him,—and with many sighs he added that he was now a ruined man for he had thus lost all his little stock in trade to the value of eight thalers. The mountain-spirit, who is, upon the whole, of a generous disposition, was touched by the honest fellow’s simple story, and confessed that he himself had played him the trick for a little diversion. “But,” added he, “I will more than remunerate thee for thy loss and vexation.”
Rubezahl in a moment transformed himself into a jackass, and directed the glazier to lead him down to a mill, which lay at the foot of the mountain, and there to offer him for sale to the miller, which the poor man did and soon sold him to the miller for ten thalers, with which he took his way home, right glad at heart. Meanwhile the miller’s boy led his master’s new purchase into the stable, and placed a bundle of hay before him; but the ass opened his mouth and said: “I do not want hay; give me something roasted or baked.” The boy was amazed at hearing an ass speak, and ran out of the stable, roaring to his master that the new ass could speak. But when the miller entered the stable himself, behold there was no ass there! Thus did Rubezahl do a piece of service to a poor but honest man; and punish the miller who filched his neighbour’s flour.
No. VI. HOW RUBEZAHL PUNISHED A TYRANNICAL LORD.
In the year 1512, a certain cruel and unjust nobleman had commanded one of his peasants, on pain of incurring his severe displeasure, to remove a very great load of trees
