The Wooden Man And The Birch-Bark Maid
Great, you've picked a new story. Here are some details about this tale:
Author / Collector:
Book:
Publisher:
Year:
Country:
Subject:
License:
Editor's Notes:
William Forsell Kirby
The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That Country
John C. Nimmo, London
1895
Estonia
The Wooden Man And The Birch-Bark Maid: artificial beings, creation, companionship, rustic magic, identity, wonder, folk imagination, love, transformation, loneliness
Public Domain (copyright expired)
n/a
The Wooden Man And The Birch-Bark Maid
A stingy farmer starved all his servants, till no one would live with him. He applied to a sorcerer, who directed him to take a black hare in a bag to a cross-road for three Thursdays running, just before midnight, and whistle for the Devil. The farmer took a black cat instead, and on the third Thursday agreed with the Devil to receive a man-servant and a maid, who should work for him for twice seven years, and who would require no food, nothing but a little water. To ratify the bargain, the farmer gave the Devil three drops of blood from his index-finger. At the end of the time the servants disappeared, and the farmer could only find a rotten stump and a heap of birch-bark, as their names signified (Puuläne and Tohtläne). Then the Devil seized the farmer by the throat and strangled him, and his wife could find no trace of him but three drops of blood, while all the corn-bins were empty, and the money-chest contained only withered birch-leaves.
Folktales, Fairytales, myths, legends, stories, fantasy