Reading Notes: Stories from Europe, Reading B
1. Czech Folktales: Old Nick and Kitty by Josef Baudis (1922).
There was once and older maid-servant, Kitty, on a farm who had wanted to get married for so long, but no one would wed her. She made sure to never miss a dance, even though no one would ever dance with her. Tired of never having a suitor, she finally said that she would even dance with Old Nick--the Devil--if he would come to a dance.
When 11 o'clock came, a young boy in green came into the dance and asked Kitty to dance with him. Once it became midnight, the boy revealed himself as the Devil and was trying to leave to go back home, however Kitty would not let go of him. He thought about throwing her into the pond but she was clinging onto him so tightly he could not do it. So he took her down to Hell with him, but even the people of Hell would not let her stay.
He eventually met a shepherd and asked the shepherd if he would like the maiden with him. The shepherd called her ugly and told Old Nick he could keep her. When Old Nick realized that he was not going to be able to get rid of her, he told the shepherd he would give him a large sum of money. At first the shepherd refused, but after increasing the money he agreed.
Since the shepherd was good-looking, Kitty did not mind this trade-off and willingly stayed with the shepherd. The shepherd, however, had a great fur coat. He wore his coat so high over his head that Kitty was not able to grab hold of it, and then the shepherd threw her into the pond! Kitty was not so easily gotten rid of, though. She did not drown.
A few days after this, the Devil had an appointment with a man where he was to take his life. The man asked the shepherd to save him and the shepherd agreed. Old Nick came into town to collect the man, but the shepherd runs up to meet him saying that Kitty is here asking for him. As soon as the Devil heard Kitty was waiting for him, he ran away, and everything turned out all right.
Bibliography:
The Key of Gold by Josef Baudis (1922).
There was once and older maid-servant, Kitty, on a farm who had wanted to get married for so long, but no one would wed her. She made sure to never miss a dance, even though no one would ever dance with her. Tired of never having a suitor, she finally said that she would even dance with Old Nick--the Devil--if he would come to a dance.
When 11 o'clock came, a young boy in green came into the dance and asked Kitty to dance with him. Once it became midnight, the boy revealed himself as the Devil and was trying to leave to go back home, however Kitty would not let go of him. He thought about throwing her into the pond but she was clinging onto him so tightly he could not do it. So he took her down to Hell with him, but even the people of Hell would not let her stay.
He eventually met a shepherd and asked the shepherd if he would like the maiden with him. The shepherd called her ugly and told Old Nick he could keep her. When Old Nick realized that he was not going to be able to get rid of her, he told the shepherd he would give him a large sum of money. At first the shepherd refused, but after increasing the money he agreed.
Since the shepherd was good-looking, Kitty did not mind this trade-off and willingly stayed with the shepherd. The shepherd, however, had a great fur coat. He wore his coat so high over his head that Kitty was not able to grab hold of it, and then the shepherd threw her into the pond! Kitty was not so easily gotten rid of, though. She did not drown.
A few days after this, the Devil had an appointment with a man where he was to take his life. The man asked the shepherd to save him and the shepherd agreed. Old Nick came into town to collect the man, but the shepherd runs up to meet him saying that Kitty is here asking for him. As soon as the Devil heard Kitty was waiting for him, he ran away, and everything turned out all right.
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| Highland Shepherd. Source: Wikimedia. |
Bibliography:
The Key of Gold by Josef Baudis (1922).
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