female Nixes frequently go to the market to buy meat: they are always dressed with extreme neatness, only a corner of their apron or some other part of their clothes is wet.

The man has also

They are fond of

occasionally gone to market. carrying off women whom they make wives of, and often fetch an earthly midwife to assist at their labour. Among the many tales of the Nixes we select the following:

THE MIDWIFE AND THE NIX.

A MIDWIFE related that her mother was one night called up, and desired to make haste and come to the aid of a woman in labour. It was dark, but she notwithstanding got up and dressed herself, and went down, where she found a man waiting. She begged of him to stay till she should get a lantern, and she would go with him; but he was urgent, said he would show her the way without a lantern, and that there was no fear of her going astray.

He then bandaged her eyes, at which she was terrified, and was going to cry out; but he told her she was in no danger, and might go with him without any apprehension. They accordingly went away together, and the woman remarked that he

struck the water with a rod, and that they went down deeper and deeper till they came into a room, in which there was no one but the lying-in

woman.

Her guide now took the bandage off her eyes, led her up to the bed, and recommending her to his wife, went away. She then helped to bring the babe into the world, put the woman to bed, washed the babe, and did every thing that was requisite.

The woman grateful to the midwife then secretly said to her: "I am a Christian woman as well as you; and I was carried off by a water-man, who changed me. Whenever I bring a child into the world he always eats it on the third day. Come on the third day to your pond, and you will see the water turned to blood. When my husband comes in now and offers you money, take no more from him than you usually get, or else he will twist your neck. Take good care!"

Just then the husband came in. He was in a great passion, and he looked all about; and when he saw that all had gone on properly he bestowed great praise on the midwife. He then threw a great heap of money on the table, and said, "Take as much as you will!" She however prudently answered, "I desire no more from you than from others, and that is a small sum. If you give me that I am content; if you think it too much, I ask

nothing from you but to take me home again." "It is God," says he, “has directed you to say that." He paid her then the sum she mentioned, and conducted her home honestly. She was however afraid to go to the pond at the appointed day.

Both in Germany and the North numerous are the tales of midwives, and even ladies of rank, who have been called in to assist at Nix or Dwarf labours. The Ahnfrau von Ranzau, and the Frau von Alvensleben-the Ladies Bountiful of Germany —were waked up in the night to attend the little women in their confinement. There is the same danger in touching any thing in the Dwarf as in the Nix abodes, but the Dwarfs usually bestow rings and other articles, which will cause the family to flourish.

The poets have in Germany as elsewhere made the fairies the subject of their muse. Matthisson has most distinguished himself in this department, and the kindness of the author of " Stray Leaves”

"Stray Leaves, including translations from the Lyric Poets of Germany." Treuttel and Würtz, 1827. This little volume, besides original pieces of merit and selections from Schiller

has enabled us to give our readers the following specimen of that poet's fairy-verses :

THE ELF-QUEEN.

DID ever fays so light

Disport in Cynthia's sight?

The mazy round we lead
Along the dewy mead;

Or o'er the pool our gambols fling,
Or cradle in the buds of spring,
And sleep beneath a flow'ret's wing.

Ye elves upon the steep!
Ye elves upon the deep!
Come meet your fairy queen
Upon the dewy green;

With cobweb garlands silvery gray,
Illumined by the glow-worm's ray.
The dance begins-away! away!

A veil so thin and white
And bleach'd by starry light,

On breezy burial-ground,

Like mist, will wall you round.

Through sedge and moss, through trees and corn,
Up hill, down dale, so featly borne--
Away! away! to join the horn.

The nettle's ample shade

Our dancing-room is made;

and Göthe, contains well executed translations of several beautiful pieces from Matthisson, Salis, Hölty, and other poets, who well deserve to be better known, than we fear they are, in this country.