~KRANDLEKEEP~
The Wisconsin Gnomelore Database
The Mining Gnomes
"They smoke long pipes and sit on mushrooms."
From There Be Hodags, by C.A. McAllister:
Wisconsin folklorists recorded a type of mining spirit gnome found within the folklore of “Czecho-Slovakian” immigrants (whether these immigrants were specifically Czech or Slovak was not recorded). These gnomes were between two and three feet tall, they wore pointed red hats, blue trousers, white coats, and high boots. They dwelled within caves in mountainous woodlands, smoked long pipes, and used toadstools as one would a regular stool. The gnomes served as protectors of the treasures of both the mountains and the forests.
The gnomes did not like loud noises, especially whistling, and if someone whistled while in the forest, the gnomes would never reveal their treasures to them. However, for one who was respectfully silent and reverent of the wilderness, the gnomes were said to be very generous. They might cause the mountains to open up, revealing their wealth of gold, gemstones, and valuable minerals, or guide the wanderer to the treasures of the forest.
The treasures of the woodlands that they guarded were primarily strawberries and mushrooms. The gnomes permitted a person to fill an entire jug with either berry or fungus, but before they picked a single one for themselves, the person was first required to pick and throw away an offering for the gnomes, then another for the nymphs, then another for the snakes, another for the frogs, another for the rabbits, another for his patron saint, and finally one for his priest, before he picked any for himself. A strawberry-picker was required to throw away a whole strawberry for each offering, but a mushroom-picker could throw away a piece of mushroom for each offering, as the mushrooms were much larger.
From Federal Writer's Project Records, 1936-1939, attributed to Steven Kliman:
The mountains are said to contrain great treasures -- gold, precious stones and fabulous minerals -- which they guard jealously. But sometimes a mountian has been known to open, and should you be fortunate enough to be there at the time, you simply walk in and help yourself to as much as you can carry. If, however, you should happen to be within its bowels when the priest says mass or holds other service, the mountain will close and you will be trapped until the next year.
Other times the mountains hold their treasures against the unworthy with the help of the gnomes living in caves in the woods. These delightful little people, known as mining spirits, are two to three feet high, wear red pointed caps, blue trousers, white coats, and tall boots. They smoke long pipes and sit on mushrooms. They are a peaceful people and dislike noises, particularly whistling. If you whistle in the woods they won't show you their treasures. But they are generous if you are respectfully quiet and do not violate the canons of the woods.
The woods likewise yield natural treasures, in abundance, to get which they exact certain proprieties. Strawberries, for example. Each villager is permitted to fill a good-sized jug. But before he gathers a single berry for himself, he must remember to pick one and throw it away for the gnomes. Another for the nymphs, one for the snake, the frog, the rabbit, every creature that lives in the woods. Next for his patron saint, for his priest. Then, if the patch is not denuded and his patience not exhausted, he may proceed to fill his jug.
Later, in the mushroom season, he must follow the same practice. But because mushrooms are very large, in this instance he throws away only a piece of the first specimen for each of the above.
Nature's sanctuary is preserved also by the spirits of the springs. Beautiful nymph-like girls these are, who live in the water. They are fair, with white flowing robes and long golden hair. On a night of the full moon they have been seen dancing on the mountain tops, but only from afar. For if you get too close they will tear you to pieces. You may visit springs and enjoy them, but if you spit or otherwise pollute them, the nymphs will descend upon you, day or night, and rend you limb from limb.
