Era odat\u0103 o bab\u0103, care avea trei feciori nal\u0163i ca ni\u015fte brazi \u015fi tari de virtute, dar slabi de minte.
O r\u0103ze\u015fie destul de mare, casa b\u0103tr\u00e2neasc\u0103 cu toat\u0103 pojijia ei, o vie cu livad\u0103 frumoas\u0103, vite \u015fi multe p\u0103s\u0103ri alc\u0103tuiau gospod\u0103ria babei. Pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 acestea mai avea str\u00e2nse \u015fi p\u0103r\u0103lu\u0163e albe pentru zile negre; c\u0103ci lega paraua cu zece noduri \u015fi tremura dup\u0103 ban.
Pentru a nu r\u0103zle\u0163i feciorii de pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 sine, mai dur\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 dou\u0103 case al\u0103ture, una la dreapta \u015fi alta de-a st\u00e2nga celei b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u015fti. Dar tot atunci lu\u0103 hot\u0103r\u00e2re nestr\u0103mutat\u0103 a \u0163inea feciorii \u015fi viitoarele nurori pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 sine – \u00een casa b\u0103tr\u00e2neasc\u0103 – \u015fi a nu or\u00e2ndui nimic pentru \u00eemp\u0103r\u0163eal\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 aproape de moartea sa. A\u015fa f\u0103cu; \u015fi-i r\u00e2dea inima babei de bucurie c\u00e2nd g\u00e2ndea numai c\u00e2t de fericit\u0103 are s\u0103 fie, ajutat\u0103 de feciori \u015fi m\u00e2ng\u00e2iat\u0103 de viitoarele nurori. Ba de multe ori zicea \u00een sine: “Voi privighea nurorile, le-oi pune la lucru, le-oi struni \u015fi nu le-oi l\u0103sa nici pas a ie\u015fi din cas\u0103, \u00een lipsa feciorilor mei. Soacr\u0103mea – fie-i \u0163\u0103rna u\u015foar\u0103!- a\u015fa a f\u0103cut cu mine. \u015ei b\u0103rbatu-meu – Dumnezeu s\u0103 mi-l ierte! – nu s-a putut pl\u00e2nge c\u0103 l-am \u00een\u015felat sau i-am risipit casa; … de\u015fi c\u00e2teodat\u0103 erau b\u0103nuiele… \u015fi m\u0103 probozea… dar acum s-au trecut toate!”
Tustrei feciorii babei umblau \u00een c\u0103r\u0103u\u015fie \u015fi c\u00e2\u015ftigau mul\u0163i bani.Celui mai mare \u00eei venea vremea de \u00eensurat, \u015fi baba, sim\u0163ind asta, umbla valv\u00e2rtej s\u0103-i g\u0103seasc\u0103 mireas\u0103; \u015fi \u00een cinci-\u015fase sate, abia-abia putu nimeri una dup\u0103 placul ei: nu prea t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103, nalt\u0103 \u015fi usc\u0103\u0163iv\u0103, \u00eens\u0103 robace \u015fi supus\u0103. Feciorul nu ie\u015fi din hot\u0103r\u00e2rea maic\u0103-sa, nunta se f\u0103cu \u015fi baba \u00ee\u015fi lu\u0103 c\u0103ma\u015fa de soacr\u0103, ba \u00eenc\u0103 net\u0103iat\u0103 la gur\u0103, care \u00eensemneaz\u0103 c\u0103 soacra nu trebuie s\u0103 fie cu gura mare \u015fi s\u0103 tot c\u00e2rteasc\u0103 de toate cele.
Dup\u0103 ce s-a sf\u00e2r\u015fit nunta, feciorii s-au dus \u00een treaba lor, iar nora r\u0103mase cu soacra. Chiar \u00een acea zi, c\u0103tre sear\u0103, baba \u00eencepu s\u0103 pun\u0103 la cale via\u0163a nurori-sa. Pentru bab\u0103, sita nou\u0103 nu mai avea loc \u00een cui. “De ce mi-am f\u0103cut cle\u015fte? ca s\u0103 nu m\u0103 ard”, zicea ea. Apoi se suie iute \u00een pod \u015fi coboar\u0103 de acolo un \u015ftiubei cu pene r\u0103mase tocmai de la r\u0103posata soacr\u0103-sa, ni\u015fte chite de c\u00e2nep\u0103 \u015fi vreo dou\u0103 dimerlii de p\u0103sat.
– Iat\u0103 ce am g\u00e2ndit eu, noro, c\u0103 po\u0163i lucra nop\u0163ile. Piua-i \u00een c\u0103soaia de al\u0103ture, fusele \u00een oboroc sub pat, iar furca dup\u0103 horn. C\u00e2nd te-i s\u0103tura de strujit pene, vei pisa m\u0103lai; \u015fi c\u00e2nd a veni barbatu-t\u0103u de la drum, vom face plachie cu costi\u0163e de porc, de cele afumate, din pod, \u015fi, Doamne, bine vom m\u00e2nca! Acum deodat\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 te-i mai odihni, ia furca \u00een br\u00e2u, \u015fi p\u00e2n\u0103 m\u00e2ine diminea\u0163\u0103 s\u0103 g\u0103te\u015fti fuioarele aceste de tors, penele de strujit \u015fi m\u0103laiul de pisat. Eu m\u0103 las pu\u0163in, c\u0103 mi-a trecut ciolan peste ciolan cu nunta voastr\u0103. Dar tu s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 eu dorm iepure\u015fte; \u015fi pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 i\u015fti doi ochi, mai am unul la ceaf\u0103, care \u015fede purure deschis \u015fi cu care v\u0103d, \u015fi noaptea \u015fi ziua, tot ce se face prin cas\u0103. Ai \u00een\u0163eles ce \u0163i-am spus?
– Da, m\u0103muc\u0103. Numai ceva de m\u00e2ncare…
– De m\u00e2ncare? O ceap\u0103, un usturoi \u015f-o bucat\u0103 de m\u0103m\u0103lig\u0103 rece din poli\u0163\u0103 sunt destul pentru o nevast\u0103 t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 ca tine… Lapte, br\u00e2nz\u0103, unt \u015fi ou\u0103 de-am putea sclipui s\u0103 ducem \u00een t\u00e2rg ca s\u0103 facem ceva parale; c\u0103ci casa s-a mai \u00eengreuiat cu un m\u00e2nc\u0103u \u015fi eu nu vreau s\u0103-mi pierd com\u00e2ndul.
Apoi, c\u00e2nd \u00eenser\u0103, baba se culc\u0103 \u00een pat, cu fa\u0163a la perete, ca s\u0103 n-o supere lumina de la opai\u0163, mai d\u00e2nd a \u00een\u0163elege nurori-sa c\u0103 are s-o privigheze; dar somnul o cuprinse \u00eendat\u0103, \u015fi habar n-avea de ce face nor\u0103-sa. Pe c\u00e2nd soacra hor\u0103ia, dormind dus\u0103, blajina nor\u0103 mig\u0103ia prin cas\u0103; acu\u015f la strujit pene, acu\u015f \u00eemb\u0103la tortul, acu\u015f pisa m\u0103laiul \u015fi-l v\u00e2ntura de buc. \u015ei dac\u0103 Enachi se punea pe gene-i, ea \u00eendat\u0103 lua ap\u0103 rece \u015fi-\u015fi sp\u0103la fa\u0163a, ca nu cumva s-o vad\u0103 neadormita soacr\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103-i b\u0103nuiasc\u0103. A\u015fa se munci biata nor\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 dup\u0103 miezul nop\u0163ii; dar, despre ziu\u0103, somnul o dobor\u00ee, \u015fi adormi \u015fi ea \u00eentre pene, caiere, fusele cu tort \u015fi bucul de m\u0103lai. Baba, care se culcase odat\u0103 cu g\u0103inile, se scul\u0103 cu noaptea-n cap \u015fi \u00eencepu a tr\u00e2nti \u015f-a plesni prin cas\u0103, \u00eenc\u00e2t biata nor\u0103, care de-abia a\u0163ipise, de voie, de nevoie, trebui s\u0103 se scoale, s\u0103 s\u0103rute m\u00e2na soacrei \u015fi s\u0103-i arate ce-a lucrat. \u00cencet-\u00eencet, nora s-a dat la brazd\u0103, \u015fi baba era mul\u0163umit\u0103 cu alegerea ce-a f\u0103cut. Peste c\u00e2teva zile, c\u0103r\u0103u\u015fii sosesc, \u015fi t\u00e2n\u0103ra nevast\u0103, v\u0103z\u00e2ndu-\u015fi b\u0103rb\u0103\u0163elul, mai uit\u0103 din cele necazuri!
Nu trece mult, \u015fi baba pune la cale \u015fi pe feciorul cel mijlociu, \u015fi-\u015fi ia un suflet de nor\u0103 \u00eentocmai dup\u0103 chipul \u015fi asem\u0103narea celei dint\u00e2i, cu deosebire numai c\u0103 aceasta era mai \u00een v\u00e2rst\u0103 \u015fi ceva \u00eencruci\u015fat\u0103, dar foc de harnic\u0103.
Dup\u0103 nunt\u0103, feciorii se duc iar\u0103\u015fi \u00een c\u0103r\u0103u\u015fie \u015fi nurorile r\u0103m\u00e2n iar cu soacra acas\u0103. Dup\u0103 obicei, ea le d\u0103 de lucru cu m\u0103sur\u0103 \u015fi, cum \u00eensereaz\u0103, se culc\u0103, spun\u00e2nd nurorilor s\u0103 fie harnice \u015fi d\u00e2ndu-le de grij\u0103 ca nu cumva s\u0103 adoarm\u0103, c\u0103 le vede ochiul cel neadormit.
Nora cea mai mare t\u0103lm\u0103ci apoi celeilalte despre ochiul soacr\u0103-sa cel atoatev\u0103z\u0103tor, \u015fi a\u015fa, una pe alta se \u00eendemnau la treab\u0103, \u015fi lucrul ie\u015fea g\u00e2rl\u0103 din m\u00e2inile lor. Iar\u0103 soacra huzurea de bine.
Dar binele, c\u00e2teodat\u0103, a\u015fteapt\u0103 \u015fi r\u0103u. Nu trece tocmai mult, \u015fi vine vremea de \u00eensurat \u015fi feciorului cel mic. Baba \u00eens\u0103 voia cu orice chip s\u0103 aib\u0103 o troi\u0163\u0103 nedesp\u0103r\u0163it\u0103 de nurori… de aceea \u015fi chitise una de mai \u00eenainte. Dar nu-i totdeauna cum se chite\u015fte, ce-i \u015fi cum se nimere\u015fte. \u00centr-o bun\u0103 diminea\u0163\u0103, feciorul mamei \u00eei \u015fi aduce o nor\u0103 pe cuptor. Baba se scarm\u0103n\u0103 pe cap, d\u0103 la deal, d\u0103 la vale, dar n-are ce face, \u015fi, de voie, de nevoie, nunta s-a f\u0103cut, \u015fi pace bun\u0103!
Dup\u0103 nunt\u0103, b\u0103rba\u0163ii din nou se duc la treaba lor \u015fi nurorile r\u0103m\u00e2n iar cu soacra acas\u0103. Baba iar\u0103\u015fi le d\u0103 de lucru cu m\u0103sur\u0103 \u015fi, cum vine seara, se culc\u0103 dup\u0103 obicei. Cele dou\u0103 nurori, v\u0103z\u00e2nd pe cea mai t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 codindu-se la treab\u0103, \u00eei zic:
– Da’ nu te tot codi, c\u0103 m\u0103muca ne vede.
– Cum? Eu o v\u0103d c\u0103 doarme. Ce fel de treab\u0103 e aceasta? noi s\u0103 lucr\u0103m, \u015fi ea s\u0103 doarm\u0103?!
– Nu c\u0103uta c\u0103 hor\u0103ie\u015fte, zise cea mijlocie, m\u0103muca are la ceaf\u0103 un ochi neadormit, cu care vede tot ce facem, \u015f-apoi tu nu \u015ftii cine-i m\u0103muca, n-ai m\u00e2ncat niciodat\u0103 moarea ei.
– La ceaf\u0103?… vede toate? n-am m\u00e2ncat moarea ei?… Bine c\u0103 mi-am adus aminte… Dar ce m\u00e2nc\u0103m noi, fetelor h\u0103i?
– Ia, r\u0103bd\u0103ri pr\u0103jite, drag\u0103 cumn\u0103\u0163ic\u0103… Iar dac\u0103 e\u015fti fl\u0103m\u00e2nd\u0103, ia \u015fi tu o bucat\u0103 de m\u0103m\u0103lig\u0103 din col\u0163ar \u015fi cu ni\u015fte ceap\u0103 \u015fi m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103.
– Ceap\u0103 cu m\u0103m\u0103lig\u0103? d-apoi neam de neamul meu n-a m\u00e2ncat a\u015fa bucate! Da’ sl\u0103nin\u0103 nu-i \u00een pod? unt nu-i? ou\u0103 nu sunt?
– Ba sunt de toate, ziser\u0103 cele dou\u0103, dar sunt ale m\u0103muc\u0103i.
– Eu cred c\u0103 tot ce-i a m\u0103muc\u0103i e \u015f-al nostru \u015fi ce-i al nostru e \u015f-al ei. Fetelor h\u0103i! S-a trecut de \u015fag\u0103. Voi lucra\u0163i, c\u0103 eu m\u0103 duc s\u0103 preg\u0103tesc ceva de-a m\u00e2nc\u0103rii, \u015ftii cole, ceva mai omene\u015fte; \u015f-acu\u015f v\u0103 chem \u015fi pe voi.
– Doamne, ce vorb\u0103 \u0163i-a ie\u015fit din gur\u0103! ziser\u0103 cele dou\u0103. Vrei s\u0103 ne-aprindem paie \u00een cap? s\u0103 ne zv\u00e2rl\u0103 baba pe drum?
– Las’ dac\u0103 v-a durea capul! C\u00e2nd v-a \u00eentreba pe voi, s\u0103 da\u0163i vina pe mine \u015fi s\u0103 l\u0103sa\u0163i s\u0103 vorbesc eu pentru toate.
– Apoi dar… d\u0103\u0103!… f\u0103 cum \u015ftii; numai s\u0103 nu ne bagi \u015fi pe noi \u00een belea.
– Hai, fetelor, t\u0103ce\u0163i, gura v\u0103 mearg\u0103; c\u0103 nu-i bun\u0103 pacea, \u015fi mi-e drag\u0103 g\u00e2lceava. \u015ei iese c\u00e2nt\u00e2nd:
Vai, s\u0103racul omul prost,
Bun odor la cas-a fost!
Nu trece nici un ceas la mijloc, \u015f-un cuptor de pl\u0103cinte, c\u00e2\u0163iva pui p\u00e2rp\u00e2li\u0163i \u00een frigare \u015fi pr\u0103ji\u0163i \u00een unt, o str\u0103chinoaie de br\u00e2nz\u0103 cu sm\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi m\u0103m\u0103ligu\u0163a erau gata. Apoi iute cheam\u0103 \u015fi pe celelalte dou\u0103 \u00een bordei, \u015fi se pun la mas\u0103 cu toatele.
– Hai, fetelor, m\u00e2nca\u0163i bine \u015fi pe Domnul l\u0103uda\u0163i, c\u0103 eu m\u0103 reped \u00een cram\u0103 s-aduc \u015fi un cof\u0103iel de vin, ca s\u0103 mearg\u0103 pl\u0103cintele aceste mai bine pe g\u00e2t.
Dup\u0103 ce-au m\u00e2ncat \u015f-au b\u0103ut bine, le-au venit a c\u00e2nta, ca rusului din gura g\u00e2rliciului:
Soacr\u0103, soacr\u0103, poam\u0103 acr\u0103,
De te-ai coace c\u00e2t te-ai coace,
Dulce tot nu te-i mai face;
De te-ai coace toat\u0103 toamna
E\u015fti mai acr\u0103 dec\u00e2t coarna;
De te-ai coace-un an \u015f-o var\u0103,
Tot e\u015fti acr\u0103 \u015fi amar\u0103;
Ie\u015fi afar\u0103 ca o par\u0103;
Intri-n cas\u0103 ca o coas\u0103;
\u015eezi \u00een unghi ca un junghi.
\u015e-au m\u00e2ncat, \u015f-au b\u0103ut, \u015f-au c\u00e2ntat p\u00e2n\u0103 au adormit cu toatele pe loc.
C\u00e2nd se scoal\u0103 baba \u00een zori de ziu\u0103, ia nurori dac\u0103 ai de unde.
Iese afar\u0103 speriat\u0103, d\u0103 \u00eencolo, d\u0103 pe dincolo, \u015fi c\u00e2nd intr\u0103 \u00een bordei, ce s\u0103 vad\u0103? bietele nurori jeleau pe soacr\u0103-sa… Pene \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftiate pe jos, f\u0103rm\u0103turi, blide aruncate \u00een toate p\u0103r\u0163ile, cof\u0103ielul de vin r\u0103sturnat, tic\u0103lo\u015fie mare!…
– Da’ ce-i acolo? strig\u0103 baba \u00eensp\u0103im\u00e2ntat\u0103.
Nurorile atunci sar arse \u00een picioare; \u015fi cele mari \u00eencep a tremura de fric\u0103, cum e varga, \u015fi las\u0103 capul \u00een jos de ru\u015fine. Iar cea cu pricina r\u0103spunde:
– Da’ bine, m\u0103muc\u0103, nu \u015ftii c-au venit t\u0103tuca \u015fi cu m\u0103muca, \u015fi le- am f\u0103cut de m\u00e2ncare, \u015fi le-am scos un cof\u0103iel de vin, \u015fi de aceea ne- am chef\u0103luit \u015fi noi oleac\u0103. Iaca, chiar mai dineoarea s-au dus.
– \u015ei m-au v\u0103zut cuscrii cum dormeam?
– D-apoi cum s\u0103 nu te vaz\u0103, m\u0103muc\u0103?!
– \u015e-apoi de ce nu m-a\u0163i sculat? M\u00e2nca-v-ar ciuma s\u0103 v\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce!
– D-apoi d\u0103, m\u0103muc\u0103, fetele aceste au spus c\u0103 d-ta vezi tot; \u015fi de aceea am g\u00e2ndit c\u0103 e\u015fti m\u00e2nioas\u0103 pe t\u0103tuca \u015fi pe m\u0103muca, de nu te scoli. \u015ei ei erau a\u015fa de m\u00e2hni\u0163i, de mai nu le-a ticnit m\u00e2ncarea.
– Ei, las\u0103, tic\u0103loaselor, c\u0103 v\u0103 voi dobz\u0103la eu de acum \u00eenainte! \u015ei de atunci nurorile n-au mai avut zi bun\u0103 \u00een cas\u0103 cu baba. C\u00e2nd \u00ee\u015fi aducea ea aminte de puicile cele nadolence \u015fi boghete, de vini\u015forul din cram\u0103, de risipa ce s-a f\u0103cut cu munca ei, \u015fi c-au v\u0103zut-o cuscrii dormind a\u015fa l\u0103f\u0103iat\u0103, cum era, cr\u0103pa de ciud\u0103 \u015fi rodea \u00een nurori, cum roade cariul \u00een lemn.
Se leh\u0103metiser\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi cele dou\u0103 de gura cea rea a babei; \u015fi cea mai t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 g\u0103si acum prilej s\u0103-i fac\u0103 pe obraz \u015fi s\u0103 or\u00e2nduiasc\u0103 totodat\u0103 \u015fi mo\u015ftenirea babei prin o diat\u0103 nemaipomenit\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci, \u015fi iat\u0103 cum:
– Cumnatelor, zise ea \u00eentr-o zi, c\u00e2nd se aflau singure \u00een vie. Nu putem tr\u0103i \u00een casa aceasta de n-om face toate chipurile s\u0103 sc\u0103p\u0103m de h\u00e2rca de bab\u0103.
– Ei, cum?
– S\u0103 face\u0163i cum v-oi \u00eenv\u0103\u0163a eu, \u015fi habar s\u0103 n-ave\u0163i.
– Ce s\u0103 facem? \u00eentreb\u0103 cea mai mare.
– Ia, s\u0103 d\u0103m busta \u00een cas\u0103 la bab\u0103, \u015fi tu s-o iei de c\u00e2nepa dracului \u015fi s-o tr\u0103sne\u015fti cu capul de peretele cel despre r\u0103s\u0103rit, c\u00e2t \u00eei putea; tot a\u015fa s\u0103 faci \u015fi tu cu capul babei, de peretele cel despre apus, \u015f-apoi ce i-oi mai face \u015fi eu, ve\u0163i vedea voi.
– D-apoi c\u00e2nd or veni ai no\u015ftri?
– Atunci, voi s\u0103 v\u0103 face\u0163i moarte-n p\u0103pu\u015foi, s\u0103 nu spune\u0163i nici laie, nici b\u0103laie. Oi vorbi eu \u015fi cu d\u00e2n\u015fii, \u015fi las’ dac\u0103 va fl ceva!…
Se \u00eenduplecar\u0103 \u015fi cele dou\u0103, intrar\u0103 cu toatele \u00een cas\u0103; luar\u0103 pe bab\u0103 de p\u0103r \u015f-o izbir\u0103 cu capul de pere\u0163i p\u00e2n\u0103 i-l dogir\u0103. Apoi cea mai t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103, flind mai \u015fuguba\u0163\u0103 dec\u00e2t cele dou\u0103, tr\u00e2nte\u015fte baba \u00een mijlocul casei \u015f-o fr\u0103m\u00e2nt\u0103 cu picioarele, \u015f-o ghigose\u015fte ca pe d\u00e2nsa; apoi \u00eei scoate limba afar\u0103, i-o str\u0103punge cu acul \u015fi i-o presur\u0103 cu sare \u015fi cu piper, a\u015fa c\u0103 limba \u00eendat\u0103 se umfl\u0103, \u015fi biata soacr\u0103 nu mai putu zice nici c\u00e2rc! \u015fi, slab\u0103 \u015fi st\u00e2lcit\u0103 cum era, c\u0103zu la pat bolnav\u0103 de moarte.
Apoi nurorile, dup\u0103 sf\u0103tuirea celei cu pricina, a\u015fezar\u0103 baba \u00eentr-un a\u015fternut curat, ca s\u0103-\u015fi mai aduc\u0103 aminte de c\u00e2nd era mireas\u0103; \u015fi dup\u0103 aceasta \u00eencepur\u0103 a scoate din lada babei valuri de p\u00e2nz\u0103, a-\u015fi da ghiont una alteia \u015fi a vorbi despre st\u00e2rlici, toiag, n\u0103s\u0103lie, poduri, paraua din m\u00e2na mortului, despre g\u0103inile ori oaia de dat peste groap\u0103, despre strigoi \u015fi c\u00e2te alte n\u0103zdr\u0103v\u0103nii \u00eenfior\u0103toare, \u00eenc\u00e2t numai aceste erau de ajuns, ba \u015fi de \u00eentrecut, s-o v\u00e2re \u00een groap\u0103 pe biata bab\u0103. Iaca fericirea visat\u0103 de mai \u00eenainte cum s-a \u00eemplinit!
Pe c\u00e2nd se petreceau aceste, iaca s-aud sc\u00e2r\u0163\u00e2ind ni\u015fte care: b\u0103rba\u0163ii veneau. Nevestele lor le ies \u00eentru \u00eent\u00e2mpinare \u015fi, dup\u0103 sf\u0103tuirea celei mai tinere, de la poart\u0103 s-arunc\u0103 \u00een g\u00e2tul b\u0103rba\u0163ilor \u015fi \u00eencep a-i lua cu vorba \u015fi a-i dezmierda care de care mai m\u0103gulitor.
– Da’ ce face m\u0103muca? \u00eentrebar\u0103 cu to\u0163ii deodat\u0103 c\u00e2nd dejugau boii.
– M\u0103muca, le lu\u0103 cea mai t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 vorba din gur\u0103, m\u0103muca nu face bine ce face; are de g\u00e2nd s\u0103 ne lase s\u0103n\u0103tate, s\u0103rmana.
– Cum? ziser\u0103 barba\u0163ii \u00eensp\u0103im\u00e2nta\u0163i, sc\u0103p\u00e2nd resteiele din m\u00e2n\u0103.
– Cum? Ia, sunt vreo cinci-\u015fase zile de c\u00e2nd a fost s\u0103 duc\u0103 vi\u0163eii la suhat, \u015fi un v\u00e2nt r\u0103u pesemne a dat peste d\u00e2nsa, s\u0103rmana!… ielele i-au luat gura \u015fi picioarele.
Fiii se reped atunci cu to\u0163ii \u00een cas\u0103 la patul m\u00e2ne-sa; dar biata bab\u0103 era umflat\u0103 c\u00e2t o butie \u015fi nici nu putea ble\u015fti m\u0103car din gur\u0103; sim\u0163irea \u00eens\u0103 nu \u015fi-o pierduse de tot. \u015ei, v\u0103z\u00e2ndu-i, \u00ee\u015fi mi\u015fc\u0103 pu\u0163in m\u00e2na \u015fi ar\u0103t\u0103 la nora cea mare \u015fi la peretele despre r\u0103s\u0103rit, apoi ar\u0103t\u0103 pe cea mijlocie \u015fi peretele despre apus; pe urm\u0103 pe cea mai t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 \u015fi jos \u00een mijlocul casei; dup\u0103 aceea de-abia putu aduce pu\u0163in m\u00e2na spre gur\u0103 \u015fi \u00eendat\u0103 c\u0103zu \u00eentr-un le\u015fin grozav.
To\u0163i pl\u00e2ngeau \u015fi nu se puteau dumeri despre semnele ce face mama lor. Atunci nora cea t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 zise, pref\u0103c\u00e2ndu-se c\u0103 pl\u00e2nge \u015fi ea:
– Da’ nu \u00een\u0163elege\u0163i ce vrea m\u0103muca?
– Nu, ziser\u0103 ei.
– Biata m\u0103muc\u0103 las\u0103 cu limb\u0103 de moarte: c\u0103 fratele cel mare s\u0103 ia locul \u015fi casa cea despre r\u0103s\u0103rit; cel mijlociu, cea despre apus; iar\u0103 noi, ca mezini ce suntem, s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2nem aici, \u00een casa b\u0103tr\u00e2neasc\u0103.
– C\u0103 bine mai zici tu, nevast\u0103, r\u0103spunse b\u0103rbatu-s\u0103u. Atunci ceilal\u0163i, nemaiav\u00e2nd \u00eencotro \u015fov\u0103i, diata r\u0103mase bun\u0103 f\u0103cut\u0103.
Baba muri chiar \u00een acea zi, \u015fi nurorile, despletite, o boceau de vuia satul. Apoi, peste dou\u0103 zile, o \u00eengropar\u0103 cu cinste mare, \u015fi toate femeile din sat \u015fi de prin meleagurile vecine vorbeau despre soacra cu trei nurori \u015fi ziceau: “Ferice de d\u00e2nsa c-a murit, c\u0103 \u015ftiu c\u0103 are cine-o boci!”
<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Era odat\u0103 o bab\u0103, care avea trei feciori nal\u0163i ca ni\u015fte brazi \u015fi tari de virtute, dar slabi de minte.O r\u0103ze\u015fie destul de mare, casa b\u0103tr\u00e2neasc\u0103 cu toat\u0103 pojijia ei, … <\/p>\n