
The Spirit of the Van
The story tells of a beautiful female spirit that appears on a lake called the Van Pool. She appears in a golden boat in the first hours of New Year’s Day and is dressed all in white and around her waist she wears a golden girdle Her hair is long and golden and in her hand is a golden oar which she uses to deftly maneuver the boat. Those who have seen her, although admiring her beauty, are struck by the melancholy demeanor and milk- white face of the lovely lady.
Living near to the lake was a young farmer who had heard about the beautiful, melancholy spirit of the lake and became intrigued by what was said about her. The more he thought about her the more a fervent desire to see her for himself grew upon him.
When New Year’s Eve came he went to the lake and chose a secluded and well hidden spot by the water’s edge where he settled down to await the arrival of the spirit of the Van Pool in the hours after midnight. The moon was full and mirrored in the calm waters of the lake and he awaited in eager anticipation for the midnight hour. At the strike of midnight as the old year was passing and the new was being born there on the opposite bank materialized the spirit of the lake in a golden boat that floated gracefully over the water steered by the lady with a golden oar.
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