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Updated: May 31, 2025
It was not a cold night, so Arndt was not afraid; and at last he wrapped his sister up in her woollen cloak, and she sat down. "I will just run a little farther and try if I can see the light in father's window," said Arndt. "You will not be afraid, Reutha?" "Oh, no! I am never afraid." "And you will not go to sleep?"
The elder brother tried to encourage his little sister, as all kind brothers should do; he even tried to carry her a little way; but she was too heavy for him, and they went back to the mound. Just then the moon came out, and the little hillock looked such a nice resting-place, that Reutha longed more than ever to stay.
But Arndt caught a glimpse of Reutha, as she sat outside; weeping she dared not enter with him and he kicked the baskets over, and scattered the jewels like so many pebbles. "Keep all your treasures, and give me my sister!" cried he. Then the Hill-man tried him with something else. Arndt was a very handsome boy and everybody had told him so, until he was rather vain.
Every now and then he stopped, and asked for Reutha: but then there was always some new chamber to be seen, or some dainty banquet to be tasted; until, by degrees, Arndt's memory of his little sister grew dimmer, and he revelled in the delights of the fairy palace hour after hour.
On the top stair stood the little Hill-man, holding the glowworm lamp, and making many low bows to his new master. Arndt glanced rather fearfully down the staircase; but then he thought of Reutha, and his love for her made him grow bold. He took upon himself a lordly air, and bade his little servant lead the way.
All this Arndt drank in with eager ears; and when the peddler went away he sat a long time thinking. "I will do it," at last he said aloud. "I will try to get my dear Reutha safe back again." And the boy stole noiselessly to the mound which the Hill-men were supposed to inhabit.
He hid himself among the surrounding bushes, and there he lay in the silence and darkness, his young heart beating wildly, and only stilled by one thought that lay ever there, that of the lost Reutha. At last a sudden brightness flashed upon the boy's eyes; it could not be the moon, for she had long set. No; but it was a sight more glorious than Arndt had ever dreamed of.
Some were digging ore, and others making jewellery, while a few stood in the stream that ran by, beating linen, as it seemed. And among these poor little maidens, who worked so hard and sang so mournfully, was his own sister Reutha. "No one cares for me," she murmured; and her song had in it a plaintive sweetness, very different from the way in which the little Danish maiden spoke on earth.
I want none of your treasures; but I command you to give me my sister, and let us go!" Arndt folded his arms around Reutha, and walked with her through all the gorgeous rooms, the Hill-men and women following behind, and luring him with their sweetest songs and most bewitching smiles. But Reutha's voice and Reutha's smile had greatest power of all over her brother's heart.
Beside the little mound and among the bushes did poor Arndt search in terror, but he could not find his sister. He called her name loudly there was no answer. Not a single trace of her could be found; and yet he had not been five minutes away. "Oh! what shall I do?" sobbed the boy; "I dare not go home without Reutha!"
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