THE OLD MAN OF LAGGA.

Near Lagga Church, in the municipality of Langhundra, is a singularly

formed mountain. On the side of it toward the church is an opening,

from which, it is said, two paths lead—the one south to a hill near the

so called “Meadow Watcher’s Cottage,” the other north to Kashögen, near

Kasby estate.

In the mountain lived a giant called Lagge Gubben—old man Lagge—who,

when last seen, was at least five hundred years old, and his hair as

white as the feathers of a dove.

Early one morning a peasant named Jacob going to the village of Lagga,

passed the mountain, when the old mountain man came out and saluted

him: “Good morning, Joppe! Will you come in and drink healths with me?”

“No, thank you,” replied Jacob, who had no desire for such

companionship. “If you have more than you are able to drink, save it

until morning, for there is another day coming.”

“That is good advice,” said Lagga. “Had I known that before, I should

have been a richer man, now.”

“It is not yet too late,” replied the peasant.

“Yes it is, for I must leave here in the morning on account of the

church bells,” said the giant, shaking his fist at Lagga clock tower.

“You will come again, never fear,” said Jacob consolingly.

“Yes, when Lagga Fjord becomes a field and Ostund Lake a meadow,”

replied the giant with a sigh, and disappeared into the mountain.

Swedish fairy tales · 第 104 / 121 题