Berggeist und Erzader

A legend from our mining region

It was a time when miners from the area searched for ore on their own, which they then took to the smelter. They were paid according to the quantity and quality of the goods. A pious miner, who was very poor and also blessed with a large number of children, was once standing in front of his unproductive "place", i.e. the place where he was digging.

Suddenly, a strangely tall man stood behind him, greeted him with the miner's greeting: "Good luck!" and asked him how he was getting on. The miner confided in the stranger, complaining to him that he had a large family, but his "place" was in such a bad state and yielded nothing, so his family had to go hungry. 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 and you'll get some nice ore!)

The miner did so and really did come across a narrow vein of the finest ore. He dug further with renewed courage. His perseverance was rewarded as the vein suddenly widened. Delighted, he filled his sack and carried it up to the surface. When he reached the top, he was met by a gentleman whose features he recognized from the strange miner, except that he was not dressed in miner's clothing.

The stranger asked him: "Häss de jetz Ehz fonge?". "Yes, I've only just started to wear Ehz. Dat es et ieschte, was ich drvann erusbränge," ("Have you found ore now?"). "Yes, I've found some nice ore. This is the first one I've brought out") replied the overjoyed miner. "Now let me see what you have in your bag." ("Now let me see what you have in the sack")

The man put down his sack and showed the stranger his ore. But what was it? Astonished, he couldn't utter a word, because the supposed ore was pure gold. Delighted and moved, he thanked the stranger for his advice. But the stranger walked away with a friendly smile.