Old-Fashioned Fairy Tales | Page 7

harp, and if the winds wisht, thou must die this easy death; but if I
fail in my part, I shall not expect thine to be fulfilled. And we must
both abide what shall befall, even as others." And to this the maiden
consented most willingly. Only she said, "Do this for me, I beg of thee.
Let him come so near that I may just see his face before I die." And it
was so agreed.
Then the aged Neck drew forth his harp and began to play. And as he
played the wind stayed, as one who pauses to hearken with cleft lips,
and the lake rose and fell gently, like the bosom of a girl moved by
some plaintive song, and the sun burst forth as if to see who made such
sweet music. And so through this happy change the young man got safe
to land. Then the Neck turned to the maiden and said, "Dost thou hold
to thy promise?" And she bowed her head.
"In the long life be thy recompense!" cried the Neck, fervently, and
taking his harp again, he poured his whole spirit into the strain. And as
he played, it seemed as if the night wind moaned among pine-trees, but

it was more mournful. And it was as the wail of a mother for her only
son, and yet fuller of grief. Or like a Dead March wrung from the heart
of a great musician--loading the air with sorrow--and yet all these were
as nothing to it for sadness. And when the maiden heard it, it was more
than she could bear, and her heart broke, as the Neck had said. Then the
young man sprang to shore, and when she could see his face clearly,
her soul passed, and her body fell like a snapped flower to the earth.
Now when the young man knew what was befallen, he fell upon the
Neck to kill him, who said, "Thou mayest spare thyself this trouble, for
in a few moments I shall be dead. But do thou take my robe and my
harp, and thou shalt be a famous musician."
Now even as the Neck spoke the sun sank, and he fell upon his face.
And when the young man lifted the robe, behold there was nothing
under it but the harp, across which there swept such a wild and piteous
chord that all the strings burst as if with unutterable grief.
Then the young man lifted the body of his sweetheart in his arms, and
carried her home, and she was buried with many tears.
And in due time he put fresh strings to the harp, which, though it was
not as when it was in the hands of the Neck, yet it made most exquisite
music. And the young man became a famous musician. For out of
suffering comes song.
Furthermore, he occupied himself in good works until that his time also
came.
* * * * *
And in Eternity Love was made secure.

THE NIX IN MISCHIEF.
A certain lake in Germany was once the home of a Nix, who became
tired of the monotony of life under water, and wished to go into the

upper world and amuse himself.
His friends and relations all tried to dissuade him. "Be wise," said they,
"and remain where you are safe, seeing that no business summons you
from the lake. Few of our kindred have had dealings with the human
race without suffering from their curiosity or clumsiness; and, do them
what good you may, in the long run you will reap nothing but
ingratitude. From how many waters have they not already banished us?
Wherefore let well alone, and stay where you are."
But this counsel did not please the Nix--(as, indeed, there is no reason
to suppose that advice is more palatable under water than on dry
land)--and he only said, "I shall not expect gratitude, for I have no
intention of conferring benefits; but I wish to amuse myself. The
Dwarfs and Kobolds play what pranks they please on men and women,
and they do not always have the worst of it. When I hear of their
adventures, the soles of my feet tingle. This is a sign of travelling, and
am I to be debarred from fun because I live in a lake instead of a hill?"
His friends repeated their warnings, but to no purpose. The Nix
remained unconvinced, and spent his time in dreaming of the clever
tricks by which he should outwit the human race, and the fame he
would thereby acquire on his return to the lake.
Mischief seldom lacks opportunity, and shortly after this it happened
that a young girl came down to the lake for water to wash with; and