noble lord and husband？ This is what she thought of； and often spoke
of in a low voice to herself。 I heard it as I swept into the long
hall； and turned round to come out again。 Anna Dorothea； the pale
hyacinth； a child of fourteen； was quiet and thoughtful； her large；
deep； blue eyes had a dreamy look； but a childlike smile still
played round her mouth。 I was not able to blow it away； neither did
I wish to do so。 We have met in the garden； in the hollow lane； in the
field and meadow； where she gathered herbs and flowers which she
knew would be useful to her father in preparing the drugs and mixtures
he was always concocting。 Waldemar Daa was arrogant and proud； but
he was also a learned man； and knew a great deal。 It was no secret；
and many opinions were expressed on what he did。 In his fireplace
there was a fire； even in summer time。 He would lock himself in his
room； and for days the fire would be kept burning； but he did not talk
much of what he was doing。 The secret powers of nature are generally
discovered in solitude； and did he not soon expect to find out the art
of making the greatest of all good things… the art of making gold？
So he fondly hoped； therefore the chimney smoked and the fire crackled
so constantly。 Yes； I was there too；〃 said the Wind。 〃'Leave it
alone；' I sang down the chimney； 'leave it alone； it will all end in
smoke； air； coals； and ashes； and you will burn your fingers。' But
Waldemar Daa did not leave it alone； and all he possessed vanished
like smoke blown by me。 The splendid black horses； where are they？
What became of the cows in the field； the old gold and silver
vessels in cupboards and chests； and even the house and home itself？
It was easy to melt all these away in the gold…making crucible； and
yet obtain no gold。 And so it was。 Empty are the barns and
store…rooms； the cellars and cupboards； the servants decreased in
number； and the mice multiplied。 First one window became broken； and
then another； so that I could get in at other places besides the door。
'Where the chimney smokes； the meal is being cooked；' says the
proverb； but here a chimney smoked that devoured all the meals for the
sake of gold。 I blew round the courtyard；〃 said the Wind； 〃like a
watchman blowing his home； but no watchman was there。 I twirled the
weather…cock round on the summit of the tower； and it creaked like the
snoring of a warder； but no warder was there； nothing but mice and
rats。 Poverty laid the table…cloth； poverty sat in the wardrobe and in
the larder。 The door fell off its hinges； cracks and fissures made
their appearance everywhere； so that I could go in and out at
pleasure； and that is how I know all about it。 Amid smoke and ashes；
sorrow； and sleepless nights； the hair and beard of the master of
the house turned gray； and deep furrows showed themselves around his
temples； his skin turned pale and yellow； while his eyes still
looked eagerly for gold； the longed…for gold； and the result of his
labor was debt instead of gain。 I blew the smoke and ashes into his
face and beard； I moaned through the broken window…panes； and the
yawning clefts in the walls； I blew into the chests and drawers
belonging to his daughters； wherein lay the clothes that had become
faded and threadbare； from being worn over and over again。 Such a song
had not been sung； at the children's cradle as I sung now。 The
lordly life had changed to a life of penury。 I was the only one who
rejoiced aloud in that castle；〃 said the Wind。 〃At last I snowed
them up； and they say snow keeps people warm。 It was good for them；
for they had no wood； and the forest； from which they might have
obtained it； had been cut down。 The frost was very bitter； and I
rushed through loop…holes and passages； over gables and roofs with
keen and cutting swiftness。 The three high…born daughters were lying
in bed because of the cold； and their father crouching beneath his
leather coverlet。 Nothing to eat； nothing to burn； no fire on the
hearth！ Here was a life for high…born people！ 'Give it up； give it
up！' But my Lord Daa would not do that。 'After winter； spring will
come；' he said； 'after want； good times。 We must not lose patience； we
must learn to wait。 Now my horses and lands are all mortgaged； it is
indeed high time； but gold will come at last… at Easter。'
〃I heard him as he thus spoke； he was looking at a spider's web；
and he continued； 'Thou cunning little weaver； thou dost teach me
perseverance。 Let any one tear thy web； and thou wilt begin again
and repair it。 Let it be entirely destroyed； thou wilt resolutely
begin to make another till it is completed。 So ought we to do； if we
wish to succeed at last。'
〃It was the morning of Easter…day。 The bells sounded from the
neighboring church； and the sun seemed to rejoice in the sky。 The
master of the castle had watched through the night； in feverish
excitement； and had been melting and cooling； distilling and mixing。 I
heard him sighing like a soul in despair； I heard him praying； and I
noticed how he held his breath。 The lamp burnt out； but he did not
observe it。 I blew up the fire in the coals on the hearth； and it
threw a red glow on his ghastly white face； lighting it up with a
glare； while his sunken eyes looked out wildly from their cavernous
depths； and appeared to grow larger and more prominent； as if they
would burst from their sockets。 'Look at the alchymic glass；' he
cried； 'something glows in the crucible； pure and heavy。' He lifted it
with a trembling hand； and exclaimed in a voice of agitation； 'Gold！
gold！' He was quite giddy； I could have blown him down；〃 said the
Wind； 〃but I only fanned the glowing coals； and accompanied him
through the door to the room where his daughter sat shivering。 His
coat was powdered with ashes； and there were ashes in his beard and in
his tangled hair。 He stood erect； and held high in the air the brittle
glass that contained his costly treasure。 'Found！ found！ Gold！
gold！' he shouted； again holding the glass aloft； that it might
flash in the sunshine； but his hand trembled； and the alchymic glass
fell from it； clattering to the ground； and brake in a thousand
pieces。 The last bubble of his happiness had burst； with a whiz and
a whir； and I rushed away from the gold…maker's house。
〃Late in the autumn； when the days were short； and the mist
sprinkled cold drops on the berries and the leafless branches； I
came back in fresh spirits； rushed through the air； swept the sky
clear； and snapped off the dry twigs； which is certainly no great
labor to do； yet it must be done。 There was another kind of sweeping
taking place at Waldemar Daa's； in the castle of Borreby。 His enemy；
Owe Ramel； of Basnas； was there； with the mortgage of the house and
everything it contained； in his pocket。 I rattled the broken
windows； beat against the old rotten doors； and whistled through
cracks and crevices； so that Mr。 Owe Ramel did not much like to remain
there。 Ida and Anna Dorothea wept bitterly； Joanna stood； pale and
proud； biting her lips till the blood came； but what could that avail？
Owe Ramel offered Waldemar Daa permission to remain in the house
till the end of his life。 No one thanked him for the offer； and I
saw the ruined old gentleman lift his head； and throw it back more
proudly than ever。 Then I rushed against the house and the old
lime…trees with such force； that one of the thickest branches； a
decayed one； was broken off； and the branch fell at the entrance；
and remained there。 It might have been used as a broom； if any one had
wanted to sweep the place out； and a grand sweeping…out there really
was； I thought it would be so。 It was hard for any one to preserve
composure on such a day； but these people had strong wills； as
unbending as their hard fortune。 There was nothing they could call
their own； excepting the clothes they wore。 Yes； there was one thing
more； an alchymist's glass； a new one； which had been lately bought；
and filled with what could be gathered from the ground of the treasure
which had promised so much but failed in keeping its promise。 Waldemar
Daa hid the glass in his bosom； and； taking his stick in his hand； the
once rich gentleman passed with his daughters out of the house of
Borreby。 I blew coldly upon his flustered cheeks； I stroked his gray
beard and his long white hair； and I sang as well as I was able；
'Whir…r…r； whir…r…r。 Gone away！ Gone away！' Ida walked on one side
of the old man； and Anna Dorothea on the other； Joanna turned round；
as they left the entrance。 Why？ Fortune would not turn because she
turned。 She looked at the stone in the walls which had once formed
part of the castle of Marck Stig； and perhaps she thought of his
daughters and of the old song；…
〃The eldest and youngest； hand…in…hand；
Went forth alone to a distant land。〃
These were only two； here there were three； and their father with them
also。 They walked along the high…road； where once they had driven in
their splendid carriage； they went forth with their father as beggars。
They wandered across an open field to a mud hut； which they rented for
a dollar and a half a year； a new home； with bare walls and empty
cupboards。 Crows and magpies fluttered about them； and cried； as if in
contempt； 'Caw； caw； turned out of our nest… caw； caw；' as they had
done in the wood at Borreby； when the trees were felled。 Daa and his
daughters could not help hearing it； so I blew about their ears to
drown the noise； what use was it that they should listen？ So they went
to live in the mud hut in the open field； and I wandered away； over
moor and meadow； through bare bushes and leafless forests； to the open
sea； to the broad shores in other lands； 'Whir…r…r； whir…r…r！ Away；
away！' year after year。〃
And what became of Waldemar Daa and his daughters？ Listen； the
Wind will tell us：
〃The last I saw of them was the pale hyacinth； Anna Dorothea。 She
was old and bent then； for fifty years had passed and she had outlived
them all。 She could relate the history。 Yonder； on the heath； near the
to