The Lady of the Forest

Description

The lady of the forest is the ruler of all the animals in the forest. She is beautiful with long hair, but when she turns around, her back looks like a hollow tree and often she has a tail too, looking like a fox tail. Sometimes you can se her riding an elk, the biggest of all wild animals in Swedish woods.

She is not an evil being, but for humans she can be either helpful or mean. She has many times rescued the miners charcoal pile from going up in flames. A miner usually lives several months in the forest making charcoal from wood inside the charcoal pile. When hunters are in the forest she would gladly approach them, grabbing a gun, blowing into the gun pipe. The owner of that gun is guaranteed good hunting during the whole day.

Story

In the Huseby woods, the lady of the forest is called Pine-Mary. She is fond of men of all ages, She enjoys tricking them deeply into her forest so they get lost. Then she laughs an evil laughter and disappears.

Once upon a time Pine-Mary went to Sigfridsmäss, the yearly market in Växjö. She put on her nicest clothes and fastened her tail in the waist of her skirt. Then she went on the bus to Växjö and walked around the market stalls, looking at all the wonderful things to buy. Suddenly her tail could be seen underneath her skirt. A young man who had been hunting in the Huseby woods, recognized her and hurried up to her, whispering in her ear ”Madame, the hem of your skirt can be seen.” Pine-Mary understood what had happened and quickly pulled up the tail. From that day on, the young hunter had good hunting in the Huseby woods, ever after.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

If Pine-Mary tricks you into the forest and you are lost, turn your jacket inside out and you will find your way home again.