Era odat\u0103 un biet cre\u015ftin s\u0103rac \u015fi c-o droaie de copii m\u0103run\u0163i. Toat\u0103 avu\u0163ia lui era gura femeii \u015fi a copiilor, care \u0163ipau de fitece. Guri fl\u0103m\u00e2nde, \u015fi pace bun\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bietul cre\u015ftin, ce f\u0103cu, ce drese, s-alese de sf\u00e2ntul cr\u0103ciun c-un porc gras. Cr\u0103ciun f\u0103r\u0103 porc, Pa\u015fte f\u0103r\u0103 ou\u0103 ro\u015fii \u015fi nunt\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 l\u0103utari nu intr\u0103 \u00een capul rom\u00e2nului.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La Ignat vru s\u0103 taie porcul. Dar cu cine? Muierea lui era cu m\u00e2inile legate. Un\u2019 s-o lase copiii? Copiii, ca copii m\u0103run\u0163i, se adunaser\u0103 \u00eemprejurul ei, \u015fi cel mai mic sugea mereu ce mai avea de stors din \u0163\u00e2\u0163ele ei slabe.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se suci rom\u00e2nul, se \u00eenv\u00e2rti, dar n-avu cu cine t\u0103ia porcul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nevoia \u00eel f\u0103cu s\u0103 se g\u00e2ndeasc\u0103 la vecin, un vecin ciudat de tot. B\u0103tr\u00e2n, singur cuc, uscat, duc\u00e2nd o via\u0163\u0103 de pravoslavnic, de pusnic, de sf\u00e2nt \u00een toat\u0103 legea, bomb\u0103nind toat\u0103 ziulica Via\u0163a Sfin\u0163ilor p\u0103rin\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei de, bietul cre\u015ftin adeseori se g\u00e2ndise: “\u00centr-una, \u00eentr-una, cruci peste cruci; cine face \u00eentr-una cruci ca crucea se usuc\u0103”.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar, neav\u00e2nd \u00eencotro, chem\u0103 pe b\u0103tr\u00e2nul pravoslavnic ca s\u0103 taie porcul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0T\u0103iar\u0103 porcul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aprinser\u0103 un foc de paie cu c\u00e2teva g\u0103teje; \u00eel p\u00e2rlir\u0103, \u00eel frecar\u0103 cu c\u0103r\u0103mida; \u00eel spintecar\u0103; sl\u0103ninile le f\u0103cur\u0103 \u00een patru \u015fi le at\u00e2rnar\u0103 \u00een podul casei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0La urm\u0103, rom\u00e2nul, mul\u0163umit, vroi s\u0103 dea c\u00e2teva buc\u0103\u0163i de carne pravoslavnicului. B\u0103tr\u00e2nul \u00ee\u015fi f\u0103cu cruce, se cutremur\u0103 \u015fi cu nici un pre\u0163 nu voi s\u0103 primeasc\u0103, zic\u00e2nd c-un glas de mucenic:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Las\u0103, las\u0103, omul lui Dumnezeu, c\u0103 pentru Dumnezeu am muncit.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ei, dar cine-mi fusese omul cu crucile!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0De l\u0103comia dracului, c\u00e2nd e\u015fti lacom, nici crucile, nici vie\u0163ile sfin\u0163ilor nu te scap\u0103. Uite a\u015fa, \u00eei r\u0103m\u0103sese pe suflet sl\u0103ninile, groase ca un lat de palm\u0103. Le sim\u0163ea pe limb\u0103 \u015fi \u00een cerul gurii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pravoslavnicul a\u015ftept\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 dup\u0103 miezul nop\u0163ii f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eenchid\u0103 ochii, trudindu-se cu g\u00e2ndul cum s\u0103 \u015ftearg\u0103 sl\u0103ninile sp\u00e2nzurate \u00een podul casei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se g\u00e2ndi el ce se g\u00e2ndi, \u015fi \u00eenainte cu “Doamne-ajut\u0103” \u015fi cu Sf\u00e2nta Scriptur\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd ajunse la u\u015fa vecinului, vecinul s\u0103rac, rupt de oboseal\u0103 \u015fi ghemuit de frig, dormea dus, cu nevasta \u015fi cu copiii, claie peste gr\u0103mad\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cucernicul b\u0103tr\u00e2n vru s\u0103 \u00eencerce c\u00e2t de ad\u00e2nc le e somnul \u015fi, b\u0103t\u00e2nd tare \u00een u\u015f\u0103, zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Deschide\u0163i voi u\u015file, \u015fi vi se vor deschide vou\u0103 por\u0163ile raiului!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A\u015f! bie\u0163ii oameni dormeau du\u015fi. Nu se auzi nici pis. Unul barim s\u0103 se fi \u00eentors dup-o parte p-alta. Ei, e greu s\u0103 ai n\u0103ravul d-a te \u00eenv\u00e2rti c\u00e2nt \u00ee\u0163i r\u0103m\u00e2ne spatele gol. \u015ei ei abia se potriviser\u0103, spate \u00een spate, cu nasul \u00een velin\u0163ele zdren\u0163uite.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0V\u0103z\u00e2nd cucernicul b\u0103tr\u00e2n c\u0103 dorm cu to\u0163ii ca ni\u015fte bolovani de piatr\u0103, \u00eencepu \u015fi h\u00e2\u0163 \u00een dreapta, h\u00e2\u0163 \u00een st\u00e2nga, p\u00e2n\u0103 descuie u\u015fa omului. \u00cenl\u0103untru \u2013 iar ca s\u0103 vaz\u0103 cum dorm \u2013 o lu\u0103 pope\u015fte, f\u0103c\u00e2nd cruci late:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Acesta este \u00eentunericul cel vecinic \u015fi scr\u00e2\u015fnirea din\u0163ilor!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei nimic, nici o scr\u00e2\u015fnire de din\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cucernicul iar \u00eei trase o cruce \u015fi puse m\u00e2na pe b\u0103rbat, \u015fi-l h\u00e2\u0163\u00e2i, c\u00e2nt\u00e2nd prelung \u015fi tare:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Balaurul acesta pe care l-ai zidit a-l batjocori pre d\u00e2nsul!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A\u015f! pace! Parc\u0103 era mort balaurul acesta.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dibuind p\u00e2n\u0103 la cap\u0103tul cel\u0103lalt al patului, dete peste muiere \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Marea aceasta, este mare \u015fi laaaat\u0103\u0103\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cenv\u00e2rti m\u00e2inile pe deasupra copiilor!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Acolo, juvini mari \u015fi mici, mari \u015fi mici\u2026 cor\u0103biile umbl\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei \u00eencredin\u0163\u00e2ndu-se c\u0103 dorm to\u0163i ca ni\u015fte bu\u015fteni, se duse \u00een tind\u0103, orb\u0103c\u0103i p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eennemuri scara \u015fi, a\u015fez\u00e2nd-o la gura podului, zise prelung \u015fi pe nas:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Aceasta este scara pe care, pe care, v\u0103zutu-o-a Iacov \u00een vis, \u015fi \u00eengerii Domnului se suiau \u015fi se coborau\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Se sui \u00een pod \u015fi puse m\u00e2na pe sl\u0103nini.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Suitu-te-ai la \u00een\u0103l\u0163ime \u015fi robitu-ai robiiiimeee!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar hop, ce cu g\u00e2ndul n-ar fi g\u00e2ndit, c\u00e2nd voi s\u0103 se coboare pe scar\u0103, tremur\u00e2ndu-i m\u00e2inile, de fric\u0103 \u015fi de frig, \u00eei scap\u0103 o sl\u0103nin\u0103. Sl\u0103nina r\u0103bufni \u00een ni\u015fte str\u0103chini \u015fi le sparse cu mare zgomot, s\u0103 se fi de\u015fteptat \u015fi pietrele.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei pravoslavnicul f\u0103cu o cruce \u015fi zise:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u00centristat este sufletul meu p\u00e2n\u0103 la moarte! Doamne, p\u0103ze\u015fte-m\u0103 de ceasul acesta \u015fi m\u0103 izb\u0103ve\u015fte de cel r\u0103u!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Omul din cas\u0103 se de\u015ftept\u0103, aprinse o lum\u00e2nare \u015fi, v\u0103z\u00e2nd scara la gura podului \u015fi o sl\u0103nin\u0103 tr\u00e2ntit\u0103 jos, ridic\u0103 toat\u0103 casa \u00een sus, \u00eenh\u0103\u0163\u0103 un retevei \u015fi se repezi pe scar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pravoslavnicul, speriat, rupse \u00eenvelitoarea ca s\u0103 scape \u015fi zise cu glasul tremur\u00e2nd:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ruptu-ai sacul t\u0103u, Doamne; \u015fi m-ai, m-ai \u00eencins cu veselie!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ho\u0163ul de p\u0103guba\u015f \u00een pod, pravoslavnicul pe cas\u0103. C\u00e2nd s\u0103 sar\u0103:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015ei \u015fchiopii vor s\u0103ri ca corbii!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei b\u00e2ld\u00e2b\u00e2c jos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P\u0103guba\u015ful dup\u0103 ho\u0163. Fugi pravoslavnicul cu sl\u0103ninile, fugi p\u0103guba\u015ful. \u015ei zv\u00e2rrr! rom\u00e2nul cu reteveiul dup\u0103 cucernic \u015fi-l pocni \u00een cap. De unde, ho\u0163ul s\u0103 caz\u0103?!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei de durere, gonea de-i sf\u00e2r\u00e2iau picioarele!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei trec\u00e2ndu-\u015fi m\u00e2na prin p\u0103r \u015fi d\u00e2nd de s\u00e2nge:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Unsu-ai, Doamne, cu unt, cu untdelemn capul meu!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei bietul p\u0103guba\u015f, auzindu-l \u015fi v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 nu-l mai ajunge, se opri locului, \u00eencruci\u015f\u0103 m\u00e2inile pe piept, d\u0103du din cap \u015fi zise \u015fi el cu glas lung, f\u0103c\u00e2nd dup\u0103 glasul pravoslavnicului:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Adev\u0103r zic vou\u0103, c\u0103 ho\u0163ul fuge mai uite dec\u00e2t p\u0103guba\u015ful\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Era odat\u0103 un biet cre\u015ftin s\u0103rac \u015fi c-o droaie de copii m\u0103run\u0163i. Toat\u0103 avu\u0163ia lui era gura femeii \u015fi a copiilor, care \u0163ipau de fitece. Guri fl\u0103m\u00e2nde, \u015fi pace bun\u0103! … <\/p>\n