Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XLIII. Vosborg
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
Chap. XLIII.
THE NISSES.
199
of eight noble chateaux and herregaards which together
united amount to more than a Grefskab, or county.
Peter Tang, the rich merchant of Ringkjøbing, was
grandfather to Professor Tang, the present proprietor
of the manor.
To imagine for one moment that an ancient
habitation like Vosborg could be without its ghosts and its
traditions in a country like Jutland would be monstrous.
First on the list come the Nisses, who dwell in one
of the small bridges hard by; they are good little
fellows, and, beyond teazing and tormenting the
milkmaids, never do any harm to anybody. It was
the custom (and is sometimes now) at the three
great festivals of the year, Christmas, Easter, and St.
John’s day, to place some pots of porridge outside the
doors ready for their supper. When the old bridge was
pulled down, several of these little earthen vessels were
dug up among the foundations : they were quite empty—
no remains—leaving people to imagine the little fellows
had not only eaten their suppers, but had also enjoyed
them.
These sprites are grateful, too, and never forget a
kindness; for a great many years ago there came a
heavy fall of snow; it lay so thick upon the ground, high
as the moat which surrounded the chateau, no one could
leave the house. The cattle were all safely housed
in the farm-buildings, with the exception of six calves,
who were lodged in a shed in a field some way
off. After a fortnight’s imprisonment the thaw came,
and the farm-labourers set forth to remove, as they
imagined, the frozen remains of the starved animals.
Great was their surprise to find the little creatures
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
