THE QUERXIES' PRESENT.

UERXIES, it is said, were once met with everywhere in Lusatia, but the place they especially favoured was the neighbourhood of Hugenwald. Querxies are little creatures-dwarfs-who used to live inside the mountains, and wander round about them; the entrances to their dwellings were called " querxholes," and here and there many of them may still be seen. In Silesia there is one on the Prudelberg by Stousdorf; in Upper Lusatia there are several on the Dittersberg, near Schönau; some in Warnsdorf in Bohemia, and at the foot of the Broad Mountains by Zittau. In the neighbourhood of Zittau, and about the Bohemian frontier, these strange beings in olden times were quite at home, and any one who chose

to watch in concealment by the querx-holes, might see the little creatures go to and fro, sometimes all night long. They are supposed to have originally come out of the numerous "querx-wells," perennial springs of clear crystal water that greatly abound in these mountainous regions. The querxies have hoods, which possess the quality of rendering their wearers invisible, and these they put on when they go into the villages and peasants' houses to steal their food, a practice in which they often indulge. They have, however, a great abhorrence of carraway-seeds, and therefore people, in baking their bread, often put in it a few of these seeds, for such bread the querxies never touch.

Once upon a time, a farmer's wife in Lusatia was lying in her bed; by her side was a baby, who the day before had for the first time seen the light. The farmer and all the servants were out in the fields, and the good woman was alone in the house with her little one. Suddenly she heard a noise in one corner of the chamber, near the stove, where there appeared a small opening in the wall; out of this hole there advanced towards the bed a small grey man; he was exceedingly polite, walked hat in hand, and bowed

often and deeply. He begged to be allowed, with his companions, to partake of a banquet in the chamber, and in return for the favour promised the gratitude of the entire body of querxies.

The farmer's wife, whose curiosity overcame all the misgivings she might have as to the result of this strange proceeding, granted the wished-for permission; whereon the small grey man, profusely and earnestly expressing his thanks, retired. Directly afterwards a noise much louder than the first was heard, and the querxey returned at the head of a crowd of little men dressed exactly like himself, all in grey. They brought with them tables, chairs, a basket full of all sorts of food and wine, and in a few minutes every preparation had been made for a luxurious banquet. Music was heard in the distance; the sound approached nearer and nearer, until there emerged from the wall a band of fiddlers and fifers dressed in bright uniform. The banquet then began, and proceeded to the accompaniment of the sweetest music to which the farmer's wife had ever listened. When it was over the tables were removed and the room cleared for a dance. The band struck up a lively air, the querxies rose from their seats, and

the dance was just beginning, when a new querxey rushed into the chamber, his hands raised above his head, and showing in his face signs of great distress : he exclaimed in a loud voice,

"Oh, woe the day, oh, woe the day!

Old mother Pump has pass'd away!"

For a moment the little men seemed thunderstruck; then getting their things together their chairs, their tables, and the remnants of the feast, they vanished rapidly and tumultuously through the hole in the wall.

Only one of them, a querxey who had the appearance of being master of the ceremonies, remained behind for a few minutes; he went up to the farmer's wife, and after telling her that the sudden death of the mother of their race had overwhelmed him and his companions with sorrow, thanked her impressively for her kindness, and in acknowledgment of querxey gratitude, presented her with three giftsa golden ring, a silver bowl, and a loaf of maize bread.

Those three things, said the querxey, were of great

value and importance; for so long as they all remained in the family, luck would attend it; the farmer and his descendants would acquire vast wealth, and become happy and famous. But the gifts must be carefully preserved in a secure and suitable place, and ever remain heirlooms in the family. The ring, however, must always be worn by the wife of the eldest son. Hereupon the little master of the ceremonies again thanked the farmer's wife, and followed his companions through the hole in the wall, which immediately closed up, leaving no trace behind.

The good woman felt as if she were awaking from a dream; indeed, had it not been that the three presents lay before her on the bed, she would have regarded the entire circumstance as being actually a dream, or the distempered fancy of a sick woman.

When she told her husband what had happened, and showed him the silver bowl, the golden ring, and the loaf, he called together all the members of his family to discuss what should be done to preserve these highly important gifts; that were to bring so much happiness and wealth to them all.

It was decided to build a strong tower, inside