There was once a Merchant who had two children, a boy and a girl. They
were both small, and not old enough to run about. He had also two
richly-laden ships at sea, and just as he was expecting to make a
great deal of money by the merchandise, news came that they had both
been lost. So now instead of being a rich man he was quite poor, and
had nothing left but one field near the town.
To turn his thoughts from his misfortune, he went out into this field,
and as he was walking up and down a little black Mannikin suddenly
appeared before him, and asked why he was so sad. The Merchant said,
'I would tell you at once, if you could help me.'
'Who knows,' answered the little Mannikin. 'Perhaps I could help you.'
Then the Merchant told him that all his wealth had been lost in a
wreck, and that now he had nothing left but this field.
'Don't worry yourself,' said the Mannikin. 'If you will promise to
bring me in twelve years' time the first thing which rubs against your
legs when you go home, you shall have as much gold as you want.'
The Merchant thought, 'What could it be but my dog?' He never thought
of his boy, but said Yes, and gave the Mannikin his bond signed and
sealed, and went home.
When he reached the house his little son, delighted to hold on to the
benches and totter towards his father, seized him by the leg to steady
himself.
The Merchant was horror-stricken, for his vow came into his head, and
now he knew what he had promised to give away. But as he still found
no gold in his chests, he thought it must only have been a joke of
the Mannikin's. A month later he went up into the loft to gather
together some old tin to sell it, and there he found a great heap of
gold on the floor. So he was soon up in the world again, bought and
sold, became a richer merchant than ever, and was altogether
contented.
In the meantime the boy had grown up, and he was both clever and wise.
But the nearer the end of the twelve years came, the more sorrowful
the Merchant grew; you could even see his misery in his face. One day
his son asked him what was the matter, but his father would not tell
him. The boy, however, persisted so long that at last he told him
that, without knowing what he was doing, he had promised to give him
up at the end of twelve years to a little black Mannikin, in return
for a quantity of gold. He had given his hand and seal on it, and the
time was now near for him to go.
Then his son said, 'O father, don't be frightened, it will be all
right. The little black Mannikin has no power over me.'
When the time came, the son asked a blessing of the Priest, and he and
his father went to the field together; and the son made a circle
within which they took their places.
When the little black Mannikin appeared, he said to the father, 'Have
you brought what you promised me?'