The Wizard King

Wizard King was seen in the air under

the form of some unknown bird, exclaiming as he flew off that he would

never forgive either his son or the Fairy the cruel wrong they had

done him.

Everyone entreated the Fairy to settle in the kingdom where she now

was, to which she consented. She built herself a magnificent palace,

to which she transported her books and fairy secrets, and where she

enjoyed the sight of the perfect happiness she had helped to bestow on

the entire royal family.

THE NIXY[15]

There was once upon a time a miller who was very well off, and had as

much money and as many goods as he knew what to do with. But sorrow

comes in the night, and the miller all of a sudden became so poor that

at last he could hardly call the mill in which he sat his own. He

wandered about all day full of despair and misery, and when he lay

down at night he could get no rest, but lay awake all night sunk in

sorrowful thoughts.

One morning he rose up before dawn and went outside, for he thought

his heart would be lighter in the open air. As he wandered up and down

on the banks of the mill-pond he heard a rustling in the water, and

when he looked near he saw a white woman rising up from the waves.

He realised at once that this could be none other than the nixy of the

mill-pond, and in his terror he didn’t know if he should fly away or

remain where he was. While he hesitated the nixy spoke, called him by

his name, and asked him why he was so sad.

When the miller heard how friendly her tone was, he plucked up heart

and told her how rich and prosperous he had been all his life up till

now, when he didn’t know what he was to do for want and misery.

Then the nixy spoke comforting words to him, and promised that she

would make him richer and more prosperous than he had ever been in his

life before, if he would give her in return the youngest thing in his

house.

The miller thought she must mean one of his puppies or kittens, so

promised the nixy at once what she asked, and returned to his mill

full of hope. On the threshold he was greeted by a servant with the

news that his wife had just given birth to a boy.

[Footnote 15: From the German. Kletke.]

The poor miller was much horrified by these tidings, and went in to

his wife with a heavy heart to tell her and his relations of the fatal

bargain he had just struck with the nixy. ‘I would gladly give up all

the good fortune she promised me,’ he said, ‘if I could only save my

child.’ But no one could think of any advice to give him, beyond

taking care that the child never went near the mill-pond.

[Illustration: The miller sees the nixy of the mill-pond]

So the boy throve and grew big, and in the meantime all prospered with

the miller, and in a few years he was richer than he had ever been

before. But all the same he did not enjoy his good fortune, for he

could not forget his compact with the nixy, and he knew that sooner or

later she would demand his fulfilment of it. But year after year went

by, and the boy grew up and became a great hunter, and the lord of the

land took him into his service, for he was as smart and bold a hunter

as you would wish to see. In a short time he married a pretty young

wife, and lived with her in great peace and happiness.

One day when he was out hunting a hare sprang up at his feet, and ran

for some way in front of him in the open field. The hunter pursued it

hotly for some time, and at last shot it dead. Then he proceeded to

skin it, never noticing that he was close to the mill-pond, which from

childhood up he had been taught to avoid. He soon finished the

skinning, and went to the water to wash the blood off his hands. He

had hardly dipped them in the pond when the