[1] Andrew Lang included a version in The Yellow Fairy Book, citing his source Hermann Kletke and titling it The Nixy.

[1][3] This fairy tale type that falls under the larger category of "Supernatural Adversaries" and is characterized by a hero's parents being promised wealth or gifts in exchange for their child.

The miller assumes that he was only at risk of losing a pet such as a young puppy or a kitten and therefore agrees to the deal.

Horrified, the miller realizes that the nixie was aware of his son's birth when she offered him the deal; both he and his wife are unsure of what to do.

Despite this success, the miller remains worried about the nixie collecting payment and warns his son of danger near the mill pond.

Distraught, she falls asleep at the water's edge and dreams of climbing up a perilous cliff side, reaching the top and finding a cottage with an old woman inside.

While saved from death, the flood takes them far from their native land and separates the couple by a distance of mountains and valleys.

A multimedia, episodic opera based on the tale entitled "The Siren" was created by British composer Sandy Clark in 2018.