High in the Austrian Alps, between the quiet valleys of Reschen and Nauders, stood the Tendres Farm—a proud old homestead surrounded by green slopes and the cold silver glint of mountain streams. The people of the valley said the land was blessed: its pastures were lush, its cows sturdy, and its barns always full. But blessings in the mountains can quickly turn to warnings, and wealth often hides the whispers of old spirits.
Each autumn, when the first frost touched the meadows, a ragged stranger would appear at the farmhouse door. He was small, bent, and cloaked in tattered gray, with a sack slung over one shoulder and his eyes glimmering strangely beneath his hood. The old farmer would give him lodging in the stable and a share of supper, for the stranger claimed to be a Venediger-Manndl, one of those mysterious gold-seekers said to come from Venice to search for treasure in the Tyrolean mountains.
No one knew his real name. By day he wandered into the ravines, gathering fine dust from the mountain brooks; by night he mended his torn clothes by the fire, muttering in a language none understood. The farmer treated him with courtesy, for it was bad luck to offend travelers of the high passes. Yet each year after the man’s visit, strange things seemed to happen: a lamb would vanish, the milk would sour, or a windowpane would crack in the night.
Still, the farmer grew richer. He found new veins of silver in his land and gold flecks in the gravel of his stream. He told his neighbors that the Manndl had brought fortune upon his house. But one spring, as the snow melted and the streams swelled with icy water, disaster struck, the farm’s strongest cows fell ill and died. The milk turned to blood, and a heavy gloom settled over the valley.
The villagers whispered that the Venediger-Manndl had cursed the farm. Some said he was no man at all, but a mountain spirit who punished greed. Others claimed he was a wandering soul, forever seeking to buy redemption with gold. The old farmer, fearful and proud, refused to listen. “There is no curse,” he said. “Gold is God’s gift to those who work the earth.”
Only the young servant-girl, Maria, dared to pray openly for deliverance. She was a quiet soul, known for her kindness and her voice that rose like birdsong when she sang the rosary. One night, as the wind howled down from the peaks, Maria saw the Venediger-Manndl slip again into the stable. His sack was full, but his hands were black as coal. When he caught her gaze, his eyes gleamed with sorrow rather than malice.
“Child,” he said softly, “do not fear me. I seek not gold but peace. Once, I stole from the mountains and buried their gifts for my greed. Now I must wander until someone prays for my soul.”
Maria fell to her knees, her hands trembling. “Then I will pray,” she whispered. And she did, from that night onward, every dawn and every dusk, her voice carried across the farm, calling mercy upon the lost gold-seeker.
The following morning, the villagers awoke to find the air clear and sweet again. The streams ran bright, the sick cattle rose, and the heavy stillness that had hung over Tendres Farm was gone. The stranger was never seen again, but on the rocks above the pasture lay a streak of gold, just enough to remind the farmer of his folly and the power of repentance.
The farmer lived the rest of his years in humility, giving alms to travelers and blessing the land he had once taken for granted. And the people of Tyrol still tell his story as a warning: that the mountains keep their own balance, and those who forget respect for their spirits must pay the price.
Moral Lesson
The tale of The Gold-Seeker of the Tendres Farm teaches that greed blinds the heart, but repentance restores harmony. In the Tyrolean mountains, respect for nature and humility before the unseen world bring peace and prosperity, while selfish desire brings ruin.
Knowledge Check
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Who was the Venediger-Manndl in the story?
A mysterious gold-seeker linked to Tyrolean mountain spirits. -
What event marked the beginning of misfortune at the Tendres Farm?
The sudden death of the farmer’s healthiest cows. -
What did Maria’s prayers accomplish?
They freed the spirit of the Venediger-Manndl and restored balance to the land. -
What does the gold found in the rocks symbolize?
Redemption, and the lasting reminder that greed has spiritual consequences. -
Which moral values are highlighted in this Tyrolean folktale?
Humility, respect for nature, repentance, and spiritual awareness. -
Where does this legend originate from?
The Tyrol region of Austria, known for its mountain folklore and mining myths.
Source: Adapted from the Tyrolean folktale “The Gold-Seeker of the Tendres Farm” in Tales and Legends of the Tyrol, Project Gutenberg.
Cultural Origin: Austria (Tyrolean folklore)
