Страшные сказки / Scary stories

“Ah, husband,” said the terrified wife, “that was the devil! He did not mean the apple-tree, but our daughter, who is behind the mill!”

The miller’s daughter was a beautiful, pious girl, and lived through the three years in the fear of God and without sin. When therefore the time was over, and the day came, she washed herself clean, and made a circle round herself with chalk. The devil appeared quite early, but he could not come near to her. Angrily, he said to the miller,

“Take all water away from her, that she may no longer be able to wash herself.

The miller was afraid, and did so. The next morning the devil came again, but the girl wept on her hands, and they were quite clean. Again he could not get near her, and furiously said to the miller,

“Cut her hands off, or else I cannot get her!”

The miller was shocked and answered,

“How can I cut off my own child’s hands?”

Then the devil threatened him and said,

“If you do not do it, you are mine, and I will take you instead!”

The father became alarmed, and promised to obey him.

“My child, if I do not cut off both your hands, the devil will carry me away. In my terror I promised to do it. Help me in my need, and forgive me the harm”.

She replied,

“Dear father, do with me what you will, I am your child”.

Thereupon she laid down both her hands, and her father cut them off. The devil came for the third time, but she wept so long and so much on the stumps, that after all they were quite clean.

Then the devil gave in[10 - gave in – отступил], and lost all power over her.

The miller said to the girl,

“Thanks to you, I received such great wealth. I will keep you most delicately as long as you live”.

But she replied,

“Here I cannot stay, I will go forth, compassionate people will give me as much as I require”.

Thereupon she asked to tie her arms to her back, and by sunrise she set out on her way. She walked the whole day until night fell. Then she came to a royal garden. She saw that trees are covered with beautiful fruits, but she could not enter, for there was much water round about it.