The Mermaid (3)

In the old happy days there were much better people on earth than now, that's why the heavenly Father revealed many miracles to them which these days either remain completely hidden or only rarely appear to a lucky child. The birds sing along old way, and the animals exchange their sounds, but unfortunately we don't understand their language and what they say doesn't help us Teaching still benefits.

Once upon a time there lived on the beach in the _Wiek_ a beautiful mermaid who... often showed people; nor my grandfather's cousin, who lived in this one Growing up in the area, I had sometimes seen her sitting on a stone, but the boy hadn't dared to come closer. The Virgin appeared in many forms, now as a colt or heifer, now again as one other animal; Some evenings she mingled with the children and let them She liked that they played with her, that the little boys liked her put her on her back - then suddenly she was as if she were under the ground sunk!

As the old people of that time said, you could see the Virgin in... In the past, you can see almost every beautiful summer evening on the seashore, wherever She is sitting on a stone, her long blonde hair with a golden comb and sang such beautiful songs that the listeners' hearts melted. But she did not tolerate the approach of people and instead disappeared her gaze, or escaped into the sea, where she looked like a swan Waves rocked. Why she fled from the people and nothing more We would now like to find out more about them in the past report.

In the old days, long before the Swedish era, the Wiek lived on the beach a wealthy farmer with his wife and four sons; your daily They derived more support from the lake than from the fields because of fishing was richly blessed in her time. Her youngest son showed up Growing up, he was different from his brothers in every way, and he avoided them company of people, strolled along the seashore and in the forest, spoke to himself, to the birds or to the wind and waves, but When he went out among people, he didn't open his mouth much, but rather stood as if dreaming. When the storms raged from the sea in autumn, Waves towered as high as houses and broke foaming on the shore, then The boy no longer had any peace at home; he often ran as if possessed half naked, on the beach. His hardy man shied away from wind and weather Body doesn't. He jumped into the boat, took hold of the oars and set off straight away a wild goose, on the crest of the raging waves far out to sea out without his daring ever putting him in danger. At the Tomorrow, when the storm had passed, he would be found on the seashore sweet sleep. He was sent somewhere to do business get, e.g. B. looking after the cattle in summer, or other small jobs to take over, he only annoyed his parents. He threw himself somewhere in the shade of a bush, without paying attention to the animals dispersed, entered meadows or cornfields, and also themselves In some places it went so that the brothers had to do things for hours until they got hold of the lost animals again. Well, the father had let the boy feel bitter enough about the rod, but that didn't work more than water poured on a goose. From boy to youth As he grew up, things didn't get any better, and no work prospered his casual hands; he smashed and broke the implement, exhausted the workhorses and yet achieved nothing right.

The father now put him into service on other people's farms because he hoped that perhaps the foreign whip will improve the Lotterer and make him would like to make a decent person; but who the boy for a week had been on probation for a long time, sent him the next week too back again. His parents accuse him of being a thief, and so do his brothers They called him “_Schlaf-Tönnis_;” before long this nickname was commonplace Munde, although he was baptized with the name _Jürgen_. Because now he Schlaf-Tönnis did not benefit anyone, but rather parents and If it was just a burden and in the way of siblings, they would like to have one Pieces of money would be given if someone had freed them from the idler. When the sleeping Tönnis couldn't stand it anymore, and no one could stand him either wanted to keep him, his father finally hired him out to a stranger Boatman as a servant, because he couldn't run away at sea, and because the boy had also loved the sea from an early age. Despite it was it after a few weeks, I don't know how? from the ship escaped and had his lazy feet back on home soil set. He was just ashamed to enter his parents' house, where he He couldn't hope for a friendly reception, he drove away from one Places around and around, trying to make a living as he could, without working. He was a handsome, strong fellow and could do it all to speak pleasantly if he wanted to, even though he was in his parents' house never used his mouth much to talk. Now they had to be him his handsome appearance and his smooth speech, because he knew himself to ingratiate themselves with women and girls.

Then it happened, one beautiful summer evening after sunset Alone on the beach it happened that the mermaid was singing sweetly ear penetrated. Schlaf-Tönnis soon thought: “She’s a woman too, and “No harm will come to me!” So ​​he didn’t hesitate to follow the song to take a look at the beautiful bird. He mounted the highest hill, and from there across a few fields saw the Mermaid sitting on a stone where she was combing her hair with a golden comb smoothed and sang a wonderful song. The young man would have more ears wanted to hear the song that beat into his heart a flame; But when he came closer, he saw that there were so many eyes here Necessary actions to grasp the beauty of the Virgin. Certainly she had Mermaid noticed the coming, but she did not flee from him, which she But she always did that when people approached her. Sleep Tonnis He might have been about ten steps away from her when he suddenly fell silent stood, undecided whether to wait or move closer. And wonderful! The mermaid rose from the stone and followed him friendly expression. She offered the young man her hand in greeting and said: »I have been waiting for you here many a day because a significant dream announced your arrival to me. You have among people nowhere house nor home where you can go or where your people Beats were good. Why should you depend on strangers if your parents don't offer you a place in their house? I know you from small and better than people know you because I'm unseen was often around you and protected you when your daring arrogance got you could have spoiled. Yes, my hands often have your shaky boat guarded that it did not sink into the depths! Come with me, you shall Have master days, and you shall not lack anything that your heart desires desired, you shall taste it. I want to wait and guard you as mine Make sure that neither wind nor rain nor frost harms you Should be.” Schlaf-Tönnis was still in doubt, he scratched himself behind his ears and wondered how to answer; although each The virgin's word had penetrated his heart like a fiery arrow. Finally he shyly asked if their home was far from here. "We can get there at lightning speed if you have firm trust in me "You have," replied the mermaid. Then Tonnis suddenly fell asleep various speeches that he used to hear from people about the mermaid had heard, his heart was worried and he asked for three days to think about it out of. “I want to fulfill your wish,” said the mermaid, “but with that you don't become insecure again, I want you before we part, put my gold ring on your finger so that you can do that Don't forget to come back. When we get to know each other better "Perhaps this pledge can become an engagement ring." With these words she took off the ring and put it on the young man's head little finger and then disappeared as if it had vanished into thin air. Schlaf-Tönnis remained standing with his eyes open and realized what had happened thought to be a dream if it weren't for the shiny ring on his finger would have shown the opposite. -- But with this ring seemed like one A strange spirit appears to have entered him, giving him nowhere to rest left calm. He wandered around the beach all night and came always back to the stone on which the virgin sat had -- but the stone was cold and empty. In the morning he went to bed little down, but restless dreams disturbed his sleep. As he When he woke up, he felt neither hunger nor thirst, all his thoughts just stood that evening he hoped to see the mermaid again. The day was drawing to a close finally, it was evening, the wind died down, the birds in the Alder bushes stopped singing and put their tired beaks under their covers the wings -- but he didn't see the mermaid anywhere that evening.

Worry and suffering forced heavy tears out of him, in his displeasure He wanted to put himself through the bitterest torture - why did he have to do it yesterday? Evening spurns the offered happiness and takes a moment to think about it stipulated where someone smarter than him can grab luck with both hands would have grabbed the horns. Now no regrets or complaints helped. Not The night and the following day passed less sadly for him; under the Burdened with grief, he didn't even feel hunger. Against At sunset he sat down on the very stone with a contrite heart, on which the mermaid had sat the day before yesterday began bitterly to cry and said with a groan: "If she doesn't come today, I will no longer live, but either here on the stone of hunger die, or throw myself suddenly into the waves and into the depths of the My miserable life will end at sea!" -- I don't know how long he's been like this He had been sitting in grief when he felt a soft, warm hand on his forehead felt. When he opened his eyes, he saw the virgin before him, who addressed him sweetly: “I saw your bitter torment, heard yours longing sigh and didn't want to hesitate any longer, although yours The time to consider doesn’t expire until tomorrow evening.”

“Forgive me, forgive me, dear maiden!” begged Schlaf-Tönnis sobbing. "Forgive me! I was a senseless fool for doing that didn't know how to hold on to unexpected happiness. The devil knows what something crazy came into my head the day before yesterday. Take me wherever you want If you want, I don't resist, I would happily give up my life for you give yourself over.”

The mermaid replied with a laugh: "I don't long for your death, But I want to take you to me alive as a dear comrade." Then She took the young man by the hand and led him a few steps closer to the sea, blindfolded his eyes with a silk cloth, and... At the same moment, Schlaf-Tönnis felt himself surrounded by two strong arms which lifted him up as if in flight and then suddenly into the flood fell. When the cold flood touched his body, he lost that Consciousness so that he no longer knew what was going on with him and around him. So later he couldn't say how long his unconsciousness had lasted had taken.

When he awoke, he was to experience even stranger things.

He found himself on a soft pillow in a silk bed that was in one stood in a magnificent room, the walls of which were made of glass and the inside was lined with red Velvet blankets were covered so that the bright light would not reach the sleeper wake up. For a while he didn't really know whether he was still alive or not is in an unknown place after death. He raised his Limbs back and forth, took the tip of his nose between his fingers, and please refer! -- everything was as it had to be. He was taken with one fine white shirts, and beautiful clothes lay on a chair in front of his Bette. After stretching in bed for a while and Having been physically convinced that he was really alive, he stood finally got up and got dressed. -- By chance he coughed, and instantly Two girls entered, saluted respectfully and asked the "gracious one." Mr_« should tell them what he wanted for breakfast. While one of them After setting the table, the other went to prepare the food. It didn't take For a long time, there were bowls of pork, sausage, blood dumplings and so on Slice of honey, along with cans of beer and meth on the table -- just as whether a magnificent wedding would be celebrated. Sleep-Tönnis, who has several Having gone days without food set his jaws moving and ate what his stomach could hold, then stretched out on the bed to eat digest. When he got up again, the servant girls came back and begged to go for a walk in the garden while the “Mr Let the woman get dressed. There were so many things coming to him from all sides "Gentlemen" were thrown at him so that he was already starting to support himself to keep such a person and forgot his former status.

In the garden he found beauty and adornment at every turn; Out in the open Golden and silver apples shone on the arbor, even the spruce and Pine cones were golden and gold-feathered birds hopped in the Tops and on the branches. Two girls stepped behind a bush It was said that they were tasked with watching the “good Lord” around the garden and to show him all the beauties of it. Going further They came to the edge of a pond with silver-feathered birds Geese and swans swam. Morning red shimmered everywhere, but The sun was nowhere to be seen. The bushes covered with flowers breathed A sweet scent emanated, and bees as big as horseflies flew around the flowers around. Everything that our friend saw here of trees and plants, was much more wonderful than we ever see. Then two appeared splendidly dressed girls to turn the “Mr.” to the “Mrs to invite who awaits him. Before he was led to her, he was another blue silk shawl draped around his shoulders. Who would have in Did you recognize the former sleeping Tönnis in this elevator?

In a magnificent hall as big as a church and also like that Twelve shy virgins sat in the bedchamber, which was made of glass silver chairs. Behind them on a rise not far from the wall There were two golden chairs, on one of which the noble queen sat, while the other was still empty. As a sleep tonnis over the threshold came, all the virgins rose from their seats and greeted him Newcomer respectfully, do not sit down again until it is there been told to them. The mistress herself remained sitting on her chair, nodded her greeting to the youth and waved her finger commandingly, whereupon the guides took the sleeping tonnis in the middle and to it Mistress guided. The youth walked forward with a timid step, and didn't dare open his eyes because of everything unexpected Splendor and glory blinded him. He was shown his place on the golden chair next to the mistress, and she said: “This young man is my dear bridegroom, to whom I am engaged and to whom I am committed I have chosen my husband. You must give him every honor and him just obey me. Every time I leave the house I have to you pass his time and look after him like you do mine Eyeball. Severe punishment would fall on anyone who disobeyed my will fulfilled on time.«

Schlaf-Tönnis looked scalded because he didn't know what he was doing should think about the matter; the experiences of that night seemed more wonderful than miracles. He had to keep asking himself in his mind, whether he is awake or dreaming. The mistress guessed what was going on in him and asked got down from her chair, took him by the hand and led him out of one room into the other; everyone was deserted. So they were in the twelfth room that was a little smaller but even more magnificent than that change. Here the mistress took her crown from her head and threw it gold-trimmed silk coat, and now the eyes as a sleeping bag When he dared to open it, he didn't look at a strange mistress, but at the mermaid his side. Oh dear time! now he suddenly grew courageous and his hope blossomed. He cried joyfully: "O dear mermaid!" - but at the same moment the Virgin's hand closed his mouth; she said in a serious tone: "If you value my happiness and your own, So never again use this name that was given to me as a insult. I am the daughter of the water mother, and we are many Sisters, even though we are all lonely, each in our own place, in the sea Lakes and rivers live, and we rarely go through one lucky coincidence." Then she explained to him that she had Up until now she had lived as a virgin, but she had to act as a decreed ruler Upholding the name and dignity of a royal woman. Sleep Tonnis He knew that he had lost his senses because of his unexpected luck not what he should begin in his joy, but the tongue was his as if bound, and he couldn't say much more than _Yes_ or _No_. But when he enjoyed the delicious dishes at lunch, and when the delicious drinks made him warm, he also relaxed his tongue, and he not only knew how to have a good conversation like he usually did, but also to make some good jokes.

On the following and the third day this happy life continued in the same way carry on happily; Schlaf-Tönnis believed himself alive heaven moved. Before going to bed the mermaid said to him: “Tomorrow We have Thursday, and every week I have to make a vow Fast on this day and live alone, separated from everyone else. On Thursdays you can't see me earlier than the rooster in the evening crowed three times. My servants will be for you in the meantime Make sure that your time is not long and that you don’t lack for anything.”

The next morning Schlaf-Tönnis found his comrade nowhere - him remembered what she had announced to him the evening before, namely, that today and every Thursday to come he will be without his wife have to deliver. The servants tried to help him in every way To pass the time, they sang, played and performed cheerful dances; Then they gave him food and drink again, like one who had been born King's son couldn't have had them better, and the day passed by faster than he thought. After dinner he went to the Peace and quiet, and when the rooster had crowed the third time, the beautiful one came back to him. The same thing happened every following Thursday. Often, indeed He had asked his beloved to fast with her on Thursday allowed, but in vain. When he was once again on a Wednesday Tormented her wife with this request and gave her no peace, she said Mermaid with teary eyes: “Take my life if you want, me gladly give it up, but your wish, you to my fast day I cannot and must not do this with you.«

It may have been a year or more before they began to have doubts in the heart of the sleep-tonnis, which became more and more tormenting, so that he could no longer find peace. He didn't like the food, and he... Sleep did not refresh him. He was afraid that the mermaid would... He still has a secret lover in whose arms she can hold everyone Rest on Thursday while he spends time with her servants must. The chamber in which the mermaid hides on Thursdays he had known about it for a long time, but what use was it? The door was always there Locked and the windows were closed from the inside by double curtains tightly covered, so that there is no opening anywhere, even if only in width of the eye of a needle, through which a ray of sunshine, let alone a human eye could have penetrated. But the more impossible the The clearer this mystery seemed to be, the more violent it became Desire to get to the bottom of the matter. Although he of what was weighing on his heart and didn't say a word to the mermaid, like that She noticed from his unstable nature that things were no longer there stood as they should. She begged him repeatedly with tears in her eyes Eyes, he doesn't like them or himself with wrong thoughts plague. “I am,” she said, “free from all guilt against you, I have no secret love or any other sin against you the conscience. But your false suspicion makes us both unhappy, and will destroy our peace of heart. I would happily do anyone give up my life for you in a moment, if you would wish it, but on my fasting day I cannot let you near me. It must not be, and would ruin our love and our happiness forever bring ruin. We live in peace six days a week Happiness with each other, how can separation _one_ day be so difficult for us fall that you should not endure them."

Such sensible encouragement lasted six days, but if the next Thursday came and the mermaid didn't appear, then he lost his head and behaved like a half-mad man. He had no more peace and quiet, most recently on Thursday he didn't want anyone around him the servants were only allowed to serve food and drinks and then had to leave immediately so that he could live alone a ghost.

This complete transformation took all the miracles, and as the mermaid the When she found out about the matter, she wanted to cry her eyes out; but She only gave in to her pain when no one was there. Schlaf-Tönnis hoped that if he were left alone he would have a better opportunity to investigate the mysterious fasting chamber -- Maybe he discovered a crack somewhere through which he could... could peek and observe what was going on there. The more he cares though tortured, the more disheartened the mermaid became, even if she still showed a friendly face, the kindness came to her no longer from the heart as usual.

So a few weeks went by and things didn't get any better worse; That's where Schlaf-Tönnis found himself next to the window one Thursday a small spot where the curtains had randomly shifted, like that that the view could penetrate into the chamber. What he saw made him his Heart worse than February cold curdling. The mysterious chamber had no floor, but looked like a large square bucket was filled with water many feet deep. His beloved was swimming in it Mermaid. From head to stomach she still had the beauty of female body, but the lower half from the navel down was whole Fish covered with scales and provided with fins. With the wide one The fish's tail sometimes splashed in the water until it was high splashed. -- The scout backed away as if in a daze and left sadly away. How much he would have given to see this sight could have wiped out his memory! He thought back and forth, but didn't know what to do.

The rooster had crowed three times in the evening as usual, but the... Mermaid didn't come back to him. He stayed awake all night, but the beauty still didn't appear. She only came in at Margen black mourning clothes, her face covered with a thin silk scarf veiled, and said in a weeping voice: "O, you wretch, you through your folly you have put an end to our happy life! You See me for the last time today and now you have to go back to yours return to your previous state, which you have to blame yourself for. Farewell for the last time!”

A sudden crash and a loud roar, as if the ground beneath the feet rolled away, threw the sleeping tonnis down, and in his stupor He no longer heard or saw what was going on with him and around him.

When he finally, who knows how long later, came out of his faint When he woke up, he found himself on the seashore, close to the same stone in which the beautiful mermaid had sat when she made a friendship with him. Instead of the magnificent clothes that he which he had worn every day in the mermaid's dwelling, he found his old suit, but it looked much older and more tattered than it did his assumption could be the case. The lucky days of our good Friends were over, and no amount of bitter remorse could be felt return.

As he continued walking, he came across the first farmsteads in his village. She They were probably in the same place as before, but they looked different. What him But what seemed even more wonderful, as he looked around, was that... People were completely strangers to him and not a single familiar face met him.

Everyone also looked at him strangely, as if they were looking at a miraculous animal would have. Schlaf-Tönnis now went to his parents' farm; came here too He was met by strangers who didn't know him and who didn't know him knew. Astonished, he asked about his father and brothers, but Nobody could tell him. At last a frail old age came Leaning on a stick, he came out of the house and said: "Farmer, the landlord, The one you are inquiring about has been sleeping there for over thirty years Earth; his sons must also be dead. So, where do you come from, Old man, to investigate such forgotten things?" The word “Little old man” had frightened the sleeping tonnis so much that he couldn’t say anything could ask further. He felt his limbs trembling and turned it turned his back on strangers and hurried out the gate. The salutation “Little old man” gave him no peace; This word weighed heavily on him Soul fell - his feet failed him.

At the next spring he saw his figure in the water: the pale, shrunken cheeks, sunken eyes, the long gray beard and gray hair confirmed what he had heard had. This yellowed, withered figure no longer resembled anything with the young man whom the mermaid had chosen as her bridegroom. Only now did the unfortunate man realize that the supposed few years... had taken away most of his life, because as As a blossoming youth, he had moved into the mermaid's house, and as He had returned at a ghostly age. There he had neither the river At that time he still felt his body fading away, and he could do it can't explain how the burden of old age came to him so suddenly a bird snare had gotten over his neck. What should he do now? start because he was snowed in as a stranger among strangers? -- Some days For a long time he roamed around the beach from one farm to the other, and good people gave him a piece of bread out of mercy. Then he met once with a lively boy, to whom he gave his CV told in detail, but that same night he also disappeared. After a few days the waves rolled his body onto the shore. Whether he It is not known whether he drowned in the sea intentionally or accidentally become.

From this time on, the nature of the mermaid has passed on to people compared to completely changed; It only appears to children sometimes, almost always in a different form, but it doesn't let adult people touch it approach, but shies away from them like fire.