The following story is told by the villagers in the Netherlands.
Once upon a time a countryman of the province of Hainault went on some
business matters to the village of Flobeck, which lies not far from
Krekelberg. When he was crossing the flat and lonely tract of land, some
miles south-east of Flobeck, he heard some distant music, which came so
sweetly through the air that he thought he would just take a few steps
in the direction whence it proceeded to ascertain its origin.
He had not gone far when he saw a beautiful palace, from which the
fascinating music evidently issued. This astonished him greatly; but he
was not one of those faint-hearted men who would have crossed themselves
and taken to their heels. Quite the contrary; he at once determined to
investigate the matter a little nearer. And so he entered the palace.
Having ascended the broad staircase leading to the principal rooms, he
opened the large door and paced from one hall to another. All were
splendidly decorated, and most richly furnished. But, nowhere did he
meet with any living being. Soon it became evident to him that the
inmates were feasting and dancing in an interior court of the palace.
Thither he bent his steps.
To be sure, there they were!--a large assemblage of odd-looking people
in high glee dancing to the performance of a musician, who had on his
lap an instrument in appearance not unlike a barrel-organ; for it had a
long handle which the player turned with all his energy.
Nov, when these strange people saw the countryman peeping in, they
beckoned him to come forward. He availed himself gladly of the
invitation, and took his seat by the side of the musician; for, no
music he had ever heard in his life appeared to him comparable to that
which the man produced on the admirable instrument with the long handle.
Sometimes it was very soft and deep-toned;--suddenly it rose up to a
high pitch, like an AEolian harp when a gust of wind passes over its
strings;--now it gradually diminished in power, and its sweetness
actually moved our countryman to tears;--now, again, it grew suddenly so
loud, as if a whole military band was playing, only that it was much
more beautiful.
The countryman expressed his admiration in the highest terms, adding
that nothing in the world could delight him more than to be permitted to
turn the handle of the exquisite organ for a little while. The musician
showed himself quite willing to afford him this pleasure, and placed the
instrument on his lap.
The delighted countryman turned the handle a few times round:--No sound
was forthcoming.--He turned again, more vigorously:--The delicious music
began.
"Oh! Ever-blessed Mother Mary! how exquisite!" exclaimed the enraptured
countryman.
Scarcely had he said the words when everything vanished, and he found
himself sitting in a fallow field, having on his lap a large cat whose
tail he had been wrenching so vehemently that poor puss was still mewing
from its very heart in most ear-piercing modulations. On the spot where
the palace had stood he saw a large dust heap, and that was all.[23]
[20] 'Sagen, Gebraeuche, und Maerchen aus Westfahlen, gesammelt von A.
Kuhn. Leipzig, 1859.' Vol. I., p. 175.
[21] 'Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland, by T.
Crofton Croker; London, 1862,' p. 22.--Compare also 'Hans mein Igel,' in
Grimm's Kinder und Hausmaerchen.
[22] 'Deutsche Sagen, herausgegeben von den Bruedern Grimm; Berlin,
1816;' Vol. I., p. 330.
[23] 'Niederlaendische Sagen, herausgegeben von J. W. Wolf; Leipzig,
1843;' p. 464.
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