The Old Woman Who Became a Goblin

There was a Confucian scholar once who lived in the southern part of

Seoul. It is said that he went out for a walk one day while his wife

remained alone at home. When he was absent there came by begging an

old woman who looked like a Buddhist priestess, for while very old

her face was not wrinkled. The scholar's wife asked her if she knew

how to sew. She said she did, and so the wife made this proposition,

"If you will stay and work for me I'll give you your breakfast and

your supper, and you'll not have to beg anywhere; will you agree?"

She replied, "Oh, thank you so much, I'll be delighted."

The scholar's wife, well satisfied with her bargain, took her in and

set her to picking cotton, and making and spinning thread. In one

day she did more than eight ordinary women, and yet had, seemingly,

plenty of time to spare. The wife, delighted above measure, treated

her to a great feast. After five or six days, however, the feeling

of delight and the desire to treat her liberally and well wore off

somewhat, so that the old woman grew angry and said, "I am tired of

living alone, and so I want your husband for my partner." This being

refused, she went off in a rage, but came back in a little accompanied

by a decrepit old man who looked like a Buddhist beggar.

These two came boldly into the room and took possession, cleared out

the things that were in the ancient tablet-box on the wall-shelf,

and both disappeared into it, so that they were not seen at all,

but only their voices heard. According to the whim that took them

they now ordered eatables and other things. When the scholar's wife

failed in the least particular to please them, they sent plague and

sickness after her, so that her children fell sick and died. Relatives

on hearing of this came to see, but they also caught the plague,

fell ill and died. Little by little no one dared come near the place,

and it became known at last that the wife was held as a prisoner by

these two goblin creatures. For a time smoke was seen by the town-folk

coming out of the chimney daily, and they knew that the wife still

lived, but after five or six days the smoke ceased, and they knew

then that the woman's end had come. No one dared even to make inquiry.

Im Bang.