over his success; but the new attire he has put on is imperceptibly changed into a covering of withered leaves, and a rough unseemly stick takes the place of the fine steed, while all the time the rogue rides briskly on, utterly unconscious of the sorry figure he is making, till the shouts of the villagers awaken him to a sense of his miserable plight. Rubezahl sometimes amuses himself at the expense of the poor women who come to pick up little pieces of fire-wood about the mountain; but he never fails to recompense them for the trouble and vexation his tricks may have occasioned them. To poor children, too, if deserving, he occasionally makes valuable presents. He sometimes presents himself among the guests at a village-wedding, and, after dancing with the bride, and contributing in various ways to the general merriment, slips off, leaving some substantial proof of his kindness behind him. The following Legends may be taken as a specimen of the current traditions respecting this tricksy spirit:—
No. I. THE BEWITCHED STAFF.
A traveller was picking his way, with great difficulty, among the vast heaps of stones which are found in one of the wildest spots of the mountain. Not without peril, had he to leap from one large stone to another; now he reeled, with tottering steps, down some precipitous bank,—now forded with difficulty the brawling torrents which rushed across his path. “How lucky I am,” thought the traveller to himself, “in the companionship of my trusty old staff! Faithful service has it rendered me for many a year!” He placed the end of it on the ground to vault over a little stream: it slipped in between two large stones, and when the wanderer,
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