บทที่ บทที่ 41 · Frau Trude

. Frau Trude

There was once a little girl who was obstinate and inquisitive, and

when her parents told her to do anything, she did not obey them, so how

could she fare well? One day she said to her parents, “I have heard so

much of Frau Trude, I will go to her some day. People say that

everything about her does look so strange, and that there are such odd

things in her house, that I have become quite curious!” Her parents

absolutely forbade her, and said, “Frau Trude is a bad woman, who does

wicked things, and if thou goest to her; thou art no longer our child.”

But the maiden did not let herself be turned aside by her parent’s

prohibition, and still went to Frau Trude. And when she got to her,

Frau Trude said, “Why art thou so pale?” “Ah,” she replied, and her

whole body trembled, “I have been so terrified at what I have seen.”

“What hast thou seen?” “I saw a black man on your steps.” “That was a

collier.” “Then I saw a green man.” “That was a huntsman.” “After that

I saw a blood-red man.” “That was a butcher.” “Ah, Frau Trude, I was

terrified; I looked through the window and saw not you, but, as I

verily believe, the devil himself with a head of fire.” “Oho!” said

she, “then thou hast seen the witch in her proper costume. I have been

waiting for thee, and wanting thee a long time already; thou shalt give

me some light.” Then she changed the girl into a block of wood, and

threw it into the fire. And when it was in full blaze she sat down

close to it, and warmed herself by it, and said, “That shines bright

for once in a way.”