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A TALE OF THE TONTLAWALD
Long； long ago there stood in the midst of a country covered with
lakes a vast stretch of moorland called the Tontlawald； on which
no man ever dared set foot。 From time to time a few bold spirits
had been drawn by curiosity to its borders； and on their return
had reported that they had caught a glimpse of a ruined house in
a grove of thick trees； and round about it were a crowd of beings
resembling men； swarming over the grass like bees。 The men were
as dirty and ragged as gipsies； and there were besides a quantity
of old women and half…naked children。
One night a peasant who was returning home from a feast wandered
a little farther into the Tontlawald； and came back with the same
story。 A countless number of women and children were gathered
round a huge fire； and some were seated on the ground； while
others danced strange dances on the smooth grass。 One old crone
had a broad iron ladle in her hand； with which every now and then
she stirred the fire； but the moment she touched the glowing
ashes the children rushed away； shrieking like night owls； and it
was a long while before they ventured to steal back。 And besides
all this there had once or twice been seen a little old man with
a long beard creeping out of the forest； carrying a sack bigger
than himself。 The women and children ran by his side； weeping
and trying to drag the sack from off his back； but he shook them
off； and went on his way。 There was also a tale of a magnificent
black cat as large as a foal； but men could not believe all the
wonders told by the peasant； and it was difficult to make out
what was true and what was false in his story。 However； the fact
remained that strange things did happen there； and the King of
Sweden； to whom this part of the country belonged； more than once
gave orders to cut down the haunted wood； but there was no one
with courage enough to obey his commands。 At length one man；
bolder than the rest； struck his axe into a tree； but his blow
was followed by a stream of blood and shrieks as of a human
creature in pain。 The terrified woodcutter fled as fast as his
legs would carry him； and after that neither orders nor threats
would drive anybody to the enchanted moor。
A few miles from the Tontlawald was a large village； where dwelt
a peasant who had recently married a young wife。 As not
uncommonly happens in such cases； she turned the whole house
upside down； and the two quarrelled and fought all day long。
By his first wife the peasant had a daughter called Elsa； a good
quiet girl； who only wanted to live in peace； but this her
stepmother would not allow。 She beat and cuffed the poor child
from morning till night； but as the stepmother had the whip…hand
of her husband there was no remedy。
For two years Elsa suffered all this ill…treatment； when one day
she went out with the other village children to pluck
strawberries。 Carelessly they wandered on； till at last they
reached the edge of the Tontlawald； where the finest strawberries
grew； making the grass red with their colour。 The children flung
themselves down on the ground； and； after eating as many as they
wanted； began to pile up their baskets； when suddenly a cry arose
from one of the older boys：
'Run； run as fast as you can！ We are in the Tontlawald！'
Quicker than lightning they sprang to their feet； and rushed
madly away； all except Elsa； who had strayed farther than the
rest； and had found a bed of the finest strawberries right under
the trees。 Like the others； she heard the boy's cry； but could
not make up her mind to leave the strawberries。
'After all； what does it matter？' thought she。 'The dwellers in
the Tontlawald cannot be worse than my stepmother'； and looking
up she saw a little black dog with a silver bell on its neck come
barking towards her； followed by a maiden clad all in silk。
'Be quiet；' said she； then turning to Elsa she added： 'I am so
glad you did not run away with the other children。 Stay here
with me and be my friend； and we will play delightful games
together； and every day we will go and gather strawberries。
Nobody will dare to beat you if I tell them not。 Come； let us go
to my mother'； and taking Elsa's hand she led her deeper into the
wood； the little black dog jumping up beside them and barking
with pleasure。
Oh！ what wonders and splendours unfolded themselves before
Elsa's astonished eyes！ She thought she really must be in
Heaven。 Fruit trees and bushes loaded with fruit stood before
them； while birds gayer than the brightest butterfly sat in their
branches and filled the air with their song。 And the birds were
not shy； but let the girls take them in their hands； and stroke
their gold and silver feathers。 In the centre of the garden was
the dwelling…house； shining with glass and precious stones； and
in the doorway sat a woman in rich garments； who turned to Elsa's
companion and asked：
'What sort of a guest are you bringing to me？'
'I found her alone in the wood；' replied her daughter； 'and
brought her back with me for a companion。 You will let her
stay？'
The mother laughed； but said nothing； only she looked Elsa up and
down sharply。 Then she told the girl to come near； and stroked
her cheeks and spoke kindly to her； asking if her parents were
alive； and if she really would like to stay with them。 Elsa
stooped and kissed her hand； then； kneeling down； buried her face
in the woman's lap； and sobbed out：
'My mother has lain for many years under the ground。 My father
is still alive； but I am nothing to him； and my stepmother beats
me all the day long。 I can do nothing right； so let me； I pray
you； stay with you。 I will look after the flocks or do any work
you tell me； I will obey your lightest word； only do not； I
entreat you； send me back to her。 She will half kill me for not
having come back with the other children。'
And the woman smiled and answered； 'Well； we will see what we can
do with you；' and； rising； went into the house。
Then the daughter said to Elsa； 'Fear nothing； my mother will be
your friend。 I saw by the way she looked that she would grant
your request when she had thought over it；' and； telling Elsa to
wait； she entered the house to seek her mother。 Elsa meanwhile
was tossed about between hope and fear； and felt as if the girl
would never come。
At last Elsa saw her crossing the grass with a box in her hand。
'My mother says we may play together to…day； as she wants to make
up her mind what to do about you。 But I hope you will stay here
always； as I can't bear you to go away。 Have you ever been on
the sea？'
'The sea？' asked Elsa； staring； 'what is that？ I've never heard
of such a thing！'
'Oh； I'll soon show you；' answered the girl； taking the lid from
the box； and at the very bottom lay a scrap of a cloak； a mussel
shell； and two fish scales。 Two drops of water were glistening
on the cloak； and these the girl shook on the ground。 In an
instant the garden and lawn and everything else had vanished
utterly； as if the earth had opened and swallowed them up； and as
far as the eye could reach you could see nothing but water； which
seemed at last to touch heaven itself。 Only under their feet was
a tiny dry spot。 Then the girl placed the mussel shell on the
water and took the fish scales in her hand。 The mussel shell
grew bigger and bigger； and turned into a pretty little boat；
which would have held a dozen children。 The girls stepped in；
Elsa very cautiously； for which she was much laughed at by her
friend； who used the fish scales for a rudder。 The waves rocked
the girls softly； as if they were lying in a cradle； and they
floated on till they met other boats filled with men； singing and
making merry。
'We must sing you a song in return；' said the girl； but as Elsa
did not know any songs； she had to sing by herself。 Elsa could
not understand any of the men's songs； but one word； she noticed；
came over and over again； and that was 'Kisika。' Elsa asked what
it meant； and the girl replied that it was her name。
It was all so pleasant that they might have stayed there for ever
had not a voice cried out to them； 'Children； it is time for you
to come home！'
So Kisika took the little box out of her pocket； with the piece
of cloth lying in it； and dipped the cloth in the water； and lo！
they were standing close to a splendid house in the middle of the
garden。 Everything round them was dry and firm； and there was no
water anywhere。 The mussel shell and the fish scales were put
back in the box； and the girls went in。
They entered a large hall； where four and twenty richly dressed
women were sitting round a table； looking as if they were about
to attend a wedding。 At the head of the table sat the lady of
the house in a golden chair。
Elsa did not know which way to look； for everything that met her
eyes was more beautiful than she could have dreamed possible。
But she sat down with the rest； and ate some delicious fruit； and
thought she must be in heaven。 The guests talked softly； but
their speech was strange to Elsa； and she understood nothing of
what was said。 Then the hostess turned round and whi