# The Nix of the Millpond explained — Household Tales > Chapter companion for Household Tales by Jacob Grimm. ## What happens A miller, facing poverty, promises the nix of the millpond the first newborn in his house in exchange for wealth. His wife gives birth to a son, and the miller lives in fear. The son grows up, becomes a huntsman, marries, and is later dragged into the pond by the nix. His wife seeks help from a wise old woman, who gives her a golden comb, flute, and spinning-wheel to use at the full moon. With each object, the huntsman's body rises further from the water. Finally, he is freed, but a flood separates the couple, transforming them into a toad and a frog. After years as shepherds, they reunite by chance, recognize each other under the full moon, and embrace. ## Themes in this chapter ### Promises and Their Consequences The miller's hasty promise to the nix leads to the loss of his son and years of suffering for the family. ### Transformation and Redemption The couple is transformed into animals and later restored to human form, ultimately reuniting after years of separation and hardship. ### Magic and the Supernatural The nix, the wise old woman, and the magical golden objects (comb, flute, spinning-wheel) drive the plot and enable the rescue. ## Character check-ins ### the girl The miller's wife, who gives birth to the son and later becomes the huntsman's wife, seeking to rescue him from the nix. ### the youth The miller's son, who becomes a huntsman, marries, and is captured by the nix. ### the maiden The beautiful and truehearted maiden who marries the huntsman and later works to free him. ### Unknown The nix of the millpond, a water spirit who makes a bargain with the miller and later captures the huntsman. ### the rich man The miller, who initially lives in prosperity, then falls into poverty, and later regains wealth through his promise to the nix. ## Key lines > Be easy, answered the nix, I will make thee richer and happier than thou hast ever been before, only thou must promise to give me the young thing which has just been born in thy house. The nix promises the miller wealth and happiness in exchange for the newborn in his house. _The nix tricks the miller into giving away his son._ > Scarcely, however, had he dipped them in than the nix ascended, smilingly wound her dripping arms around him, and drew him quickly down under the waves, which closed over him. As soon as the huntsman washes his hands in the pond, the nix rises, embraces him, and pulls him underwater. _The nix captures the huntsman as he unknowingly approaches the millpond._ > Immediately the head and the whole body of the man rose into the air, in a waterspout. He quickly sprang to the shore, caught his wife by the hand and fled. The huntsman's entire body rises from the water in a spout, and he leaps to shore, grabs his wife, and they run away. _The third magical object, the spinning-wheel, finally frees the huntsman completely._ > He looked at her, and it seemed as if a veil fell from his eyes, and he recognized his dear wife, and when she looked at him, and the moon shone in his face she knew him also. The shepherd realizes the shepherdess is his wife, and she recognizes him in the moonlight. _The couple reunites after years of separation, recognizing each other under the full moon._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters/the-nix-of-the-millpond - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/household_tales_se/chapters