The Sandman

"The Sandman" is a short story written in German by E. T. A. Hoffmann. It was the first in an 1817 book of stories titled The Night Pieces. "The Sandman" begins with a series of letters between the protagonist, Nathaniel, his close friend Lothaire, and Clara, Nathaniel's betrothed. Nathaniel tells his friend (though the letter is accidentally read by his fiancee) about how the tale of the Sandman terrified him in his youth. According to folklore, the Sandman is a being that sprinkles sand over children's eyes to make them go to sleep."