The Pious Herdsman

About three miles above Uderns, in the valley of the Ziller, lies the

Asten or Voralp, also called the Stuben, upon which a poor spirit used

to wander, seeking its redemption.

The proprietor of the Asten was unable to find any one who would

undertake to guard his cattle on the mountain, for every one was afraid

of the ghost. At last, a poor brave boy offered himself for this

purpose, and was of course gladly accepted.

One day as he was driving his cows upon the mountain, he saw a tall

dark figure wandering about a few steps from the door of his little

hut, which is called in the Tyrolian dialect the schlamm. The boy

instantly spoke to the apparition, and asked whether he could not do

anything to release him from his pain, to which the ghost answered,

yes, he could, if during a whole year, without omitting one single day,

he would devoutly repeat a rosary, and promise during that time never

to swear or do a bad action, and always to say the rosary at the same

hour every day.

The honest son of the Alps conscientiously fulfilled his duty for a

very long time, until one day in the summer a pretty little village

girl came up the mountain and begged the cowherd to stand godfather to

her sister’s child, for they were very poor, and knew no one who would

be likely to accept the office but him. The good herd promised directly

that he would; and when the day of the baptism arrived, he well fed his

cows and then set off down the mountain to Uderns. After the ceremony

was over, he had intended to return immediately up the Asten, as it is

the custom in the Tyrol to feed the cattle four times a day. But the

mother of the child implored him to remain a little longer with them,

and so one thing and another prevented him from starting so soon as

he had wished. It happened therefore that he remained in the village

until evening had set in, for they insisted on serving him with good

liqueurs, which to the poor cowherd were a great treat, as it is very

seldom one of his position has the chance of tasting such a thing.

At last he set off on his return, and as he climbed the mountain he

remembered that he had forgotten the hour of his prayers, and was so

grieved at this omission, that he cried bitterly, and repeated aloud

the neglected rosary as he went along. Then the idea struck him that

he would also offer up his baptismal work for the benefit of the poor

spirit.

When he arrived at his hut he proceeded immediately to the stables,

thinking to himself, “how hungry the poor cattle must be,” but great

was his astonishment when he saw that the best food had been placed

before them, and that everything was in the most perfect order; but

far greater was his surprise when after he had retired to rest, the

poor spirit appeared before him, clad in snow-white garments, and told

him that he was now redeemed, and that which had been principally

instrumental in his redemption, was the offering which the good

cowherd had made of the baptism of the child. After this the spirit

disappeared, and has never been seen again. Since this fact became

known, it has been, and still is the custom in all parts of the Tyrol

for godfathers and godmothers to make an offering of the baptismal rite

on behalf of the poor souls in purgatory.