Northern mythology

NETHERLANDISH TRADITIONS. 239
and round. Jan now filled tlie pan with butter, which
when melted and scalding hot, he threw over the cats, and
in one instant they all vanished.
On the following- day it was said in the village, that
the shoemaker^s wife was burnt over
her whole body, of
which the soldier knew something, and assured the inhabitants
that thenceforth the castle would be no more
haunted. And so it proved, for the cats never ventured
to return ^
THE RED CLOTH.
In former times peasant-women were often
observed to
bring butter to the market of Turnhout in such quantities
as to excite every one^s astonishment, it being known that
they did not own a cow, or, at the most, had only a single
one. The general belief was that this butter came from
the Kaboutermannekens, and by the aid of a red cloth.
One of these women, who was suspected of having such
a red cloth, often brought butter to a certain house, which
]3 utter was as sweet as a nut and as yellow as gold. When
she came, a cup of cofiee was usually given to her, and sometimes
a slice of bread and butter ;
for she was a pleasant,
lively woman. The master of the house, however, not feeling
quite satisfied respecting her, went to a priest, to
whom he communicated his doubts. The priest gave him
a little box, directing him to hang it under the chair in
which the woman might be sitting.
On the next market-day the woman as usual brought
her butter, and having received payment for it, a cup of
coffee was given to her. While she was sitting, the man
came clandestinely and hung the box on her chair, then
seated himself opposite to her, to observe what she would
do. She appeared in nowise disconcerted, but sat unusually
long, talking incessantly till the clock struck
1 See vol. ii. p, 32,