283

THE SPIDER AND THE HORNET 284

THE OFFICIOUS FLIES 285

_PART III_

ESTHONIAN BALLADS, &c.

THE HERALD OF WAR 285

THE BLUE BIRD (I.) 292

THE BLUE BIRD (II.) 296

CHARM AGAINST SNAKE-BITE 298

BIBLIOGRAPHY 299

INDEX AND GLOSSARY 305

PART II

ESTHONIAN FOLK-TALES

(_continued_)

SECTION III

_COSMOPOLITAN STORIES_

Under this heading we propose to notice a series of tales which are
almost the common property of all nations, and the origin of which is
lost in remote antiquity. These we have arranged under their most
familiar names in alphabetical order.

BLUEBEARD.

(KREUTZWALD.)

The Esthonian version of "Bluebeard" (the Wife-Murderer) is very similar
to the usual story. A rich lord, reported to have vast treasure-vaults
under his castle, lost his wives very fast, and married, as his twelfth
wife, the youngest of the three daughters of a reduced gentleman in the
neighbourhood. An orphan boy had been brought up in the household, and
had served first as gooseherd, and then as page; but he was always known
as "Goose-Tony." He was nearly of the same age as the young lady, who
had been his playmate, and he declared that the rich suitor was a
murderer; his heart told him so, and his presentiments had never yet
deceived him. The boy was scolded and threatened, but his warnings made
so much impression that he was allowed to accompany the bride to her new
home.

Three weeks afterwards, the husband set out on a journey, leaving his
keys with his wife, among which was the gold key of the forbidden
chamber. He warned her that if she even looked in, he would be forced to
behead her with his own hand. She begged him in vain to take charge of
it himself; but he refused, and left it with her.

Next morning one of the lady's sisters came to stay with her; but a day
or two afterwards the page gave her another warning, after which he
suddenly disappeared, and no trace of him could be found. The two
sisters looked over the house, and at last encouraged each other to
enter the secret chamber. In the middle stood an oaken block with a
broad axe upon it