round the year 1630, in the parsonage of Breulieb, half a mile from Sallfeld,
an old midwife, in the presence of her priest, told the following story about
her mother, who had also been a midwife.Awakened in the middle of the night, the mother was told to get dressed and attend a woman in labor. It was very dark, but she dressed and went downstairs where she found a man waiting for her. She asked him to excuse her a moment while she found a lamp, then she would be prepared to follow him. However the man said the matter was too urgent to wait. He would show her the path without a light, and he assured her she would not lose her way. But then he tied a blindfold around her eyes and the midwife became so frightened she wnated to cry out. Again the man reassured her, saying no harm would come to her, that she should proceed without fear. And thus they went off together.
Along the way, the midwife heard the man strike water with a twig. Then she noticed that they seemed to be descending, going deeper and deeper until they entered a small room. The man removed the blindfold and the midwife saw that there was no one in the room except the pregnant woman. The man led her to the bed, entrusted his wife to her care, and left. Thereupon the midwife brought the mother to bed and helped deliver the child. Then she bathed the infant and performed all the other necessary tasks.
Filled with secret gratitude, the mother began to whisper warnings to the midwife. "Like you," she said, "I am a Christian, but I have been abducted by a Water Nix. He left his own child in exchange for me. On the third day after I bring a child into the world he devours it. Just come to your pond three days from now and you will see the water change to blood. When my husband returns, he will offere you money. But do not take more from hium than your noraml fee or he will wring your neck. Please--take heed."
Just then the Nix returned, his face angry and evil. Looking about, he saw that everything had transpired successfully, and he praised the midwife. Then he threw a vast number of coins on the table and said, "Take as many as you wish."
But the midwife was clever and she replied, "I wish no more from you that from anyone else. Mine is a small fee; but if it is too much for you, then I ask only that you see me home again."
The Water Nix replied, "God commanded you to speak so." He then paid her the usual fee and guided her safely home again.
The midwife was too frightened to return to the pond on the appointed day.
