usually ascribed to these earth-born powers, to interfere with the
affairs of mortals, sometimes for their weal, sometimes for their wo. But it was
observed that even his gifts often turned out, in the long run, fatal to those
on whom they were bestowed, and it was no uncommon thing for the pastors, in
their care of their flocks, to compose long sermons, the burden whereof was a
warning against having any intercourse, direct or indirect, with the Harz demon.
The fortunes of Martin Waldeck have been often quoted by the aged to their giddy
children, when they were heard to scoff at a danger which appeared visionary.
    A travelling capuchin had possessed himself of the pulpit of the thatched
church at a little hamlet called Morgenbrodt, lying in the Harz district, from
which he declaimed against the wickedness of the inhabitants, their
communication with fiends, witches, and fairies, and, in particular, with the
woodland goblin of the Harz. The doctrines of Luther had already begun to spread
among the peasantry (for the incident is placed under the reign of Charles V.),
and they laughed to scorn the zeal with which the venerable man insisted upon
his topic. At length, as his vehemence increased with opposition, so their
opposition rose in proportion to his vehemence. The inhabitants did not like to
hear an accustomed quiet demon, who had inhabited the Brockenberg for so many
ages, summarily confounded with Baal-peor, Ashtaroth, and Beelzebub himself, and
condemned without reprieve to the bottomless Tophet. The apprehensions that the
spirit might avenge himself on them for listening to such an illiberal sentence,
added to their national interest in his behalf. A travelling friar, they said,
that is here to-day and away to-morrow, may say what he pleases: but it is we,
the ancient and constant inhabitants of the country, that are left at the mercy
of the insulted demon, and must, of course, pay for all. Under the irritation
occasioned by these reflections, the peasants from injurious language betook
themselves to stones, and having pebbled the priest pretty handsomely, they
drove him out of the parish to preach against demons elsewhere.
    Three young men, who had been present and assisting on this occasion, were
upon their return to the hut where they carried on the laborious and mean
occupation of preparing charcoal for the smelting furnaces. On the way, their
conversation naturally turned upon the demon of the Harz and the doctrine of the
capuchin. Max and George Waldeck, the two elder brothers, although they allowed
the language of the capuchin to have been indiscreet