The Wise Child

One December, long ago, in a little village in lower Saxony, what is now a part of modern Germany, the people of the village recieved word that the soldiers of Charlemagne were coming to inspect their village and they started to panic.

The people of that village were Pagans, you see and Charlemagne had passed a law that anyone who refused to become a Christian was to be executed.

"We must make crosses", said the elder of the village, "If they see we are wearing crosses then perhaps they won't kill us".

So the people started to make wooden crosses and to hang them around their necks and the necks of their children and so that the Christians wouldn't find them, they buried the statues of their gods and goddesses in the ground.

But then when the soldiers arrived they were not convinced by the wooden crosses.

"Anyone can put on a cross and call himself a Christian", said the commander of the Frankish dragoon.

Then he ordered that one of the village children be brought forth; and a little boy; a boy named Wittekind was chosen.

"Answer me correctly child the questions that I ask", he said to the boy, "And we shall ride on and harm none in your village but answer incorrectly and, as is the law, everyone shall be punished".

The young boy looked up at the Christian commander and said, "Ask what questions you will and I will answer them".

"Very well", said the commander, impressed by the boys confidence, "If you are a Christian then tell me. Where was our lord and saviour born?".

"He was born in the town of Bethlehem", said the boy.

"And what guided the three kings to Bethlehem?", asked the commander.

"The three kings were guided by a star", replied the boy.

"Alright", said the commander, "One last question. What three gifts did the three kings bring as offerings to the holy infant".

"The three gifts brought by the three kings were Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh", said the boy without a moments hesitation.

Hearing the boy answer the three questions correctly, the commander of the Frankish soldiers was convinced that the villagers were Christians and so he ordered his men to ride on.

After the soldiers had left, however, the other villagers asked the boy, amazed,

"Wittekind, how did you know the right answer to all those questions?".

"Dig up the spot where I am standing and you shall have your answer", said the boy.

So, hearing this, the villagers dug up the ground and found that it was where they had buried the statue of Freya, their goddess of knowledge and wisdom.