Frau Trude

by The Brothers Grimm

　　

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There was once a little girl who was obstinate and inquisitive, and whenher parents told her to do anything, she did not obey them, so how couldshe fare well? One day she said to her parents, "I have heard so muchof Frau Trude, I will go to her some day. People say that everythingabout her does look so strange, and that there are such odd things inher house, that I have become quite curious!" Her parents absolutelyforbade her, and said, "Frau Trude is a bad woman, who does wickedthings, and if thou goest to her; thou art no longer our child." But themaiden did not let herself be turned aside by her parent's prohibition,and still went to Frau Trude. And when she got to her, Frau Trude said,"Why art thou so pale?" "Ah," she replied, and her whole body trembled,"I have been so terrified at what I have seen." "What hast thou seen?" "Isaw a black man on your steps." "That was a collier." "Then I saw a greenman." "That was a huntsman." "After that I saw a blood-red man." "Thatwas a butcher." "Ah, Frau Trude, I was terrified; I looked through thewindow and saw not you, but, as I verily believe, the devil himselfwith a head of fire." "Oho!" said she, "then thou hast seen the witchin her proper costume. I have been waiting for thee, and wanting thee along time already; thou shalt give me some light." Then she changed thegirl into a block of wood, and threw it into the fire. And when it was infull blaze she sat down close to it, and warmed herself by it, and said,"That shines bright for once in a way."

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