Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1884-12-23
CHRISTMAS LEGENDS.
Illustrated London News.l

illustrated London Newsl
Scattered round the Christmas season, we
find in our own and other countries a host OF
amusing old folk tales, most Of which, apart
from their own intrinsic merits, ara valuable
ssfaithfully embodying the superstitious BE-
hefs of our forefathers in connection with
the Yule- tide festival. 1t would seem that,
In days gone by, these f1reside legends were
extensively circulated at Christmas-tide, the
varied incidents they contained acting as 50
many warnings to those who might, mad
vertently or otherwise, he induced TO disre.
gard the Evolutionary notions Of the season.
As the greater part Of these tales are novel
probably TO most readers il may not be in
Opportune TO give some illustrations Of them.
Thus, Norwegian folk-talss often allude to
the merry doings of the ANtso7 at Christ
mas hme-a class of fairies about
the size of small children, and who
were, we are reminded, far more
numerous in the good old times than nova
days Like Shakespeare's Puck, they are
fond OF pranks, and unless the master Of the
house pampeTs them, they are spiteful and
vindictive, and hence it is not surprising
that their good will is deemed worth Sc
curing.
On Christmas Eve, therefore, offerings of
bWetb Sdhts, DCeA anu OJutI utlA-
cacies are provided specially for them; but
care must be taken that this act is performed
with every mark OF respect, otherwise they
will quickly show their displeasure. Thus,
it is related how, one Christmas Eve, when a
girl in a hooking spirit brought these little
beings their customary offerings, she was so
severely handled by them, that on the fol
lowing Christmas morning she was found
dead in the barn.
With tales of this kind told among the
peasantry, and received by them with the
utmost faith, we can well i'm
agine how ready they naturally
were to gain the patronage and friendship of
these mysterious elves who, in a thousand
and one ways, could befriend those who &C
knowledged their superior power.
Among Norwegian folk-tales of the sea re-
iating to Christmas, we are told how a GER
tain sailor, according to custom, was desir-
GUS Of pres enting on Christmas Day cake
TO the spirit Of the waters; but when he came
to the shore, lol-much to his disappoint.
ment--the waters were frozen over. Reluct-
ant to leave his Offering upon the ice, he
tried to make q hole; but, in spite Of all his
laboIs, he could not make il large enough for
the cake TO go through. When perplexed as
to what he should do, ho was agreebly sur
prised by the appearance of little tiny
hand, as white as snow, which, stretching
through the hole he had made seized the
cake and instantly disappeared with it, In
this legend originates, it is said, the compli-
ment paid to a Norwegian lady, "Your hand
is ike water sprite's"
The Morse peasant, in his popular tales,
has curious solution for the oft-asked ques.
ton, "Why is the sea saltl' 1t appears. that
once upon time, long, long ago, there were
two brothers, one rich and the other poor
Now il happened on Christmas Eve that the
poor one lad not so much as a crumb Of
bread 10 eat, SO he went 10 his brother for
help, who gave him whole fitch of bacon
at the same time bidding him go to a certain
evil magician On arriving at the magician's
house, he was surrounded by a host of per-
sons anxious TO buy his fitch well" said
he, by rights my old dame and ought &c
have this bacon for our Christmas dinner:
but since you have all set your hearts on it, ]
suppose you must have it; but If ] sell il all
must have in return that quern behind the
door yonder' At lr.t the old magician
laughed outright at this proposal, but the
poor brother stuck to IL, and 10 at last the
magician parted with his quer0.
On reaching home the clock ssrucli t.. rs his
wife met him at the door, w'ndsrinr what
had kept him out SO long son" said he
''you shall quickly sec the cause Of my de.
lay after which words Eo Tut the euern q!
the table, bidding it grind everything neces
sary for the Christmas fare. The wife. rs
may he imagined, stood thunderstuck,
watching tine queIn grind cut daintie
enough TO last till Twelfth Day When, how.
ever, tho rich brother saw, on Christmas
Day, all that was on tie table, Il, was very
envious and said, whence have you got all
this wealth"
For some time the poor bfotler refused &c
tell but in tho course Of tbe days rejoicing
he incautiously gave out the history of the
magic que.n, which his brother ultimately
bought for $500 Before long, however, he
founl that it kept on grinding, and SC
alarmed was he that he resold it TO his
brother for the same money that pur
chased It,. ~ -
As before, il soon brought renewed pros
-psrity TO the poor brother, which enabled
him to buy golden house, the fame whereof
spread far and wide, and attracted strangers