The Elves of Sint-Truiden

In Engelmanshoven, a village of Sint-Truiden, the elves had dug underground passages. In these passages they had built little tables and chairs of earth. Those with much work would lay out a bowl of delicious rice porridge, and the elves would come at night to do the work.

A woman from Engelmanshoven who was without a maid prepared a large bowl of rice porridge for the elves. The elves so enjoyed visiting this woman that after a time they often appeared in her kitchen. The family felt blessed by their invisible help.

But one day the woman hired a new maid. The elves were very displeased with this change. They began constantly tormenting the new maid. They moved her tools, hid her things, and made her life miserable.

The woman saw what was happening and realized that the elves were unhappy with the arrival of the new maid. She had to think of something to satisfy the elves.

The woman spoke with the chief of the elves and received this advice: “When my elves come again, you must give your maid a slice of bread. The maid must then relieve herself on the ground. The elves will surely not return after that.”

And so it came to pass. The woman gave the maid the bread and the maid did as she was instructed. From that time forward, the elves were never seen again. The woman had to do all her work herself from then on, but she was glad that her family finally had peace.