A fost odat\u0103 un mo\u015f \u015fi mo\u015fului \u0103stuia \u00eei murise nevasta, \u015fi-a mai fost \u015fi-o femeie b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103, \u015fi femeii \u0103steia \u00eei murise b\u0103rbatul. \u015ei mo\u015fneagul avea o fat\u0103 \u015fi b\u0103bu\u0163a avea \u015fi ea o fat\u0103. Fetele se cuno\u015fteau de c\u00e2nd erau mic\u015foare \u015fi totdeauna le vedeai preumbl\u00e2ndu-se \u00eempreun\u0103. \u015ei dup\u0103 fiece plimbare veneau de bra\u0163 la casa v\u0103duvei. \u015ei iat\u0103 c\u0103-ntr-o zi, baba \u00eei spuse fetei mo\u015fneagului:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fat\u0103, h\u0103i, ia ascult\u0103 aici: spune-i lui tat\u0103-t\u0103u s\u0103 m\u0103 ia de nevast\u0103, \u015fi de s-o \u00eenvoi, o s\u0103 te \u0163in ca-n puf \u015fi-o s\u0103-\u0163i dau \u00een fiecare diminea\u0163\u0103 numai lapte, ca s\u0103-\u0163i speli fe\u0163i\u015foara, iar de b\u0103ut, numai vin d\u0103-l bun, iar fetei mele o s\u0103-i dau ap\u0103 de sp\u0103lat \u015fi ap\u0103 de b\u0103ut.<\/p>\n
Fata se duse acas\u0103 \u015fi-i spuse lui taic\u0103-s\u0103u vorbele femeii. Omul r\u0103mase pe g\u00e2nduri \u015fi tot chibzuia:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Oare ce s\u0103 fac? C\u0103 \u00eensur\u0103toarea e \u015fi desf\u0103tare, dar \u015fi chin!<\/p>\n
\u015ei pentru c\u0103 nu se putea hot\u0103r\u00ee nici \u00eentr-un fel, nici \u00eentr-altul, \u00ee\u015fi scoase \u00een cele din urm\u0103 cizma din picior \u015fi-i spuse fetei:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Uite, cizma asta are o gaur\u0103 \u00een talp\u0103. Du-te cu ea \u00een pod \u015fi at\u00e2rn-o de cuiul cel mare din grind\u0103 \u015fi vezi de toarn\u0103 ap\u0103 \u00een car\u00e2mb. Dac\u0103 apa nu s-o scurge din cizm\u0103, s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 m\u0103-nsor, iar de n-o \u0163ine apa, nu m\u0103 mai \u00eensor, asta-i hot\u0103r\u00e2t!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata f\u0103cu a\u015fa cum \u00eei spusese taic\u0103-s\u0103u, dar gaura din talp\u0103 se str\u00e2nse de ap\u0103 \u015fi cizma r\u0103mase plin\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103-n marginea car\u00e2mbului. Dup\u0103 ce v\u0103zu cum st\u0103 treaba, fata se duse degrab\u0103 la taic\u0103-s\u0103u de-i spuse ce s-a \u00eent\u00e2mplat cu apa din cizm\u0103. Se mir\u0103 el de cele ce-i spusese fata \u015fi, p\u00e2n\u0103 la urm\u0103, se urc\u0103 \u00een pod s\u0103 se \u00eencredin\u0163eze cu ochii lui de-i adev\u0103rat ori ba. \u015ei v\u0103z\u00e2nd el c\u0103 fata-i spusese numai adev\u0103rul, se duse la v\u0103duv\u0103 \u015fi-o lu\u0103 de nevast\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dis-de-diminea\u0163\u0103, c\u00e2nd se scular\u0103 fetele din a\u015fternut, fata unchia\u015fului g\u0103si lapte de sp\u0103lat \u015fi vin de b\u0103ut, iar fata babei, ap\u0103 de sp\u0103lat \u015fi ap\u0103 de b\u0103ut. A doua zi \u00eens\u0103, am\u00e2ndou\u0103 fetele nu g\u0103sir\u0103 dec\u00e2t ap\u0103 de sp\u0103lat \u015fi ap\u0103 de b\u0103ut. \u015ei a\u015fa a r\u0103mas s\u0103 fie \u00een toate zilele de aici \u00eenainte\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ma\u015ftera o du\u015fm\u0103nea de moarte pe fata mo\u015fului \u015fi, pe zi ce trecea, nu \u015ftia ce s\u0103 mai scorneasc\u0103 pentru a o obidi \u015fi a o face s\u0103 se sc\u00e2rbeasc\u0103 de via\u0163\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00een acela\u015fi timp o \u015fi pizmuia pe fat\u0103, fiindc\u0103 era frumoas\u0103 \u015fi bun\u0103, pe c\u00e2t\u0103 vreme a ei era ur\u00e2t\u0103 \u015fi hain\u0103 la suflet.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00centr-o iarn\u0103, pe vremea c\u00e2nd cr\u0103pau \u015fi ou\u0103le corbului de ger \u015fi z\u0103pada se a\u015fternuse at\u00e2t de \u00eenalt\u0103 peste dealuri \u015fi v\u0103i c\u0103 trebuia s\u0103 \u00eeno\u0163i prin ea, nu alta, baba f\u0103cu o rochie de h\u00e2rtie \u015fi, chem\u00e2nd-o pe fata unchia\u015fului, \u00eei zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00cembrac\u0103-te cu rochia asta \u015fi du-te chiar acu\u2019 \u00een p\u0103dure de-mi culege un co\u015fule\u0163 cu fragi, c\u0103 mi s-a f\u0103cut poft\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Doamne, Dumnezeule, spuse fata, dar unde s-au mai pomenit fragi pe timp de iarn\u0103!? P\u0103m\u00e2ntul e \u00eenghe\u0163at bocn\u0103 \u015fi-i at\u00e2ta z\u0103pad\u0103, c\u0103 a acoperit totul\u2026 \u015ei-apoi, cum o s\u0103 umblu numai \u00een rochia asta de h\u00e2rtie?! C\u0103 afar\u0103 e un ger de-\u0163i taie suflarea \u015fi te-nghea\u0163\u0103. \u015ei-o s\u0103 sufle criv\u0103\u0163ul prin rochie \u015fi mi-or sf\u00e2\u015fia-o m\u0103r\u0103cinii!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cum, \u00eendr\u0103zne\u015fti s\u0103 mi te pui \u00eempotriv\u0103? se strop\u015fi la ea ma\u015ftera. Mi\u015fc\u0103-te de aici c\u00e2t mai iute \u015fi nu care cumva s\u0103-mi vii f\u0103r\u0103 fragi!<\/p>\n
\u00cei dete apoi o f\u0103r\u00e2m\u0103 de p\u00e2ine uscat\u0103 \u015fi-i zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Asta o s\u0103-\u0163i fie de ajuns pentru toat\u0103 ziua \u015fi \u00eenc\u0103 prea mult!<\/p>\n
Dar \u00een sinea ei g\u00e2ndi: “Las\u2019 c\u0103 o s\u0103 \u00eenghe\u0163i tu de frig \u015fi o s\u0103 mori de foame \u015fi n-o s\u0103 te mai v\u0103d \u00eenaintea ochilor!”\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata n-avu \u00eencotro, \u00eembr\u0103c\u0103 rochia de h\u00e2rtie, lu\u0103 co\u015fule\u0163ul \u015fi porni \u00een p\u0103dure. C\u00e2t cuprindeai cu ochiul nu se z\u0103rea dec\u00e2t z\u0103pad\u0103 \u015fi iar z\u0103pad\u0103, \u015fi nici un firicel de iarb\u0103 nu-\u015fi ar\u0103ta pe nic\u0103ieri s\u0103biu\u0163a-i verde. C\u00e2nd ajunse fata \u00een p\u0103dure, v\u0103zu o c\u0103su\u0163\u0103 la fereastra c\u0103reia priveau trei pitici b\u0103rbo\u015fi. Fata le d\u0103du bine\u0163e \u015fi b\u0103tu cu sfial\u0103 la u\u015f\u0103. Piticii, care o v\u0103zuser\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 de pe drum, rostir\u0103 cu to\u0163ii-ntr-un glas:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Intr\u0103, feti\u0163\u0103, intr\u0103!<\/p>\n
Fata p\u0103\u015fi pragul, se a\u015fez\u0103 pe lavi\u0163a de l\u00e2ng\u0103 vatr\u0103, ca s\u0103 se \u00eenc\u0103lzeasc\u0103 \u015fi \u00eencepu s\u0103 mu\u015fte din codrul de p\u00e2ine uscat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 D\u0103-ne \u015fi nou\u0103 o buc\u0103\u0163ic\u0103, o rugar\u0103 piticii, c\u0103 n-am luat nimic \u00een gur\u0103 pe ziua de azi!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Cu drag\u0103 inim\u0103! le r\u0103spunse fata, rupse \u00een dou\u0103 bucata de p\u00e2ine \u015fi le d\u0103du jum\u0103tate.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce cau\u0163i \u00een p\u0103dure pe-o vreme c\u00e2inoas\u0103 ca asta, copil\u0103 drag\u0103? o \u00eentrebar\u0103 piticii. \u015ei cum se face c\u0103 pe un ger ca \u0103sta de crap\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi pietrele umbli at\u00e2t de sub\u0163irel \u00eembr\u0103cat\u0103?!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce-s eu de vin\u0103 dac\u0103 pe asta mi-a dat-o s-o \u00eembrac mama vitreg\u0103! zise fata, oft\u00e2nd cu obid\u0103. Mi-a poruncit s\u0103 umplu cu fragi co\u015fule\u0163ul de-l vede\u0163i aici \u015fi m-a amenin\u0163at c\u0103 de nu l-oi putea umple nu mai am ce c\u0103uta acas\u0103!<\/p>\n
Dup\u0103 ce fata \u00ee\u015fi sf\u00e2r\u015fi buc\u0103\u0163ica de p\u00e2ine, piticii \u00eei d\u0103dur\u0103 o m\u0103tur\u0103 \u015fi-i ziser\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia du-te de m\u0103tur\u0103 z\u0103pada de la u\u015fa din dosul casei! Cum ie\u015fi din odaie, piticii \u00eencepur\u0103 s\u0103 se sf\u0103tuiasc\u0103 \u00eentre ei:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce s\u0103-i d\u0103ruim noi fetei, pentru c\u0103 a fost cuminte \u015fi bun\u0103 \u015fi a \u00eemp\u0103r\u0163it p\u00e2inea cu noi?<\/p>\n
Primul dintre pitici gr\u0103i:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu \u00eei menesc s\u0103 fie din zi \u00een zi mai frumoas\u0103.<\/p>\n
Al doilea urm\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iar eu, ca de c\u00e2te ori deschide gura s\u0103 rosteasc\u0103 o vorb\u0103, s\u0103-i cad\u0103 c\u00e2te-un galben din gur\u0103.<\/p>\n
Iar al treilea zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iar eu, ca s\u0103 vin\u0103 un fecior de \u00eemp\u0103rat \u015fi s-o ia de nevast\u0103.<\/p>\n
Fata f\u0103cu precum \u00eei spuseser\u0103 piticii. M\u0103tur\u0103 z\u0103pada din dosul c\u0103su\u0163ei \u015fi ce crede\u0163i c\u0103-i fu dat s\u0103 vad\u0103? O mul\u0163ime de fragi \u00ee\u015fi ar\u0103tau c\u0103p\u015foarele deasupra z\u0103pezii, toate ro\u015fii ca s\u00e2ngele, de coapte ce erau! Cu inima plin\u0103 de bucurie, fata se gr\u0103bi s\u0103-\u015fi umple co\u015fule\u0163ul \u015fi, dup\u0103 ce mul\u0163umi piticilor \u015fi-\u015fi lu\u0103 r\u0103mas bun de la fiecare, porni \u00een fug\u0103 spre cas\u0103 s\u0103 duc\u0103 fragii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cum intr\u0103 pe u\u015f\u0103 \u015fi d\u0103du bun\u0103 seara, numai ce se pomeni c\u0103-i pic\u0103 un ban de aur din gur\u0103. Povesti apoi ce i s-a \u00eent\u00e2mplat \u00een p\u0103dure \u015fi de c\u00e2te ori spunea o vorb\u0103 \u00eei c\u0103dea c\u00e2te-un ban de aur, astfel c\u0103-n scurt\u0103 vreme se umplu \u00eentreaga odaie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia te uit\u0103 ce nesocotin\u0163\u0103, s\u0103 arunci a\u015fa cu banii\u2026? f\u0103cu sor\u0103-sa vitreg\u0103 \u015fi-n sufletul ei era neagr\u0103 de pizm\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u015ei pe dat\u0103 se hot\u0103r\u00ee s\u0103 plece \u015fi ea \u00een p\u0103dure. Dar mam\u0103-sa c\u0103ut\u0103 s-o opreasc\u0103 zic\u00e2ndu-i:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu te las, fata mamei, c\u0103 m\u0103 tem s\u0103 nu-mi degeri pe drum de frig, c\u0103 sufl\u0103 criv\u0103\u0163ul cum nu s-a mai pomenit.<\/p>\n
Dar fata nici nu voi s\u0103 aud\u0103 de a\u015fa ceva \u015fi st\u0103rui mor\u0163i\u015f \u00een hot\u0103r\u00e2rea ei. Dac\u0103 v\u0103zu baba c\u0103 nu e chip s-o \u00eenduplece, \u00eei f\u0103cu o scurteic\u0103 bun\u0103, c\u0103ptu\u015fit\u0103 cu blan\u0103, \u015fi-i preg\u0103ti, s\u0103 aib\u0103 de drum, p\u00e2ine cu unt \u015fi cozonac.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata se \u00eencoto\u015fm\u0103n\u0103 cu blana \u015fi-o porni apoi spre p\u0103dure. \u015ei nu se opri dec\u00e2t c\u00e2nd ajunse \u00een dreptul c\u0103su\u0163ei piticilor. Piticii se aflau tot la geam \u015fi priveau afar\u0103, dar fata nici nu-i lu\u0103 \u00een seam\u0103 \u015fi nu le d\u0103du bine\u0163e. \u015ei intr\u0103 buzna pe u\u015f\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 s-o pofteasc\u0103 nimeni. Ajuns\u0103 \u00een cas\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi c\u0103ut\u0103 un loc l\u00e2ng\u0103 vatr\u0103 \u015fi \u00eencepu s\u0103 \u00eenfulece cu poft\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 D\u0103-ne \u015fi nou\u0103 pu\u0163in, o rugar\u0103 piticii.<\/p>\n
Dar fata r\u0103spunse cu gura plin\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da\u2019 \u015fti\u0163i c-ave\u0163i haz! Abia de-mi ajunge mie; de unde s\u0103 v\u0103 mai dau \u015fi vou\u0103?!<\/p>\n
Dup\u0103 ce sf\u00e2r\u015fi de m\u00e2ncat, piticii \u00eei ziser\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ia m\u0103tura asta \u015fi du-te de m\u0103tur\u0103 z\u0103pada la u\u015fa din dos!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 C\u0103uta\u0163i-v\u0103 pe altul s\u0103 v\u0103 m\u0103ture z\u0103pada, ori de nu, m\u0103tura\u0163i singuri, le r\u0103spunse fata m\u00e2nioas\u0103, c\u0103 doar n-am slug\u0103rit la u\u015fa voastr\u0103!<\/p>\n
St\u0103tu ea o bucat\u0103 de vreme pe lavi\u0163a de l\u00e2ng\u0103 cuptor \u015fi, v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 piticii n-au de g\u00e2nd s\u0103-i d\u0103ruiasc\u0103 nimic, ie\u015fi pe u\u015f\u0103 afar\u0103, sup\u0103rat\u0103 foc.<\/p>\n
Dup\u0103 ce o v\u0103zur\u0103 plecat\u0103, piticii \u00eencepur\u0103 s\u0103 se sf\u0103tuiasc\u0103 \u00eentre ei:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce s\u0103-i menim pentru c\u0103-i at\u00e2t de pizma\u015f\u0103 \u015fi hain\u0103 la suflet \u015fi nu se \u00eendur\u0103 s\u0103 dea nim\u0103nui nimic?<\/p>\n
Primul pitic gr\u0103i:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Eu \u00eei menesc s\u0103 fie din zi \u00een zi mai ur\u00e2t\u0103!<\/p>\n
Cel de-al doilea urm\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iar eu, ca de c\u00e2te ori o rosti o vorb\u0103, s\u0103-i sar\u0103 c\u00e2te-o broasc\u0103 din gur\u0103!<\/p>\n
Al treilea gr\u0103bi s\u0103-i ureze \u015fi el:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Iar eu, s\u0103-i cad\u0103 pe cap at\u00e2tea nenorociri \u015fi s\u0103 \u00eendure at\u00e2tea suferin\u0163e c\u00e2te i se cuvin pentru c\u00e2ino\u015fenia ei!<\/p>\n
Fata c\u0103ut\u0103 ce c\u0103ut\u0103 prin p\u0103dure \u015fi, neg\u0103sind fragi, porni m\u00e2nioas\u0103 spre cas\u0103. \u015ei cum p\u0103\u015fi pragul, vru s\u0103-i povesteasc\u0103 maic\u0103-sii ce-a v\u0103zut \u00een p\u0103dure, dar n-apuc\u0103 s\u0103 rosteasc\u0103 o vorb\u0103, c\u0103-i \u015fi s\u0103ri din gur\u0103 o broasc\u0103. \u015ei tot a\u015fa, de c\u00e2te ori da s\u0103 spun\u0103 ceva, lep\u0103da c\u00e2te-o broasc\u0103, c\u0103 toat\u0103 lumea se ferea din calea ei, cuprins\u0103 de sc\u00e2rb\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd v\u0103zu ce pacoste a dat peste capul fiic\u0103-sii, baba se \u00eenvenin\u0103 de necaz \u015fi nu \u015ftiu ce blestem\u0103\u0163ii s\u0103 mai scorneasc\u0103 pentru a o pierde pe fata unchia\u015fului, care din zi \u00een zi se f\u0103cea tot mai frumoas\u0103. \u00cen cele din urm\u0103 lu\u0103 o c\u0103ldare \u015fi o puse pe foc, iar c\u00e2nd apa \u00eencepu s\u0103 dea \u00een clocot, arunc\u0103 \u00een\u0103untru mai multe caiere de in, pe care le l\u0103s\u0103 s\u0103 fiarb\u0103 bine. C\u00e2nd socoti c-au fiert de ajuns, i le puse fetei pe umeri \u015fi, d\u00e2ndu-i un topor, o trimise la g\u00e2rl\u0103 s\u0103 fac\u0103 o copc\u0103 \u00een ghea\u0163\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 \u00een\u0103lbeasc\u0103 tortul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fata se supuse, c\u0103 n-avea \u00eencotro, \u015fi, duc\u00e2ndu-se la g\u00e2rl\u0103, \u00eencepu s\u0103 sparg\u0103 ghea\u0163a cu toporul. \u015ei cum sp\u0103rgea ea a\u015fa, numai ce vede venind o calea\u015fc\u0103 tras\u0103 de patru cai albi, \u00een care se afla \u00eemp\u0103ratul. Calea\u015fca opri drept \u00een fa\u0163a ei \u015fi \u00eemp\u0103ratul, sco\u0163\u00e2ndu-\u015fi capul pe fereastr\u0103, o \u00eentreb\u0103 cu bl\u00e2nde\u0163e:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Fata mea, cine e\u015fti \u015fi ce faci aici?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Sunt o fat\u0103 s\u0103rman\u0103 \u015fi \u00een\u0103lbesc tortul, r\u0103spunse ea.<\/p>\n
\u00cemp\u0103ratului i se f\u0103cu mil\u0103 de d\u00e2nsa \u015fi c\u00e2nd v\u0103zu c\u00e2t e de frumoas\u0103 o \u00eentreb\u0103 din nou:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N-ai vrea s\u0103 vii cu mine?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ba a\u015f vrea cu drag\u0103 inim\u0103! gr\u0103i fata, care nu mai putea de bucurie c\u0103-n sf\u00e2r\u015fit avea s\u0103 scape de bab\u0103 \u015fi de sora ei vitreg\u0103.<\/p>\n
Fata se urc\u0103 apoi \u00een calea\u015fc\u0103 \u015fi porni la drum \u00een tov\u0103r\u0103\u015fia \u00eemp\u0103ratului. \u015ei de-ndat\u0103 ce sosir\u0103 la palat, f\u0103cur\u0103 nunt\u0103 mare, dup\u0103 cum ursiser\u0103 piticii din p\u0103dure.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dup\u0103 un an \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa n\u0103scu un fecior. C\u00e2nd auzi ma\u015ftera de norocul care d\u0103duse peste fat\u0103, veni \u00eempreun\u0103 cu fiic\u0103-sa la palatul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesc, chipurile s-o vad\u0103, c\u0103 li-era dor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar planul lor era ticluit dinainte \u015fi, c\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103ratul ie\u015fi din iatac pentru c\u00e2t\u0103va vreme, zgrip\u0163uroaica o \u015fi apuc\u0103 pe \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103 de cap, iar fiic\u0103-sa de picioare \u015fi, ridic\u00e2nd-o din pat, o zv\u00e2rlir\u0103 pe fereastr\u0103 \u00een r\u00e2ul care curgea pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 zidurile palatului. Fata cea ur\u00e2t\u0103 se gr\u0103bi s\u0103 se culce \u00een locul \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei \u015fi baba \u00eei trase a\u015fternutul p\u00e2n\u0103 peste cap, ca s\u0103 nu fie cumva recunoscut\u0103. C\u00e2nd se \u00eentoarse \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u015fi vru s\u0103 stea de vorb\u0103 cu \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa, baba \u00eel opri zic\u00e2ndu-i:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 D\u0103-i pace, m\u0103ria ta, c\u0103 acum n\u0103du\u015fe\u015fte \u015fi nu i-e g\u00e2ndul s\u0103 stea la taclale!<\/p>\n
\u00cemp\u0103ratul nu b\u0103nui nimic r\u0103u \u015fi veni a doua zi. Dar de cum intr\u0103 \u00een vorb\u0103 cu nevast\u0103-sa, b\u0103g\u0103 de seam\u0103 c\u0103 la fiecare vorb\u0103 de-a ei \u00eei sare c\u00e2te-o broasc\u0103 din gur\u0103, pe c\u00e2t\u0103 vreme, \u00eenainte, \u00eei s\u0103reau numai bani de aur.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se minun\u0103 el de schimbarea asta \u015fi-o \u00eentreb\u0103 pe bab\u0103 dac\u0103 nu \u015ftie care-i pricina, dar ea \u00eel lini\u015fti spun\u00e2ndu-i c\u0103 a\u015fa li se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 c\u00e2teodat\u0103 l\u0103uzelor; c\u0103 totul se trage din pricina fierbin\u0163elii de ieri \u015fi c\u0103-n scurt\u0103 vreme avea s\u0103-i treac\u0103\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar peste noapte, ajutorul de buc\u0103tar \u00ee\u015fi arunc\u0103 privirea pe fereastr\u0103 \u015fi v\u0103zu cum venea pe g\u00e2rl\u0103 o ra\u0163\u0103, \u00eenot\u00e2nd de zor \u015fi \u00eentreb\u00e2nd cu grai omenesc:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ce faci, \u00eemp\u0103rate luminate? Dormi, ori veghezi pe \u00eennoptate?<\/p>\n
V\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 cel \u00eentrebat nu r\u0103spunde, ra\u0163a mai zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dar oaspe\u0163ii mei s-au culcat?<\/p>\n
\u015ei atunci ajutorul de buc\u0103tar \u00eei r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dorm de mult, de c\u00e2nd s-a \u00eenserat!<\/p>\n
Ra\u0163a \u00eentreb\u0103 apoi:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da\u2019 copila\u015ful meu ce mai face?<\/p>\n
\u015ei ajutorul de buc\u0103tar r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00cen leag\u0103n de m\u0103tase doarme-n pace!<\/p>\n
De cum auzi vorbele astea, ra\u0163a \u00ee\u015fi rec\u0103p\u0103t\u0103 \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015farea \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103tesei, intr\u0103 \u00een palat, \u00eei d\u0103du copilului s\u0103 sug\u0103, \u00eei potrivi a\u015fternuturile \u015fi apoi, pref\u0103c\u00e2ndu-se iar \u00een ra\u0163\u0103, o porni \u00eenot \u00een susul g\u00e2rlei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Veni a\u015fa dou\u0103 nop\u0163i de-a r\u00e2ndul, iar \u00een cea de-a treia noapte \u00eei spuse ajutorului de buc\u0103tar:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Du-te \u015fi-i d\u0103 de veste \u00eemp\u0103ratului s\u0103 ia palo\u015ful \u015fi s\u0103-l \u00eenv\u00e2rteasc\u0103 pe prag, de trei ori, deasupra capului meu!<\/p>\n
Ajutorul de \u00eemp\u0103rat alerg\u0103 \u015fi-i spuse \u00eemp\u0103ratului tot ce v\u0103zuse \u015fi auzise. \u00cemp\u0103ratul scoase palo\u015ful din teac\u0103 \u015fi, oprindu-se \u00een prag, \u00eel \u00eenv\u00e2rti de trei ori deasupra ra\u0163ei. \u015ei la a treia \u00eenv\u00e2rtitur\u0103, numai ce v\u0103zu c\u0103 se preface ra\u0163a iar\u0103\u015fi \u00een \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teas\u0103: \u015fi era voinic\u0103, s\u0103n\u0103toas\u0103 \u015fi plin\u0103 de voio\u015fie ca atunci c\u00e2nd o v\u0103zuse ultima oar\u0103. C\u00e2nd auzi haina de ma\u015fter\u0103 c\u0103 s-au schimbat lucrurile \u015fi c\u0103 \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa cea adev\u0103rat\u0103 e din nou \u00een palat, se gr\u0103bi s\u0103-i spun\u0103 fiic\u0103-sii:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Hai s-o \u015ftergem de-aici c\u00e2t mai e timp, p\u00e2n\u0103 ce nu pune \u00eemp\u0103ratul slujitorii s\u0103 ne prind\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 ne pedepseasc\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u015ei chiar \u00een noaptea aceea reu\u015fir\u0103 s\u0103 se strecoare din palat \u015fi, merg\u00e2nd pe drumuri l\u0103turalnice, ie\u015fir\u0103 din ora\u015f \u015fi trecur\u0103 de hotarele \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103\u0163iei. Dar pe oriunde treceau ori c\u0103utau s\u0103 fac\u0103 popas, oamenii le \u00eentorceau cu sc\u00e2rb\u0103 spatele, \u015fi nu e de mirare: c\u0103 de cum d\u0103dea fata cea ur\u00e2t\u0103 s\u0103 spun\u0103 o vorb\u0103, \u00eei \u015fi s\u0103rea c\u00e2te-o broasc\u0103 din gur\u0103. \u015ei tot a\u015fa se f\u0103cu c\u0103 nimeni nu se mai \u00eendur\u0103 de ele s\u0103 le ajute \u00een vreun fel. \u015ei pe drept cuv\u00e2nt g\u00e2ndeau oamenii \u00een sinea lor: “Numai peste un om r\u0103u la suflet \u015fi c\u00e2inos din cale afar\u0103 poate s\u0103 cad\u0103 a\u015fa pacoste!”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0R\u0103t\u0103cir\u0103 ele a\u015fa din loc \u00een loc, din \u0163ar\u0103-n \u0163ar\u0103, ca ni\u015fte pribegi f\u0103r\u0103 c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2i, \u015fi nimeni nu voia s\u0103 aud\u0103 de ele \u015fi s\u0103 le dea ad\u0103post.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar \u00eemp\u0103r\u0103teasa cea t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 tr\u0103i de aci \u00eenainte \u00een bucurie \u015fi fericire \u00eempreun\u0103 cu \u00eemp\u0103ratul \u015fi feciorul lor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fost odat\u0103 un mo\u015f \u015fi mo\u015fului \u0103stuia \u00eei murise nevasta, \u015fi-a mai fost \u015fi-o femeie b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103, \u015fi femeii \u0103steia \u00eei murise b\u0103rbatul. \u015ei mo\u015fneagul avea o fat\u0103 \u015fi b\u0103bu\u0163a … <\/p>\n