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Article THE FAIRY FAMILY. ← Page 5 of 13 →
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The Fairy Family.
retirement of the mountains , after haA-ing been driven there by the ScanclinaA-ians . The Trolls were a race someivhat allied to the Dwarfs , who sometimes enriched such of mankind as obtained their favour and good-will , from their chests of gold underground . They hacl great power of working mischief , but fortunately could be driven awaysince they could not endure
, the sound of drums , or of church bells . -Another variety Avas the Nis , a creatine no larger than an infant , but having the aspect ancl demeanour of an old man , wearing a peaked red cap . In Norvcay ei'ery church , as Avell as every farm , possessed its attendant Nis . We meet with him in various places , under other titles ; in Germany , as the Kobold ; in Scotland , as
BroAvnie ; and in our OAA * U country , as Hobgoblin ; the merits of which beings we shall subsequently enlarge upon . The Norwegian Strom-karl or Grimm is a fiend of extraordinary musical powers , Avhose capabilities remind us of the fabled gifts of Orpheus . When propitiated by an offering , he is Avilling to impart his gifts to mortalsAvho thereby acquire
, the power of making the trees dance , and the waterfalls and rivulets to cease in their course . In Denmark , a certain jig is known , which no one has the courage to perform , since it compels all ivho hear it , young ancl old , to dance frantically ,
and affects the stools ancl tables m the same way . This is called the Elf-king ' s dance . It is believed that the only way of breaking the spell is to play it backwards without missing a note , or that the fiddle-strings should be cut by some one behind the player , without his consent . There has no doubt been much trickery used in supporting this absurd belief .
The Danes have other distinguishing superstitions . Their Elle-woman was believed to be a fair maid , presenting to the beholder every charm in perfection ; but who , when forced to turn ancl fly at sight of the cross , exposed her back , ivhich Avas holloAV . They have , too , the Neck , or river-spirit . When Odin acted as the destroying principle , the Scandinavians gave him
the title Nikker ( whence the Old Nick of England , and the Kelpie of Scotland ) , ancl supposed him to haunt a gloomy , turbid lake in the island of Rugen . Here he used to annoy the fishermen by violent tempests , ancl remove their boats , fixing them on the summits of lofty fir-trees . The Neck was either a boy with golden haira youthor an old long-bearded
, , man , sitting on calm nights upon the surface of the ivaves , ancl producing most delightful harmony from a golden harp . By after-changes it became the St . Nicholas , Avhose aid was invoked by sailors in clangers and storms at sea . The Icelanders have a water-spirit , or kelpie , which appears in the form of an
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Fairy Family.
retirement of the mountains , after haA-ing been driven there by the ScanclinaA-ians . The Trolls were a race someivhat allied to the Dwarfs , who sometimes enriched such of mankind as obtained their favour and good-will , from their chests of gold underground . They hacl great power of working mischief , but fortunately could be driven awaysince they could not endure
, the sound of drums , or of church bells . -Another variety Avas the Nis , a creatine no larger than an infant , but having the aspect ancl demeanour of an old man , wearing a peaked red cap . In Norvcay ei'ery church , as Avell as every farm , possessed its attendant Nis . We meet with him in various places , under other titles ; in Germany , as the Kobold ; in Scotland , as
BroAvnie ; and in our OAA * U country , as Hobgoblin ; the merits of which beings we shall subsequently enlarge upon . The Norwegian Strom-karl or Grimm is a fiend of extraordinary musical powers , Avhose capabilities remind us of the fabled gifts of Orpheus . When propitiated by an offering , he is Avilling to impart his gifts to mortalsAvho thereby acquire
, the power of making the trees dance , and the waterfalls and rivulets to cease in their course . In Denmark , a certain jig is known , which no one has the courage to perform , since it compels all ivho hear it , young ancl old , to dance frantically ,
and affects the stools ancl tables m the same way . This is called the Elf-king ' s dance . It is believed that the only way of breaking the spell is to play it backwards without missing a note , or that the fiddle-strings should be cut by some one behind the player , without his consent . There has no doubt been much trickery used in supporting this absurd belief .
The Danes have other distinguishing superstitions . Their Elle-woman was believed to be a fair maid , presenting to the beholder every charm in perfection ; but who , when forced to turn ancl fly at sight of the cross , exposed her back , ivhich Avas holloAV . They have , too , the Neck , or river-spirit . When Odin acted as the destroying principle , the Scandinavians gave him
the title Nikker ( whence the Old Nick of England , and the Kelpie of Scotland ) , ancl supposed him to haunt a gloomy , turbid lake in the island of Rugen . Here he used to annoy the fishermen by violent tempests , ancl remove their boats , fixing them on the summits of lofty fir-trees . The Neck was either a boy with golden haira youthor an old long-bearded
, , man , sitting on calm nights upon the surface of the ivaves , ancl producing most delightful harmony from a golden harp . By after-changes it became the St . Nicholas , Avhose aid was invoked by sailors in clangers and storms at sea . The Icelanders have a water-spirit , or kelpie , which appears in the form of an