Berggeist und Erzader

A legend from our mining area

It was a time when the miners from the area were searching for ores on their own, which they then brought to the smelter. They were paid based on the quantity and quality of the goods. A devout miner, who was very poor and, in addition, blessed with a large number of children, once stood before his not very productive "place," which is the spot where digging takes place.

Suddenly, a strangely large man stood behind him, greeted him with the miner's greeting: "Good luck!" and asked him about his well-being. The miner began to trust the stranger, lamented that he had a large family, but his "place" was doing so poorly and yielding nothing, and thus his family had to suffer. The stranger, who was the mountain spirit, said to him: "Graf e wennig wigger dörch, dann könns de op schünn Ehz!" (Dig a little further, then you'll find beautiful ore!)

The miner did as he was told and indeed struck a narrow vein of the finest ore. With renewed courage, he continued to dig. His perseverance was rewarded, as suddenly the vein widened. Joyfully, he filled his little bag and carried it up to the surface. Upon reaching the top, he encountered a fine gentleman, in whom he recognized the foreign miner from his facial features, only now he was not dressed as a miner.

The stranger asked him: "Häss de jetz Ehz fonge?". "Jo, ich hann schünn Ehz fonge. Dat es et ieschte, wat ich drvann erusbränge," ("Have you found ore now?" "Yes, I have found beautiful ore. This is the first one I am bringing out") replied the overjoyed miner. "Nu loss mich ens kicke, wat du dann em Säckelche häss." ("Now let me see what you have in the little bag")

The man laid down his little bag and showed the stranger his ore. But what was that?! He could not utter a word out of astonishment, for the supposed ore was pure gold. Overjoyed and quite moved, he thanked the stranger for his advice. The stranger, however, departed with a friendly smile.