Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1884-12-23

| asked was whether u could grind salt
sGrind ealtf7 said the owner, z should just
think 20; and anything else you like. I"
Thereupon, SO anxious was he 20 buy the
quern that he promised to pay untold wealth
for it. Secured Of his prize he put to sea,
and when so far or that no one could reach
him, he said 10 the quern, "Grind salt and
| grind both fast and good" No sooner had
he spoken than the quern forthwith began
grinding salt, which, IN an amazing short
time, arose in heaps on the deck and threat
encd to sink his vessel Alarmed
at the rapidity with which the quern
kept grinding, ne entreatei IL. on
his knees, to leave off; but still Il went on,
and. before many minutes the vessel sank be
N ath the weight of salt. But the quern,
still beneath the water, keeps grinding, and
hence the sadness Of the sea.
These tales, in which the witch element
| figures strongly, still exist in our own coun.
try Thus, in the Isle Of Man, it is related
how a fiddler, having agreed with a stranger
10 play during the twelve days OF Christmas
20 whatever company he should bring him,
was astonished at seeing his new master
vanish into the earth as soon as the bargain
had been made. Terrified at the thought Of
having agreed 10 work for 80 mysterious a
parsonage, he quickly resorted TO the clergy
man, who advised him to fuf1ll his engage
ment and to play nothing bat psalms. Ac
cordingly, as soon as Cnristmas-tide arrived
the weird stranger made his appear
ance, and beckoned the fiddler TO
spot where the company were as
sembled. On reaching his destination
he at once struck up psalm tune,
which so enraged his audience that they in
stantly vanished, but not without so VIC
lently bruising him that 10 was with some
difficulty he succeeding in reaching home
and narrating his Christmas experience 30
the family as they were gathered round the
fireside
In Germany, Christmas Eve is the season
Of all others when fairies are supposed to lie
most active, keeping their festival on the
mountain tops. Then, we are told, the rough
stone is transformed into brilliant crystal
veins Of gold starting out artisticany into
magic pillars-beneath which graceful can
opy Teasing and dancing are kept up With
protFncted cathusiasm- The attendants on
these fairy-gatherings are generally beauti-
full Swedish girls, who have unwarily par.
taken OF the contents Of the golden goblstz
offered 70 them by the fairies, and thus in
stantly fallen into their power. Accord
ing to the legendary lore found in
most parts Of Germany, the magic effect
Of these fairy potions is thres-fold; AT ths
first draught from that horn he who drinks
forgets Heaven; at the second he forgets
earth; at the third he forgets his betrothed
bride"
Hence, ON Christmas Eve persons are rec
commended TO stay at home, because tho
FAIRIES on this night delight 20 wsylay the
lonely traveller. compelling him to take 9
draught Of Christmas cheer from their en-
chauted goblet.
Among the large class Of foik-tales con.
nected with this superstition, may be quoted
one which tells how, when a Christmas
feast was being given in q German village,
| one Of the guests, attracted by the sound OF
music from without, was induced 10 leave
the festive scene indoors, and to wander to-
ward the spot where the music seemed e
come. He had. however, not gone many
steps when be was met by two beautiful
girls, who asked him 20 join their Christmas
gambols in a Deighboring field, which, afteru
little persuasion, be consented 10 do. ca
arriving at the fairies gathering, for such u
was, be was surrounded by numherless little
beings all anxious 70 welcome him; ose Of
whom handed him a cup Of wine, after drink
ing which he forgot his former state, and
thought Of nothing except the feasting and
dancing Of the fairies. When he had been
enjoying himself in this manner for some
time the fairies reminded him Of his own
home; but what was his astonishment when,
on passing through the village TO find every
thing in decay, and all his relations and
friends dead, for the spell of the fairies cup
on him had lasted 100 years ...
One German version of the we'll known
legend Of the man in the moon connects this
wretched individuals solitary Imprisonment
in that isolated region with his having stolen
cabbages from his neighbor's garden on
Christmas Eve. When just in ths act Of
escaping with his load he was perceived
by some passers-by, who. there and then,
conjured him up into the moon. Thera
he stands, in the full light OF the moon TO DO
seen by everybody, having his stolen load Of
cabbages on his back for all eternity. He
only has minutes change one day in the
year, when he is sold to turn round once on
Christmas Eve.
Again, the Wild HuntsmRn Is said in Ger.
many 20 make nightly excursions through
the air fer the twelve nights Of Christmas,
alarming all who hear him by his furious
progress He generally rides upon a large
white horse, no less than four and twenty
fierce dogs following him. According % a
tale quoted by Mr. Thorpe. in his Northern
VI laANlDENt III every lAdNG ALl blibh WHICH
he passes tho hedges fall with crash, the
road opening Of its own accord before him.
He rides with such speed that his dogs often
fail 10 keep space with him, and frequently
may be heard painting and bowling. Oc'
casionally one is left behind, as hap
| pened one year at Wulfsdorf, where
| il remained painting, bowling without inter
mission unit! the following Christmas Eve
when the Wild Huntsman again took it with
I him. Hence various precautions were for.
merly taken to prevent the Wild Huntsman
approaching any particular stree.
| Il is also considered dangerous to spin at
| Christmas time, or the Wild Huntsman will
| gallop through. On one occasion a woman
refused to take lie usual warning, and had
no sooner sat dowli TO spin on Christmas Eve
than she fell into deep sleep, and was only
| awakened by the entrance Of a stranger,
who. without any apology for intruding,
| asked for her SHINING wheel aud commenced
! spinning. Before long he used up all the fax
she had, and on his asking for more, she was
! obliged 10 give him her supply of wool Still,
! however, he kept on calling for more, ami
| his angry demands 50 frightened and terri
! Del the poor woman that, although
! 70 was but in tho morning, she
iUuS9d up her neighbor-a cunning old crons
and acquainted Eer with the strangers
mysterious conquest Happily she quickly
pprceiycd tie nnturc 81 the visitor and hence