In Herjedalen, as in many of the northern regions of our country, where
there is yet something remaining of the primitive pastoral life, there
are still kept alive reminiscences of a very ancient people, whose
occupation was herding cattle, which constituted their wealth and
support. It is, however, with a later and more civilized people, though
no date is given, that this narrative deals.
In days gone by, so the story goes, it happened that a milkmaid did not
produce as much milk and butter from her herd as usual, for which her
master took her severely to task. The girl sought vindication by
charging it upon the Vätts, who, she claimed, possessed the place and
appropriated a share of the product of the herd. This, the master was
not willing to believe, but, to satisfy himself, went one autumn
evening, after the cattle had been brought home, to the dairy house,
where he secreted himself, as he supposed, under an upturned cheese
kettle. He had not sat in his hiding place long when a Vätt mother with
her family—a large one—came trooping in and began preparation for their
meal.
The mother, who was busy at the fireplace, finally inquired if all had
spoons.
“Yes,” replied one of the Vätts. “All except him under the kettle.”
The dairyman’s doubts were now dispelled, and he hastened to move his
residence to another place.