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A Story of the Origin of the Catskill Mountain Gnomes
The path wound through a scattering of large rocks, then suddenly ended at the opening of large crevice in the ravine. A cleft that he did not remember yawned on the face of the rock, and Joe saw an orange glow flickering on the fractured stone. Smoke billowed from opening and clattering, hissing noises like those of a blacksmith bellowed out from the opening.
Joe, who had been out hunting happened to be walking along the cliff when he stumbled upon the cave. He wondered where the noise was coming from, and began to search it out. He could not believe his eyes. There, deep in the rock, was a glowing hot fire and silhouetted against the flames were three tiny men that stood seven inches tall.
They were as difficult to see as their sooty clothing blended in with the rocks. Their skin too, was covered with the soot. The shadows of the tiny wee folk cast long scary shadows on the wall of the cave. Joe became so intrigued with the little men that he lost all track of time.
Hours had passed. The night was quickly overcoming the sun. It was time for the gnomes to return to their home, Joe followed them along the path where the three men were joined by at least another one hundred little gnomes.
One very clever gnome, Knarf sensed that there was a human near their compound and in his own unique language warned the other gnomes. They observed Joe for a short time when Knarf decided he would inquire what Joe was up to and why he was there. And Knarf did just that.
Joe was speechless, but soon realized that the little men were just another peaceful race that inhabited our planet. The gnomes invited Joe to have dinner with them and they feasted and talked and ate some more.
Joe enjoyed himself so much that for years after that he went back to visit his little friends and often had dinner with the gnomes. He shared his traditions with the gnomes bringing them different fruits and nuts, and the gnomes shared their wisdom with Joe. They told Joe how their traditions began, and in fact, how the gnomes eventually made their way to the Catskill Mountains.
The Gnomish race began in Lapland. There was a mountain that became encrusted in thick ice during the dark times. The gnomes found caves in the rocks that were warmed by the geothermal currents of heat that poured forth from within the earth. In the caves were springs and hot pools of water that also heated the caves.
During those dark times many of the gnomes could not withstand the cold and the ice and headed south and eventually scattered to many different lands. Some of the gnomes remained on the icy mountain and headed to the caves where they could sustain their lives. Those high mountains were in what is now called Finland.
They learned to cultivate the mushrooms that grew in the caves and grew a variety of different flavored mushrooms. They also harvested beetle honey that made especially tasty dishes and desserts.
It
was during those hard times that the gnomes discovered the force of magic.
After a long day's work, the gnomes would sit by the fireside and talk
about their discoveries amongst themselves, only to put their theories to work the
next morning. Some were able to
master this force, an art of illusion and trickery, otherwise called sorcery. It was an important part of their entertainment, as well as their survival during those hard times.
As the ice melted and brought forth a new type of flower and fauna other living beings began to inhabit the areas outside of the caves. First to become the neighbors of the gnomes, were the nasty trolls. But the trolls never got the best of the gnomes. With the gnomes' wit and use of sorcery, the trolls knew they were not to go up against a gnome. Armed with their gift of sorcery and illusion.
Some of the gnomes built their new homes near the caves, while others lived in the meadow. Eventually humans began to return to the Northland and farms became the homes of many of the meadow gnomes. There were the woodshed gnomes, the house gnomes, and so forth.
The gnome and human relationship grew very slowly. Humans didn't want to accept the gnomish folk because they feared their magical powers. But the gnomes were very interested in their human neighbors. They studied their habits and tried to understand their ways.
Eventually the gnomes and a few humans began to form a bond that developed into a symbiotic relationship. Those humans were astonished by the technology of the gnomes.
But there are only a few humans who can accept the gnomes and their gifts.
When a human visits the gnomes, there is usually an unending role of questions. The gnomes are always looking for sources of knowledge. While when a gnome comes upon humans, there is usually a meeting of curiosity or disbelief.
As human technology expanded, so did gnome technology. During the past century gnomes have quickly spread all over the world. There are as many different types of gnomes today as there are races of humans upon this earth.
Gnomes have a code of rules and ethics and live very peaceful and long lives.
They pair for life. Female gnomes only give birth once and they give birth to twins, usually a boy and a girl, which seems to have kept a balance eliminating many issues that humans have.
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