess. “You shall go and return without harm, +if you will follow our advice.” Indeed, and he would +surely do nothing against their wishes, said Halvor. +Then they dressed him up until he looked as handsome +as a king’s son, and put a ring on his finger +that made it possible for the one wearing it to wish +himself away, and back again. But he must not +throw the ring away, and he must not mention their +names, said the princesses, otherwise its power +would be gone, all their joy would come to an end, +and he would never see them again.</p> + +<p>“I wish I might be back at the house at home!” +said Halvor, and his wish was at once realized, and +he was standing in front of his parents’ house before +he knew it. It was dusk, and when the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +folk saw such a handsome, well-dressed stranger +coming, it embarrassed them so that it seemed as +though their bowing and scraping would never end. +Halvor now asked them whether they could not give +him a night’s lodging. “No, they really could not +do so, for they were quite unprepared for it,” said +they, “and we are lacking one thing, and another, +which such a distinguished gentleman would wish to +have. It would be best if the gentleman went up to +the castle, whose chimney he can see from here, +where the folk are well prepared.” “No,” said +Halvor, “I’ll not go there until to-morrow morning. +And now let me stay here overnight. I will be content +to sit by the hearth.” The old folk could make +no objection to this, and so Halvor sat down by the +hearth, and began to dig in the ashes, as he used +to when he was the lazybones at home. Then they +chatted about all sorts of matters, and told Halvor +about one thing and another, and finally he asked +them whether they had no children. Yes, they had +a son; but did not know whither he had wandered, +or even whether he were still alive, or already dead.</p> + +<p>“Could I not be this Halvor?” said Halvor.</p> + +<p>“No, I am quite sure you could not,” said the +woman, starting up. “Halvor was so slow and lazy, +and never wanted to do anything, and beside, he +was so tattered that one rag got in the way of the +other. He could never have turned into so fine a +looking gentleman as yourself.”</p> + +<p>After a time the woman had to go to the hearth, +and rake the fire, and as the firelight fell on Halvor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +just as it used to when he dug in the ashes, she +recognized him.</p> + +<p>“No, can it really be you, Halvor?” she cried, and +then the two old folk were happy beyond all power +of words, and Halvor had to tell all that had happened +to him, while his mother was so pleased with +him, that she wanted to take him up to the castle +at once, and show him to the girls who had always +been so proud, and had turned up their noses at her +son. So she went first and Halvor followed. When +they came up, she told how Halvor had come back, +and that they ought to see how fine he looked, just +like a prince, said she. “We can imagine that,” +said the girls, and tossed their heads. “He is probably +the same ragged fellow that he used to be.” At +that moment Halvor stepped in, and then the girls +were so embarrassed that they ran out of the house +without their caps. And when they came in again, +they were so ashamed that they did not venture to +look at Halvor, whom they had always treated with +such scorn and contempt. “Well, you always acted +as though you were so fine and handsome that no +one on earth could compare with you. But you +ought to see the oldest princess, whom I delivered,” +said Halvor. “Compared to her you look like dairy-maids, +and the middle princess is still handsomer; +while the youngest princess, who is my sweetheart, +is more beautiful than the sun and moon. Would to +God she were here, so that you might see her!” said +Halvor.</p> + +<p>No sooner had he finished speaking than there they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +stood; but then he was very much upset, for now he +remembered what they had told him.</p> + +<p>At the castle they gave a great feast in honor of +the princesses, and made a great deal of them. +But they would not stay. “We want to go to your +parents,” they said to Halvor, “and then we want +to go out and look around.” He went with them, and +they came to a big sheet of water beyond the court-yard. +Close beside it was a fair green hill, and there +the princesses decided to sit and rest a while, “for it +was so pleasant to look out over the water,” said +they. They sat down, and after they had rested a +while, the youngest princess said: “Let me stroke +your hair a little, Halvor!” Halvor laid his head +in her lap, and she stroked his hair, and before +very long Halvor fell asleep. Then she drew the +ring from his finger, and gave him another in place +of it, and said: “All hold on to me—I wish we were +in Soria-Moria Castle!”</p> + +<p>When Halvor woke up he saw very well that he +had lost the princesses, and began to weep and wail, +and was so beside himself with despair that no one +could comfort him. And no matter how hard his +parents begged him, he would not stay at home, but +bade them farewell, and said that he would probably +never see them again, for if he did not find his princesses, +then it would not be worth his while to go on +living.</p> + +<p>He still had three hundred dollars, and these he +put in his pocket and started out. After he had gone +a while he met a man with a nice-looking horse. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +decided to buy it, and began to talk with the man. +“It is true I did not intend to sell the horse,” said +the man, “but perhaps we can come to an understanding.” +Halvor asked him what he wanted for +it. “I did not pay much for it, nor is it worth very +much: it is a good saddle horse, but as a draft horse +it does not amount to much. Yet it could carry you +and your knapsack without difficulty, if you were to +walk a bit from time to time,” said the man. At last +they agreed on the price, and Halvor slung his knapsack +across the horse, and from time to time he +walked, and then he rode again. Toward evening he +came to a green hill on which stood a large tree, beneath +which he seated himself. He turned the horse +loose, yet did not lie down to sleep, but took out his +knapsack instead. When day came he wandered on +again, for it seemed to him as though there were no +place in which he could rest. He walked and rode +all day long through a great forest, in which were +many green clearings, that shimmered cheerfully +among the trees. He did not know where he was, +nor did he know whither he was going; but he allowed +himself no more time to rest than his horse +needed to feed in one of the green clearings, and +himself to eat from his knapsack. He walked and +rode, on and on, and thought the forest would never +end.</p> + +<p>But on the evening of the following day he saw +something gleaming among the trees. “If the people +there are still up, I could warm myself a little, and +get something to eat!” thought Halvor. When he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +got there it was a wretched little hut, and through +the window he saw an old couple sitting in it, as +ancient and gray-headed as doves, and the woman +had so long a nose that she used it at the hearth +for a poker. “Good evening! Good evening!” said +the old woman. “But what are you doing here? No +Christian soul has come this way for the past hundred +years.” Halvor told her he was looking for +Soria-Moria Castle, and asked whether she knew +the way to it. “No,” was the woman’s answer, “I +do not know, but here comes the moon, I will ask +him. He ought to know, for he shines on everything.” +And then, when the moon rose bright and +clear above the tree-tops, the woman went out. +“You moon, you moon,” she cried, “can you tell me +the way to Soria-Moria Castle?” “No,” said the +moon, “I cannot do that, because when I was shining +there, a cloud lay in my way.”</p> + +<p>“Just wait a little while,” said the old woman to +Halvor. “The West Wind will be right along, and +he is sure to know, for he sweeps and blows about +in every corner. Well, I declare, you have a horse, +too!” said the old woman when she came in again. +“Now don’t let the poor beast stand by the door +there and starve to death; but take it out to the pasture +instead. Or would you like to change with me? +We have a pair of old boots, that carry you twelve +miles further with every step. I will give them to +you in exchange for the horse, and then you will +reach Soria-Moria Castle more quickly.” Halvor at +once agreed, and the old woman was so pleased with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +the horse, that she almost started dancing then and +there. “For now I can ride to church, too,” said +she.</p> + +<p>Halvor was very restless, and wanted to go right +on again, but the woman said there was no need to +hurry. “Lie down on the bench by the stove, and +take a nap, for we have no bed for you,” said she. +“I will watch for the West Wind’s coming.”</p> + +<p>All of a sudden the West Wind came rushing along +so that the walls creaked. The woman ran out: “You +West Wind! You West Wind! Can you tell me the +way to Soria-Moria Castle? There is a fellow here +who wants to know.” “Yes, indeed,” said the West +Wind, “I have to go to that very place, and dry the +wash for the wedding soon to be held. If he is quick +afoot, he may come along with me.” Halvor ran +out. “You must hurry if you are going with me,” +said the West Wind; and at once he was up and off +over hill and dale, land and sea, so that Halvor +could hardly keep up with him. “Now I have no +more time to keep you company,” said the West +Wind, “because I have first to tear down a stretch +of pine forest, before I come to the bleaching-field +and dry the wash. But if you keep going along the +hills, you will meet some girls standing there and +washing, and then you will not be far from Soria-Moria +Castle.”</p> + +<p>After a time Halvor came to the girls who were +washing, and they asked him whether he had seen +anything of the West Wind, who was to come and +dry the clothes for the wedding. “Yes,” said Halvor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +“He is only tearing down a stretch of pine +forest, and will soon be here,” and then he asked the +way to Soria-Moria Castle. They showed it to him, +and when he reached the castle it was fairly alive +with men and horses. But Halvor was so tattered +and torn because he had followed the West Wind +over stick and stone, and through thick and thin, that +he kept to one side, and could not come forward until +the last day of the feast. Then all the folk, as was +the custom, had to drink the health of the bride and +groom, and the cupbearer had to pledge all of them +in turn, knights and serving-men. So at length they +came to Halvor. Halvor drank the health, and then +let the ring which the princess had put on his finger +when he lay by the water fall into the glass, and told +the cupbearer to greet the bride, and bring her the +ring. And the princess at once rose from the table. +“Who do you think has first claim to the hand of +one of us,” she asked, “the man who delivered us, +or the one who now sits here in the bridegroom’s +place?” There was only one opinion as to that, and +when Halvor heard it, he did not delay, but cast off +his rags and dressed himself as a bridegroom. +“Yes, he is the right one!” cried the youngest princess +when she caught sight of him, and she drove the +other one away, and celebrated her wedding with +Halvor.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>The “Soria-Moria Castle” (Asbjörnsen and Moe, N.F.E., No. 27, +p. 115) occurs in Ibsen’s Per Gynt as a fabled fairy-palace. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +hero cannot hold his tongue at the right time, and as a result loses +the princess for whom he had so strenuously fought. The recognition +of Halvor by his mother by the flickering light of the hearth-fire, +in whose ashes Halvor was always digging when a boy, is +touchingly told.</p> +</div> +<hr class="l1" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span></p> + + +<h2>XXXVII<br /> +<br /> +<span class="f8">THE PLAYER ON THE JEW’S-HARP</span></h2> + + +<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Some</span> two or three generations ago, a three-year-old +ox, belonging to some people who lived in +an alpine meadow in Westfjall, disappeared. And +look for him as they would, they could not find him, +and in the fall they moved down into the valley +again. But while the grandmother was skimming +the cream from the milk-pans in the lean-to the day +before their departure, and the oldest maid in the +hut was scooping the cheese out of the big kettle, +a little shepherd girl came running up, and called +out that the big ox was standing at the salt-lick, and +licking the salt. When the mother stepped out for a +moment, she saw nothing that looked at all like an +ox. So she thought the little girl had probably been +mistaken; but the little one insisted that the big ox +had been there.</p> + +<p>“I saw the white spot he had on his forehead, and +he had broken off one of his horns,” said she. The +man himself and his two sons were each out searching +in a different direction, and they searched and +searched; but all three came back at evening, and +none of them had found anything. When they heard +the little girl’s story, one of the sons flung himself +on his horse, and rode home at full gallop, in order +to fetch his gun; loaded it with small splinters from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +a steel arrow, hurried back posthaste, and shot it +off cross-wise over the salt-lick. “If the ox is bewitched, +he ought to appear now,” said he. But it +was of no use, the ox was gone and he stayed gone.</p> + +<p>The oldest son was to go up on the hill once more, +and take a good look all around. And he searched +in every direction, far and near, until he thought he +could smell the ox; yet in spite of this, he could see +no sign of a living being anywhere, all day long. +Finally he grew angry, and swore that for his part, +the bewitched beast might go to the end of the world; +if he did not want to join the rest of the herd, he +could please himself. With that he turned around, +and went to the herdsman’s hut as fast as he could, +meaning to take home with him the bear he had shot.</p> + +<p>And there, at the fence of the herdsman’s hut, +stood the great ox licking salt. And one of his +horns had been broken off. Where he had been +knocking about so long he himself probably knew, +the young fellow did not.</p> + +<p>But now day was so nearly over that he could +just about reach home if he went as he was, and +hurried as fast as he could. But if he had to lead +and pull along the ox besides, it would have been +pitch-dark before he had fairly started. And let me +tell you, the fall nights are really dark, and cold besides, +and it is not wise to camp under the open sky +in the mountains. For this reason he decided to wait +until morning, though a night at the herdsman’s hut +would be bleak and lonely. So he chopped a good +armful of birch-boughs, laid them on the hearth, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +soon the hut grew warm and comfortable, and as +bright as a room lit with Christmas candles. When +he had eaten his supper, he threw himself down on +the bed of planks, pulled his jew’s-harp out of his +waistcoat pocket, and began to play the “Bells of +St. Thomas” round. But he had not been playing +long before he fell asleep, with the instrument in +his mouth. Suddenly he woke again, and it seemed +to him that he could hear something rustling softly +at the other end of the hut. He turned his head +slightly, and saw a beautiful young girl standing by +the table, braiding her hair. It was so long that +it fell down over her hips, and as lovely and shiny +as though it had been gilded. At first the young fellow +could not see her face, but once, when she happened +to turn in his direction, it seemed to him that +she was the fairest and finest-looking maiden he had +ever laid eyes on. Her like could not have been +found far or near, and he knew every girl in the +parish, well-to-do or otherwise. The young fellow +did not dare address her, for she thought herself +alone, and looked so dear and trustful that he +dreaded frightening her away. So he lay there as +still as a mouse, and did not venture to move so +much as a foot.</p> + +<p>Suddenly in came another girl; but she appeared +to be coarser, and had a large mouth and dark complexion, +not as clear and fresh as that of the first +girl; and she did not please him as well. Both were +dressed alike, in green jackets and bodices of red +satin, blue stockings, and with bright silver buckles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +on their shoes. The younger maiden had white +sleeves, that were so fresh and clean they fairly +shone. Her bodice was cut low, and showed a handsome +round clasp, which tinkled delicately whenever +the maiden made the slightest move. And now the +young fellow realized what sort of maidens these +were, and could not get over his astonishment that +there were such beautiful women among the underground +folk. It was Saturday evening, and this was +probably the reason they were dressing and adorning +themselves so busily: no doubt they were expecting +company or suitors. The young fellow could not +make out what they said to each other, for they +whispered so softly that he only caught a word now +and then. Once they spoke of a little white lamb +that had gone lame that day.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is the fault of that young fellow who has +been rushing around in all the empty huts among +the hills, looking for his fire-red ox. I saw him +throw a stone at the little lamb,” said the older +girl, the one with the large mouth and dark skin. +“He really should be punished for that!” said she.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but he never knew it was a lamb,” replied +the younger one, the beauty with the red cheeks. +“And it was not right of grandmother to hide his ox, +and make him hunt for it far and near.”</p> + +<p>“He might have taken his ox, for it was standing +just beside the hut, and he ran right past it,” said +the other girl.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but you know he took it to be a rat,” the +younger one answered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span></p> + +<p>“O, how stupid those people are,” said the older +one again, and laughed until she shook. “They pretend +to be wiser than wise, and cannot even tell a +fire-red ox from a rat! Ha, ha, ha!” and she +laughed so heartily that her sister was also carried +away, and the young fellow himself could not help +but smile a bit.</p> + +<p>After a time he began to play a boisterous dance-tune. +And what a fright it gave the girls! They +screamed, ran off helter-skelter in their terror, and +were gone in a flash. But the young fellow kept +on playing. After a little while one of them thrust +in her head at the door, and when they saw what had +frightened them so, they began to whisper and giggle +outside, in front of the hut. And after a time they +ventured in again, and began to dance to the music. +And those girls could really swing around and use +their legs. They almost flew over the uneven floor, +and were so sure of the time that every step they +took was in place.</p> + +<p>When they had danced a while, and the young +fellow had made their acquaintance—or thought that +he had—he unclasped his belt, and passing it around +the handsomer of the two, drew her to him. And +she allowed him to do so. This angered the young +fellow, for he would not have believed that so dainty +and lovely a girl would have allowed him to act so +familiarly on such short acquaintance. And as +though by chance, he let go one end of his belt and +swish!—off she was. Her sister ran after her, and +slammed the door behind her.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now the young fellow was angry with himself because +he had been angry with her. But he thought +he was probably not worthy of obtaining the hand +of so fair and loveable a maiden, for there is an old +saw to the effect that none may escape their fate. +Finally he thought that perhaps he could coax her +back again with his music, and he played one tune +after another, the most beautiful ones he knew. +But the <i lang="no" xml:lang="no">huldra</i> maidens did not appear again. At +last his hands and mouth grew so tired that he had +to stop. And then he happened to think of “The +Blue Melody,” which a minstrel from his part of the +country had learned in ancient times from the underground +folk. No sooner had he commenced it than +both girls came sweeping in once more.</p> + +<p>“You play beautifully, you do!” said the younger.</p> + +<p>“One has to play beautifully when one has such +beautiful listeners,” returned the young fellow.</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s what the cat said when she caught a +mouse,” laughed the maiden.</p> + +<p>“Come here, and I will teach you ‘The Blue Melody’!” +said he. So they came to him, and watched +while he played. After a time the younger one +put her hand in his waistcoat pocket.</p> + +<p>“And what is that, is it liquorice?” she asked, as +she pulled out a roll of tobacco.</p> + +<p>“Yes, try it!” the young fellow answered. She +bit off a little piece, but spat it right out on the +floor again.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is liquorice that bites,” said she, and she +wiped her tongue on her sleeve.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span></p> + +<p>“Is it really so biting?” asked the other one, and +also wanted to try it. So the young fellow gave her +some as well, and she had the same experience. They +never wanted to taste such liquorice again in their +lives, so they assured him.</p> + +<p>“Well, I can tell you how to get good liquorice,” +said the one. “You must boil the root of a plant +called merilian, and you must pour the water into +juniper-berry juice, and then you will have a +liquorice that is so sweet and good that it will even +cure a toothache.” The young fellow said he would +try it, some time, when he had found the plant.</p> + +<p>Toward evening the girls wanted to leave. Yet +that drove him to despair, and he begged them to +stay for a little while. But the girls simply would +not. Their mother would not allow it, said they. +When the young fellow saw that they were really +going, he went quite out of his mind. He had +grown so very fond of the younger <i lang="no" xml:lang="no">huldra</i> maiden, +and now he was never to see her again. Without +knowing what he did, he threw the jew’s-harp at her, +and hit her on the head, just as she was passing +through the door. And with that she came in again.</p> + +<p>“Mother, mother! A Christian has won sister +Sireld!” cried the other, out in front of the hut. +Soon after a very ancient woman came hobbling and +shuffling into the hut. Her face was so wrinkled and +dark that her yellow teeth shone out from it, for +teeth she had, in spite of her age. “Now you may +keep her, since you have won her, for now she is +no longer bewitched,” said the old woman to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> +young fellow. “And if you are kind to her, you shall +never lack food or clothing, and you shall have all +that you need, both Sundays and workdays. But if +you treat her unkindly, you shall pay for it!” said +the old woman, and raised her cane as though she +were about to use it on the young fellow. Then she +hobbled out again.</p> + +<p>It seemed to him that he had won a wife very +quickly, after all, in this manner, and he asked her +how it all came to be.</p> + +<p>“The jew’s-harp struck my head with such force, +that a drop of blood flowed,” said the girl, “and it +was the best thing you could have done, for I would +much rather live with Christians than with the underground +folk,” said she.</p> + +<p>He still thought the world and all of her, and yet +it seemed to him as though he could have done nothing +worse: all had happened so quickly, and he had +nothing on which to marry; but after all, what was +done was done. The following morning she went +home with him. His family were much surprised to +see him come back in such company, and were angry +with him, and looked for excuses to find fault with +the girl: but there was nothing to object to about +her, except that she had yellow teeth, and after all, +this was no such great matter. In her dealings with +others she was uncommonly amiable, and there was +not a girl that went to church who could equal her +in beauty.</p> + +<p>But after the wedding he gradually began to ill-treat +her. For you must know that he could never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +forget she was not a Christian. He sulked, and +was always angry and ill-natured, and never gave +her a kind word. And he refused to grant her least +request. Though it might be the merest trifle, he +never had more than a short “No” for anything she +asked. And in spite of this she was kind and +friendly, and acted as though she did not hear his +angry words, and was always helpful and amiable. +But it made no difference, he grew worse from day +to day. And they began to go downhill, for strife +in the home drives luck away. At last it seemed +as though they would have to take the beggar’s bowl +and staff, and wander from one farm-stead to another +like any other beggars.</p> + +<p>One day she did not know what to give the people +to eat, for there was not even a crust of bread in +the house. And then she grew sad, for all might +have been different for them had he but treated her +better. He was standing in the smithy at the moment, +about to shoe a horse, and she went out to +him.</p> + +<p>“Won’t you build me the pen now, the one I have +so often, often asked you for?” she begged. “Do +it now, and I will shoe the horse!” And she tore +the red-hot horse-shoe from the anvil, and bent it +in shape with her bare hands. When he saw that +she was mistress of such arts, he grew frightened, +and actually built her a fine, big pen back of the +stable, set in a post, and drove a hook into it, just +as she had said. The following morning the pen +filled with fire-red cattle, big, fat, handsome beasts,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +that gave a great deal of milk. Such fine cows had +never been seen anywhere. And on the hook hung +a copper milk-pail, and a pair of horns of salt, with +a silver ring from which to hang them. And now +it was not long, as you may imagine, before they +were more than prosperous at the farm-stead again.</p> + +<p>For a time everything went well. He let her work +and command in the house, and she had unfailing +luck in all she undertook, so that wealth flowed in to +them from every side. But at length he once more +began to ill-treat her. Wherever he went he remembered +that she was no Christian, no matter how +kind, and amiable and obedient she might be, and +just like any one else, save that she was far, far +handsomer. Once he reached down the poker from +the wall, and was about to beat her. She jumped up +and begged him insistently not to touch her: “For +else both of us will be unhappy!” But he would +not listen to her, and beat her about the head, until +the blood ran over the poker and fell on his hand. +And then she suddenly disappeared from his sight. +It seemed as though she had floated through the wall, +or sunk into the ground. He saw nothing, but he +heard a woman sob and weep, very quietly and +softly, and painfully, and with a deadly sadness. +After a little while all was silent—and then he heard +no more. He searched day in, day out, here and +there, hither and yon, and his neighbors, too, went +along and helped him search; but to no avail, for +he did not find her, and could not even discover a +trace of her. When he was in the hill pastures during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +the summer, and the rest of the folk were up +there as well, and even after they had gone, he +would sit night after night, and play “The Blue +Melody”; yet he never saw her again, nor any of +her folk.</p> + +<p>In the summer his little girl was old enough to +begin going to school. And one day she said to her +father, when he came up to the hills: “I am to bring +you a kind greeting from mother!”</p> + +<p>“Ah, no, my little girl, is that really the truth? +Where did you speak to her?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“She and two others came here the day that Guro +fetched the sheep, and since then she often comes +here,” answered the little one, “and they gave me +their clasps, too,” said she, and showed him three +handsome round clasps.</p> + +<p>“Won’t she come back home to us?” he asked, as +well you may imagine.</p> + +<p>“She said that she really could not do that, and +that she had to protect you continually against folk +who wanted to harm you!” said the little one.</p> + +<p>Sadness had been his portion before this, and now +it did not grow any less. And it was a blessing that +before many years had passed the earth closed over +him.</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">NOTE</p> + +<p>Touching in its simplicity, and characteristically local is this final +fairy-tale of “The Player on the Jew’s-Harp” (Bergh, p. 38). In +its cheerful beginning, and toward its sad close sounds the magic +music of “The Blue Melody,” which some one caught from the underground +folk in ancient times. From primal days folk-lore has glorified<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +the irresistible power of music as magic of supernatural origin. +Horand in the “Hegeling Saga” is credited with having learned this +melody on the wild wave, from a water-spirit; and the legend that +his compelling art was a gift of the underground folk was even +current of the Norwegian fiddler Ole Bull (1880).</p> +</div> + +<div class="tnote"> +<p class="center">Transcriber’s notes</p> + +<p>The illustrations have been moved slightly for reader convenience. A +few obvious printer’s errors have been corrected. Otherwise the original +text has been preserved, including inconsistent spelling and +hyphenation.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Norwegian Fairy Book, by Clara Stroebe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NORWEGIAN FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 38070-h.htm or 38070-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/0/7/38070/ + +Produced by David Edwards, eagkw and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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