TABULATIONS.
319
P. Chr. Asbjörnsen og Jörgen Moe, Norske Folkeeventyr. 2nd edition. Christiania, 1852. P. 415. (From Sell, in Gudbrandsdal.)
"Kari Træstak."
(1) A little girl and boy are taken underground by a troll to be chambermaid and herd. Troll keeps the boy short of food; but amongst the cattle is a "wise" ox that tells the boy just to take the pipe out of its left ear, and instantly there will appear a table-cloth covered with all manner of dishes.—(2) Troll wonders that boy should look so well-nourished, and sends the girl to discover the reason. But she is lulled to sleep by an underground fairy (huldre). Troll puts in her neck a couple of magpie eyes that will never sleep, and then, learning how matters stand, wants to kill boy and ox.—(3) But the ox, being "wise", tells boy they must flee. They travel through a brass wood, a silver wood, a gold wood. Boy is careful to obey ox's warning to touch nothing.—(4) At length they reach a great mountain, at whose summit sits a princess. Anyone riding up the steep sides may have her. Boy rides up to her on his little brown ox.—(5) But king will not give her up till boy has thrice found her out. First she is concealed in one of the ears of the wise ox; then in a pin amongst several; lastly, in one of many loaves.—(6) By the help of the ox he succeeds each time in finding her, and at length he marries her.
320
Ibid., p. 418. (From Hardanger, Norway.)
"Kari Træstak."
