Northern mythology

188 NETHERLANDISH TRADITIONS.
finding it the next moniing beautifully sharpened. He did
in like manner when he wanted his linen washed.
The Redcaps or Klabbers, called also KaboutermannekenSj
often increase the wood. In the night, when the
moon does not shine, they enter a house through the
chimney, make themselves a fire on the hearth, and set
themselves quietly before it. But no one sees the fire
except the Redcaps, though it warms more than an ordinary
fire.
In the morning the housewife often finds of a
large bundle of brushw^ood only a few little twigs lying on
the dogs ; but these she readily kindles, because she knows
that they burn as long as a great bundle, and give double
the warmth.
If while the wood is burning the housewife
should curse the Redcap or cross herself,
flare out in an instant.
the twigs would
A poor peasant, whose wife was suddenly taken ill, rose
in the night to churn. He had already in the evening
placed everything in readiness, and set the milk in large
pots near the fire, that the work might proceed the more
speedily. On entering the place he saw to his great
astonishment that the fire was still burning, and that a
little man half asleep was sitting before it. The noise of
the man's wooden shoes waked the mannikin, who started
up, looked hard at the man, but without uttering a word.
The peasant was equally silent, but cast a stolen side-glance
at the intruder, and saw that he was clad in red from head
to foot, and had a green face and green hands. Then
looking straight before him, he took from a corner a bundle
of fire-wood, cast it do^vn by the hearth, and went quietly
to sleep. Next morning the butter was all set and ready,
so that he had only to take it to market ; there was, more-