Northern mythology

NORTH GERMAN TRADITIONS. 49
People frighten children with the Biisemann, who
dwells in the stable ; in Fohr they are kept in awe by the
blind Jug; in Ditmarschen by Pulterklaes. And who
knows not the formidable Roppert (Ruprecht) ? The
domestic goblin was formerly known under the name of
Chimken.
In some respects the Niss-Puk resembles the Galgenmannlein or Alraun
of South Germany, who is enclosed in a bottle, can be sold by his owner,
but always for a price less than the sum he paid for him. The soul of
the last owner belongs to the Galgenmannlein. See the tale of ' Das
Galgenmannlein ' in Binder's Schwabische Volkssagen.
THE SUBTERRANEANS LICK UP MILK.
About seventy years ago little underground beings were
seen in many farms in the Wilstermarsch^ who did little
more than accompany the maids and men home in the
morning after they had been milking, and sedulously lick
up the drops of milk that had been spilt. But when in
measuring out nothing was spilt, they would overturn all
the vessels and run away.
These people were about a foot
and a half high, wore black clothes and a peaked, red cap.
Wherever they came, people thought they brought a special
blessing on the house.
In the Frisic islands the housewives have frequently
observed, when brewing, that the little people usually
came in the shape of toads, and licked from off the floor
the new beer that had been spilt. No one does them any
harm, and the beer so spilt must be left for them, as well
as the crumbs of bread that fall from the table.
THE KLABAUTERMANN.
The Klabautermann sits under the ship^s capstan, and
is a little fellow with yellow breeches, horseman^s boots, a
large, fiery-red head, green teeth, and a steeple-crowned
hat. If a ship is doomed to perish, the Klabautermann