Northern mythology

160 DANISH TRADITIONS.
day, when the man came into the barn, he did nothing,
but merely looked at the corn ; the second day he did no
more than the first, until Nis towards evening said to him :
" Hear ! I will come and help thee." To this the man
had nothing to object, so it was settled that Nis should
every night have for his supper porridge with butter in it.
On the following morning, when the man came into the
barn, Nis had already thrashed a heap of corn, containing
about twenty-five loads. " Thou canst now cut up the
straw by noon," said Nis, and as he helped him, so it was
'^
done. Then said the man : But how shall we get the
chaff separated from the barley ? " " That I will soon
show thee," said Nis.
" Just go up outside on the top of
the barn, and make a large hole in the roof, we shall then
easily separate the chaff." When the man had so done,
the Nisse opened every door in the barn, then went up to
the hole, laid himself on his face, thrust his head through
the hole, and sent forth a loud scream, so that all the
chaff flew about over the whole yard. This brought the
proprietor out, who on seeing what had been done was
highly incensed :
''
I believe thou art mad, fellow !
" said
he. " Dost thou let the chaff, that we should have for
the cattle in the winter, fly away in that manner ?" " O !
is that all, master ? " said the man ^' : if you want the
chaff in again, that you can soon have." The Nisse now
helped the man to gather up the chaff and carry it in
again, all which was accomplished in half an hour. " Go
now in to your master," said the Nisse, " and tell him that
the corn is thrashed, and the chaff gathered in a heap, if
he will now come out and measure, that we may know
how many bushels there are. But tell him, at the same
time, that we must be paid for every bushel of chaff as
well as for eveiy bushel of corn ; and that if he refuses,
we will throw down the whole barn." When the man
had delivered this message, the master answered laugh-