The Nixy

Andrew Lang (1844 – 1912) was a Scots poet, novelist, literary critic, and contributor to the field of anthropology. He is best known as a collector of folk and fairy tales. The Andrew Lang lectures at the University of St Andrews are named after him. Lang was also a prolific author of works both fiction and non-; he wrote his own fairy tales such as Prince Prigio and Prince Ricardo of Pantouflia , and wrote numerous historical texts.

'The Nixy' is a fairy-tale published as a part of 'The Yellow Fairy Book' in 1889. The story tells us of a miller who has become poor. But one day he meets a nixy who promises to make him rich if he promises something in exchange. The price is named: the nixie will marry whoever is born in the miller's house. The miller thought of a puppy or a kitten and agreed. But when he comes hom he finds that his wife has given a birth to a child.