When the King of Sweden gave orders to cut down the haunted wood, no man had courage enough to carry them out. But I wasn’t afraid. I took my axe and went into the Tontlawald. I struck a tree, and my blow was followed by a stream of blood and shrieks as if a...
My best friend and I grew up in houses that stood side-by-side, and our fathers were both carpenters. We were so close to one another that we used to be called Little Fork and Little Knife. My friend became a soldier, and I became a carpenter. He was much more...
No, no! Whatever you do, don’t let him in! I bolted the doors of hell and ran as quickly as I could to the highest devil. I said, “There’s a fellow outside with a magic knapsack who wants to come in, but don’t let him in, because if you do,...
When Youri and I were children, we decided to go up the mountain and climb to the lake where the undines lived. It was hard going, and I became hobbled by a stone in my shoe. At last, I grew too weary to climb on, and, besides, it was getting dark. I lay down on a...
I did not want to marry the lindworm! He had eaten his two other brides! I did nothing to deserve being wed to such a monster. I ran to my mother’s grave and I prayed earnestly for her help. Then I became very peaceful and fell asleep. When the sun woke me in...
I am chained to a rock in the middle of a torrent, waiting for a seven-headed serpent to get hungry. When he does, he’ll eat me. Who could possibly save me? No one from my country. The serpent has already eaten all the men and most of the women in this land. My...
When I was in the bar having a few drinks, a few mates told me about the princess who lies dead in the church. The king needs a sentinel to stand guard over her. It would seem that the men who have done the watch are gone or dead by morning. In either case, they...
When my brother and I were hunting for seals, a skeleton woman approached us. She approached us, clattering over the ice. She wanted to speak to us. We were scared out of our wits, and ran home to our father like little children. The old man was amazed, and now...
My dearest, most beloved daughter married the worst, most devilish magician you could possibly imagine. He shut her up in a stable, can you believe it? I finally have her back, thanks to a cooper who hid her in a barrel. Now she has run into the hall as white as a...
How I wanted a child! But it would kill me to have one. I couldn’t bear to see the child try to walk, stumble, and fall. I can’t bear defeat! At last, after twelve years of marriage, I gave birth to a boy, but, of course, I could not live to see him...
