lent her veil to mortal men, and then it
is that the songs and legends of the past become living to us.

* * * * *

We will now proceed to stories relative to the nature-spirits,
commencing with those of the water, who are both numerous and powerful
among the Finns and Esthonians. Other stories concerning them will be
found in different parts of the book.

[Footnote 35: This story is also related, more briefly, by Blumberg, who
states that Lake Endla lies in an impassable swamp in the district of
Vaimastfer, and is visible from the hill near Kardis. The fish and birds
are under the protection of Jutta, and there is no place in the country
where birds congregate to such an extent, and birds of passage remain so
long. Jutta is perhaps the same as Lindu (vol. ii. p. 147). Near
Heidelberg is a spring called the "Wolfsbrunnen," where a beautiful
enchantress named Jutta, the priestess of Hertha, is said to have had an
assignation with her lover; but he found she had been killed by a wolf,
the messenger of the offended goddess. Whether there is any connection
between the German and Esthonian Jutta I do not know.]

[Footnote 36: Or Endel, the son of Ilmarine. Blumberg writes
"Wanemuinen" and "Ilmarinen" in his account of the legend, which nearly
approach the Finnish forms of the names.]

THE TWELVE DAUGHTERS.

(KREUTZWALD.)

Once upon a time there lived a poor labourer who had twelve daughters,
among whom were two pairs of twins. They were all charming girls,
healthy, ruddy, and well made. The parents were very poor, and the
neighbours could not understand how they managed to feed and clothe so
many children. Every day the children were washed and their hair combed,
and they always wore clean clothes, like Saxon children. Some thought
that the labourer had a treasure-bringer, who brought him whatever he
wanted;[37] others said that he was a sorcerer, and others thought he
was a wizard who knew how to discover hidden treasures in the whirlwind.
But the real explanation was very different. The labourer's wife had a
secret benefactress who fed and washed and combed the children.

When the mother was a girl, she lived in service at a farmhouse, where
she dreamed for three nights running that a noble lady came towards her,
and desired her to go to the village spring on St. John's Eve. Perhaps
she would have forgotten all about the dream; but on St. John's Eve she
heard a small voice li