replied he, “as for that I could make myself as small as the smallest
midge.” Thereupon Sæmund bored a tiny hole in the door post, and asked
him to make good his boast by walking into it. This he at once did; but
no sooner was he in, than Sæmund stopped the hole with a little plug of
wood, and made all fast.
Old Nick cursed his folly, cried, and begged for mercy; but Sæmund would
not take out the stopper till he promised to become his servant and do
all that he was told. This was the reason why Sæmund always had it in
his power to employ Old Nick in whatever business he liked.
V. THE FLY.
As might be expected, Old Nick always harboured a great ill will against
Sæmund: for he could not help feeling how much he was in Sæmund’s power.
He therefore tried to revenge himself on various occasions; but all his
tricks failed, for Sæmund was too sharp for him.
Once, he put on the shape of a little fly, and hid himself—so he
thought, at least—under the film that had gathered on the priest’s milk
jug, hoping that Sæmund would swallow him unawares, and so lose his
life. But Sæmund had all his eyes about him; so instead of swallowing
the fly he wrapped it up in the film, covered the whole with a bladder,
and laid the package on the altar. There, the fly was obliged to remain
till after the service, when Sæmund opened the package and gave Old Nick
his liberty. It is told, as a truth, that old Nick never found himself
in a worse case than when lying on the altar before Sæmund.
VI. THE GOBLIN’S WHISTLE.
Sæmund had a whistle of such wonderful power, that, as often as he blew
it, one or more goblins appeared before him, ready to do his
bidding.[44] One day, on getting up, he happened to leave the whistle
under his pillow, and forgot all about it till the afternoon when the
housemaid was going to make his bed. He charged her, if she found
anything unusual about the bed, she was on no account to touch it, or
move it from its place. But he might have saved himself the trouble of
speaking; for, as soon as the girl saw the whistle, she took it up in
her hand, and looked at it on every side. Not satisfied with much
handling it, she put it to her mouth and blew it lustily. The sound of
the blast had not died away before a goblin stood before her, saying,
“what will you have me to do?” The girl was not a little startled, but
had the presence of mind to conceal her surprise.
It so happened that the hides of ten sheep, that had been killed that
day, were lying on the ground in front of the parsonage. Recollecting
this, the girl replied to the goblin, “Go and count all the hairs that
are on the ten hides outside, and, if you finish your task before I get
this bed made, I’ll consent to marry you.” The goblin thought that a
task worth undertaking for such a prize; and hurrying out, fell to
counting the hairs with all his might. The girl who did not like the
idea of being the wife of a goblin, lost no time, you may be sure, in
getting through with her work; and it was well she bestirred herself;
for, by the time the bed was made, the goblin had almost finished his
task. Only a few hairs of the last hide remained uncounted, but they
were enough to make him lose his bargain. When Sæmund afterwards learned
how prudently the girl had got out of her scrape, he was very well
pleased.
ICELANDIC FAIRY TALES.
BIARNI SVEINSSON AND HIS SISTER SALVÖR.[45]
Once on a time, a worthy couple, Sveinn and his wife, occupied a farm,
on the shores of the beautiful Skagafiord, in the north country. They
were in easy circumstances and were blessed with two fine children, a
son and daughter, who were the joy of their hearts. Biarni and his
sister Salvör—for these were the names of their children—were twins and
greatly attached to each other.
In the spring of the year,[46] about St. John’s day, when these two had
reached the age of twenty, the people of Skagafiord were arranging a
party to make a journey to the mountains of the interior, to gather
Iceland-moss for making porridge. Sveinn promised to let his son go with
the party. As soon as Salvör knew that, she felt a great desire to go
too; and so she went to her parents to ask their consent. This was not
so easily got, as they did not wish to part with both their children at
once; and besides, they knew she was ill fitted to bear the hardships
and fatigues of mountain travelling. But she fretted so much at the
thought of being left behind, that, at last, they consented to let her
go.
The night before the moss-gatherers were to leave, Sveinn the farmer
dreamed that he had two beautiful white birds, of which he was very
fond, and that all at once, to his great grief, the hen-bird disappeared
and could nowhere be found. On awaking in the morning, he could not help
thinking that his dream betokened no good to his darling Salvör, so he
called her to him, and after telling her his dream, he said to her,
“Salvör dear! I cannot bear to part with you, you must stay at home with
your mother and me, for I would never forgive myself if any ill befel
you by the way.” Salvör who had been in great glee at the prospect of
riding, day after day, up the romantic valleys to the south of
Skagafiord, and there tenting out amidst the mountains, was neither to
hold nor to bind, when she found that, after all, she would have to stay
at home; she wept with vexation and distressed herself so much that her
father could not bear it, and again gave an unwilling consent to let her
go. So she accompanied her brother and the rest of the party to the
mountains.
The first day after getting there, she gathered Iceland-moss with the
others, but during the night she fell suddenly ill and was unable to
leave her tent on the following day. Biarni stayed with her, and did all
that a brother could do to help and comfort her. For three whole days he
was her companion, but, on the fourth day, he left her for a time in
charge of a friend, while he himself joined the moss-gatherers. After
partly filling his bag, he sat himself down by a large stone, and,
resting his head on his hand, brooded over his sister’s unhappy fate; he
feared she was going to die among the mountains.
By and by he heard a great tramping of horses, and, on looking about, he
saw two men riding towards him at a quick pace. One of them wore red
coloured clothes, and had a red horse; the other who was younger, was
dressed in black, and was mounted on a black horse. On reaching the
place where Biarni was sitting, they dismounted and saluted him by name.
“What ails you Biarni,” said the elder of the two strangers. For a time
Biarni answered not a word, but on being pressed to do so, he opened up
his heart to them and told all about his sister’s illness.
“My companions are going to return home, but I must stay to watch over
Salvör; and who knows how soon she may die in my arms.”
“You are in a hard case Biarni,” said the other, “and I am sorry for
you, but won’t you leave your sister with me, and I will take good care
of her.”
“No, no,” said Biarni, “that I dare not do, for I know neither who you
are, nor where you come from. But will you tell me where your home is?”
“That’s no business of yours,” said the other, rather gruffly, and then,
taking from his pocket a silver-gilt box set with precious stones,
added, “Won’t you sell me your sister for this box.”
“No,” said Biarni, “nor for a thousand like it. I would not give her to
you for any money.”
“Well! well! there is no help for it, you will at all events accept this
box, as a token that you have met with men among the mountains.”
Biarni took the offered gift with pleasure, and thanked the giver. The
two men then bade him farewell and rode away, while he returned to the
tent. Next morning his companions went away home, leaving him alone with
his sister. Though she was now a little better, he dared not sleep, for
he was afraid lest the strangers should come and steal her away. But,
after watching a whole day and night, he felt overcome with fatigue; so
he lay down, and folding his arms round her waist to protect her, fell
into a sound sleep. But, when he awoke, his sister was gone, and was
nowhere to be found. He spent a whole day sorrowfully wandering from
spot to spot, looking and calling for her, but it was all in vain. He
then turned his back on the mountains, and with a heavy heart went home,
and told his parents what had happened.
“Woe is me,” said Sveinn, “what I feared most has come to pass, but
God’s will be done!”
There was great grief in Skagafiord when the news spread from farm to
farm; for Salvör, with all her way-wardness, was a promising girl, and
was every body’s favourite. A party of young men returned to the
mountains to look for her, but nowhere was the least trace of her to be
found.
And now ten years had passed away. By this time Biarni was married and
settled on a farm, not far from his father’s. During autumn all his
sheep went amissing, and his shepherd could not discover what had become
of them though he searched diligently for them three whole days. On
learning this, Biarni bid his wife provide him with a week’s supply of
food, and an extra pair of shoes; “for,” said he, “I shall go to the
mountains myself to look for the sheep.” His parents, who were still
alive, urged him to stay at home; for they feared that, if he went to
the mountains, they might never see his face again.
“I must go,” said he to them, “I cannot afford to lose the sheep. But be
of good heart, and do not begin to weary for me till the week is over.”
He then went away on foot, and did not leave off walking for three days.
At the end of that time he came to a cavern, where he turned in and lay
down to sleep. On waking, he could not see a yard before him; for a
thick fog which rested on the ground. He continued his journey, but soon
lost his way. Towards evening the fog cleared off, and he found himself
in a spacious valley, not far from a large well built farm house. It was
the hay season, so that all the people of the farm were busy in the
meadow. On getting near the house, he noticed, in particular, two women
and a girl who were tedding the hay. “God’s peace be with you,” said he,
on reaching the spot; and then, telling them of his mishaps, he asked
permission to stay all night under their roof. They gave him a hearty
welcome, and the girl went with him to the house. She was of more
genteel appearance than the rest—young and handsome—and, as Biarni
thought, bore some resemblance to his long lost but well remembered
sister. This unexpected circumstance renewed his old griefs, but he did
what he could to seem cheerful before his young hostess. She led him
through several apartments to a large well furnished room, where
everything was neat and tidy. Here, she drew in a chair, and kindly
asked him to sit down and rest, while she brought in supper. He had not
long to wait; for she soon placed upon the table a plentiful supply of
meat and wine.
After supper, she showed him to the little room where he was to sleep
for the night; she then took away his wet clothes, wished him a kind
good night, and left the room.
As Biarni lay in bed, he fell a-wondering where he was, and how the
sight of the girl should have so waked up the sad memories of the past.
He fell asleep thinking of these things, but was soon awakened by the
sound of singing in a room over his head. It was the family at evening
worship, as is the custom of the country. He heard both men and women
singing, but one voice sounded clear above all others, and thrilled to
his very heart, so strongly did it remind him of his sister Salvör.
Thoughts of the past filled his mind and kept him awake for hours, but
he fell asleep again, and slept on, till he was roused up in the morning
by the girl. She brought with her a suit of fine clothes, and bade him
put them on.
“To-day is Sunday,” she added, “and you must stay here till to-morrow.”
She then left the room.
While Biarni was putting on his clothes, a little boy in a green coat,
and very nicely dressed, came into the room and wished him good morning.
“What has brought you here, so far away from home?” said the little
fellow to him.
“I have come to look for some sheep that I have lost.”
“Well, I have not seen them in this valley. But I hope you won’t go to
look for them to-day. Father is going to hear service in the church, and
you must be there too.”
Before Biarni had time to reply, some one called the boy away, saying,
“Sveinn, come here, and don’t plague the stranger with your nonsense.”
At breakfast, Biarni was waited on by the girl who had treated him so
well the evening before.
Towards mid-day, people began to come from far and near, to join in the
public service in the church close by. The boy came for Biarni, and led
him by the hand into the church and showed him to a seat. On looking
about, what was his surprise to see by his side the man in the red
clothes whom he had seen, ten years before, among the mountains! But,
his surprise was greater still, on discovering that the clergyman who
conducted the service, was no other than the man in the black dress who
had travelled with the other. The church was full of people. Most of the
men were tall and strongly built, but had something forbidding about
their looks. Some wore brown knitted garments of undyed wool. Biarni
said nothing to his neighbour, but took out the gilt box and offered him
a pinch of snuff. This he took, but without seeming to recognize Biarni.
By and by, Biarni saw, seated just in front of the pulpit, a comely well
dressed woman who seemed the very picture of his sister. When their eyes
met, she was overcome with emotion and began to smile and weep by turns.
Biarni now felt confident that it was indeed his beloved sister Salvör
whom he now saw before him.
The service decently performed to the end and the blessing pronounced,
the boy again took Biarni by the hand and led him out. In passing the
church door, an old ill looking man, who sat there, tripped Biarni up
and made him fall. On this, the man in the red clothes came forward and
chastised the offender, while Biarni went with the boy into the farm
house. The two men whom Biarni had met among the mountains, shortly
after came in and saluted him.
“Do you know us, Biarni!” said they to him kindly.
“Yes,” replied he. But not another word could he utter for emotion.
A moment after, the woman, he had seen in the church and taken for his
sister, entered the room. She flew into his arms and pressed him to her
bosom saying,
“Before we were born we lay in each other’s arms, I was taken weeping
from thy embrace, and now I return laughing to thy arms, my brother.”
It was a joyful meeting.
When Biarni recovered himself, he told his sister about his parents, and
also all that had happened in Skagafiord since her departure. The man in
red clothes then addressed himself to Biarni, and said,
“Whilst thou wert asleep among the mountains, I took thy sister away
from thee and gave her in marriage to this man in the black dress, who
is my son. He is the clergyman of the valley and I am the sysselman. It
was I that took away the sheep and led thee astray to this place, that
brother and sister might meet again. To-night thou must stay here with
thy sister. To-morrow I shall give thee back thy lost sheep and go with
thee part of the way to Skagafiord.”
Biarni spent a happy evening with Salvör. In the morning he took leave
of her with many tears, and departed under the guidance of her husband
and of her father-in-law, who gave him back his sheep, and helped him to
drive them. On reaching the inhabited part of the country, his new
friends parted with him and bade him an affectionate farewell; but not
before they had made him promise to leave Skagafiord and live with them.
“You must come and settle in the valley beside us,” said they to him,
“we shall return next summer and lead you and your friends to your
sister’s home.”
On getting to Skagafiord, Biarni told his wife and mother all that had
happened to him, when away, and also the promise he had made to remove
to the mountains; but charged them to say nothing to the neighbours
about it. His parents were rejoiced to learn that Salvör was still
alive, and promised to go with him and his wife.
In June of the next year, three men, from the mountains, rode up one
night to Biarni’s house. The night following, Biarni, and his parents,
and all his household went away with them and in due time reached the
valley where Salvör lived. How it rejoiced Sveinn and his wife to see
again their long lost daughter! They settled in the valley and died
there, at a good old age.
Biarni lived there too, for many years, but he could never forget the
beautiful Skagafiord; so when age came upon him, he returned to his old
home, and spent his latter years among the friends of his youth.
UNA THE FAIRY.
Many many years ago, a strapping young fellow, called Geir, was settled
in the farm of Randafell, on the south slope of the Eyafialla mountains,
near the sea-coast. Every thing prospered with him; for he was active
and industrious, and scorned to eat the bread of idleness. His wife was
as industrious as himself, but unfortunately, she took ill and died,
shortly after their marriage. At the hay-making season, which came on
soon after, he missed his wife greatly; for the maid servants were too
few to look after the house and make the hay.
One day, when they had a good deal more work before them than they were
able to get through, a strange woman made her appearance in the hay
field, and, without so much as saying, “by your leave,” began at once to
handle the rake; and cleverly she handled it, too, for she got through
more work than any two of them. She was young and handsome, but silent
as the grave. Not a word could Geir, or any one else, get out of her the
live long day. At night she disappeared, no one knew where; but, when
morning came, there was she, first in the field, ready to take her place
among the women.
Things went on in this way till the end of the harvest, when Geir went
up to her, and thanked her kindly for the help she had given them.
She took what he said in good part, and no longer refused to talk with
him. They had a long chat together, but Geir was not made a bit the
wiser, as to where she lived, or whose daughter she was. She told him,
however, that her name was Una.
“Una,” said he to her at last, “I am greatly in want of a housekeeper; I
don’t know any body so likely to suit as you; will you take the
situation?”
“I have no objection to do so,” she replied, “when do you want me?”
“The sooner the better.”
“Well, I shall come with my luggage to-morrow, and take up my abode with
you.” She then disappeared.
Next morning, she walked into the farm house, and set down a large
chest, full of clothes, which she had brought with her. This she put out
of the way in the closet, and then began to bustle about the house,
looking after household duties.
And now things began to prosper again with the Randafell farmer. Una was
a capital manager, and soon became famous all over the country side for
her good butter, and her well ordered house. Geir was delighted with his
housekeeper; but one thing distressed him—he could not persuade her to
go to church.
When Christmas Eve came round, Geir and all the servants went to church,
to the vesper service. Geir was anxious that Una should go too. But no!
she would not budge, excusing herself by saying, that she was needed at
home to look after the house. It was morning before the church goers got
back, for the church was a good three hours’ ride from Randafell. On
returning they found Una busy preparing the Christmas feast. The
ordinary work of the house was done, so that they had nothing to do but
to take a few hours rest, before sitting down to enjoy themselves.
By the time the third winter came round, Geir began to think of taking a
wife, and who so likely to suit him as Una! And so thought all the
neighbours too. Many a talk they had about her, when gathered together
in the churchyard, on the Sundays, waiting the arrival of the clergyman.
After discussing her good qualities, “Isn’t it strange,” the one would
say to the other, “that we can’t find out who Una is, or where she comes
from?”
“Aye! that is true,” another would say, “but isn’t it stranger still,
that all the time she has been at Randafell, she has never once entered
the church door?”
Geir was very fond of her, but could not make up his mind to ask her to
marry him, so long as she refused to bend her knee in prayer to God.
On the third Christmas Eve, Geir set out, with all his household, to the
midnight service in the church. Una as usual remained at home. When they
were on the road, Geir’s serving man suddenly complained of severe pain.
He lay down on the spot, and said he would rest there till he got
better; so Geir and the others went on without him.
As soon as they were out of sight, the man got up to his feet, mounted
his horse and rode back again to the farm. His sickness was only
feigned, in order to get the chance of finding out what could tempt Una
always to stay at home, at a time when every true hearted Icelander made
a point of joining his neighbours, in the house of God, to commemorate
the anniversary of that blessed night when Christ was born in Bethlehem.
On reaching the farm, he unsaddled the horse, and slipped quietly in,
taking care to hide in a dark corner where he could see all that was
going on, without being himself seen. Una was busy sweeping and cleaning
the house; and so cleverly did she go about her work that everything was
put to rights in a very short time. After washing herself, she went to
the store-closet and put on a dress which the man had never seen till
now, and which was more befitting a king’s daughter than a poor farmer’s
housekeeper. Never before had Una looked so handsome and beautiful.
She now took out of her chest a piece of red cloth, which she put under
her arm. Shutting her chest and the closet door, she left the house and
ran down the meadow, till she came to a pool of water. Here she spread
out the red cloth, and placed herself upon it. At this instant the man,
who had been breathlessly following her, came up, and unseen by her just
succeeded in getting his foot on a corner of the cloth. And now they
sunk down and down into the earth, with a feeling as if they were going
through smoke. By and by they landed on a green plain, not far from a
splendid farm house. Una took up the cloth, put it under her arm, and
went up to the house. The man walked softly behind, taking care to keep
out of her sight. A great many people came out of doors to welcome Una,
who seemed rejoiced to see them, and saluted them kindly.
Great preparations were going on inside for a feast. The guest chamber
was swept and garnished, and the table laid. As soon as the people took
their places several dishes were brought, and abundance of good wine.
The serving man, who had slipped in with the others unknown to Una, took
his place among the guests. Among other things he was presented with a
fine rib of smoked mutton, which he took and preserved, for he had never
seen so fat a rib before. After supper the people amused themselves with
games of different kinds, and were all very happy.
Just as day began to break, Una told her friends, she would have to go
away, as her master, the peasant, would soon be back from church. So she
took a kind leave of every one, and walked to the spot where she had
alighted, on coming down.
The man followed her, and again succeeded in getting his foot on the
cloth, without being seen. So they ascended together through the dark
earth, till they came to the pool of water again. Una took up the cloth,
and went straight to the store-room to change her dress. After that she
went into the house, to await the return of the peasant, and make ready
the Christmas feast.
The serving man had, meantime, taken up his place at the spot where he
had been left behind the night before. When the farmer came up he asked
him how he was.
“I am almost well again,” said the man, “and quite able to go home with
you.”
So they all rode together to Randafell.
Una received them with a smiling face, and told them that the feast was
quite ready. So they were not long in taking their places. As is usual
on such occasions, the principal dish was smoked mutton. As this
happened to be very fine, the farmer took up a large rib, and holding it
up said,
“Have any of you ever seen such a rib as this?”
“I think I have; what think you of that,” said the serving man, as he
held up before them the rib he had got the night before.
As soon as Una saw this, she changed colour, went out without saying a
single word, and was never afterwards seen.
GILITRUTT.