THE BROWN DWARF. Gold, gold, gold, gold! THE Brown Dwarfs occupied seven of the 'Nine hills' on the west point of Rügen. The White Dwarfs occupied the other two; and the Black-for there were three descriptions of Dwarfs on the island, named from the colour of their garments-dwelt in the coasthills and the caves along the sea-shore. Tradition thus accounts for the formation of the Nine hills :' 'A long, long time ago there lived in Rügen a mighty Giant, named Balderich. He was vexed that the country was an island, and that he had always to wade through the sea when he wanted to go to Pomerania and the mainland. He accordingly got an apron made, and he tied it round his waist, and filled it with earth, for he wanted to make a dam of earth for himself, from the island to the mainland. As he was going with his load over Roden kirchen, a hole tore in the apron, and the clay that fell out formed the "Nine hills." The Brown Dwarfs were beautiful little creatures, and good as beautiful. Many a poor widow has seen through her tears a shining gold ducat lying in her path; many a child that had lost its way in the woods has been guided through the darkness of night to its father's door; and although it had seen no creature, had ever heard in the rustling forest leaves little footsteps leading the way: many a hungry orphan that had wearily fallen asleep by the wayside, has found, on awaking, bread in its lap and a silver coin in its hand: and these were the doings of the little Brown Dwarfs. But although much of their time was thus given to acts of 'charity and mercy,' they had their own innocent merry-makings; and the chief of these was to come forth in the bright moonlight to dance in the meadows, dressed in their gayest attire-cap, jacket, and pantaloons of fine brown velvet, with buttons of frosted silver, and slippers of colourless crystal. On these occasions it behoved them to be very careful not to lose any article of their dress, for they could never replace it. If they lost a slipper, they had to go barefoot until it was found; if the bell from their cap, they could not close their eyes in sleep until it was recovered; and if the cap itself, they with it lost their power of invisibility. Hence their intense anxiety to recover any of these articles when lost, and the reason for their acceding to almost any demand to redeem it. The legend of John Wilde and the Brown Dwarf' is well known, and variously related, in Rügen. THE BROWN WARF AND THE ARMER. T A Legend of the Isle of Rügen. HE sun, with his round face all a-glow, Looks over the hill on the fields below; And the lark that rests in the furrow still, When he sees the sun peep over the hill, Springs skyward, singing his matin shrill O'er the fields of John Wilde. John Wilde is a farmer in Rügen's isle- 'Tis a brave old Runic rhyme he sings, As his team so sleek to the plough he brings ;Just a gentle shake of the long loose rein, And the willing beasts on the plough-gear strain, And the coulter shears the sod in twain;Cheerily goes John Wilde. I |