ner had been enticed, and had lived seven long years with the Trollcrone. The young girl helped the youth to perform his tasks, and they promised ever to love each other. One day the Troll said to the youth: "Thou shalt go and cleanse my stable, which has not been cleansed these four and twenty years." The youth was at a loss how to proceed, and was so sad, so sad. At this moment the young maiden came to him, and said: "Do not weep! If thou wilt promise ever to be faithful to me, I will give thee counsel. Mount up on that high stone, and call out :— "All mother's shovellers, come forth! All mother's sweepers, come forth!" The prince did so, when instantly there came forth a countless multitude of Pysslings, and began to shovel up and sweep, and ceased not until the stable was cleansed. When that was done, the Troll said: "Here is a bushel of corn. This thou shalt sow in the field; then thou shalt plough and harrow it, and afterwards gather up every grain again." The youth felt completely bewildered, and was so sad, so sad. At this moment the young maiden came to him, and said: "Do not weep! If thou wilt promise ever to be faithful to me, I will help thee. Mount up on that high stone, and call out : "All mother's sowers, come forth! All mother's ploughers, come forth! The prince did so, when instantly there came forth an innumerable swarm of little, little old men, who began to sow, plough, harrow, and gather, and so great was their number that they fought for every single grain. When the corn was all gathered, the prince carried it into the mount: but the young maiden took away three grains, without any one knowing what she purposed doing with them. Some time after, the Troll-wife said: "I am now going to a wedding. Go, therefore, and fetch my palfrey, on which I rode when I myself went to be married, just four and twenty years since." The prince was now sorely puzzled, for he did not know where to find the Troll's palfrey. At this moment the young maiden appeared before him, and inquired why he was so sad. The prince answered: "The crone has ordered me to go for her palfrey, on which she rode to be married, four and twenty years ago; and I don't know where to find it." The maiden answered: "If thou wilt promise ever to be faithful to me, I will help thee in this, and also in more." The youth made the desired promise. Then said the maiden: "Go first for the bridle, that hangs nearest the door in the stable." The prince did so. The maiden con tinued: "Here is a loaf; when thou comest far, far in the forest, thou must violently shake the bridle, when thou wilt hear a great noise and neighing. Then mount up into the highest tree thou canst see; but when thou art half up the tree, thou must shake the bridle yet more violently, and then hasten up to the very top. The horse will then come running at full speed, and will snort and be very untractable. But thou must throw the loaf on his neck, when he will become tame and docile, so that thou mayst catch him, as mother has ordered." The prince thanked her warmly for this good counsel, and they separated for that time. The prince then went to the forest, having with him the bridle and loaf. When he had proceeded a considerable distance he shook the bridle violently, and climbed up into the highest tree he could see. Instantly he heard a hideous noise and neighing, so that the whole forest resounded. When he had ascended half-way in the tree, he shook the bridle again yet more violently than before, and climbed, as fast as he could, up to the top of the tree. At the same instant he heard a noise, as if the earth were rent, and the horse came running at full speed, so that the trees and shrubs were broken down wherever he came. The horse was large, and as high as the loftiest pine, and gaped so formidably as if he would swallow the prince at a single mouthful. But the youth did not yield to fear, but was instantly ready, and cast the loaf, into his mouth. The animal then became as gentle as a lamb, and patiently waited while the prince put the bridle on him. The youth then vaulted on his back, and rode back to the mount, as the Troll had commanded him. When the Troll saw that the prince returned safe and sound, she was highly displeased, and meditated in what other manner she might deprive him of life. For this purpose she commanded her handmaid to kill the youth and bake him, while she herself was absent at the wedding. The maiden promised to do as she was ordered; but when the crone was gone the girl made three dolls of cloth, placed them, one at the threshhold, one on the hearth, and one by the bed, and commanded them to answer for her. Then she and the youth took all the chattels and gold that were in the mount, and fled. When the Troll-wife returned from the wedding she was very tired, and lay down to sleep, and slept the whole twenty-four hours. When she woke she called to her handmaid: "Dost thou hear, girl? hast thou baked the lad yet?" Then the puppet that was placed at the threshhold answered: "I am just now heating the oven." The crone then turned round, went to sleep again, and slept another twenty-four hours. When she woke she again asked: "Dost thou hear, girl? hast thou baked the lad yet?" The doll that stood on the hearth answered: “I am now just putting him in." The Troll turned round again, went fast to sleep, and slept for another twenty-four hours. When she woke she cried out again: "Dost thou hear, girl? is the boy baked yet?" The doll which stood by the bed answered: "Yes, I am just now taking him out." The Troll-wife then rose, and went to the maiden's chamber; but when she entered she saw no one there, except the three rag-dolls staring at her. The crone was now pretty well aware how matters stood, and was wroth beyond all bounds. She called her men, and ordered them instantly to go in pursuit of the fugitives. Now the king's son and his companion hear a great noise in the air, and the maiden says: "Dost thou hear that noise? Mother has sent all her people after us." She then transformed the prince into a thorn-bush, and herself into a rose growing on it. The men took no notice of the bush and flower, but passed by with all speed. When they returned, the crone said: "Well, have you seen anything?" The men answered: "We saw nothing but a little thorn-bush, with a rose in it, that stood by the wayside." The Troll-wife was sorely displeased at this answer, and said: "Those are just what you should have taken; I must now go in pursuit of them myself." The Troll then set out in chase of the fugitives, and travelled with such speed that the air whined and whistled. The maiden then said to her companion: "Dost thou hear that hideous din? It is mother herself that is out after us." She then changed herself and her lover into two ducks, and they swam across the lake that lay before them. But when the crone approached and saw them on the opposite side, she laid herself down, and drank up the whole lake. At that moment the sun rose, and the young maiden cried out: "See! what a beautiful damsel is running up yonder." When the crone turned round to look, she split in pieces; for, as is well known, Trolls have not the power of looking at the sun*. The prince on his return home, as usual, forgets his bride, and is about to marry a foreign princess. When the wedding-day arrived, the deserted damsel applied for employment as a servant. She had with her a duck and a drake that waddled up and down the festive hall. While the guests were all at table, and all was mirth and glee, the maiden drew forth three grains of corn, and threw them on the floor. Instantly the drake hastened forward and picked up all the three. Thereupon the maiden struck him with her hand, saying: "Out upon thee! that thus castest aside thy mate." When the prince heard these words he recognised his right bride, and remembered all the fidelity and devotion she had shown him, &c. THE ENCHANTED TOAD. From South Småland. THERE was once a peasant, like many others, who had three sons, but his wife had long been dead. When the two elder lads were somewhat grown up they went one day to their father, and prayed him to allow them to go from home, and get themselves wives. The peasant answered: "It is not becoming that you go about seeking for wives before you have tried your luck in the world. I long to know which of you can earn the handsomest cloth to spread over the table on Yule [Christmas] eve. This proposition *See "Northern Mythology," i p. 8, note 3. was very agreeable to the two brothers; and it was, therefore, settled that they should go out in the world, and see which could earn the finest table-cloth. On their departure the peasant gave five shillings to each of them, saying it should be for their subsistence until they could procure themselves some employment. When the two elder sons were on the eve of leaving home, the youngest went to his father, and begged for permission to go and try his fortune. The peasant would not listen to him, but said: "Yes, thou poor little fellow! there are many, forsooth, who will be glad to have thee in their service! It is much better that thou sittest at home in the chimney-corner; that is thy right place." But the boy was urgent, and said: "Father, let me go with them. No one can tell what turns luck may take. It may be that I get on well in the world, though I am little and younger than my brothers." When the old man heard this he thought to himself: "Well, it may be desirable to get rid of him for some time. Here he is of no use, and he will, no doubt, come back before the forest is green again.' So the lad got leave to accompany his brothers, and also received five shillings from his father to subsist on during his travels. The three sons then set out, and travelled the whole day. Towards evening they came to an alehouse by the roadside, in which a number of travellers and other guests were assembled. The two elder brothers sat down, and ate and drank, and gamed, and made merry, while the youngest lad crept into a corner by himself, and would not join the company. When the two brothers had thus got rid of their money, they consulted together how they should continue their course of dissipation. For this object they went to their young brother, and demanded from him his five shillings, telling him he could not do better than return home, and the sooner the better. But the lad refused to give them his money, whereupon the brothers seized and beat him, took his money from him, and drove him out of the alehouse. They then sat down again, and ate and drank as before. But the poor boy fled away in the dark night, not knowing whither to direct his steps. He trod many rugged paths, until he was unable to proceed further Sitting down, therefore, on a little hillock, he wept bitterly, until he fell asleep from weariness. Early in the morning, before the lark had begun his song, the lad awoke and continued his journey. He now wandered over mountains and through deep valleys, heedless in what direction he went, provided only that he could escape from his brothers. After travelling for a long time he came at length to a green path that led to a mansion. This mansion was so spacious, that he thought it could be no other than a royal palace. The lad did not long hesitate, but entered, and came into many fine apartments, one more sumptuous than another; but not a living soul was there. After wandering about for some time out of one hall into another, he came at last to a room yet more splendid than any of the others. Conspicuous in the place of honour there sat a toad, blacker than the blackest pitch, and so loathsome of aspect that the lad could hardly turn his eyes towards her. The toad inquired who he was, and on what errand he came. He answered, as was the truth: "I am a poor peasant boy, and have left home in search of some employment." The toad then said: Thou hast probably an inclination to stay here with me? I am just now in great want of a lad." The boy expressed his willingness, and said that he would gladly serve her. The toad said: "Be welcome, then! If thou art faithful to me, it shall be well for thee." The matter was now settled, and the lad assured her that there should be no lack of devotion on his part, provided only that his mistress did not require of him more than he was able to perform. 66 When all was thus arranged, the lad and the toad went down into the garden that lay around the house, and came to a large bush, of a species that the youth had never before seen The toad then said: "It shall be thy occupation to cut a branch of this bush every day when the sun is in the heavens. Thou shalt do it on Sunday as well as on Monday, on Yule-day as well as on Midsummer-day; but thou must not cut more branches than one." The boy promised to comply with her wishes in all things. The toad then led him up to a chamber, and said: "Here thou shalt henceforward sleep and live. On this table thou wilt always find meat and drink, when thou art disposed to eat. |