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〃Here is what they call may…balm；〃 replied the woman。 〃I havenot tried it myself。 But I have not yet told you the 'moreimportant' thing you were to hear。 THE WILL…O'…THE…WISP'S IN THE TOWN！That's of much more consequence than poetry and stories。 I ought；indeed； to hold my tongue； but there must be a necessity… a fate… asomething that sticks in my throat； and that wants to e out。 Takecare； you mortals！〃
〃I don't understand a word of all this！〃 cried the man。
〃Be kind enough to seat yourself on that cupboard；〃 sheretorted； 〃but take care you don't fall through and break the bottles…you know what's inside of them。 I must tell of the great event。 Itoccurred no longer ago than the day before yesterday。 It did nothappen earlier。 It has now three hundred and sixty…three days to runabout。 I suppose you know how many days there are in a year？〃
And this is what the Moor…woman told：
〃There was a great motion yesterday out here in the marsh！There was a christening feast！ A little Will…o'…the…Wisp was bornhere… in fact； twelve of them were born all together； and they havepermission； if they choose to use it； to go abroad among men； and tomove about and mand among them； just as if they were bornmortals。 That was a great event in the marsh； and accordingly allthe Will…o'…the…Wisps； male and female； went dancing like littlelights across the moor。 There are some of them of the dog species； butthose are not worth mentioning。 I sat there on the cupboard； and hadall the twelve little new…born Will…o'…the…Wisps upon my lap。 Theyshone like glow…worms； they already began to hop； and increased insize every moment； so that before a quarter of an hour had elapsed；each of them looked just as large as his father or his uncle。 Now；it's an old…established regulation and favor； that when the moonstands just as it did yesterday； and the wind blows just as it blewthen； it is allowed and accorded to all Will…o'…the…Wisps… that is； toall those who are born at that minute of time… to bee mortals；and individually to exert their power for the space of one year。
〃The Will…o'…the…Wisp may run about in the country and through theworld； if it is not afraid of falling into the sea； or of beingblown out by a heavy storm。 It can enter into a person and speak forhim； and make all the movements it pleases。 The Will…o'…the…Wisp maytake whatever form he likes； of man or woman； and can act in theirspirit and in their disguise in such a way that he can effect whateverhe wishes to do。 But he must manage； in the course of the year； tolead three hundred and sixty…five people into a bad way； and in agrand style； too。 To lead them away from the right and the truth；and then he reaches the highest point。 Such a Will…o'…the…Wisp canattain to the honor of being a runner before the devil's statecoach； and then he'll wear clothes of fiery yellow； and breatheforth flames out of his throat。 That's enough to make a simpleWill…o'…the…Wisp smack his lips。 But there's some danger in this；and a great deal of work for a Will…o'…the…Wisp who aspires to play sodistinguished a part。 If the eyes of the man are opened to what he is；and if the man can then blow him away； it's all over with him； andhe must e back into the marsh； or if； before the year is up； theWill…o'…the…Wisp is seized with a longing to see his family； and soreturns to it and gives the matter up； it is over with him likewise；and he can no longer burn clear； and soon bees extinguished； andcannot be lit up again； and when the year has elapsed； and he hasnot led three hundred and sixty…five people away from the truth andfrom all that is grand and noble； he is condemned to be imprisonedin decayed wood； and to lie glimmering there； without being able tomove； and that's the most terrible punishment that can be inflicted ona lively Will…o'…the…Wisp。
〃Now； all this I know； and all this I told to the twelve littleWill…o'…the…Wisps whom I had on my lap； and who seemed quite crazywith joy。
〃I told them that the safest and most convenient course was togive up the honor； and do nothing at all； but the little flameswould not agree to this； and already fancied themselves clad infiery yellow clothes； breathing flames from their throats。
〃'Stay with us；' said some of the older ones。
〃'Carry on your sport with mortals；' said the others。
〃'The mortals are drying up our meadows； they've taken todraining。 What will our successors do？'
〃'We want to flame； we will flame… flame！' cried the new…bornWill…o'the…Wisps。
〃And thus the affair was settled。
〃And now a ball was given； a minute long； it could not well beshorter。 The little elf…maidens whirled round three times with therest； that they might not appear proud； but they preferred dancingwith one another。
〃And now the sponsors' gifts were presented； and presents werethrown them。 These presents flew like pebbles across the sea…water。Each of the elf…maidens gave a little piece of her veil。
〃'Take that；' they said； 'and then you'll know the higher dance；the most difficult turns and twists… that is to say； if you shouldfind them necessary。 You'll know the proper deportment； and then youcan show yourself in the very pick of society。'
〃The night raven taught each of the young Will…o'…the…Wisps tosay； 'Goo…goo…good；' and to say it in the right place； and that's agreat gift which brings its own reward。
〃The owl and the stork… but they said it was not worth mentioning；and so we won't mention it。
〃King Waldemar's wild chase was just then rushing over the moor；and when the great lords heard of the festivities that were goingon； they sent a couple of handsome dogs； which hunt on the spoor ofthe wind； as a present； and these might carry two or three of theWill…o'…the…Wisps。 A couple of old Alpas； spirits who occupythemselves with Alp…pressing； were also at the feast； and from thesethe young Will…o'…the…Wisps learned the art of slipping throughevery key…hole； as if the door stood open before them。 These Alpasoffered to carry the youngsters to the town； with which they were wellacquainted。 They usually rode through the atmosphere on their own backhair； which is fastened into a knot； for they love a hard seat； butnow they sat sideways on the wild hunting dogs； took the youngWill…o'…the…Wisps in their laps； who wanted to go into the town tomislead and entice mortals； and； whisk！ away they were。 Now； this iswhat happened last night。 To…day the Will…o'…the…Wisps are in thetown； and have taken the matter in hand… but where and how？ Ah； canyou tell me that？ Still； I've a lightning conductor in my great toe；and that will always tell me something。〃
〃Why； this is a plete story；〃 exclaimed the man。
〃Yes； but it is only the beginning；〃 replied the woman。 〃Can youtell me how the Will…o'…the…Wisps deport themselves； and how theybehave？ and in what shapes they have aforetime appeared and led peopleinto crooked paths？〃
〃I believe；〃 replied the man； 〃that one could tell quite a romanceabout the Will…o'…the…Wisps； in twelve parts； or； better still； onemight make quite a popular play of them。〃
〃You might write that；〃 said the woman； 〃but it's best let alone。〃
〃Yes； that's better and more agreeable；〃 the man replied； 〃forthen we shall escape from the newspapers； and not be tied up bythem； which is just as unfortable as for a Will…o'…the…Wisp tolie in decaying wood； to have to gleam； and not to be able to stir。〃
〃I don't care about it either way；〃 cried the woman。 〃Let the restwrite； those who can； and those who cannot likewise。 I'll grant you anold bung from my cask that will open the cupboard where poetry'skept in bottles； and you may take from that whatever may be wanting。But you； my good man； seem to have blotted your hands sufficientlywith ink； and to have e to that age of satiety that you need not berunning about every year for stories； especially as there are muchmore important things to be done。 You must have understood what isgoing on？〃
〃The Will…o'…the…Wisp is in town；〃 said the man。 〃I've heard it；and I have understood it。 But what do you think I ought to do？ Ishould be thrashed if I were to go to the people and say； 'Look；yonder goes a Will…o'…the…Wisp in his best clothes！'
〃They also go in undress；〃 replied the woman。 〃TheWill…o'…the…Wisp can assume all kin