ts hastened home, but the farmer and his people
were forced to take refuge in the shoemaker's hut. He received them in
the most friendly way, and gave them clothes and shoes, and food and
drink, and saw to it that they wanted for nothing till they could again
provide themselves with shelter.

Besides this, needy people came every day to the shoemaker, and each
received an abundant allowance.

As he thus doled out everything, and refused no one relief, low people
jeered at him, saying, "What is your object in giving everything away?
You cannot make the world warm." He answered, "We should love our
neighbours as ourselves."

At length the shoemaker felt that his last hour had come. So he dressed
himself neatly, took with him a staff of juniper, and set off on the way
to hell. The warden trembled when he saw him, and cried out, "Throw down
the staff! No one may bring such a weapon to hell." The shoemaker took
no heed of this speech, but pressed on his way. At length the Prince of
Hell himself met him, and cried out, "Throw down your staff and let us
wrestle. If you overcome me, I will be your slave; but if I should
overcome you, then you must serve me."

This did not please the shoemaker, who answered, "I will not wrestle
with you, for you have such very clumsy hands, but come against me with
a spear."

As the Devil continued talking, and again advised him to throw away the
staff, the shoemaker struck him a heavy blow with it behind the ear.
Upon this, all hell shook, and the Devil and his companions vanished
suddenly, as lead sinks in water.

Then the shoemaker proceeded farther, and cautiously explored the
interior of the underworld. In one hall lay a great book, in which the
souls of all children who died unbaptized were recorded. Near the book
lay many keys, which opened the rooms in which the children's souls were
imprisoned. So he took the keys, released the innocent captive souls,
and went with them to heaven, where he was received with honour, and a
thanksgiving feast was instituted in remembrance of his good deed.

* * * * *

Among other stories of devils is one of a forester who gave the Devil
three drops of blood for a magic powder which would heal all wounds. But
when he died, his corpse rushed out at the door, and was never seen
again. Another time, a dull schoolboy, who was always beaten by his
master, met the Devil, who drew blood from three punctures, and wrote a
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