THE Esthonians appear to be very compassionate towards orphans, for many of their tales relate to the adventures of neglected or ill-used orphan children, and the wonderful events by which their welfare was finally secured. Nevertheless, wicked stepmothers and farmers’ wives are just as common as in other folk-tales.
The first story of this class which we have selected, “The Wood of Tontla,”
1 Tont is a common name for a house-spirit.