A troll had once taken up his abode near the village of Kund, in the
high bank on which the church now stands, but when the people about
there had become pious, and went constantly to church, the troll was
dreadfully annoyed by their almost incessant ringing of bells in the
steeple of the church. He was at last obliged, in consequence of it, to
take his departure, for nothing has more contributed to the emigration
of the troll-folk out of the country, than the increasing piety of the
people, and their taking to bell-ringing. The troll of Kund accordingly
quitted the country, and went over to Funen, where he lived for some
time in peace and quiet. Now it chanced that a man who had lately
settled in the town of Kund, coming to Funen on business, met this same
troll on the road.

"Where do you live?" asked the troll.

Now there was nothing whatever about the troll unlike a man, so he
answered him, as was the truth--

"I am from the town of Kund."

"So?" said the troll, "I don't know you then. And yet I think I know
every man in Kund. Will you, however," said he, "be so kind as to take a
letter for me back with you to Kund?"

The man, of course, said he had no objection.

The troll put a letter into his pocket and charged him strictly not to
take it out until he came to Kund church. Then he was to throw it over