A fost odat\u0103 un t\u0103ietor de lemne tare nevoia\u015f, \u015fi t\u0103ietorul \u0103sta tr\u0103ia cu nevasta \u015fi cele trei feti\u0163e ale lor \u00eentr-un bordei, la marginea unui codru unde arareori c\u0103lca picior de om. \u015ei \u00eentr-o diminea\u0163\u0103, \u00eenainte de-a pleca la lucru, ca de obicei, t\u0103ietorul \u00eei spuse nevestei:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 C\u00e2nd s-o face de amiaz\u2019, trimite-mi pe fata cea mare \u00een p\u0103dure, cu merinde, c\u0103 altminteri n-o s\u0103 pot m\u00e2ntui lucrul. \u015ei ca nu cumva s\u0103 se r\u0103t\u0103ceasc\u0103, mai ad\u0103ug\u0103 el, o s\u0103 iau cu mine punga asta de mei \u015fi o s\u0103 presar boabele pe tot drumul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0De \u00eendat\u0103 ce v\u0103zu soarele str\u0103lucind sus pe cer, deasupra p\u0103durii, fata cea mare porni la drum cu o oal\u0103 plin\u0103 cu ciorb\u0103. Dar vr\u0103biile de c\u00e2mp \u015fi de p\u0103dure, cioc\u00e2rliile, cintezoii, mierlele \u015fi ere\u0163ii ciuguliser\u0103 de mult boabele de mei. A\u015fa c\u0103 fata nu mai putu s\u0103 dea de urma drumului. O porni atunci la \u00eent\u00e2mplare \u015fi merse ea a\u015fa, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce amurgi \u015fi se \u00eentunec\u0103 de-a binelea. Copacii fo\u015fneau \u00een \u00eentunericul nop\u0163ii, bufni\u0163ele scoteau tot soiul de \u0163ipete \u015fi pe fat\u0103 \u00eencepu s-o prind\u0103 frica. Deodat\u0103 z\u0103ri \u00een dep\u0103rtare o raz\u0103 de lumin\u0103 sc\u00e2nteind printre pomi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0“Acolo trebuie c\u0103 e vreo a\u015fezare de oameni, g\u00e2ndi ea; \u015fi-mi spune inima c\u0103 nu m-or l\u0103sa pe seama fiarelor \u015fi s-or \u00eendura s\u0103-mi dea ad\u0103post peste noapte\u2026” \u015ei se \u00eendrept\u0103, \u00eencrez\u0103toare, spre lumina aceea. Cur\u00e2nd se afla \u00een fa\u0163a unei c\u0103su\u0163e cu ferestrele luminate. B\u0103tu la u\u015f\u0103 \u015fi un glas aspru \u00eei r\u0103spunse din\u0103untru: “Intr\u0103!” Fata p\u0103\u015fi \u00een tinda \u00eentunecoas\u0103 \u015fi b\u0103tu la u\u015fa od\u0103i\u0163ei. “Dar intr\u0103 o dat\u0103!”, strig\u0103 acela\u015fi glas aspru.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei c\u00e2nd deschise u\u015fa, fata v\u0103zu \u015fez\u00e2nd la o mas\u0103 un b\u0103tr\u00e2n alb ca neaua, \u00eempov\u0103rat de ani. Mo\u015fneagul \u00ee\u015fi \u0163inea obrazul sprijinit \u00een m\u00e2ini \u015fi barba lui alb\u0103 se rev\u0103rsa peste t\u0103blia mesei, p\u00e2n\u0103 aproape de p\u0103m\u00e2nt. L\u00e2ng\u0103 vatr\u0103 se odihneau trei f\u0103pturi: o g\u0103inu\u015f\u0103, un coco\u015fel \u015fi o vac\u0103 b\u0103l\u0163at\u0103. Fata \u00eei povesti b\u0103tr\u00e2nului toate c\u00e2te i se \u00eent\u00e2mplaser\u0103 \u015fi-l rug\u0103 s\u0103-i dea ad\u0103post peste noapte. B\u0103tr\u00e2nul se \u00eentoarse atunci c\u0103tre cele trei f\u0103pturi \u015fi le zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0G\u0103inu\u015fa mea b\u0103laie,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Coco\u015fel cu m\u00e2ndre straie,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei tu, vaca mea b\u0103l\u0163at\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0R\u0103spunde\u0163i fetei pe dat\u0103!<\/p>\n
“Ducs!”, r\u0103spunser\u0103 ele \u015fi, pesemne, \u00een limba lor, asta \u00eenseamn\u0103 “S\u0103-i facem pe voie!”, c\u0103ci b\u0103tr\u00e2nul vorbi mai departe:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 La noi o s\u0103 g\u0103se\u015fti c\u00e2te nu g\u00e2nde\u015fti \u015fi toate din plin; du-te afar\u0103 la vatr\u0103 \u015fi preg\u0103te\u015fte-ne ceva pentru cin\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00cen buc\u0103t\u0103rie, fata g\u0103si at\u00e2tea, c-ar fi avut cu ce s\u0103 \u00eendestuleze o omenire \u00eentreag\u0103. Se apuc\u0103 ea de g\u0103ti o m\u00e2ncare s\u0103-\u0163i lingi degetele, nu alta, dar la cele trei f\u0103pturi nu se g\u00e2ndi defel. Aduse dup\u0103 aceea la mas\u0103 o strachin\u0103 plin\u0103 v\u00e2rf cu bucate, se a\u015fez\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2nul cel coliliu \u015fi m\u00e2nc\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 ce-\u015fi potoli foamea. Dup\u0103 ce se s\u0103tur\u0103 de-a binelea, \u00eel \u00eentreb\u0103 pe b\u0103tr\u00e2n:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ei, acu\u2019 \u00ees obosit\u0103; unde g\u0103sesc un pat s\u0103 m\u0103 culc?<\/p>\n
Cele trei f\u0103pturi r\u0103spunser\u0103 \u00eentr-un glas:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cu el ai m\u00e2ncat,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cu el ai b\u0103ut,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar g\u00e2ndul la noi nu \u0163i-a fost.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cat\u0103-\u0163i dar singur\u0103 loc de-ad\u0103post!<\/p>\n
Atunci b\u0103tr\u00e2nul gr\u0103i:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Urc\u0103 treptele astea \u015fi o s\u0103 dai de-o odaie cu dou\u0103 paturi; scutur\u0103-le bine \u015fi a\u015fterne pe el cear\u015fafuri curate, c\u0103 viu \u015fi eu \u00eendat\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103 culc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata urc\u0103 treptele \u015fi dup\u0103 ce scutur\u0103 paturile \u015fi le primeni se \u00eentinse \u00eentr-unul, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-l mai a\u015ftepte pe b\u0103tr\u00e2n. Dup\u0103 pu\u0163in veni \u015fi b\u0103tr\u00e2nul cel alb ca neaua. \u015ei c\u00e2nd v\u0103zu c\u0103 fata e cufundat\u0103 \u00eentr-un somn ad\u00e2nc, deschise o u\u015fi\u0163\u0103 \u00een podea \u015fi-i d\u0103du drumul \u00een pivni\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
Seara, t\u00e2rziu, t\u0103ietorul de lemne se \u00eentoarse acas\u0103 \u015fi-o lu\u0103 la rost pe nevast\u0103-sa c\u0103 l-a l\u0103sat s\u0103 fl\u0103m\u00e2nzeasc\u0103 toat\u0103 ziua.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu-s vinovat\u0103 cu nimica, r\u0103spunse femeia. Fata a plecat cu pr\u00e2nzul, a\u015fa cum ne-am \u00een\u0163eles, dar pesemne c\u0103 s-o fi r\u0103t\u0103cit; m\u00e2ine o s\u0103 se \u00eenapoieze acas\u0103, n-ai grij\u0103!<\/p>\n
A doua zi, t\u0103ietorul se scul\u0103 \u00eenainte de rev\u0103rsatul zorilor \u015fi c\u00e2nd fu s\u0103 plece \u00eei spuse nevesti-sii s\u0103-i trimit\u0103 m\u00e2ncarea cu fata cea mijlocie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 O s\u0103 iau cu mine o pung\u0103 cu linte, o lini\u015fti el; boabele de linte sunt mai mari dec\u00e2t cele de mei, a\u015fa c\u0103 fata o s\u0103 le poat\u0103 vedea mai u\u015for \u015fi n-o s\u0103 mai r\u0103t\u0103ceasc\u0103 drumul, ca soru-sa.<\/p>\n
C\u00e2nd veni vremea pr\u00e2nzului, fata cea mijlocie porni \u015fi ea cu m\u00e2ncarea \u00een p\u0103dure, dar nu g\u0103si pe drum nici urm\u0103 de linte. Ca \u015fi-n ajun, o ciuguliser\u0103 p\u0103s\u0103rile codrului, de nu mai r\u0103m\u0103sese m\u0103car un bob. Fata r\u0103t\u0103ci \u00een p\u0103dure, p\u00e2n\u0103 se \u00eennopt\u0103, \u015fi nimeri \u015fi ea la c\u0103su\u0163a b\u0103tr\u00e2nului. Acesta o pofti s\u0103 intre \u00een\u0103untru \u015fi, de cum p\u0103\u015fi pragul, fata \u00eel rug\u0103 pe unchia\u015f s\u0103-i dea ceva de m\u00e2ncare \u015fi s-o ad\u0103posteasc\u0103 peste noapte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B\u0103tr\u00e2nul cu barba alb\u0103 se adres\u0103 din nou celor trei f\u0103pturi:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0G\u0103inu\u015fa mea b\u0103laie,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Coco\u015fel cu m\u00e2ndre straie,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei tu, vaca mea b\u0103l\u0163at\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0R\u0103spunde\u0163i fetei pe dat\u0103!<\/p>\n
Cele trei f\u0103pturi r\u0103spunser\u0103 iar\u0103\u015fi “Ducs!” \u015fi toate se petrecur\u0103 ca \u015fi cu o sear\u0103 \u00eenainte: fata g\u0103ti ni\u015fte bucate s\u0103-\u0163i lingi degetele, nu alta; m\u00e2nc\u0103 \u015fi b\u0103u cu b\u0103tr\u00e2nul, dup\u0103 pofta inimii, dar nu se \u00eengriji c\u00e2tu\u015fi de pu\u0163in de animale. C\u00e2nd \u00eentreb\u0103 unde ar putea s\u0103-\u015fi g\u0103seasc\u0103 un culcu\u015f pentru noapte, ele \u00eei strigar\u0103 drept r\u0103spuns:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cu el ai m\u00e2ncat,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cu el ai b\u0103ut,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar g\u00e2ndul la noi nu \u0163i-a fost.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cat\u0103-\u0163i dar singur\u0103 loc de-ad\u0103post!<\/p>\n
De \u00eendat\u0103 ce fata adormi, intr\u0103 \u015fi b\u0103tr\u00e2nul \u00een odaie; o privi cu luare-aminte, cl\u0103tin\u0103 din cap \u015fi, deschiz\u00e2nd u\u015fi\u0163a cea tainic\u0103, o l\u0103s\u0103 \u015fi pe ea s\u0103 cad\u0103 \u00een pivni\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A treia zi diminea\u0163a, t\u0103ietorul de lemne \u00eei spuse nevesti-sii:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ast\u0103zi s\u0103-mi trimi\u0163i m\u00e2ncarea cu fata cea mic\u0103; ascult\u0103toare \u015fi cuminte cum o \u015ftiu, sunt sigur c-o s-o \u0163in\u0103 numai pe drumul drept, nu ca surorile ei, care nu pot s\u0103 stea o clip\u0103 locului, de parc-ar fi ni\u015fte zv\u0103p\u0103ia\u0163i de bondari!<\/p>\n
Dar nevast\u0103-sa nici nu voi s\u0103 aud\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vrei s\u0103-mi pierd \u015fi copilul cel mai drag?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fii f\u0103r\u0103 grij\u0103, \u00eei r\u0103spunse el; fata n-o s\u0103 se r\u0103t\u0103ceasc\u0103, c\u0103ci e cuminte \u015fi de\u015fteapt\u0103. Dar vorba ceea: “Paza bun\u0103 trece primejdia rea”, a\u015fa c\u0103 tot am s\u0103 iau ni\u015fte maz\u0103re, s-o presar pe drum; boabele de maz\u0103re sunt mai mari dec\u00e2t cele de linte \u015fi-i vor ar\u0103ta calea adev\u0103rat\u0103.<\/p>\n
Dar c\u00e2nd mezina ajunse \u00een p\u0103dure, nu g\u0103si nici m\u0103car un bob de maz\u0103re, c\u0103ci porumbeii \u00ee\u015fi umpluser\u0103 de mult gu\u015file cu ele, a\u015fa c\u0103 nici ea nu mai \u015ftiu \u00eencotro s-o apuce. R\u0103t\u0103cea de colo-colo \u015fi nu-\u015fi g\u0103sea o clip\u0103 de lini\u015fte, g\u00e2ndindu-se c\u0103 bietul taic\u0103-s\u0103u o s\u0103 fl\u0103m\u00e2nzeasc\u0103 din pricina ei \u015fi c\u0103 maica-sa o s\u0103 se t\u00e2nguie amarnic dac\u0103 s-o \u00eent\u00e2mpla ca nici ea s\u0103 nu se mai \u00eentoarc\u0103 acas\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd se \u00eennopta de-a binelea, numai ce z\u0103ri \u015fi ea lumini\u0163a sc\u00e2nteind printre pomi \u015fi, lu\u00e2ndu-se dup\u0103 ea, ajunse la c\u0103su\u0163a din p\u0103dure. Se rug\u0103 frumos de b\u0103tr\u00e2n s\u0103-i dea ad\u0103post peste noapte \u015fi omul cu barba alb\u0103 se adres\u0103 \u015fi de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 celor trei f\u0103pturi:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0G\u0103inu\u015fa mea b\u0103laie,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Coco\u015fel cu m\u00e2ndre straie,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei tu, vaca mea b\u0103l\u0163at\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0R\u0103spunde\u0163i fetei pe dat\u0103!<\/p>\n
“Ducs!”, r\u0103spunser\u0103 ele. Atunci fata se apropie de vatra l\u00e2ng\u0103 care st\u0103teau animalele \u015fi le dezmierd\u0103 dr\u0103g\u0103stos; m\u00e2ng\u00e2ie g\u0103inu\u015fa \u015fi coco\u015felul, netezindu-le penele lucioase, iar pe vaca cea b\u0103l\u0163at\u0103 o sc\u0103rpin\u0103 \u00eentre coarne.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei dup\u0103 ce, ascult\u00e2nd de \u00eendemnul b\u0103tr\u00e2nului, g\u0103ti o ciorb\u0103 stra\u015fnic\u0103 \u015fi aduse castronul pe mas\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi zise: “Oare se cade ca eu s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eendestulez cu de toate, iar bietele animale s\u0103 nu capete nimic? C\u0103 doar \u00een casa asta g\u0103se\u015fti c\u00e2te nu g\u00e2nde\u015fti, \u015fi toate din plin. Nu s-ar cuveni ca mai \u00eent\u00e2i s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eengrijesc de animale?” Ie\u015fi afar\u0103, dup\u0103 orz, \u015fi-l pres\u0103r\u0103 pe dinaintea g\u0103inu\u015fei \u015fi a coco\u015felului, iar pentru vac\u0103 aduse un bra\u0163 bun de f\u00e2n aromat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 M\u00e2nca\u0163i cu pl\u0103cere, dragele mele animale, le \u00eembie fata, \u015fi dac\u0103 vi-e sete, o s\u0103 v\u0103 aduc \u015fi ap\u0103 proasp\u0103t\u0103.<\/p>\n
Aduse apoi o g\u0103leat\u0103 plin\u0103 cu ap\u0103 \u015fi g\u0103inu\u015fa \u015fi coco\u015felul se coco\u0163ar\u0103 \u00eendat\u0103 pe marginea g\u0103le\u0163ii; \u00ee\u015fi afundar\u0103 ciocurile \u00een ap\u0103 \u015fi c\u00e2t ai clipi \u00ee\u015fi ridicar\u0103 capul drept \u00een sus, a\u015fa cum beau p\u0103s\u0103rile, iar vaca cea b\u0103l\u0163at\u0103 trase \u015fi ea o \u00eenghi\u0163itur\u0103 zdrav\u0103n\u0103. Dup\u0103 ce animalele se s\u0103turar\u0103, fata se a\u015fez\u0103 la mas\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2n \u015fi m\u00e2nc\u0103 ceea ce-i l\u0103sase el. Dup\u0103 pu\u0163in\u0103 vreme, g\u0103inu\u015fa \u015fi coco\u015felul \u00ee\u015fi v\u00e2r\u00e2r\u0103 c\u0103p\u015forul sub aripi \u015fi vaca cea b\u0103l\u0163at\u0103 \u00eencepu s\u0103 clipeasc\u0103 din ochi, semn c\u0103-i era somn. Atunci feti\u0163a \u00eentreb\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N-ar fi timpul s\u0103 mergem la culcare?<\/p>\n
Omul cu barba alb\u0103 se adres\u0103 \u015fi de ast\u0103 dat\u0103 celor trei f\u0103pturi:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0G\u0103inu\u015fa mea b\u0103laie,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Coco\u015fel cu m\u00e2ndre straie,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei tu, vaca mea b\u0103l\u0163at\u0103,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0R\u0103spunde\u0163i fetei pe dat\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u015ei ele r\u0103spunser\u0103 “Ducs!”. Apoi, c\u0103tre feti\u0163\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cu noi ai m\u00e2ncat,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Setea ne-ai ast\u00e2mp\u0103rat<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei te-ai \u00eengrijit cu drag de fiecare,<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Somn u\u015for! E timpul de culcare\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata urc\u0103 treptele, scutur\u0103 bine pernele \u015fi abia ispr\u0103vi de \u00eentins a\u015fternutul proasp\u0103t, c\u0103 \u015fi veni b\u0103tr\u00e2nul; se lungi \u00een pat \u015fi barba lui cea alb\u0103 \u00eei ajungea p\u00e2n\u0103 la c\u0103lc\u00e2ie. Fata se urc\u0103 \u00een patul cel\u0103lalt \u015fi adormi pe dat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dormi ea lini\u015ftit\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 pe la miezul nop\u0163ii, c\u00e2nd se isc\u0103 \u00een cas\u0103 o asemenea h\u0103rm\u0103laie, c\u0103 fata se trezi deodat\u0103 din somn. P\u00e2r\u00e2ia \u015fi sc\u00e2r\u0163\u00e2ia prin toate ungherele; u\u015fa se deschidea cu zgomot \u015fi se izbea de perete, grinzile trosneau ca \u015fi cum ar fi fost smulse din \u00eencheieturi, iar treptele p\u0103reau c\u0103 sunt gata-gata s\u0103 se pr\u0103bu\u015feasc\u0103. \u00cen cele din urm\u0103 se auzi o bubuitur\u0103 asurzitoare ca \u015fi c\u00e2nd s-ar fi n\u0103ruit \u00eentreg acoperi\u015ful. Dup\u0103 ce zgomotele se potolir\u0103, \u015fi cum nu i se \u00eent\u00e2mplase nimic, fata continu\u0103 s\u0103 stea lini\u015ftit\u0103 \u00een patul ei \u015fi adormi din nou.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar c\u00e2nd se trezi a doua zi, soarele r\u0103s\u0103rise de mult \u015fi ce-i v\u0103zur\u0103 ochii? Se afla \u00eentr-o sal\u0103 mare \u015fi-n jurul ei toate se sc\u0103ldau \u00eentr-o str\u0103lucire nemaiv\u0103zut\u0103; pere\u0163ii erau zugr\u0103vi\u0163i cu flori de aur, pe un c\u00e2mp de m\u0103tase verde, iar patul era de filde\u015f \u015fi plapuma de catifea purpurie. Foarte aproape de ea, pe un scaun, se afla o pereche de pantofi broda\u0163i cu m\u0103rg\u0103ritare. Fetei i se p\u0103ru c\u0103 totul e un vis, dar trei servitori \u00eembr\u0103ca\u0163i \u00een straie bogate intrar\u0103 \u00een iatac \u015fi o \u00eentrebar\u0103 ce le porunce\u015fte.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 C\u0103uta\u0163i-v\u0103 de treab\u0103, r\u0103spunse fata. M\u0103 scol \u00eendat\u0103, s\u0103-i g\u0103tesc b\u0103tr\u00e2nului o ciorb\u0103 \u015fi, dup\u0103 aia, o s\u0103-mi satur g\u0103inu\u015fa cea frumoas\u0103, coco\u015felul cel frumu\u015fel \u015fi frumoasa vac\u0103 b\u0103l\u0163at\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata g\u00e2ndea c\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2nul trebuie s\u0103 se fi sculat de mult, dar c\u00e2nd arunc\u0103 o privire spre patul lui mo\u015fneagul disp\u0103ruse \u015fi-n locul mo\u015fneagului \u00een pat se afla un str\u0103in. \u00cel privi mai cu luare-aminte \u015fi-\u015fi d\u0103du seama c\u0103 e t\u00e2n\u0103r \u015fi frumos. Tocmai atunci se trezi \u015fi fl\u0103c\u0103ul \u015fi, ridic\u00e2ndu-se \u00een capul oaselor, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Sunt fecior de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi am fost blestemat de-o vr\u0103jitoare afurisit\u0103 s\u0103 tr\u0103iesc \u00een p\u0103durea asta, sub chipul unui om b\u0103tr\u00e2n, albit de ani. Nim\u0103nui nu i s-a \u00eeng\u0103duit s\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eenso\u0163easc\u0103, \u00een afar\u0103 de cei trei servitori, care au luat unul \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015fare de g\u0103inu\u015f\u0103, altul de coco\u015fel \u015fi altul de vac\u0103 b\u0103l\u0163at\u0103. \u015ei-mi era dat s\u0103 zac sub puterea blestemului p\u00e2n\u0103 ce s-ar fi ivit o fat\u0103 cu inim\u0103 at\u00e2t de bun\u0103, \u00eenc\u00e2t bun\u0103tatea ei s\u0103 se reverse nu numai asupra oamenilor, ci \u015fi asupra animalelor\u2026 \u0162ie \u0163i-a fost h\u0103r\u0103zit aceasta \u015fi-n miez de noapte ne-ai izb\u0103vit de cruntul blestem. \u015ei casa cea veche din p\u0103dure s-a pref\u0103cut iar\u0103\u015fi \u00een palatul meu \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesc\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 ce se scular\u0103, feciorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat porunci celor trei servitori s\u0103 se g\u0103teasc\u0103 de drum, pentru a da de urma t\u0103ietorului de lemne \u015fi a nevestei sale \u015fi s\u0103-i pofteasc\u0103 la nunt\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar unde sunt cele dou\u0103 surori ale mele? \u00eentreb\u0103 fata.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Le-am \u00eencuiat \u00een pivni\u0163\u0103 \u015fi m\u00e2ine diminea\u0163\u0103 vor fi duse \u00een ad\u00e2ncul p\u0103durii, la un c\u0103rbunar, ca s\u0103-l slujeasc\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 ce s-or face mai bune \u015fi nu vor mai l\u0103sa s\u0103 fl\u0103m\u00e2nzeasc\u0103 bietele animale.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fost odat\u0103 un t\u0103ietor de lemne tare nevoia\u015f, \u015fi t\u0103ietorul \u0103sta tr\u0103ia cu nevasta \u015fi cele trei feti\u0163e ale lor \u00eentr-un bordei, la marginea unui codru unde arareori c\u0103lca … <\/p>\n