Northern mythology

NETHERLANDISH TRADITIONS. 207
darted through the window, which at that moment sprang
open, when from without hahaha ! long resounded in his
ears. He then knew that it was Lodder.
On a
Saturday evening the country lads usually go to
the window of their sweethearts and settle w4th them
where they shall meet on the Sunday. A young fellow from
Tissel, who was on the same errand, had, in order to reach
the house in which his sweetheart dwelt, to cross over a
brook ; but when he came to the spot where the bridge
should be, it was no longer there, but there was Lodder
sitting in the grass. " What dost thou want ? " said
Lodder. " I want to go to my sweetheart," answered the
young man, " but I don^t see the bridge." " Then I can
help thee," said Lodder, at the same time stretching himself
at full length across the water, so that his paws
reached the opposite bank ; and the youth taking courage,
passed over Lodder^s back and neck and arms, and when
he found himself on the opposite bank he courteously
thanked Lodder.
After having conversed a while with his
lass, he took his way home. In passing through a cornfield
he heard an infant piteously crying, and on proceeding
to the spot whence the voice seemed to come, he found
a boy of about eight years old, whom he took on his back
and continued his w^ay to the brook, where Lodder was
still sitting. " What hast thou there ? " asked Lodder.
" A poor child," answered the young man, " whom I will
keep with me till to-morrow, when he will perhaps find
his parents." "^Tis well," said Lodder, stretching out
his paws, and again placing himself across the brook. But
as he was passing over Lodder^s legs, the boy on his
shoulders grew uncommonly heavy, so that Lodder cried
out, ^' Thou art getting too heavy for me, I shall let thee
fall." "Just stay a little while, dear Lodder," said the