In an instant the little servants had vanished into Elsa’s fingers, and even the old man had disappeared.
The young wife sat a long time staring at her hands, but soon she experienced a wonderful desire to work.
“Here I sit and dream,” she burst forth with unusual cheerfulness and courage, “and it is already seven o’clock while outside all are waiting for me.” And Elsa hastened out to superintend the occupations of her servants.
Not for that day alone, but for all time thereafter Elsa entered into her duties with as much pleasure as she would formerly have found in a dance. No one knew what had happened, but all marveled at the sudden change. None was, however, more pleased and satisfied than the young wife herself, for whom work was now a necessity, and under whose hands everything thereafter flourished, bringing wealth and happiness to the young couple. [[75]]
[1] An old Götland legend, by Madame D. Kindstrand, and in the Family Journal, elaborated by C. J. Bergman. Hop O’ My Thumb, Lick the Pot, etc., are the names given the fingers. [↑]
The Sea Nymph.
One night a number of fishermen quartered themselves in a hut by a fishing village on the northwest shores of an island. After they had gone to bed, and while they were yet awake, they saw a white, dew-besprinkled woman’s hand reaching in through the door. They well understood that their visitor was a sea nymph, who sought their destruction, and feigned unconsciousness of her presence.
The following day their number was added to by the coming of a young, courageous and newly married man from Kinnar, in Lummelund. When they related to him their adventure of the night before, he made fun of their being afraid to take a beautiful woman by the hand, and boasted that if he had been present he would not have neglected to grasp the proffered hand.