Northern mythology

NORTH GERMAN TRADITIONS. 19
shall I bring to-night ?" "Thou shalt bring rye/^ answered
the peasant.
The cat was now busily employed in
shooting down rye^ so that in the morning the door could
not be opened. The man then saw that the cat was a
witch, and carried it back to his neighbour, in which he
acted prudently ; for had he given it work a third time,
he could never have got rid of it. In one respect, however,
he did not act prudently, to wit, in not saying the
^^
second time: Thou shalt bring gold/^ for then he
would have got as much gold as he did rye.
MONOLOKE.
There was in former times a spirit known among the
people under the name of Monoloke ; so that when any
one became unexpectedly rich, it was said of him "
: The
Monoloke peeps out of his pocket." The Monoloke was
a puppet made in the deviPs name of white wax, and was
clad in a petticoat of blue taffety, with a vest of black velvet
; the legs and feet were bare. Those who would derive
aid from it must preserve it carefully and keep it clean.
WITCHES IN FRIESLAND.
Tlie people of Donsum, in the island of Fohr, are accounted
sorcerers ; the women in particular are all said to
be witches. On this account no one cares to hold any
intercourse with them, and no one marries out of the village.
On a Friday no woman is to be found at home;
because on that day they hold their meetings and have
dances on a barren heath.
In the evening they ride thither
on horses, though usually they have wings on their
shoulders and fly. In their flight they are often unable
to stop at the right time, so that if a church stecj)le is in
their way, they fly against it. From hurts received in their
fall, on the following day they lie sick. Where their
dances have been held, there may be found on the next