The Twelve Daughters

Once upon a time there was a poor Käthner who had twelve daughters among them two sets of twins. The pretty girls were all healthy and fresh and of delicate nature. Since the parents had it so tight, they liked it It may be incomprehensible to some how they provide food and nutrition to the many children could create clothing; the children were washed and washed daily combed and always wore clean shirts, like German children. Some thought that the Käthner had a secret treasure holder, others thought he was a sorcerer, others thought he was one Wind magician, who gathers a hidden treasure in the whirlwind knew how to grab it. In reality, however, things were completely different. The Käthner's wife had a secret counter-donor who... Children fed, cleaned and combed. When she was still a girl from a foreign farm, saw her three nights in a row in a dream a stately woman came to her and commanded her to go to the source of the village on St. John's Eve. She would have now I didn't pay any further attention to this dream unless it happened on St. John's Eve The little voice kept buzzing like a mosquito in her ear: “Go to the spring, go to the spring where the veins of your happiness flow!” Although she did not hear the secret advice without horror, She finally took courage and left the other girls as the fiddle played around the fire and walked towards the spring. But the closer she came, the more anxious her heart became; she would be vice versa, if the mosquito's voice had left her alone; She involuntarily moved on. When she got there, she saw a woman white clothes, sitting on a stone by the spring. As the woman Perceiving the girl's fear, she took a few steps towards her towards him, offered him his hand in greeting and said: "Don't be afraid, Dear child, I won't do you any harm! Notice and keep exactly what I'm telling you. In the fall you will be wooed; the Man is as poor as you, but don't worry about it, just take it his brandy. Since you are both good, I wish you happiness bring and help you along; but leave aside care and work not behind, otherwise no happiness can last. Take this bag and put it in your pocket, there are only a few stones in it. After you give birth to your first child, throw a stone in the fountain so that I can come to see you. When the child is baptized I want to stand by Godfather. From our nightly Meeting let nothing be said against anyone - for this time say I say goodbye to you!” With these words the wonderful stranger said goodbye Girl disappeared as if she had sunk underground. Perhaps the girl would also have thought this incident was a dream if... the little bag in her hand had not testified to the contrary; she found there are twelve stones in it.

The prophecy came true, the girl was married in the fall and the man was a poor servant. The following year the young woman brought the first daughter was born, thought about what she had in her life After meeting St. John's Eve, he secretly got out of bed and went to bed the well and threw a stone into it. With a thud it fell into the water! The friendly woman immediately stood in front of her, dressed in white, and said: “Me thank you for not forgetting me. Sunday for a fortnight Let the child be baptized, then I'll come to church too "I want to stand with the child's godfather." As the child on the designated day When it was brought to church, a strange lady came up and picked it up the womb and had it baptized. When this was done, she tied one silver ruble in the child's diaper and sent it to the mother back. The same thing happened later with every new baptism until that dozen was full. When the last child was born, the woman had to Mother said: "From today on your eyes will no longer see me, although I will be around you and your children daily, unseen. The Water from the well will bring more prosperity to children than the best Kost. When the time comes for your daughters to get married, you must give everyone the ruble that I brought as a godfather gift. So As long as they are single, they should not make a bigger state than that They wear clean shirts and scarves every day and on Sundays.«

The children grew and prospered so much that it was a joy to watch; Bread There was plenty in the house, sometimes thin supplements, but mostly Parents and children were apparently strengthened by the well water. The The eldest daughter was then given to a wealthy landlord's son married. Although she gave him nothing except the most basic clothing spent, a bridal box was made and clothes and Pathen rubles inserted. When the men put the box on the wagon When they lifted it, they found it so heavy that they thought there were stones in it, because poor Käthner had nothing else of value for his daughter to give along. But the young woman was far more astonished than she was At the bridegroom's house he opened the box and filled it with pieces of linen filled and at the bottom a leather bag with a hundred found silver rubles. The same thing was repeated with each new one marriage; and the daughters were soon all taken away when it It became known what a bride's treasure each one received.

But one of the sons-in-law was very greedy and liked each other not satisfied with his wife's dowry. He thought: that Parents must probably have a lot of wealth themselves, if they do were able to give so much to each daughter. So one day he went to his father-in-law and tried to steal the treasure from him. The Käthner said quite truthfully: "I have nothing behind body and soul, And I couldn't give my daughters anything other than that Crate. What everyone found in their box is not my fault but was the godfather's gift from the baptismal mother, which was given to every child gave a ruble on his baptism day. This gift of love has become... box multiplied." Meanwhile the greedy son-in-law believed the father-in-law's words, but threatened them in court To accuse the old man of being a sorcerer and a wind conjurer who had brought together a great treasure with the help of evil. Since the Käthner had a clear conscience, he felt the threat no fear of his son-in-law. But this one really complained. The court then left the Käthner's other sons-in-law and asked them whether each of them had the same dowry have received. The men said that each had a box full linen and a hundred silver rubles. This caused great excitement Surprise, because the whole neighborhood knew very well that he was Käthner was poor and had no other treasure than twelve pretty ones daughters. That these daughters always wore pure white shirts from an early age People knew what they had worn, but no one else had one Noticed splendor on them, neither breastplates nor colorful scarves. The Judges now decided to investigate the strange matter more closely, to find out whether the old man was really a sorcerer.

One day the judges, accompanied by a group of henchmen, left the city. They wanted to surround the Käthner's house with guards No one could get out and no treasure could be brought to the site. The greedy son-in-law made the leader. When she reached the forest had come to where the Käthner's hut was located Guards were placed on all sides to prevent anyone from getting through. until the matter is cleared up. The horses were left here and beaten the footpath to the hut. The son-in-law urged people to behave quietly and to keep quiet so that the warlock doesn't become aware and take off on the wings of the wind. They were already close to the hut, when suddenly a wonderful glow blinded them, coming through the trees urge. As they walked further a large beautiful house became visible; it was made entirely of glass and many hundreds of candles burned in it, although the The sun was shining and there was enough brightness. Two warriors stood in front of the door Guards who were completely clad in brass and had long bare swords in the held hand. The judges didn't know what to think, Everything seemed more like a dream than reality. Then it opened the door: a handsome youth in silk clothes came out and said: "Our queen has ordered that the chief justice be brought before "Let her appear." Although he felt some fear, he followed the young man into the house.

Who could describe the splendor and glory that was before his eyes? on that. In the magnificent hall, which was the size of a church, Sitting on a throne was a woman decorated with silk, velvet and gold. A few feet below, twelve beautiful ones sat on smaller golden armchairs Miss, just as splendidly decorated as the queen, except that she doesn't have one wore a golden crown. Numerous servants stood on either side, all of them in bright silk clothes, with gold chains around their necks. As the As the Supreme Court approached, bowing, the Queen asked: “Why did you come today with a band of henchmen? Would you have to catch evildoers?" The judge wanted to answer, but terror tied his tongue so that he couldn't say a word could put forward. "I know the malicious and lying accusation," continued the woman, “for nothing is hidden from my eyes. Lasset The wrong plaintiff comes in, but first puts his hands and feet in his hands Chains, then I want to give him justice. Also the other judges and the servants should enter so that the matter may become clear and they “We can testify that no one is being wronged here.” One of them Servant rushed out to carry out the order. After some time The plaintiff was brought forward, tied hand and foot and surrounded by six guarded by men in armor. The other judges and their servants followed. Then the queen began like this:

»Before I impose the punishment the injustice deserves, I must tell you briefly explain how the matter is connected. I am the supreme ruler of water, all the water veins that spring from the earth, are under my control. The Wind King's eldest son was mine Dearest, but since his father didn't allow him to take a wife, so We had to keep our marriage secret as long as our father was alive. Since I Now I couldn't raise my children at home, so I switched Every time the Käthner's wife gave birth, his child against mine. But Käthner's children grew up as foster children on my farm Aunt up. The time came when one of the Käthner's daughters wanted to get married, another exchange was made. Every time I had my daughter taken away the night before the wedding and for that bring the Käthner's child there. The old Wind King had been sick for a long time down so that he didn't notice our deception. On baptism day I gave each child a ruble piece, which was the dowry in the box should hedge. The sons-in-law were all there with their young ones women and what they brought with them, only this greedy one was satisfied The wicked man whom you see here in chains made a false complaint against his father-in-law, hoping to gain enrich. Two weeks ago the old Wind King died and... my husband came to power. Now we need our marriage and to no longer hide our children. Mine are sitting here in front of you twelve daughters, their foster parents, Käthner and his wife, up to they will eat the bread of mercy with me through their death. But you reprobate The villain whom I have had tied up, you shall immediately get what you deserve receive wages. You shall be caught in your chains in a mountain of gold sit so that your greedy eyes can constantly see the gold without it you will receive a grain of it. You shall live seven hundred years endure this torment before death has the power to put you to rest. That’s my verdict.”

When the queen had spoken until then, there was a noise like a a strong thunderclap, so that the earth shook and the judges together with them servants fell down in a daze. When they came to, they found Although they were in the forest to which the guide had led them, where the glass house had just stood in all its splendour, Clear cold water now bubbled up from a small spring. -- »About Käthner, his wife and the greedy son-in-law nothing was ever heard of later; the latter's widow had im In the fall she married another man with whom she lived happily ever after to its end.