There is a folktale which was recounted by our Stordal ancestors. R. A. Quitzen collected this story in 1835. I include this for your interest. I’m sure that Ole’s grandparents, in the tradition of our ancestors, shared some of these folktales with their grandchildren.
Hidden Treasures: The Copper Cauldron
During the Seven Years War, the Swedes invaded Trondheim County in 1564, and the farmers in the parishes buried in the ground what valuables they had. When the war was over, the story goes that began digging up these goods again, but they say that there were not many who found their possessions. But then there was a wise old woman who said they had to dig on Midsummer night when the moon was full.
There where not many who believed this, but one farmer, one moonlit Midsummer night, took along a hoe and a spade and went out to dig. He dug and he dug, and all at once the hoe hit something hard. He became more and more eager, and at last he dug out a big copper cauldron filled with money and valuables. The man sat down to rest and wipe away the sweat. All at once he heard someone come driving by, and when he turned to look, he saw a cock pulling a load of straw. He stood watching this, until both the cock and straw were out of sight. Then he turned to the cauldron, but that was gone too.
On the same night, there was another man digging for treasure right by his farm, and he also got hold of a big copper cauldron. He managed to pull it out of the ground, put it down to catch his breath, and happened to look over at his farm. There it stood all ablaze! He dropped everything, left the kettle there, and started running toward the farm to wake the people sleeping inside. He happened to look back at the cauldron, but it was gone, and the farm lay as before. The fire was out, and everything was as usual.
