More than with anything else, the Lapp legends have to do with giants
and the adventures of mankind with them. The giant is feared because of
his great size and strength and his insatiable appetite for human
flesh. His laziness, clumsiness, and that he is inferior to the man in
intelligence are, however, often the cause of his overthrow.
It is, therefore, commonly an adventure wherein the giant has been
outwitted by a Lapp man or woman that concludes the giant stories.
There was one time a giant who made love to a rich Lapp girl. Neither
she nor her father were much inclined toward the match, but they did
not dare do otherwise than appear to consent and at the same time thank
the Giant for the high honor he would bestow upon them. The father,
nevertheless, determined that the union should not take place, and
consoled himself with the hope that when the time arrived some means of
defeating the Giant’s project would be presented. Meantime he was
obliged to set the day when the Giant might come and claim his bride.
Before the Giant’s arrival the Lapp took a block of wood, about the
size of his daughter, and clothing it in a gown, a new cap, silver
belt, shoes and shoe band, he sat it up in a corner of the tent, with a
close veil, such as is worn by Lapp brides, over the head.
When the Giant entered the tent he was much pleased to find the bride,
as he supposed, in her best attire awaiting him, and at once asked his
prospective father-in-law to go out with him and select the reindeer
that should go with the bride as her dower. Meanwhile the daughter was
concealed behind an adjacent hill with harnessed reindeer ready for
flight. When the reindeer had been counted out the Giant proceeded to
kill one of them for supper, while the Lapp slipped off into the woods,
and, joining his daughter, they fled with all speed into the mountains.
The Giant, after dressing the reindeer, went into the tent to visit his
sweetheart.
“Now, my little darling,” said he, “put the kettle over the fire.”
But no move in the corner.
“Oh, the little dear is bashful, I’ll have to do it myself then,” said
he.
After the pot had been boiling awhile he again addressed the object in
the corner:
“Now my girl, you may cleave the marrow bone,” but still no response.
“My little one is bashful, then I must do it myself,” thought he.
When the meat was cooked he tried again:
“Come, now, my dear, and prepare the meat.” But the bride was as
bashful as before, and did not stir.
“Gracious! how bashful she is. I must do it myself,” repeated the
Giant.
When he had prepared the meal he bade her come and eat, but without
effect. The bride remained motionless in her corner.
“The more for me, then,” thought he, and sat himself to the repast with
a good appetite. When he had eaten, he bade his bride prepare the bed.
“Ah, my love, are you so bashful? I must then do it myself,” said the
simple Giant.
“Go now and retire.” No, she had not yet overcome her bashfulness,
whereupon the Giant became angry and grasped the object with great
force.
Discovering how the Lapp had deceived him, and that he had only a block
of wood instead of a human of flesh and blood, he was beside himself
with rage, and started in hot pursuit after the Lapp. The latter,
however, had so much the start that the Giant could not overtake him.
At the same time it was snowing, which caused the Giant to lose his way
in the mountains. Finally he began to suffer from the cold. The moon
coming up, he thought it a fire built by the Lapp, and at once set out
on a swift run toward it, but he had already run so far that he was
completely exhausted. He then climbed to the top of a pine, thinking
thereby to get near enough to the fire to warm himself, but he froze to
death instead, and thus ends the story.