Legend of Silberhohl
In the neighbourhood of Leesen lies a spot called Silberhohl. It is almost round, and several feet deeper than the ground around it, and quite overgrown with swamp-moss. People go by with a shudder, for there is something the matter with the place.
Centuries ago a stately castle stood on the spot, in which there was always much drinking, gambling and wild merriment.
The nobles of the castle acted as if they owned the whole world; and everything did belong to them that they could take by force, for they lived by robbing, and were guilty of much violence and cruelty.
One could say with truth, there was not a single good heart in the Burg except the young girl Jutta. Everybody loved her, and often, when the robbers had marched out to plunder, she would visit the poor and the sick, and even the robbed, giving them food and the money she had saved. The suffering and poor called her Saint Jutta.
Once the robbers had committed a monster crime. Covered with the blood of those they had robbed, they returned laden with booty to the castle.
Soon the goblets stood on the oaken tables, and the unholy, lawless revel began.
Suddenly the most terrible thunder rolled, a mighty flash of lightning swept the hall, the earth quaked and opened, the walls trembled, the tower shook and fell with an awful noise that was heard miles away. All sank in the gulf, which closed again, and nothing was left of the castle but a deep round spot where it had stood.
Many came to see the place so marked by a Divine vengeance, and every one said, “Poor Jutta!”
Not long after the destruction of the Burg, a poor woman in a neighbouring village fell ill. She wept sore, for her three little children cried for bread, and she could work no longer.
The mother folded her hands and prayed. Then she said to herself, “Oh! if the dear Jutta were only alive!”
Then the door was opened softly; a light form wrapped in a white veil, with a gleaming diadem in her hair, came forward to the bed.
“Jutta!” cried the poor mother.
The figure waved the hand, glanced kindly at the sleeping children, set down a peculiar shaped basket on a table, drew a cross over the mother, and vanished.
A deep sleep fell on the poor woman, and when she awoke the next morning she found the basket full of gold pieces.