A maid who served in Gräplang Castle often heard a violent sneeze near the castle, but never saw a person. When she heard it again, she called out of the window: “Bless you!”

Immediately a spirit in human form appeared to her and explained to her that he had been redeemed by this call and now no longer had to wander.

At parting he wanted to offer her his hand, but she only offered him the end of her apron, which immediately burnt to charcoal.

Ferd Stoop.

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Editor’s note: the original Swiss-German here is “Helf dr Gott” = Hilf der Gott = God’s Help, which I take to translate to “Bless you!”. There is a recurring motif here of a spirit offering their hand it burning whatever it touches, so it would appear that even though the spirit has been redeemed, it still maybe evil.

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297. Das “Helf dr Gott” der Schlossmagd

Eine Magd, die im Schlosse Gräplang diente, hörte oft in der Nähe des Schlosses ein heftiges Niesen, sah aber niemals einen Menschen. Als sie es wieder hörte, rief sie zum Fenster hinaus: “Helf dr Gott,” – Sogleich erschien ihr ein Geist in Menschengestalt und erklärte ihr, dass er durch diesen Ruf erlöst worden sei und nun nicht mehr wandeln müsse. – Beim Abschied wollte er ihr die Hand bieten; sie bot ihm aber nur das Ende der Schürze, welches sofort zu Kohle verbrannte.
Ferd. Stoop

Editor’s Photo: Gräplang Castle, 2021