In one of the picturesque valleys of romantic Småland and on the Black
River is a noted waterfall called Stalpet, which, after placidly
winding, by many hundred bends, for a considerable distance, through
green meadows, here makes a precipitous descent over a rocky cliff,
then quietly pursues its course to a lake a short distance beyond.
Not far from Stalpet lies an old manor, dark, gloomy and unoccupied. A
feeling of oppression comes over one in the presence of this large
building, barred gates and nailed up windows, and the question is
asked, why should this naturally beautiful place be untenanted? Why is
there not, at least, a watchman or an attendant? There must be some
unusual reason for such a condition of things.
Let us listen to the narration of a good old woman, resident in the
neighborhood, who once gave us the story. We use her words, which, may
be, enter too much into the detail, but bear with them the natural
freshness and coloring that, it is hoped, will not be tedious to the
reader. We are given to understand that if we will have the story we
must begin at the beginning, and that is, like “Milton’s Paradise
Lost,” with the beginning of all things.
“Know that when Satan was cast out of heaven, on account of his pride,
and fell to the earth, there were other spirits, which, like him, were
also cast out. These spirits, in their fall, were borne hither and
thither on the winds like the golden leaves in the autumn storm,
falling to earth finally, some into the sea, some into the forests and
some upon the mountains. Where they fell there they remained, so the
saying runs, and found there their field of action. After their abiding
places they were given different names. Thus we have sea nymphs,
mountain fairies, wood fairies, elves and other spirits, all of which
are described in the catechism.
Now, it happened, that on that day two spirits fell upon the rock where
this old Katrineholm Manor house now stands. In this mountain their
offspring lived many hundreds, yes, thousands of years. Though some of
them were from time to time killed by lightning and otherwise, they
were not exterminated and had not been approached by any human being.
It happened, a long time ago, that a gentleman, who owned this estate,
wishing to build himself a residence, and, like a wise architect, to
have a solid foundation for it, selected this rock.
The mountain king—for he was a king among his people—was very much
displeased with this, but his wife, who was of a milder disposition,
pacified her husband and urged him to wait and do their neighbors no
harm until it could be known whether harm might be expected from them.
When the house was finished the gentleman married a beautiful young
lady whose presence at once filled it with sunshine and joy. But sorrow
visits many who little expect it and so it was here.
One day when the young wife was alone in her work-room, a little woman,
unexpectedly and unannounced, stood before her. Bowing, she said: “My
mistress bids that you visit her, and directs me to say to you that if
you consent she will reward you richly.” The young wife wondered much
at such a request, but having a brave heart and a clear conscience, she
promised to follow. The little woman led the way down stairs to the
cellar, where she opened a door, until now undiscovered, revealing a
passage into the mountain. Entering the passage, which was long and
dark, she finally emerged into a large, well-lighted cave, whose walls
were sparkling with gold and silver. Here, pacing back and forth, as if
in great anguish, was a little man who looked at the new comer
searchingly, and with an humble and pleading expression in his eyes,
but said nothing. The little woman pushed aside a curtain to an inner
cave, at the further end of which the visitor saw, lying upon an
elegant bed, another little woman sick and laboring in child-birth. The
Christian visitor’s presence had the effect to almost immediately still
the pains of the suffering woman, whereupon she drew forth a box filled
with precious stones, pearls and jewels. “Take this as a memento of
your visit to me, but let none know what has happened to you this day,
for as surely as you do great misfortune will overtake you and yours,”
said the Mountain Queen, and directed that the young wife be given safe
conduct to her room again. As soon as left alone the precious box was
carefully secreted.
Time sped on. Everything went well, and in due time the young wife
herself became the mother of two beautiful sons. One day, during the
mother’s absence, the boys discovered the secreted box, and had just
begun to play with it when their father entered. He was greatly
surprised to find such a treasure in the hands of the children and
began at once to question the mother, who had also entered, as to how
she became its possessor. At first she refused to betray the secret,
and with her refusal the husband became more curious and suspicious,
finally angry, when he declared his wife a Troll, and that he himself
had seen her come riding through the air on a broomstick. The poor wife
was then obliged to reveal her visit to the Troll queen and the
circumstances attending it.
“You and I have seen our happiest days, for your curiosity will bring
us greater misfortune than you have dreamed of,” said she.
A few days later there appeared in the adjacent lake an island, which,
strangely enough, seemed to rise from its bosom when anything
remarkable was about to take place. It is related that shortly before
the death of Charles XII., also before that of Gustav III., the island
became visible, and it is even said that a king one time carved his
name on a stone on the island, and that stone and name, when, on
another occasion the island was visible, were to be seen.
Whether the island was now again visible by some power of the Trolls in
unison with the water spirits is not known; it is enough that the
island appeared, and that the lord of the manor became possessed with a
great desire to go to and inspect it.
He expressed a wish that his wife and boys should accompany him. The
mother, who foresaw misfortune, opposed the project with all her
energy, and upon her knees begged and prayed her husband to postpone
his visit, but without avail.
Finally, the willful man took the boys, leaving his wife at home, and
rowed out to the island. Just as the boat touched the enchanted island
both boys sprang upon it, and at the same instant both island and boys
vanished from the father’s sight to be seen no more.
The poor mother mourned herself to death, and the father departed to
foreign lands, where he also died, but the building on Katrineholm has
never since been occupied, and there is little probability that any one
will in the future prosper in it.