Synopsis The Old Dame and her Hen

and when investigated, stepped on trap-door , fell underground. went through series of rooms, each room ever increasingly finer-looking proceeded, until in innermost chamber encountered hideous-looking man of hill-folk or man o hill (old spelling: bjergmand; modern bokmål/nynorsk: bergmann), later on referred troll (troldet).

the troll asked sweetheart, , when declined, angrily wrung head off. middle daughter sent out sister , hen, met same fate. youngest daughter fell down chute, prudently did exploring, when opened hatch-door cellar discovered dead sisters inside. since deduced befell sisters, when asked troll sweetheart, pretended agree wholeheartedly.

though furnished fine clothing , else desired, proclaimed 1 day worried mother, must hungry , thirsty, no 1 else there attend her. troll not allow go home, if wanted, fill sack food, carry mother. youngest daughter stuffed sack gold , silver , put little food on top camouflage it. forbade him inside along way. after while, load felt heavy tempted look, shouted after him saw doing.

troll tries peek in bag , hears can still see (illustr. kittelsen)

it happened billy goat fell hill, , troll wrung head off shaggy beast . when youngest daughter complained animal have kept company, troll took crock (krukke) wall, smeared content on goat s wound put head on body, bringing life.

the youngest sister awaited opportunity, , when troll away home, used crock restore life oldest sister. concealing revived sister inside sack, camouflaged food on top, youngest told troll carry sack again mother, making him promise never peek inside. when troll did try sneak look, heard voice shout see re at! , prompting baffled troll answer ve got 1 devil of pair of eyes. voice came sister carrying in sack, mistook sweetheart shouting. youngest made troll carry middle sister same way, except great deal heavier time because stuffed sack gold , silver well.

a tvare, traditional norwegian stirring-stick

the youngest devised scheme make own getaway. gained more time feigning sickness , telling him no use coming until twelve midnight, because not have dinner ready before then. stuffed straw clothes, , propped figure hearth, making dummy holding stirring-stick (tvare, pictured right) in hand. ran home mother, , had sharpshooter stay them. troll came home demanded supper; when straw-woman did not answer, struck , realized had happened; saw bodies of sisters missing well. raging, came after them, sharp shooter scared him off. went back, go below ground, sun rose, , shattered bits.

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