The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-20
THE DAILY STAR
THE QUEEN OF THE
ELVES.

IN her speech.
Every thing about the place flourished
exceedingly, but thefarmer always found
the greatest difficulty in hiring
herdsman, from the fact that
any man who entered his
service without fail was found dead in his
bed on the morning of Christmas Day.
No wonder, therefore, the farmer found
herdsmen scarce.
In those times it was the custom of the
country to spend the night of Christmas
eve at church.
But SO far was this farm from the
church, that the herdsmen, who did not
return from their hocks till late in the
evening" were unable to 60 to it on that
night until long after the usual time; and
as for Hildur, she always remained be-
hind to take care of the house, and always
had so much to do in the way of cleaning
the rooms and dealing out the rations for
the servants, that the family used to
come home from the church and get to
bed long before she had finished her
work.
At length the farmer determined to let
the sheep take care of themselves.
Not long after he had made this bold
determination, a bold and hardy-looking
man came and made him an offer of his
services The farmer said:
81 suppose you know what has hither-
to befallen every one have hired%
81 have heard it," said the other: but
fear shall neither trouble me nor prevent
my keeping your sheep this winter for
you, if you take me"
But the farmer would not hear of it at
first.
"For," said he, 1T isa pity, indeed,
that so fine fellow as you should lose
your chance of life. Begone if you are
wise, and get work elsewhere" Yet still
the man insisted.
At length the farmer consented to take
him, and very we'll they agreed together.
On Christmas eve all went to church ex-
cept Hildur and the herdsman. Late in
the evening the latter returned, and hav-
ing eaten his supper, went to bed, but
Thought it would be best to lie awake,
and thus be ready for an accident.
Quite late at night he heard the farmer
and his family, returning from church,
enter the house, and having taken sup
per, 60 to bed. Shortly after, some one
crept stca(thily up to his bed, and he rec
ognized Hildur the housekeeper.
So he feigned to be asleep, and felt her
place IN his mouth the bit of magic
bride, but yet allowed her to fix it on
rim. When she had fastened the bride,
she dragged him out of the farmhouse
without his being able to resist.
Then mounting on his back, she made
him rise from the ground as if on wings,
and rode him through the air, till they
arrived at plecipice, which yawned
down into the earth.
She dismounted at large stone, and
fastening the reins to it, leaped into the
precipice. But the herdsman, thinking
that it would be no bad thing to know
what became of the woman tried to es-
cape from the stone; but, failing in this,
he managed after a short struggle to get
the bride off his head, and having so
done, leapt into the precipice, down
which he had seen Hildur disappear.
After sinking for long, long time, he
caught a glimpse of Hildur beneath him,
and at last they came to some beautiful
green meadows.
Then he took magic stone which he
always carried, made him invisible when
he held it in his palm, and placing it in
the hollow of his hand, ran after her.
When they had gone some way, great
crowd of people came forth and saluted
Hildur with respect and joy.
Foremost of these walked man of
kindly and noble aspect, whose sautation
seemed to be that of husband; all the
rest bowed to her as if she were their
queen. This man was accompanied by
two children, who ran up to Hildur,
calling her mother, and embraced her.
After the people had welcomed their
queen, they all returned to the palace,
where they dressed her in royal robes
and loaded her hands with costly robes
and bracelets.
The herdsman followed the crowd, and
posted himself where he would be least
in the way of the company, but where he
could catch sight easily of all that passed
aud lose nothing. So gorgeous and daz
zling were the hangings of the hall, and
the silver and golden weddings on the
able, that he thought he had never, il
I'll his life before, seen the like.
After little time, all the guests wert
begged to take their seats, while Hildul
sat on the throne beside the king, and thu
FEAST commenced.
When it was concluded, the guest
amused themselves by dancing, singing
drinking and revel; but the king ant
queen talked together, and seemed yer,
sad.
While they were thus conversins
three children, younger than those tn
man had seen before, ran in, and clun!
round the neck Of their mother. Hildu
received them with all mothers love
and, as the youngest was restless, put i
on the ground, and gave it one of he
rings to play with. After the little on
had played while with the ring, he los
it, and it rolled along the floor towar
tie herdsman, who being invisible pickle
it up and put it in his pocket. Of cours
all search for it by the guests was il