The Salt Miner and the Treasurer
A lone salt miner once had his lamp snuff out. Seeing a distant light carried at hand's height moving toward him, he supposed it a fellow miner and waited for his approach. To his surprise, the first light was followed by a second, then third, fourth, etc..until there were hundreds beyond his count moving near him.
When the procession reached him he could see that each figure was a small person made of salt walking in complete silence. They were each dressed as miners but their clothing was ornamented with gems and crystals which reflected golden and violet light. Each of their lantern's was made of gold and secured with a silver chain. These were carried high, creating the effect that mortal sized people were carrying them at hands height.
One amongst them wore similar clothing but was wearing a golden crown decorated with salt flowers. Carried before him was a banner secured to an ivory pike. It's design was the number 1000 which sparkled like silver crystal. The king lifted a silver axe and lightly struck the wall of salt. It immediately opened to reveal a glittering crystal staircase.
As they all passed by and descended, one of the Treasurers filled the miner's lamp with oil from his own. They all then disappeared silently through the passage without a trace.
The oil in the miner's lamp burned for 7 years and only after it was consumed was the miner able to tell his story. But he never figured out what the 1000 on the Treasurer King's flag meant.
The Unfair Inspector
There was once a terribly unjust mine inspector who often cheated miners out of pay or in the allotment of their claims. Once he even refused an indemnity to a miner's widow on the grounds that she could not show her marriage lines. Several witnesses who had attended her wedding offered to come forward but the inspecter refused to hear any of them.
On the day that he had made this refusal he happened to go down into one of the shafts. Feeling an awful chill, he began to whistle to give himself courage. The young lamp carrier who accompanied him also felt the chill and became frightened. Soon they heard the sound of heavy footfall and at once the boy saw a figure walking beside the inspector and heard this figure threaten the inspector with punishment. In fear the boy sank to his knees and covered his face. When he looked up the figure had vanished.
Seven days later, the inspector was the only man killed in a mine collapse.
The Treasurer and the Drunk
There was once a miner who liked the bottle a little too much. Because everyone knew this, he was always given the poorest claims. One day after working for hours and finding nothing of value he sat down to eat an oatcake and cried "Poor man that I am, and no one to help me, what can I hope to earn on such a site?"
"What are you eating? Is that a snack or all of your dinner?" said a voice.
The miner was first very much afraid, knowing it to be a Treasurer but he answered "It is my dinner."
"...and this is the whole of your claim?"
"Yes," said the miner, "for I can find nothing better."
"Then I, myself, will help you." said the Treasurer. "Follow me and I will show you veins of silver. If you obey me in everything, you shall, for once, be a very rich man."
When they had arrived at the spot the Treasurer said "Here is the silver I promised. Dig as much of it as you want, only when you are finished return to the place we first met and share it with me."
The miner was ecstatic. He immediately ran to the surface to share the news with his comrades. They, all knowing him to be a boozer and figuring he was drunk said "Here in Olkusz there is nothing but lead and calamine, but if you have a notion to dig silver, you can do it by yourself."
The miner set to work and dug out so much silver ore that it took several wheelbarrow loads to get all of the coins to the appointed meeting place. The treasurer was there and helped him divide all the money into two equal piles, but one coin remained.
"Who should take the last coin?" asked the Treasurer.
"Keep it for yourself, kind sir." replied the miner.
'I see" said the Treasurer, "that all this wealth has not corrupted your heart. Take all the money then, my pile too, just remember to always give in charity and never come underground again."
The miner lived the rest of his life sober, respected, kind to charities and above ground.
Return to Slavic Deities & Demigods
copyright 1998 - Ainsley Friedberg