The Hangmen

A preacher had been looking for a servant for some time should also assume the obligation in its other businesses to to ring the church bell every midnight. Although many already had and some very useful men accepted the service, alone As soon as they set out to ring the nightly bells, they suddenly seemed to sink into the earth; there was no chime hear, and no bell ringer came back. The preacher felt very strongly about the matter secret, but the sudden disappearance of so many people became gradually became known and no one wanted to serve him anymore.

The more known the matter became, the more concerned people became the head, and there was no lack of evil tongues that spoke out, that the preacher himself killed the servants. out of necessity He now offered double wages along with good food. had for months Every Sunday after the sermon he proclaims from the pulpit: “I need a good servant, promise plenty of wages, good ones food, etc" - but it had always been unsuccessful. There comes one day the clever Hans offers himself; he had last at Served a miserly master, so the promise of good things attracted him Food to the clergyman, and he wanted to start the service straight away. “Very well, my son,” said the preacher: “if you have the courage and If you don't have faith in God, you can do it this night Place a sample. Tomorrow we want the service contract complete."

Hans was satisfied with that, went into the servants' room and cleaned himself up Don't worry about his new job. The preacher was a miser and became always annoyed when the servants ate too much, which is why he usually came in during the meal because he hoped people would come into his to be less brazen in the present. He admonished the servants, between the Drink food quite often, because he said the more liquid you have in your mouth The bigger your stomach, the less room there will be for bread and food. But Hans was smarter than his master and emptied the jug in one gulp and said: “That makes even more room for the food.” The Preacher believed that this was really the case and demanded Since then, his people have stopped drinking. But Hans laughed internally that he had succeeded in the mischievous act.

About an hour before midnight, Hans went to church. He found her lit up inside and was a little surprised when he entered found a large company that did not worship here had brought together. People sat around a long table and played cards. Hans felt no fear, or even if he did felt, he was smart enough not to let it be noticed. He boldly went to the table and sat down with the players. One The same noticed him and asked: "Friend, what are you doing here?" Looking for?" Hans looked at him for a while and then said with a laugh: "You You'd better shut your mouth! If anyone here I think I am right to ask. If I remember mine If you didn't use the right thing, it would certainly be the thing you're most afraid of, yours to shut up your cheeky mouth!”

Hans then picked up cards and played with the unknown ones men as if they were his best friends. He was very lucky because his effort doubled for him, and as a result some people became his Teammates empty their pockets. Then you heard a cock crow, It must have been midnight when the lights suddenly went out In no time the players, along with the table and benches, had disappeared. Hans had to Groping around in the dark church for a while until he finally found it Entrance to the tower stairs was found.

As he climbed the first ledge, he looked at the top A little man was sitting on one step and his head was missing. »Hoho, my little one, what “Are you looking for something here?” asked Hans, and replied without saying that Wait for an answer, a kick in the neck so hard that it... Little man rolled down the long stairs. On the second, third and On the fourth staircase he found just such silent guards and let them go one after the other, tumbling down until every bone in their body cracked.

Hans finally got to the bell unhindered. As he looked up to He still had time to convince himself that everything was in order a headless man sitting huddled in the bell. It had loosened the bell clapper and seemed to be waiting for Hans to hear it Pull the bell string and then swing the heavy clapper at his head throw, which would certainly have killed the bell ringer.

"Stop, friend!" cried Hans - "we didn't bet like that. You have well seen how I your little comrades, without their own Trying to make your legs roll down the stairs? Same you should fly after them. But because you sit highest, You should also make the proudest journey, I want you to the hatch Throw it out so that you lose the desire to come back."

With these words he raised the ladder to get the little one out of the bell to get him out and carry out his threat. The little man recognized the danger it was in and began to beg: “Little brother! spare my poor life! I want to promise you firmly that neither I, nor my comrades, will ever disturb you again when you ring the bell at night should. I'm certainly small and unsightly, but who knows if that's true doesn't even add that I can repay you more for your kindness, as a beggar’s thanks.”

“You tiny little boy!” laughed Hans. »Your gift of thanks will be a mosquito can take her away with her tail! But since I'm in good condition today If I'm in a mood, you may stay alive. But be careful not to let me in again to get in the way, otherwise I wouldn't want to be with you a second time "Have fun." The headless little man thanked me humbly and climbed up like one Squirrel descended the bell string and ran up the tower stairs down like it had fire in its pocket. Hans now rang the bell heart's desire.

When the priest heard the church bell at midnight, he was amazed himself and was happy that he had finally found a servant who could The test piece was successfully completed. Hans went to Gethaner Work in the hayloft and went to sleep.

The priest used to get up early in the morning to see if the people are at their work. Everyone was in their place, except the new one Knecht was missing and no one wanted to see him. Than now Midmorning was over and it was eleven o'clock and Hans was still there didn't show up, the priest became afraid and didn't believe otherwise, as if the bell ringer had met his end like his predecessors. As but the servants were called together for lunch by the knocking board Hans also appeared. »Where have you been all morning? “Been?” asked the priest. "I was sleeping," replied Hans yawning.

“Slept!” cried the priest in astonishment. »You won't think that you can sleep until noon every day?”

"I mean," replied Hans, "it's as clear as spring water. No one can serve two masters. Anyone who works at night has to work during the day sleep, just as the night is made for rest for the day worker. Take away the nightly bell ringing from me and I'll be ready to go with you Sunrise to go to work. But when I hear the bell at night If the bell is to ring, I have to sleep during the day, at least until Midday."

After arguing back and forth for a long time, they finally came to terms with it agree on the following conditions. Hans should hear about the nightly bells be released and work from sunrise to sunset Half an hour in the middle of the morning and a whole hour after lunch sleep; But Sunday will be completely free. "But," said the priest, “Sometimes little things could happen, especially in the Winter, where the days are short, and the work would take longer." "Not at all," cried Hans, "but the days will be back in summer long. I will do no more than what I am obliged to do, namely working from sunrise to sunset on weekdays.«

Some time later the priest was asked to attend a large infant baptism to get to the city. The town was only a few hours away from the rectory, Nevertheless, Hans took the bread bag with him. "Why are you doing this?" he asked Preacher, “we will be in town in the evening.” Hans replied: »Who can know everything beforehand? A lot of things can happen along the way our journey is delayed, and you know our contract, according to which I I am only obliged to serve you until sunset. Should the The sun goes down before we reach the city, so you should drive on alone.”

Since the priest thought this speech was a joke, he gave him no answer, and they drove off. Shortly before, fresh snow had fallen Wind had blown together so that the path was blocked in places and made driving fast impossible. They had to go through not far from the city a big forest. By the time they reached it, the sun was already up the tops of the trees. The horses dragged themselves slowly, step by step Step through the deep snow, and Hans turned around more often Sun around. “Why do you look behind yourself so often?” asked the priest. "Because I have no eyes on the back of my neck," replied Hans. »Leave yours now Foolish antics," said the priest, "and see that we get into the city "Come before it gets completely dark." Hans drove on without saying a word lose, but did not fail to turn on the sun from time to time observe.

They might have been in the middle of the forest when the sun went down. Hans stopped the horses, took his bread bag and got out of it Sleds. »Well Hans, have you become great? “What are you doing?” he asked Soul Shepherd. But Hans answered calmly: “I want to settle in here Make camp for the night, the sun has set, and mine Working time is over." His brother did everything possible, he asked and alternately threatened, but when nothing helped, he promised him Lastly, a good tip and an allowance to the annual wage. “Shame on you "Not you, Pastor!" said Hans - "you want to be the tempter and to lead me astray so that I go against the agreement? All the treasures in the world cannot tempt me to do this; you get hold of it A man to his word, like an ox to his horn. Do you want to go there this evening? City, go alone in God's name, I can't go any further with you come, because my duty hours have expired.«

“My dear Hans, golden boy!” said the priest now, “I can have you don't leave me alone here. Just look around you and you'll see what danger you are willingly putting yourself into. The place of execution is there the gallows, there are two criminals hanging on it, their souls in hell burn. You won't spend the night near such fellows “Why not?” asked Hans. »The gallows birds hang up in the air, I take my bed down on the ground for the night, We can't harm each other." With these words he returned turned his back on his master and walked away with his bread sack.

If the priest didn't want to forfeit the baptism fees, he had to do it alone drive to town. People here were not a little surprised to see him without a coachman to see arrive; but when he had his strange conversation with Hans After telling the story, people didn't know who they thought was the biggest fool should keep, whether the master or the servant.

Hansen didn't care what people thought or said about him. With the help of his bread sack he had the demands of his stomach satisfied, then he lit his nose warmer (pipe), made Settled his bed under a wide-branched spruce, wrapped himself up his warm fur and fell asleep. He slept for a few hours when a sudden noise woke him up. The night was moonlit. Close to his bed, two headless men stood under the spruce tree and made angry speeches. Hans lifted himself up to get better see, but at the same moment the little men shouted: "It's him, him It is!" One then came closer to Hansen's bed and said: "Dude Friend! a happy coincidence brings us together. My bones do I still feel pain from the tower steps in the church, you probably have that Don't forget history? That's what your bones should be like today be edited so that you think about our meeting for weeks you should. Hey! Fellows! Get out there and get to it!”

They were now jumping from all sides like a dense swarm of mosquitoes Headless little men come, all armed with powerful clubs were larger than their bearers. The mass of these small enemies threatened Danger, because their blows fell so hard that a strong man could hardly could have led better. Hans believed it was his last hour came; He could not resist such a numerous enemy group afford. It was his luck that just when the beating was in full swing was, another little man came along. “Stop, stop, comrades!” he called out to his friends. “This man was once my benefactor and I am his debtor. He gave me life when I was in his power was. If he threw some of you roughly down the stairs, so be it but fortunately no one became lame. The warm bath has that His shattered limbs have long since become supple again, so forgive him and goes home."

The headless men easily let go of their comrade appeased and went away quietly. Hans now recognized in his Savior the night ghost in the church bell. He sat down then sat down under the spruce tree next to Hans and said: “You laughed at me back then me when I told you, maybe a time will come when I'll tell you could become useful. Today is such a moment occurred, and from this I learn that even the smallest creature can be raised "I thank you from the bottom of my heart," said Hans -- "My bones are crushed by their blows, and I should have You can easily pay for the bathroom with your life if you don't act properly “It was time for it.”

The headless little man continued: “My debt would now be paid off; but I want to do more and to you for the blows you received Pay compensation. You no longer need to be a servant to torment a stingy pastor. When you come home tomorrow, like this go straight to the northern corner of the church, there you will find a large stone walled up, which is not whitewashed with lime like the others. The day after tomorrow night we have a full moon: then break it at midnight the designated stone out of the wall with the crowbar. Under the stones you will find an immeasurable treasure, with many generations have collected: gold and silver church utensils and A lot of cash was made here when there was once a war emergency, buried. Those who hid the treasure here are already there For more than a hundred years everyone has died, and not a soul knows what happened now the thing. You have to give a third of the money to the parish poor distribute, everything else is legally your property, with which you "You can do as you please." At that moment you heard heard the crow of a cock from the distant village and suddenly it was headless Little man as if swept away. Hans couldn't help but feel pain in his limbs for a long time did not fall asleep and thought a lot about the hidden treasure; first towards morning he fell into slumber.

The sun was already high in the sky when his brother left the city came back. »Hans, you were a big fool yesterday not to come with me "You drove," said the priest. »Look, I ate and drank well And what's more, there's money in his pocket." As he spoke like that, he clattered with the money to make the servant's heart even heavier. But Hans replied calmly: “You, dear pastor, have money for that little bit Having to stay awake at night while I earned a hundred times more in my sleep "Show me, what have you earned?" asked the preacher. But Hans answered: “The fools brag about their kopecks, but the wise ones do hide their rubles.”

When he got home, Hans quickly took care of what was his responsibility and tensioned it horses and threw them food, then walked around the church and found the unwashed wall stone at the designated location.

On the first night of the full moon, when the others were all asleep, He secretly left the house with a crowbar and broke many Took out the stone and actually found the pit with the money, all of it as the little man had said. On Sunday he distributed the third part among the poor of the parish, then announced to the preacher that and since he asked for no wages for such a short period of time, he received no wages Objection dismissed. But Hans moved far away and bought himself a nice one farmer, took a young wife and lived happily for many more years and in peace.

At the time when my grandfather was a guardian boy, there lived in our village There were still many old people who had known Hans and the truth could testify to this story.