The Nix of the Mill-Pond
There was once upon a time a miller who lived
with his wife in great contentment. They had money and land, and their prosperity
increased year by year more and more. But ill luck comes like a thief in the night. As
their wealth had increased so did it again decrease, year by year, and at last the miller
could hardly call the mill in which he lived, his own. He was in great distress, and when
he lay down after his day's work, found no rest, but tossed about in his bed, sorely
troubled.
One morning he rose before daybreak and went
out into the open air, thinking that perhaps there his heart might become lighter. As he
was stepping over the mill-dam the first sunbeam was just breaking forth, and he heard a
rippling sound in the pond. He turned round and perceived a beautiful woman, rising slowly
out of the water. Her long hair, which she was holding off her shoulders with her soft
hands, fell down on both sides, and covered her white body. He soon saw that she was the
nixie of the mill-pond, and in his fright did not know whether he should run away or stay
where he was. But the nixie made her sweet voice heard, called him by his name, and asked
him why he was so sad. The miller was at first struck dumb, but when he heard her speak so
kindly, he took heart, and told her how he had formerly lived in wealth and happiness, but
that now he was so poor that he did not know what to do. Be easy, answered the nixie, I
will make you richer and happier than you have ever been before, only you must promise to
give me the young thing which has just been born in your house. What else can that be,
thought the miller, but a puppy or a kitten, and he promised her what she desired.
The nixie descended into the water again, and
he hurried back to his mill, consoled and in good spirits. He had not yet reached it, when
the maid-servant came out of the house and cried to him to rejoice, for his wife had given
birth to a little boy. The miller stood as if struck by lightning. He saw very well that
the cunning nixie had been aware of it, and had cheated him. Hanging his head, he went up
to his wife's bedside and when she said, why do you not rejoice over the fine boy, he told
her what had befallen him, and what kind of a promise he had given to the nixie. Of what
use to me are riches and prosperity, he added, if I am to lose my child. But what can I
do. Even the relatives, who had come thither to wish them joy, did not know what to say.
In the meantime prosperity again returned to
the miller's house. All that he undertook succeeded. It was as if presses and coffers
filled themselves of their own accord, and as if money multiplied nightly in the
cupboards. It was not long before his wealth was greater than it had ever been before. But
he could not rejoice over it untroubled, for the bargain which he had made with the nixie
tormented his soul. Whenever he passed the mill-pond, he feared she might ascend and
remind him of his debt. He never let the boy himself go near the water. Beware, he said to
him, if you do but touch the water, a hand will rise, seize you, and draw you down. But as
year after year went by and the nixie did not show herself again, the miller began to feel
at ease. The boy grew up to be a youth and was apprenticed to a huntsman. When he had
learnt everything, and had become an excellent huntsman, the lord of the village took him
into his service. In the village lived a beautiful and true-hearted maiden, who pleased
the huntsman, and when his master perceived that, he gave him a little house, the two were
married, lived peacefully and happily, and loved each other with all their hearts.
One day the huntsman was chasing a roe. And
when the animal turned aside from the forest into the open country, he pursued it and at
last shot it. He did not notice that he was now in the neighborhood of the dangerous
mill-pond, and went, after he had disembowelled the roe, to the water, in order to wash
his blood-stained hands. Scarcely, however, had he dipped them in than the nixie ascended,
smilingly wound her dripping arms around him, and drew him quickly down under the waves,
which closed over him. When it was evening, and the huntsman did not return home, his wife
became alarmed. She went out to seek him, and as he had often told her that he had to be
on his guard against the snares of the nixie, and dared not venture into the neighborhood
of the mill-pond, she already suspected what had happened.
She hastened to the water, and when she found
his hunting-pouch lying on the shore, she could no longer have any doubt of the
misfortune. Lamenting her sorrow, and wringing her hands, she called on her beloved by
name, but in vain. She hurried across to the other side of the pond, and called him anew.
She reviled the nixie with harsh words, but no answer greeted her. The surface of the
water remained calm, only the crescent moon stared steadily back at her. The poor woman
did not leave the pond. With hasty steps, she paced round and round it, without resting a
moment, sometimes in silence, sometimes uttering a loud cry, sometimes sobbing softly. At
last her strength came to an end, she sank down to the ground and fell into a heavy sleep.
Presently a dream took possession of her.
She was anxiously climbing upwards between
great masses of rock. Thorns and briars caught her feet, the rain beat in her face, and
the wind tossed her long hair about. When she had reached the summit, quite a different
sight presented itself to her. The sky was blue, the air soft, the ground sloped gently
downwards, and on a green meadow, gay with flowers of every color, stood a pretty cottage.
She went up to it and opened the door. There sat an old woman with white hair, who
beckoned to her kindly. At that very moment, the poor woman awoke, day had already dawned,
and she at once resolved to act in accordance with her dream. She laboriously climbed the
mountain. Everything was exactly as she had seen it in the night. The old woman received
her kindly, and pointed out a chair on which she might sit. You must have met with a
misfortune, she said, since you have sought out my lonely cottage. With tears, the woman
related what had befallen her. Be comforted, said the old woman, I will help you. Here is
a golden comb for you. Tarry till the full moon has risen, then go to the mill-pond, seat
yourself on the shore, and comb your long black hair with this comb. When you have done,
lay it down on the bank, and you will see what will happen.
The woman returned home, but the time till the
full moon came, passed slowly. When at last the shining disc appeared in the heavens, she
went out to the mill-pond, sat down and combed her long black hair with the golden comb,
and when she had finished, she laid it down at the water's edge. It was not long before
there was a movement in the depths, a wave rose, rolled to the shore, and bore the comb
away with it. In not more than the time necessary for the comb to sink to the bottom, the
surface of the water parted, and the head of the huntsman arose. He did not speak, but
looked at his wife with sorrowful glances. At the same instant, a second wave came rushing
up, and covered the man's head. All had vanished, the mill-pond lay peaceful as before,
and nothing but the face of the full moon shone on it. Full of sorrow, the woman went
back, but again the dream showed her the cottage of the old woman.
Next morning she again set out and complained
of her woes to the wise woman. The old woman gave her a golden flute, and said, tarry till
the full moon comes again, then take this flute. Play a beautiful air on it, and when you
have finished, lay it on the sand. Then you will see what will happen. The wife did as the
old woman told her. No sooner was the flute lying on the sand than there was a stirring in
the depths, and a wave rushed up and bore the flute away with it. Immediately afterwards
the water parted, and not only the head of the man, but half of his body also arose. He
stretched out his arms longingly towards her, but a second wave came up, covered him, and
drew him down again. Alas, what does it help me, said the unhappy woman, that I should see
my beloved, only to lose him again. Despair filled her heart anew, but the dream led her a
third time to the house of the old woman. She set out, and the wise woman gave her a
golden spinning-wheel, consoled her and said, all is not yet fulfilled, tarry until the
time of the full moon, then take the spinning-wheel, seat yourself on the shore, and spin
the spool full, and when you have done that, place the spinning-wheel near the water, and
you will see what will happen. The woman obeyed all she said exactly.
As soon as the full moon showed itself, she
carried the golden spinning-wheel to the shore, and span industriously until the flax came
to an end, and the spool was quite filled with the threads. No sooner was the wheel
standing on the shore than there was a more violent movement than before in the depths of
the pond, and a mighty wave rushed up, and bore the wheel away with it. Immediately the
head and the whole body of the man rose into the air, in a water-spout. He quickly sprang
to the shore, caught his wife by the hand and fled. But they had scarcely gone a very
little distance, when the whole pond rose with a frightful roar, and streamed out over the
open country. The fugitives already saw death before their eyes, when the woman in her
terror implored the help of the old woman, and in an instant they were transformed, she
into a toad, he into a frog. The flood which had overtaken them could not destroy them,
but it tore them apart and carried them far away. When the water had dispersed and they
both touched dry land again, they regained their human form, but neither knew where the
other was. They found themselves among strange people, who did not know their native land.
High mountains and deep valleys lay between them. In order to keep themselves alive, they
were both obliged to tend sheep.
For many long years they drove their flocks
through field and forest and were full of sorrow and longing. When spring had once more
broken forth on the earth, they both went out one day with their flocks, and as chance
would have it, they drew near each other. They met in a valley, but did not recognize each
other. Yet they rejoiced that they were no longer so lonely. Henceforth they each day
drove their flocks to the same place. They did not speak much, but they felt comforted.
One evening when the full moon was shining in the sky, and the sheep were already at rest,
the shepherd pulled the flute out of his pocket, and played on it a beautiful but
sorrowful air. When he had finished he saw that the shepherdess was weeping bitterly. Why
are you weeping, he asked. Alas, answered she, thus shone the full moon when I played this
air on the flute for the last time, and the head of my beloved rose out of the water. He
looked at her, and it seemed as if a veil fell from his eyes, and he recognized his dear
wife, and when she looked at him, and the moon shone in his face she knew him also. They
embraced and kissed each other, and no one need ask if they were happy.
--The End-- |
