Erau odat\u0103 un mo\u015fneag \u015fi-o bab\u0103; \u015fi mo\u015fneagul avea o fat\u0103, \u015fi baba iar o fat\u0103. Fata babei era slut\u0103, lene\u015f\u0103, \u0163\u00e2fnoas\u0103 \u015fi rea la inim\u0103; dar, pentru c\u0103 era fata mamei, se alinta cum s-alint\u0103 cioara-n la\u0163, l\u0103s\u00e2nd tot greul pe fata mo\u015fneagului. Fata mo\u015fneagului \u00eens\u0103 era frumoas\u0103, harnic\u0103, ascult\u0103toare \u015fi bun\u0103 la inim\u0103. Dumnezeu o \u00eempodobise cu toate darurile cele bune \u015fi frumoase. Dar aceast\u0103 fat\u0103 bun\u0103 era horopsit\u0103 \u015fi de sora cea de scoar\u0163\u0103, \u015fi de mama cea vitreg\u0103; noroc de la Dumnezeu c\u0103 era o fat\u0103 robace \u015fi r\u0103bd\u0103toare; c\u0103ci altfel ar fi fost vai \u015f-amar de pielea ei.
Fata mo\u015fneagului la deal, fata mo\u015fneagului la vale; ea dup\u0103 g\u0103teje prin p\u0103dure, ea cu t\u0103buie\u0163ul \u00een spate la moar\u0103, ea, \u00een sf\u00e2r\u015fit, \u00een toate p\u0103r\u0163ile dup\u0103 treab\u0103. C\u00e2t era ziulica de mare, nu-\u015fi mai str\u00e2ngea picioarele; dintr-o parte venea \u015fi-n alta se ducea. \u015e-apoi baba \u015fi cu odorul de fiic\u0103-sa tot c\u00e2rtitoare \u015fi nemul\u0163umitoare erau. Pentru bab\u0103, fata mo\u015fneagului era piatr\u0103 de moar\u0103 \u00een cas\u0103; iar fata ei – busuioc de pus la icoane.
C\u00e2nd se duceau am\u00e2ndou\u0103 fetele \u00een sat la \u015fez\u0103toare seara, fata mo\u015fneagului nu se \u00eencurca, ci torcea c\u00e2te-un ciur plin de fuse; iar fata babei \u00eendruga \u015fi ea cu mare ce c\u00e2te-un fus; \u015f-apoi, c\u00e2nd veneau am\u00e2ndou\u0103 fetele acas\u0103 noaptea t\u00e2rziu, fata babei s\u0103rea iute peste p\u00e2rlaz \u015fi zicea fetei mo\u015fneagului s\u0103-i dea ciurul cu fusele, ca s\u0103-1 \u0163ie p\u00e2n\u0103 va s\u0103ri \u015fi ea. Atunci fata babei, viclean\u0103 cum era, lua ciurul \u015fi fuga \u00een cas\u0103 la bab\u0103 \u015fi la mo\u015fneag, spun\u00e2nd c\u0103 ea a tors acele fuse. \u00cen zadar fata mo\u015fneagului spunea \u00een urm\u0103 c\u0103 acela este lucrul m\u00e2inilor sale; c\u0103ci \u00eendat\u0103 o apucau de obraz baba \u015fi cu fiic\u0103-sa \u015fi trebuia numaidec\u00e2t s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2ie pe-a lor. C\u00e2nd veneau duminica \u015fi s\u0103rb\u0103torile, fata babei era \u00eempopo\u0163at\u0103 \u015fi netezit\u0103 pe cap, de parc-o linseser\u0103 vi\u0163eii. Nu era joc, nu era clac\u0103 \u00een sat la care s\u0103 nu se duc\u0103 fata babei, iar fata mo\u015fneagului era oprit\u0103 cu asprime de la toate aceste. \u015e-apoi, c\u00e2nd venea mo\u015fneagul de pe unde era dus, gura babei umbla cum umbl\u0103 meli\u0163a; c\u0103 fata lui nu ascult\u0103, c\u0103-i u\u015fernic\u0103, c\u0103-i lene\u015f\u0103, c\u0103-i soi r\u0103u… c\u0103-i laie, c\u0103-i b\u0103laie; \u015fi c\u0103 s-o alunge de la cas\u0103; s-o trimit\u0103 la slujb\u0103 unde \u015ftie, c\u0103 nu-i de chip s-o mai \u0163ie; pentru c\u0103 poate s\u0103 \u00eenn\u0103r\u0103veasc\u0103 \u015fi pe fata ei.
Mo\u015fneagul, fiind un gur\u0103-casc\u0103, sau cum \u00ee\u0163i vrea s\u0103-i zice\u0163i, se uita \u00een coarnele ei, \u015fi ce-i spunea ea sf\u00e2nt era. Din inim\u0103, bietul mo\u015fneag poate c-ar fi mai zis c\u00e2te ceva; dar acum apucase a c\u00e2nta g\u0103ina la casa lui, \u015fi cuco\u015ful nu mai avea nici o trecere; \u015f-apoi, ia s\u0103-1 fi pus p\u0103catul s\u0103 se \u00eentreac\u0103 cu dedeochiul; c\u0103ci baba \u015fi cu fiic\u0103-sa \u00eel umplea de bogdaproste.
\u00centr-una din zile, mo\u015fneagul, fiind foarte am\u0103r\u00e2t de c\u00e2te-i spunea baba, chem\u0103 fata \u015fi-i zise:
– Draga tatei, iaca ce-mi tot spune m\u0103-ta de tine: c\u0103 n-o ascul\u0163i, c\u0103 e\u015fti rea de gur\u0103 \u015fi \u00eenn\u0103r\u0103vit\u0103 \u015fi c\u0103 nu este de chip s\u0103 mai stai la casa mea; de-aceea du-te \u015fi tu \u00eencotro te-a \u00eendrepta Dumnezeu, ca s\u0103 nu se mai fac\u0103 at\u00e2ta g\u00e2lceav\u0103 la casa asta, din pricina ta. Dar te sf\u0103tuiesc, ca un tat\u0103 ce-\u0163i sunt, c\u0103, ori\u015fiunde te-i duce, s\u0103 fii supus\u0103, blajin\u0103 \u015fi harnic\u0103; c\u0103ci la casa mea tot ai dus-o cum ai dus-o: c-a mai fost \u015fi mila p\u0103rinteasc\u0103 la mijloc!… dar prin str\u0103ini, Dumnezeu \u015ftie peste ce soi de s\u0103m\u00e2n\u0163\u0103 de oameni \u00eei da; \u015fi nu \u0163i-or putea r\u0103bda c\u00e2te \u0163i-am r\u0103bdat noi.
Atunci biata fat\u0103, v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 baba \u015fi cu fiic\u0103-sa voiesc cu orice chip s-o alunge, s\u0103rut\u0103 m\u00e2na tat\u0103-s\u0103u \u015fi, cu lacrimi \u00een ochi, porne\u015fte \u00een toat\u0103 lumea, dep\u0103rt\u00e2ndu-se de casa p\u0103rinteasc\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 nici o n\u0103dejde de \u00eentoarcere!
\u015ei merse ea c\u00e2t merse pe-un drum, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, din \u00eent\u00e2mplare, \u00eei ie\u015fi \u00eenainte o c\u0103\u0163elu\u015f\u0103, bolnav\u0103 ca vai de capul ei \u015fi slab\u0103 de-i num\u0103rai coastele; \u015fi cum v\u0103zu pe fat\u0103, \u00eei zise:
– Fat\u0103 frumoas\u0103 \u015fi harnic\u0103, fie-\u0163i mil\u0103 de mine \u015fi m\u0103 grije\u015fte, c\u0103 \u0163i-oi prinde \u015fi eu bine vrodat\u0103!
Atunci fetei i se f\u0103cu mil\u0103 \u015fi, lu\u00e2nd c\u0103\u0163elu\u015fa, o sp\u0103l\u0103 \u015fi-o griji foarte bine. Apoi o l\u0103s\u0103 acolo \u015fi-\u015fi c\u0103ut\u0103 de drum, mul\u0163umit\u0103 fiind \u00een suflet c\u0103 a putut s\u0103v\u00e2r\u015fi o fapt\u0103 bun\u0103.
Nu merse ea tocmai mult, \u015fi numai iaca ce vede un p\u0103r frumos \u015fi \u00eenflorit, dar plin de omizi \u00een toate p\u0103r\u0163ile. P\u0103rul, cum vede pe fat\u0103, zice:
– Fat\u0103 frumoas\u0103 \u015fi harnic\u0103, grije\u015fte-m\u0103 \u015fi cur\u0103\u0163\u0103-m\u0103 de omizi, c\u0103 \u0163i-oi prinde \u015fi eu bine vrodat\u0103!
Fata, harnic\u0103 cum era, cur\u0103\u0163\u0103 p\u0103rul de usc\u0103turi \u015fi de omizi cu mare \u00eengrijire \u015fi apoi se tot duce \u00eenainte s\u0103-\u015fi caute st\u0103p\u00e2n. \u015ei, merg\u00e2nd ea mai departe, numai iaca ce vede o f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103 m\u00e2lit\u0103 \u015fi p\u0103r\u0103sit\u0103. F\u00e2nt\u00e2na atunci zice:
– Fat\u0103 frumoas\u0103 \u015fi harnic\u0103, \u00eengrije\u015fte-m\u0103, c\u0103 \u0163i-oi prinde \u015fi eu bine vrodat\u0103!
Fata r\u00e2ne\u015fte f\u00e2nt\u00e2na \u015fi-o grije\u015fte foarte bine; apoi o las\u0103 \u015fi-\u015fi caut\u0103 de drum. \u015ei, tot merg\u00e2nd mai departe, numai iaca ce d\u0103 de-un cuptor nelipit \u015fi mai-mai s\u0103 se risipeasc\u0103. Cuptorul, cum vede pe fat\u0103, zice:
– Fat\u0103 frumoas\u0103 \u015fi harnic\u0103, lipe\u015fte-m\u0103 \u015fi grije\u015fte-m\u0103, c\u0103 poate \u0163i-oi prinde \u015fi eu bine vrodat\u0103!
Fata, care \u015ftia c\u0103 de f\u0103cut treab\u0103 nu mai cade coada nim\u0103nui, \u00ee\u015fi suflec\u0103 m\u00e2necile, c\u0103lc\u0103 lut \u015fi lipi cuptorul, \u00eel humui \u015fi-1 griji, de-\u0163i era mai mare dragul s\u0103-1 prive\u015fti! Apoi \u00ee\u015fi sp\u0103l\u0103 frumu\u015fel m\u00e2inile de lut \u015fi porni iar\u0103\u015fi la drum.
\u015ei merg\u00e2nd ea acum \u015fi zi \u015fi noapte, nu \u015ftiu ce f\u0103cu, c\u0103 se r\u0103t\u0103ci; cu toate aceste, nu-\u015fi pierdu n\u0103dejdea \u00een Dumnezeu, ci merse tot \u00eenainte p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, \u00eentr-una din zile, dis-diminea\u0163\u0103, trec\u00e2nd printr-un codru \u00eentunecos, d\u0103 de-o poian\u0103 foarte frumoas\u0103, \u015fi \u00een poian\u0103 vede o c\u0103su\u0163\u0103 umbrit\u0103 de ni\u015fte lozii pletoase; \u015fi c\u00e2nd s-apropie de acea cas\u0103, numai iaca o bab\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2mpin\u0103 pe fat\u0103 cu bl\u00e2nde\u0163e \u015fi-i zice:
– Da’ ce cau\u0163i prin aceste locuri, copil\u0103, \u015fi cine e\u015fti?
– Cine s\u0103 fiu, m\u0103tu\u015f\u0103? Ia, o fat\u0103 s\u0103rac\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 mam\u0103 \u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 tat\u0103, pot zice; numai Cel-de-sus \u015ftie c\u00e2te-am tras de c\u00e2nd mama care m-a f\u0103cut a pus m\u00e2inile pe piept! St\u0103p\u00e2n caut \u015fi, necunosc\u00e2nd pe nime \u015fi umbl\u00e2nd din loc \u00een loc, m-am r\u0103t\u0103cit. Dumnezeu \u00eens\u0103 m-a pov\u0103\u0163uit de-am nimerit la casa d-tale \u015fi te rog s\u0103-mi dai s\u0103l\u0103\u015fluire.
– S\u0103rman\u0103 fat\u0103! zise b\u0103tr\u00e2na. Cu adev\u0103rat numai Dumnezeu te-a \u00eendreptat la mine \u015fi te-a sc\u0103pat de primejdii. Eu sunt sf\u00e2nta Duminic\u0103. Sluje\u015fte la mine ast\u0103zi \u015fi fii \u00eencredin\u0163at\u0103 c\u0103 m\u00e2ine n-ai s\u0103 ie\u015fi cu m\u00e2inile goale de la casa mea.
– Bine, m\u0103icu\u0163\u0103, dar nu \u015ftiu ce trebi am s\u0103 fac.
– Ia, s\u0103-mi lai copila\u015fii, care dorm acum, \u015fi s\u0103-i hr\u0103ne\u015fti; apoi s\u0103-mi faci bucate; \u015fi, c\u00e2nd m-oi \u00eentoarce eu de la biseric\u0103, s\u0103 le g\u0103sesc nici reci, nici fierbin\u0163i, ci cum \u00ees mai bune de m\u00e2ncat.
\u015ei, cum zice, b\u0103tr\u00e2na porne\u015fte la biseric\u0103, iar\u0103 fata suflec\u0103 m\u00e2necile \u015fi s-apuc\u0103 de treab\u0103. \u00cent\u00e2i \u015fi-nt\u00e2i face l\u0103utoare, apoi iese afar\u0103 \u015fi \u00eencepe a striga:
– Copii, copii, copii! Veni\u0163i la mama s\u0103 v\u0103 l\u0103ie! \u015ei c\u00e2nd se uit\u0103 fata, ce s\u0103 vad\u0103? Ograda se umpluse \u015fi p\u0103durea fojg\u0103ia de-o mul\u0163ime de balauri \u015fi de tot soiul de jivine mici \u015fi mari! \u00cens\u0103, tare \u00een credin\u0163\u0103 \u015fi cu n\u0103dejdea la Dumnezeu, fata nu se sperie; ci le ia pe c\u00e2te una \u015fi le l\u0103 \u015fi le \u00eengrije\u015fte c\u00e2t nu se poate mai bine. Apoi s-apuc\u0103 de f\u0103cut bucate, \u015fi c\u00e2nd a venit sf\u00e2nta Duminic\u0103 de la biseric\u0103 \u015fi a v\u0103zut copiii l\u0103u\u0163i frumos \u015fi toate trebile bine f\u0103cute, s-a umplut de bucurie; \u015fi dup\u0103 ce-a \u015fezut la mas\u0103, a zis fetei s\u0103 se suie \u00een pod \u015fi s\u0103-\u015fi aleag\u0103 de-acolo o lad\u0103, care-a vrea ea, \u015fi s\u0103 \u015fi-o ia ca simbrie; dar s\u0103 n-o deschid\u0103 p\u00e2n-acas\u0103, la tat\u0103-s\u0103u. Fata se suie \u00een pod \u015fi vede acolo o mul\u0163ime de l\u0103zi: unele mai vechi \u015fi mai ur\u00e2te, altele mai noi \u015fi mai frumoase. Ea, \u00eens\u0103, nefiind lacom\u0103, \u015f-alege pe cea mai veche \u015fi mai ur\u00e2t\u0103 dintre toate. \u015ei c\u00e2nd se d\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsa jos, sf\u00e2nta Duminic\u0103 cam \u00eencre\u0163e\u015fte din spr\u00e2ncene, dar n-are \u00eencotro. Ci binecuv\u00e2nteaz\u0103 pe fat\u0103, care \u00ee\u015fi ia lada \u00een spate \u015fi se \u00eentoarn\u0103 spre casa p\u0103rinteasc\u0103 cu bucurie, tot pe drumul pe unde venise.
C\u00e2nd, pe drum, iaca cuptorul grijit de d\u00e2nsa era plin de pl\u0103cinte crescute \u015fi rumenite… \u015ei m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 fata la pl\u0103cinte, \u015fi m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103, h\u0103t bine; apoi \u00ee\u015fi mai ia c\u00e2teva la drum \u015fi porne\u015fte.
C\u00e2nd, mai \u00eencolo, numai iaca f\u00e2nt\u00e2na grijit\u0103 de d\u00e2nsa era plin\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103-n gur\u0103 cu ap\u0103 limpede cum \u00eei lacrima, dulce \u015fi rece cum \u00eei ghea\u0163a. \u015ei pe colacul f\u00e2nt\u00e2nii erau dou\u0103 pahare de argint, cu care a b\u0103ut la ap\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 s-a r\u0103corit. Apoi a luat paharele cu sine \u015fi a pornit \u00eenainte.
\u015ei merg\u00e2nd mai departe, iaca p\u0103rul grijit de d\u00e2nsa era \u00eenc\u0103rcat de pere, galbene ca ceara, de coapte ce erau, \u015fi dulci ca mierea. P\u0103rul, v\u0103z\u00e2nd pe fat\u0103, \u015fi-a plecat crengile-n jos; \u015fi ea a m\u00e2ncat la pere \u015fi \u015fi-a luat la drum c\u00e2te i-au trebuit.
De-acolo merg\u00e2nd mai departe, iaca se \u00eent\u00e2lne\u015fte \u015fi cu c\u0103\u0163elu\u015fa, care acum era voinic\u0103 \u015fi frumoas\u0103, iar\u0103 la g\u00e2t purta o salb\u0103 de galbeni pe care a dat-o fetei, ca mul\u0163umit\u0103 pentru c\u0103 a c\u0103utat-o la boal\u0103. \u015ei de aici, fata, tot merg\u00e2nd \u00eenainte, a ajuns acas\u0103 la tat\u0103-s\u0103u. Mo\u015fneagul, c\u00e2nd a v\u0103zut-o, i s-au umplut ochii de lacrimi \u015fi inima de bucurie. Fata atunci scoate salba \u015fi paharele cele de argint \u015fi le d\u0103 t\u0103t\u00e2ne-s\u0103u; apoi deschiz\u00e2nd lada \u00eempreun\u0103, nenum\u0103rate herghelii de cai, cirezi de vite \u015fi turme de oi ies din ea, \u00eenc\u00e2t mo\u015fneagul pe loc a \u00eentinerit, v\u0103z\u00e2nd at\u00e2tea bog\u0103\u0163ii! Iar\u0103 baba a r\u0103mas op\u0103rit\u0103 \u015fi nu \u015ftia ce s\u0103 fac\u0103 de ciud\u0103. Fata babei atunci \u015fi-a luat inima-n din\u0163i \u015fi a zis:
– Las’, mam\u0103, c\u0103 nu-i pr\u0103dat\u0103 lumea de bog\u0103\u0163ii; m\u0103 duc s\u0103-\u0163i aduc eu \u015fi mai multe.
\u015ei cum zice, porne\u015fte cu ciud\u0103, tr\u0103snind \u015fi plesnind. Merge \u015fi ea c\u00e2t merge, tot pe acest drum, pe unde fusese fata mo\u015fneagului; se \u00eent\u00e2lne\u015fte \u015fi ea cu c\u0103\u0163elu\u015fa cea slab\u0103 \u015fi bolnav\u0103; d\u0103 \u015fi ea de p\u0103rul cel ticsit de omide, de f\u00e2nt\u00e2na cea m\u00e2lit\u0103 \u015fi seac\u0103 \u015fi p\u0103r\u0103sit\u0103, de cuptorul cel nelipit \u015fi aproape s\u0103 se risipeasc\u0103; dar c\u00e2nd o roag\u0103 \u015fi c\u0103\u0163elu\u015fa, \u015fi p\u0103rul, \u015fi f\u00e2nt\u00e2na, \u015fi cuptorul ca s\u0103 \u00eengrijeasc\u0103 de d\u00e2nsele, ea le r\u0103spundea cu ciud\u0103 \u015fi \u00een b\u0103taie de joc:
– Da’ cum nu!? c\u0103 nu mi-oi fe\u015fteli eu m\u00e2nu\u0163ele t\u0103tucu\u0163ei \u015fi a \u0103mucu\u0163ei! Multe slugi a\u0163i avut ca mine?
Atunci, cu toatele, \u015ftiind c\u0103 mai u\u015for ar putea c\u0103p\u0103ta cineva lapte de la o vac\u0103 stearp\u0103 dec\u00e2t s\u0103 te \u00eendatoreasc\u0103 o fat\u0103 alintat\u0103 \u015fi lene\u015f\u0103, au l\u0103sat-o s\u0103-\u015fi urmeze drumul \u00een pace \u015fi n-au mai cerut de la d\u00e2nsa nici un ajutor. \u015ei merg\u00e2nd ea tot \u00eenainte, a ajuns apoi \u015fi ea la sf\u00e2nta Duminic\u0103; dar \u015fi aici s-a purtat tot hursuz, cu obr\u0103znicie \u015fi proste\u015fte. \u00cen loc s\u0103 fac\u0103 bucatele bune \u015fi potrivite \u015fi s\u0103 l\u0103ie copiii sfintei Duminici cum i-a l\u0103ut fata mo\u015fneagului de bine, ea i-a op\u0103rit pe to\u0163i, de \u0163ipau \u015fi fugeau nebuni de usturime \u015fi de durere. Apoi bucatele le-a f\u0103cut afumate, arse \u015fi sleite, de nu mai era chip s\u0103 le poat\u0103 lua cineva \u00een gur\u0103… \u015fi c\u00e2nd a venit sf\u00e2nta Duminic\u0103 de la biseric\u0103, \u015fi-a pus m\u00e2inilen cap de ceea ce-a g\u0103sit acas\u0103. Dar sf\u00e2nta Duminic\u0103, bl\u00e2nd\u0103 \u015fi \u00eeng\u0103duitoare, n-a vrut s\u0103-\u015fi puie mintea c-o sturlubatic\u0103 \u015fi c-o lene\u015f\u0103 de fat\u0103 ca aceasta; ci i-a spus s\u0103 se suie \u00een pod, s\u0103-\u015fi aleag\u0103 de-acolo o lad\u0103, care i-a pl\u0103cea, \u015fi s\u0103 se duc\u0103 \u00een plata lui Dumnezeu. Fata atunci s-a suit \u015fi \u015fi-a ales lada cea mai nou\u0103 \u015fi mai frumoas\u0103; c\u0103ci \u00eei pl\u0103cea s\u0103 ia c\u00e2t de mult \u015fi ce-i mai bun \u015fi mai frumos, dar s\u0103 fac\u0103 slujb\u0103 bun\u0103 nu-i pl\u0103cea. Apoi, cum se d\u0103 jos din pod cu lada, nu se mai duce s\u0103-\u015fi ia ziua bun\u0103 \u015fi binecuv\u00e2ntare de la sf\u00e2nta Duminic\u0103, ci porne\u015fte ca de la o cas\u0103 pustie \u015fi se tot duce \u00eenainte; \u015fi mergea de-i p\u00e2r\u00e2iau c\u0103lc\u00e2iele, de fric\u0103 s\u0103 nu se r\u0103zg\u00e2ndeasc\u0103 sf\u00e2nta Duminic\u0103 s\u0103 porneasc\u0103 dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsa, s-o ajung\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103-i ia lada.
\u015ei c\u00e2nd ajunge la cuptor, frumoase pl\u0103cinte erau \u00eentr-\u00eensul! Dar c\u00e2nd s-apropie s\u0103 ia dintr-\u00eensele \u015fi s\u0103-\u015fi prind\u0103 pofta, focul o arde \u015fi nu poate lua. La f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103, a\u015fijderea: p\u0103h\u0103ru\u0163ele de argint, nu-i vorb\u0103, erau, \u015fi f\u00e2nt\u00e2na plin\u0103 cu ap\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103-n gur\u0103; dar c\u00e2nd a vrut fata s\u0103 puie m\u00e2na pe pahar \u015fi s\u0103 ia ap\u0103, paharele pe loc s-au cufundat, apa din f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eentr-o clip\u0103 a secat, \u015fi fata de sete s-a uscat!… C\u00e2nd prin dreptul p\u0103rului, nu-i vorb\u0103, c\u0103 parc\u0103 era b\u0103tut cu lopata de pere multe ce avea, dar crede\u0163i c-a avut fata parte s\u0103 guste vro una? Nu, c\u0103ci p\u0103rul s-a f\u0103cut de-o mie de ori mai \u00eenalt de cum era, de-i ajunsese crengile \u00een nouri! \u015ei-atunci… scobe\u015fte-te, fata babei, \u00een din\u0163i! Merg\u00e2nd mai \u00eenainte, cu c\u0103\u0163elu\u015fa \u00eenc\u0103 s-a \u00eent\u00e2lnit; salb\u0103 de galbeni avea \u015fi acum la g\u00e2t; dar c\u00e2nd a vrut fata s\u0103 i-o ia, c\u0103\u0163elu\u015fa a mu\u015fcat-o de i-a rupt degetele \u015fi n-a l\u0103sat-o s\u0103 puie m\u00e2na pe d\u00e2nsa. \u00ce\u015fi mu\u015fca fata acum dege\u0163elele m\u0103mucu\u0163ei \u015fi ale t\u0103tucu\u0163ei de ciud\u0103 \u015fi de ru\u015fine, dar n-avea ce face. \u00cen sf\u00e2r\u015fit, cu mare ce a ajuns \u015fi ea acas\u0103, la m\u0103-sa, dar \u015fi aici nu le-a ticnit bog\u0103\u0163ia. C\u0103ci, deschiz\u00e2nd lada, o mul\u0163ime de balauri au ie\u015fit dintr-\u00eensa \u015fi pe loc au m\u00e2ncat pe bab\u0103, cu fat\u0103 cu tot, de parc\u0103 n-au mai fost pe lumea asta, \u015fi apoi s-au f\u0103cut balaurii nev\u0103zu\u0163i cu lad\u0103 cu tot.
Iar mo\u015fneagul a r\u0103mas lini\u015ftit din partea babei \u015fi avea nenum\u0103rate bog\u0103\u0163ii: el a m\u0103ritat pe fiic\u0103-sa dup\u0103 un om bun \u015fi harnic. Cuco\u015fii c\u00e2ntau acum pe st\u00e2lpii por\u0163ilor, \u00een prag \u015fi \u00een toate p\u0103r\u0163ile; iar g\u0103inile nu mai c\u00e2ntau cuco\u015fe\u015fte la casa mo\u015fneagului, s\u0103 mai fac\u0103 a r\u0103u; c-apoi atunci nici zile multe nu mai aveau. Numai at\u00e2ta, c\u0103 mo\u015fneagul a r\u0103mas ple\u015fuv \u015fi spetit de mult ce-1 netezise baba pe cap \u015fi de cercat \u00een spatele lui cu cociorva, dac\u0103-i copt m\u0103laiul.
<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Erau odat\u0103 un mo\u015fneag \u015fi-o bab\u0103; \u015fi mo\u015fneagul avea o fat\u0103, \u015fi baba iar o fat\u0103. Fata babei era slut\u0103, lene\u015f\u0103, \u0163\u00e2fnoas\u0103 \u015fi rea la inim\u0103; dar, pentru c\u0103 era … <\/p>\n