Page:Horse shoes and horse shoeing.djvu/375

 of the mystery attending the working of metals, particularly of iron, in primeval times:

In Germany the same traditions are found, and have been handed down from the remotest times. The brothers Grimm have collected some of these from oral tradition; the following was found in the neighbourhood of Münster. 'In the Detterberg, about three hours from Münster, in old times, lived a wild man named Grinken Schmidt (Grinken the smith), who lived underground in a deep cave, which is now covered with weeds and briars; but the spot may yet be seen. He had his forge in this pit, and his workmanship was so solid and so extremely perfect that it lasted for ever. No man could open his locks without the keys. There is now on the church-door of Nienberg, a lock made by him, that the thieves and housebreakers have never been able to force. When there was a wedding about to be celebrated, it was customary for the country people to go to Grinken and borrow a spit; but in return for the loan, they had always to give him a beefsteak. One day a peasant appeared before his cave, and said, "Grinken Schmidt, give me a spit." "You shall not have a spit if you do not give me a steak," says Grinken. "Then you will not have a steak; so keep your spit," replied the peasant. Grinken, as furious as possible, thereupon said, "Take care that I do not take one from you by force." The peasant left the