In Wintersberg there is still a little house where three men wanted to win treasure. Three mermaids were supposed to bring it to them if they stayed awake for three nights, each in a special room. No one was allowed to speak a word, no one was allowed to keep a light burning. The food had to be handed to them through the window, but not a crumb was allowed to fall from the table.

The first and second night had passed happily. On the third night the girls came to the “Spinni” and showed off heaps of gold, which would soon be in the possession of the happy men. Then one of them opened his mouth in astonishment – – and everything was gone.
N. Tobler.

Jakob Kuoni Note: Toggenburg can be proud of having had a sea port in Wintersberg.

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Editor’s note: I think Kuoni’s comment is being wry, as clearly this hill is probably of the furthest points from the sea in western Europe. Note in the text below it does use “Meer” which is “sea”, rather than “See” which can mean “sea” but generally means “lake”. Otherwise the story is similar to other in this collection where there is a tantalising opportunity win treasure or save a girl and the bloke screws up on the last of three nights.

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436. Die Meerfräulein.

Im Wintersberg steht heute noch ein Häuschen, da wollten drei Männer einen Schatz gewinnen. Drei Meerfräulein sollten ihnen denselben bringen, wenn sie drei Nächte hindurch wachten, jeder in einem besondern Raum. Keiner durfte ein Wörtlein reden, keiner ein Licht brennen. Das Essen musste ihnen durchs Fenster gereicht werden; aber kein Krümlein durfte vom Tische fallen.

Die erste und zweite Nacht waren glücklich vorübergegangen. In der dritten kamen die Fräulein schon zur “Spinni” und liessen ganze Haufen des Goldes blicken, das nun bald in den Besitz der glücklichen Männer übergehen sollte. Da tat einer vor Erstaunen den Mund auf — — und fort war alles.
N. Tobler.

Das Toggenburg darf stolz drauf sein, im Wintersberg einen Meerhafen besessen zu haben.

Picture generated by midjourney