Page:Lays and Legends of Germany (1834).djvu/237

 and what was the great sorrow with which he was afflicted?’ Upon this the glazier related to him the whole affair; how, that being weary, he had seated himself on a mound by the road-side, how this had suddenly overthrown him, and broken to pieces his whole stock of glass, which was well worth eight dollars; and how, in short, the mound itself had entirely disappeared—he knew not in the least how to recover his loss, and bring the business to a good ending. The compassionate mountain-sprite comforted him, told him who he was, and that he himself had played him the trick; and at the same time bade him be of good cheer, for his losses should be made good to him.

Upon this, Rubezahl transformed himself into an ass, and directed the glazier to sell him at the mill which lay at the foot of the mountain, and to be sure to make off with the purchase-money as quickly as possible. The glazier accordingly immediately bestrode the transformed mountain-sprite, and rode upon him down the mountain to the mill, where he offered him for sale to the miller at the price of ten dollars; the miller offered nine, and the glezier, without further haggling, took the money and went his way with it.

When he was gone, the miller sent his newly purchased beast to the stable, and the boy who had the charge of him immediately filled his rack with hay. Upon this Rubezahl exclaimed—“I don’t eat hay; I eat nothing but roasted and boiled, and that of the best!” The boy’s hair stood on end; he flew to his master, and related to him this wondrous tale; who no sooner heard it than he hastened to the stable, and there found nothing, for the ass and his nine dollars were alike vanished.

But the miller was rightly served, for he had cheated in