Section 1
In a hilly region, there resided a farmer without a known name or the name of his farm. Hence, we are unable to disclose those details. Being single, he employed a housekeeper called Hildur, about whom he had no knowledge regarding her family background or lineage. Hildur assumed responsibility for all the household tasks on the farm and handled them remarkably well. Both the inhabitants of the house, including the farmer, held a great fondness for her, her cleanliness and efficiency in managing tasks, along with her kind and gentle manner of speaking, endeared her to everyone.
Every aspect of the farm thrived abundantly, yet the farmer consistently faced considerable challenges when it came to hiring a shepherd, this was a matter of great significance since the welfare of the farm relied heavily on the diligent care provided to the sheep.
The farmer's struggle in hiring a herdsman was not due to any fault of his own or the housekeeper's negligence in attending to the servants' needs, the difficulty stemmed from the unfortunate circumstance that every herdsman who joined the farm's service would inexplicably pass away in their sleep on Christmas morning, without exception. It is no surprise, then, that the farmer had difficulty finding willing herdsmen given the ominous reputation associated with the position.
During that era, it was customary in the region to spend the night of Christmas Eve at the church, this particular service held a significant and solemn significance among the community. However, the farm was located quite far from the church, making it challenging for the herdsmen, who would only return from tending to the flocks late in the evening, to attend the Christmas Eve service at the usual time, as for Hildur, she would always stay behind to ensure the house was taken care of, she had numerous tasks to complete, such as cleaning the rooms and distributing rations to the servants. Consequently, the family would return from church, retire to bed, and Hildur would still be busy with her duties, unable to go to bed until much later.
As word spread about the repeated deaths of the herdsmen on Christmas Eve night, the farmer encountered increasing difficulty in finding a new herdsman, athough there was never any suspicion of foul play or violence, as no signs of harm were discovered on their bodies, the alarming incidents created an air of unease and uncertainty, with no one to suspect or blame, the mystery surrounding the deaths only added to the challenge of hiring a herdsman.Finally, the farmer reached a point where his conscience could no longer allow him to hire men only to have them meet their untimely demise, he made the decision to rely on luck or let the sheep fend for themselves in the future, relinquishing the practice of hiring herdsmen altogether.
Not long after the farmer had made this decision, a courageous and robust individual approached him, offering his services. The farmer responded by saying:
"My good friend, I do not require your services to such a degree that I would hire you," replied the farmer.
The man then inquired, "So, have you already found a herdsman for this winter?"
The farmer responded, "No, I haven't, as you probably know the unfortunate fate that has befallen every person I've hired in the past."
"I have heard about it," replied the other person, "but I refuse to let fear trouble me or prevent me from tending to your sheep this winter, if you are willing to give me a chance."
However, the farmer initially refused, saying, "It would be a great pity for someone as fine as you to risk your life. It is best for you to leave and find work elsewhere, if you are wise."
Nevertheless, the man persisted, repeatedly declaring that he was undeterred by the terrors of Christmas Eve and continued to insist that the farmer should hire him.
Finally, yielding to the man's earnest plea, the farmer agreed to hire him as the herdsman, and they got along very well. The man was well-liked by everyone, regardless of their status, as he was honest, genuine, dedicated in his work, and always willing to help others when needed.
On Christmas Eve, as dusk approached, the farmer and his entire family went to church, following the customary practice, however, Hildur stayed behind to attend to household affairs, and the herdsman couldn't leave his duties with the sheep in time. Late in the evening, the herdsman, following his usual routine, returned home. After having his supper, he retired to bed. However, as he settled between the sheets, he couldn't help but recall the fate that had befallen all the previous herdsmen on this very evening, it occurred to him that it would be wise to stay awake, prepared for any unfortunate event, although he was not particularly burdened by fear.
