Horror Short Stories

The Collier's Family
(1823)
Friedrich Heinrich Karl de la Motte Fouque

THE following extraordinary occurrence is said to have befallen Berthold, a young German merchant, and though hardly accredited, in all its details, is worthy of repetition on many accounts. Being engaged in speculations of considerable extent, which compelled him to bear about his person a capital of no small amount, in gold, jewels, and other valuables, he was not a little alarmed on perceiving, at the close of day, that he had lost himself amid the intricacies of one of our native mountain forests, and that night was rapidly surrounding him in the middle of a gloomy valley, and in a road to which he was an utter stranger. It was quite evident that be had chanced upon a remote and unfrequented area; for the forest deer no longer evinced any shyness at his presence, and the flight of the owls, as they circled round his person, became so daring and undisturbed, that he frequently gave an involuntary bend of his head and shoulders, as a protection from the flapping and rustling of their wings. At length he perceived a man pacing the footpath a little before him; and whom, on enquiry, he found to be a collier residing in the forest.

Our traveller's request of a lodging for the night, and a promise of safe conduct in the morning, was acceded to, and given with so much frankness and alacrity, that every feeling of rising suspicion was subdued, and the parties arrived at the collier's cottage, mutually satisfied with their covenant. On their arrival, the collier's wife made her appearance with a light at the door, behind her stood a range of youthful, chubby faces, her children; and the light, as it fell upon the person of the host, exhibited one of those honest, manly countenances, which happily are still to be met with in abundance among the peasantry of our native country. The whole family, together with their guest, now entered a warm and cheerful sitting-room, and ranged themselves around a fire, upon the hearth: and our traveller began to feel as little concern for his wealth, as if he had reached his paternal dwelling, and were surrounded by his brothers and sisters. He had merely removed his cloak-bag from his horse; and, having confided the faithful creature to one of the collier's sons for food and a stall, he threw his valuable package into a corner of the apartment, and, though he retained his sword by his side, and his pistols at his belt, this was more from the habitual caution induced by a traveller's life, than from any chance that such things might be wanted here. The conversation soon became general. The traveller talked of the countries he had seen; the collier spoke of the forest and his occupa- tions; and the rest of the family occasionally joined in with pertinent questions or modest remarks. In the mean time a jug of nut-brown ale was introduced; the toast of welcome and wishes for better acquaintance was drunk; the cheerful group proceeded from conversation to more social tokens of joy; and the song became substituted for adventure or story.

The collier's children were in the midst of a lively glee, when a strange tapping was heard at the door, A knock was given with the finger so very, very gently yet, notwithstanding the seeming lightness of the pressure, the feeble sound was distinctly heard in the room, and rose above the clear and mirthful voices of the children. The singing was instantly at an end; the whole family assumed a serious and solemn expression of manner; while the collier, in a friendly tone, exclaimed: "Come in, Father! in heaven's name come in!"

The door now opened, and a little decent looking old man crept quietly in. He saluted the family circle with an air of kind good nature, and only stopped to gaze in astonishment at the stranger. In a short time he drew to- wards the table and placed himself in the lowest seat; which, in fact seemed to have been purposely left for him. Berthold's astonishment was equally great as that expressed by the old man. For this singular personage was dressed in a costume of earlier days; but, though the form bespoke an existence in times gone by, there was nothing of this kind in the material, since the whole dress exhibited marks of great attention to neatness and decency. In addition to this, his person, as already observed, was remarkably small: at first sight, his countenance might be said to be composed and pleasing, but, on closer observation, it was found to contain evident traces of secret sorrow. The family treated him as an old acquaintance, though with manifest signs of compassion. Berthold would have willingly asked, if the old man were a relation, — the collier's father or perhaps his wife's — and whether his pale and melancholy countenance were the effect of indisposition; — but, as often as he attempted to open his mouth, the old man looked at him with a half startled, half angry expression, and that in so particular a manner, that he always felt his curiosity checked, though greatly increased. At length, the old man folded his hands, as if inclined for prayer; looked across to the collier's seat, and cried in a hoarse voice: — "Come ! if you can, let us have the evening prayer."

The collier instantly began the fine old hymn: "The forest now is hushed in rest," in which he was joined by his wife and children; the old man united his voice to theirs, and sang- with a power and clearness which made the cottage peal again, and must have excited strong surprize in any one, not accustomed to hear him. At first Berthold was unable to join in the chorus, from pure agitation and astonishment. This appeared to make the old man both angry and alarmed; he constantly eyed our traveller with strange dissatisfied looks, and the collier also, admonished his guest by earnest and expressive gestures, that he ought to follow the common example. This Berthold was, at length, able to do. Every thing now was correct and devotional, and, after a few more additional prayers and hymns, the old man took his departure with a humble and courteous deportment, lie had already closed the door, and was about to let the latch fall, when he suddenly dashed it open, cast a wild and terrific look on Berthold, and as speedily slammed it together.

"Humph!" said the collier, with some surprise, as he now turned to apologise to his guest for his conduct, "this is not his usual behaviour." Berthold rejoined, by supposing the old gentleman to be a little disordered in his mind. "Why, that," said the collier, "it is impossible to deny; but still, he is perfectly harmless and never does any one an injury. At least, we have never had the slightest proof of such misconduct for a very long time. I should, however, tell you, that the only room in which I can accommodate you, has no proper fastening to it; and it often happens, that the old man finds his way in there. But you need not disturb yourself — and do not interfere with him — he will soon retreat of his own accord. Be-sides, I fancy you are too much fatigued to be loused by any of his proceedings ; and, as you must have already observed, he moves with extreme gentleness and silence. Berthold assented to all the collier advanced with a smiling countenance, but he felt widely different at heart to the sensations previously existing in his bosom, though without being able to account exactly for the change; and, as the collier led the way up the narrow stair-case, which conducted him to his chamber; he irresistibly felt disposed to grasp his cloak-bag with a firmer hold, and keep a constant eye upon his sword and pistols.

The collier having suspended the lamp in a place of safety, and commended his guest to the protection of heaven for the night, speedily withdrew. But Berthold left alone in his narrow chamber, pervious to the wind in every direction, seemed to feel as if the pious benediction would, somehow or other, fail of its effect. It was a lono- time since he had felt so disturbed and troubled in his mind. He immediately retired to bed, seemingly exhausted with the fatigues of the day, but sleep was not to be thought of. He now conceived his cloak-bag too remote from him; now his arms excited the same apprehensions, and now again, both were hardly sufficiently near. Under such excitements he frequently rose, and if for an instant sleep visited his eyes, he started up again at every breeze of wind, with interchanging fears and hopes of great misfortune, or equally unexpected and surprising good luck. All his commercial plans and speculations became ravelled into one interminable web of confusion, from which it was impossible to extricate himself, or to separate one single and individual thought from the mazes into which his drowsiness had woven it. In addition to this, he felt an overwhelming and all-engrossing thirst for gain, excited by the difficulties around him; and it was a considerable time before these per- plexities rocked him into a sleep, which perhaps, with more propriety, might be called a swoon. It might be about midnight, or a little after, when Berthoid thought he heard a gentle movement and rustling in his chamber. But fatigue had so completely mastered him, that he lay motionless in his bed; and, if at times he raised his unwilling eyelids, and seemed to perceive the little old man passing backwards and forwards near his bed, his drowsy sense only assured him, that the whole was mere fancy; and besides, had not the collier apprized him of all this, previous to his going to bed? At length, however, these interruptions became too frequent; a sudden fright thoroughly roused him from every sleepy feeling; he started up in his bed, and beheld the little old man of the preceding evening, snugly throned upon his cloak-bag, and looking to- wards him with a sort of scornful pity.

"Villain!" exclaimed Berthold in a tone of mingled rage and fear. "Let go my property!" The abruptness of this address, appeared to startle the old man. He hastened towards the door, seemingly muttering an uneasy prayer, and suddenly disappeared. Berthold's first object was to examine his cloak-bag, and learn whether any thing had been taken from it. He was little disposed to consider the old man a thief, but the diseased and crazy mind of this singular being1, might have found amusement in exchanging the contents for rubbish, or in destroying many important papers, with which it was charged. The locks and straps appeared untouched, and even after ihey were opened, every thing was fouud in the same condition it was left. Still, however, Berthold's mind was not to be tranquilized: something might have fallen out by the way, something might have suffered by the journey, and under this impression, he examined every separate package, now rejoicing at the extent of his wealth, and now regretting that it was no greater. In the midst of this occupation, he was suddenly disturbed by a puff of air upon his cheek. At first, he conceived it to be merely a current of wind which found its way through an aperture in the window; and he accordingly only folded his mantle more closely round him.

The puff was now repealed: it became more distinct and perceptible, and as he turned with displeasure towards the quarter from whence it appeared to proceed; this feeling became changed into horror, on perceiving the little old man's face, quite close to his own. "What do you want here?" exclaimed Berthold; "creep to your bed, and warm yourself."

"In bed I only get colder and colder, and I do so like to see such pretty things as you have got. But I know where there are much prettier, aye much, much prettier!"

"What is that you say?" enquired Berthold, who now began to fancy that the extraordinary good fortune which had floated before him, while half asleep, was to be realized by the use of this crazy being. "If you would but come," sighed the old man: "down below there, down through the forest, and beside the moor."

"Why with you," said Berthold, "I suppose I might venture without much risk. The old man now turned towards the door, and said: "Only let me get my mantle. I will be back in an instant, and then we will go together." Berthold had little time to reflect on his promise, for the old man had scarcely quitted the room, before the latch was raised again, and in stalked a man, immoderately tall and spare, with a large scarlet mantle thrown across his shoulders, a huge sword under one arm and a musket over the other. Berthold instantly laid hand upon his pistols.

"Why aye," said the man in red, "you may as well take those with you; only make all the haste you can, that we may get out into the wood."

"With you?" exclaimed Berthold, "I am not going with you. Where is the little old man?"

"Hey day! do but look at me;" rejoined the other, as he removed the mantle from before his face. Berthold now perceived a close resemblance between this terrific phantom, and the little old man ; in fact, so great, that the only difference seemed to consist in the mere expression of feature, for what wore a meek and humble air in the one, was wild and ferocious in the other. Berthold felt assured that both he and his treasure were betrayed; and he, therefore, exclaimed in a firm voice: "On any future occasion, when you may chose to dispatch your simple brother for the purpose of seducing people into your net; I think it would be quite as well not to disturb the illusion, by making this senseless exhibition of your own person. I therefore tell you, at one word, I am not going with you, and nothing shall make me."

"Indeed!" said the man in red, "you wont go?"

"No!"

"Why then I'll make you" and with this he stretched out his long bony arm towards our traveller, who, in a paroxysm of fear and tremor, fired his pistol. The house below now became alive and bustling; the collier was distinctly heard ascending the staircase with hasty step, and the man in red with reverted head and towards Berthold, darted out at the door.

"In the name of heaven," exclaimed the collier, as he burst into the room, "what have you done to our Brownie?"

"Your Brownie?" stammered Berthold, as he looked at his host with astonishment. For his previous idea of unbounded wealth still floated before his fancy ; and finding now that he was evidently not to gain any, he half thought it must be his chance to lose some, and that the whole house had conspired against him. The collier, however, continued: "He passed me on the stairs, most unusually tall and angry, and wrapt in his red mantle, with his sword and gun."

Perceiving now that Berthold was unable to comprehend what he said, he begged his guest would descend to the room below, where every body had assembled from alarm at the firing, and he would there endeavour to tranquilize both his family and the stranger. Berthold complied with his host's request, taking his cloak-bag under his left arm, his remaining loaded pistol in his right hand, and his other weapons in his belt. His only motive for going below, was the idea of being nearer the house- door than in his present confined chamber. As he entered the sitting-room, the whole family seemed to regard him with an eye of suspicion, and there was a manifest difference in his pre-sent reception, from that given him a few hours before.

The collier now addressed his guest in the following terms: "When I first took this cottage, our Brownie was accustomed to wander about in the same terrific form, in which you have seen him this evening. On this account the house had long been abandoned, and no one was found sufficiently venturous to live in it, or in fact in the neighbouring district of the forest. For the power of these spirits has rather an extensive circle. My predecessor was not only very rich, but very avaricious, and his passion for gold induced him to bury his money in the country around, and it was his constant practice, during his life, to roam about the spot where his treasure lay concealed. On such occasions he usually wrapt himself up in a red mantle, carried a sword and gun on his shoulders, for the purpose of scaring the robbers, as he declared, who might mistake his person for the city executioner. At his death, he was unable to communicate the spot where his money was deposited; it is possible he may have forgotten it, and it was, perhaps, on this account his mind became so distracted, and that he assumed this frightful attire."

I, however, said to myself: "a pious heart, and constant exercise in prayer, is a sufficient protection against even Satan himself, much less against a poor crazy goblin ; and with this feeling I brought my wife and children to our new habitation. At first, it must be confessed, our friend in the red mantle caused us a good deal of trouble ; for when a man is going about on his own concerns, and solely occupied with these and similar thoughts, it is enough to startle even the most courageous, to find some monstrous thing starting up before him, and that too of the goblin tribe. The children suffered exceedingly, and even my wife was frequently overpowered with fright and alarm."

"Yes!" sobbed the wife, "and now these terrific times will be renewed. It was but just now that he looked in at the door, with a wild and angry countenance, taller than ever, and wrapt in his frightful red mantle."

"Do as you did before;" said the collier, "be constant in prayer, and humble devotion ; let all your thoughts be pure and pious, and nothing will harm you." At this instant the latch of the door was raised up and down with a violent and continued motion; the whole assembly pressed closer together, and the children wept aloud. The collier alone advanced with a firm and intrepid step, and cried out: "In the name of the Most High, I charge thee to depart: we are beyond thy power."

A noise was now heard without, like the passage of a whirlwind through the house ; and the collier, as he resumed his seat, continued in the following manner: "At that time we considered it a trial, it may, perhaps, be ordained us as such now. We have only to pray with greater zeal; to keep a more scrupulous watch over our actions. We certainly had managed to make him lay aside his red mantle, to conduct himself with decency, to attend our regular evening prayer, to compose his features into something like complacency, and to reduce his form into a very diminutive size, as if his decreasing limbs would eventually disappear from the earth, and the poor creature betake himself to rest until the awful day of doom. Children! as a quiet, meek and fearful Brownie, he wan your affections; it always gave you pain that in his extreme contrition, he chose to take the lowest seat at our evening prayers. You must now cheerfully labour for his and your own repose, by patience, prayer and purity of heart. We shall soon bring him to the same condition in which he was last night."

The family now rose, and promised to obey their father's instructions ; to maintain the struggle against the spirit of evil with undiminished resolution, in whatever form it might choose to appear. Berlhold's mind, however, was in the most agitated and distracted state. He first conceived himself seized with a fit of delirium, and that all these extraordinary circumstances were the mere fancies of a disordered imagination; he then believed that the whole was a trick devised to make a fool of him; and now thought he had fallen among a band of hypocritical thieves, and that every thing had for its object the possession of his property. Amidst these conflicting ideas, he demanded his horse. The collier's eldest son instantly ran to the stable to prepare it, and his father observed: "You had better remain till the daylight: at this hour of the morning the forest is dangerous, and even haunted."

Our traveller, however, persisted in his determination; and he soon perceived that the whole family were glad at heart Avith the prospect of being relieved of his company, and that the collier had only pressed his stay from motives of common hospitality. His proffer of payment for the evening's repast and lodging, was rejected with so much firmness, and apparent displeasure, that he abstained from pressing the unwelcome tribute. His horse now appeared at the door, his cloak-bag was soon bestowed in its wonted place; Berthold sprang into the saddle, and took leave of his singular host with thanks, but coldly received, and with a conviction that his departure had occasioned more joy than his arrival. With a misgiving mind, and many anxious doubts, he now pursued the course which had been pointed out to him. He found it quite impossible to believe that the inhabitants of the cottage were right, and that the Brownie was wrong; for said he, if this creature be not a spirit, it is clear they are a pack of cheats; and if it be, the poor thing is doing nothing more than its duty, in revealing the spot of its secret deposit, and committing to some mortal for use and enjoyment, what is now lying unemployed. The trees now appeared to assume an unusual and singular form ; the morning breeze as it whistled beside him, seemed to be charged with noies of golden promise; the mist began to shape itself into a lofty arcade about him, and as our traveller rode beneath if, the thought shot across his mind: "Nature herself is linked in compact with me, and if this be the case, no illusion can intercept my happy career."

"Luck's all!" he shouted aloud : and had scarcely spoken the words, before he perceived the man in red walking beside him, and apparently giving a nod of approbation, both to his words and thoughts. At first he felt a little uneasy; but the more he reflected on the reasons for suppressing his alarm, the more the red mantled stranger seemed to nod in friendly approbation of his conduct, and at length began to address him in the following manner: "To tell you the truth comrade, I began to be heartily sick of these collier people. That eternal singing and praying reduced me down to nothing; you saw yourself, what a miserable little shrivelled creature I was become — but as soon as you came, though I was rather fierce at first as if something strange had arrived — yet we soon understood each other, and then I grew — aye, and I can grow too till my head touches yonder starry canopy. Why if you would but entertain the aspiring thoughts you ought, and fancy yourself standing above there, quite a different sort of a fellow, to other mortals, a fellow endowed by nature with all her riches and gifts, free from trouble and (oil, you would then be just what I wish you : and moreover the treasure should be yours. The collier's people are far too stupid for such things. — Come! shall we dig?"

Berthold nodded assent, and the man in red pointed to a small hillock at a little distance, strewed with the leaves and cones of the pine tree. As our traveller was wholly unprovided with implements for digging, he was compelled to turn up the earth with his sword; but his labour was not a little checked by fear as he perceived the man in red join in the work, and wherever he fixed his hand, a blue sulphureous vapour rose from the earth. The vapour continued to rise; the earth groaned, the stones rolled impetuously forward and at last two urns were discovered, which were no sooner exposed to the morning air than they instantly crumbled into dust, It was quite in vain that Berthold continued his researches — no treasure was to be found. The man in red now evinced considerable uneasiness; he expressed his sorrow by ringing his long bony hands, and at length pointed to a neighbouring hillock. Berthold applied himself here with the same ardour as before, and with the same result — he found nothing but earthen pots, ashes and rubbish. They proceeded from one hillock to another, still eager in the pursuit, but all exhibited the same contents, the same unprofitable harvest. The spirit now became filled with rage, he dashed his bony fists against the surrounding trees, (which at every blow emitted a stream of sulphureous sparks) and at last accused his companion of having discovered the treasure in the first hillock, and surreptitiously secreted it. Berthold stood aghast and trembling before the angry phantom, whose person suddenly glowed in one continued flame of red, and rose as his indignation swelled, far above the tops of the adjoining trees. At this instant the cock crowed. With a cry of deep resentment and agonized suffering, the goblin vanished into air, and the morning bell of a neighbouring village was distinctly heard, to the great relief and joy of our traveller. Terrified beyond expression at the danger he had escaped, Berthold now sought his equally terrified horse, and which at the commencement of his labours he had bound to a tree; and having thrown himself into the saddle, galloped rapidly forwards towards the nearest habitations of men.

Years now rolled on, during which, Berthold engaged in extensive and important commercial pursuits, passed his life in foreign lands, and amidst a round of constant and anxious occupation. But varied as were the objects which necessarily pressed upon his attention, be never forgot his adventure with the man in red, and the evening spent with the collier's family. It constantly reverted to his imagina- tion, sometimes with feelings of dread and curiosity, sometimes of excited, half satisfied anxiety; and as he was on his return home, and approached the neighbourhood, he resolved upon retracing his former route, and having discovered the unfrequented path, arrived at the close of day before the collier's lonely cottage. This arrival, like that of former years, brought the same healthy, honest faces at the door; the collier's wife appeared with her lamp, carefully guarding it against the current which threatened to extinguish it; and the collier himself, advanced towards our traveller, with friendly expressions of welcome. The stranger was now invited in; his horse was committed to one of the sons; but the recognition of his person seemed to check in all, except his host, the pleasure with which the benighted traveller was ever received by the collier's family. The room wore much the same aspect as before; the whole party were soon seated round the family table; the jug of ale was brought forth and circulated; but to Berthold's great alarm, the seat formerly occupied by the goblin, was still left vacant, as if his presence were expected with every returning- evening. Besides this, little was said; both parties viewed each other with looks of suspicion, and that which had formed the best part of our traveller's entertainment — friendly converse, and the joyous song was now wholly wanting.

At length the collier addressed his guest in the following manner: "We know not what may have passed be- tween you and our Brownie some years ago; but the consequences to us were difficulty, toil, fear, and anxiety. You are now about to pass another night under our roof, and I can only wish from my very heart, that your mind may be inclined to pure and grateful devotion ; that you may disturb neither us or our Brownie. Ah far as regards him, indeed, it is not very likely that you will produce any pernicious effects upon his repose; although your head and your heart may still be devoted logain and gold. — But hush! children — the hour of prayer is come."

The whole family now folded their hands ; the collier rose with uncovered head, and again began the fine old hymn : — "The forest now is hush'd in rest." Berthold, with true devotional feelings, joined in the chorus, expecting every moment, the Brownie's appearance, although in his former quiet garb and figure. But no finger tapped at the door — no one entered; a gentle light alone was seen in the room, and a soft melodious sound was heard, like the notes of musical glasses, when touched by the finger slightly wetted. Prayers were scarcely over, before Berthold inquired the cause of the light and the sounds.

"Tis our Brownie," replied the collier; "he never announces himself now, in any other manner. But to effect this, we have found it necessary to persevere in prayer, and to keep a careful guard over the purity of our hearts."

There was something in Berthold's bosom, which told him he was not worthy of passing the night here. He asked for his horse, though in a more friendly tone than formerly; it was soon brought him by the collier's eldest son, in a manner equally friendly ; and the family bade him farewell, perceiving that his departure was not occasioned by an evil disposition, and instructed him in his road, which he now pur- sued with far different thoughts than when he travelled it before. He perceived nothing supernatural in his way; except that a beautiful stream of light occasionally rose before the sun, and shed a most agreeable and brilliant radiance over the shrubs and plants of the forest. This story contains much that is fabulous — it may possibly be a fable; but he who would chuse to regard it as nothing more, would be equally unjust to the Author, himself, and the good old Cause.

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