The Lucky Egg (1)

Once there lived a poor man and his wife in a large forest; God had given them eight children, the eldest of whom already had their bread earned money from strangers, and that's exactly what the parents didn't care about much joy when a ninth son was born to them at a late age became. But God had given it to them once, and so they had to and have him baptized according to Christian custom. Now wanted but no one stands by the child's godfather, because everyone worried: if the Parents die, so the child becomes a burden to me. Then the father thought: me take the child and carry him to church on Sunday and say that I If I haven't been able to find any godfathers anywhere, then the preacher can do whatever Whether he wants to baptize the child or not, no one can take on my soul sin fall. When he set out on Sunday he found not far from There was a beggar sitting on the way to his house who asked him for alms. The man said: “I have nothing to give you, little brother, the few I have to use the kopecks I have in my pocket for child baptism spend; But if you want to do me a favor, come and help me My child's godfather, afterward we'll go home and make do with what the housewife gave us for our baptismal feast.” That Beggar, whom no one had ever asked to be a godfather, was fulfilled gladly accepted the man's request and went with him to church. As they A magnificent carriage with four horses was driving when they had just arrived there forward, and a young distinguished lady got out. The poor man thought, here I want to try my luck for the last time, stepped humbly Greetings to the woman or young lady, whatever she might be, and said: “Dear Miss, or whatever else you may be! would you not make the effort to stand with my child's godfather?" That Miss said yes.

After the sermon, when the child was brought to be baptized, they were amazed The preacher and the congregation were very concerned about the poor beggar and a proud noble lady stood together with the child's godfather. The child was baptized with the name Pärtel. The rich godfather paid the baptismal fee and made a godfather gift of three Rubles, which made the child's father extremely happy. The beggar then went with us to the baptismal feast. Before he left in the evening, he took a drink There was a small box wrapped in a rag from the bag the child's mother, and said: "My godfather's gift is indeed insignificant, but still do not disdain it, perhaps grow Good luck to your little son for once. I had a very smart aunt who... knew a lot of magic arts and gave them to me before she died the bird's egg in this little box, saying: "If you once something completely unexpected that you could never have guessed, then empty yourself of this egg; when it comes to the person for whom it is is destined, it can bring him great happiness. But guard the egg like your eyeball, lest it break, for it is the bowl of happiness delicate." Well, to this day, even though I'm close to sixty years old, I have never encountered anything as unexpected as today was asked to see the godfather tomorrow, and my first thought was: You must give the egg to the child as a godfather gift.”

Little Pärtel thrived admirably and grew up to support his parents Joy continued until he moved to another village at the age of ten came as a guardian boy to wealthy landlords. Everyone in the house was with him Guardian boy very happy because he was a pious, quiet boy never caused any annoyance to his brotherhood. His mother helped him I put the godfather's gift in my pocket when I said goodbye and recommended that to guard it carefully, like the apple of his eye, which Pärtel also followed. There was an old linden tree in the pasture, and there was a tree under it large pebble; The boy loved this place very much, so that Not a day went by during the summer when he wasn't under the linden tree stones would have sat. He also usually ate on this stone the bread that was given to him every morning and his thirst a small spring near the stone stilled. With the others Pärtel did not like shepherd boys who were very mischievous Friendship. It was wonderful that there wasn't such beautiful grass anywhere around was to be found as between the stone and the spring; although the herd grazed here every day, the next morning there was more grass the appearance of a protected meadow than that of a pasture.

When Pärtel sometimes sits a little on the stone on a hot day When he fell asleep, wonderful dreams always delighted him, and still When he woke up, playing and singing sounded in his ears, so he joined in continued to dream with my eyes open. The stone was like a dear friend to him, from whom he parted daily with a heavy heart, and to whom he left the other Rushed back tomorrow full of longing. Pärtel was fifteen years old and should no longer remain a guardian boy. The landlord took him as a servant, but without giving him any harder work than he did was able to achieve. On Sundays or on summer evenings when the While other boys were flirting with the prostitutes, Pärtel didn't join in them, but went quietly to the pasture of his loved ones, contemplating Linden tree, under which he often spent half the night. So Once again on a Sunday evening he sat on the stone and struck the Jew's harp, a milk-white snake crawled under the stone came out, raised her head as if she wanted to listen, and looked at the Pärtel with her at her clear eyes that shone like fiery sparks. This repeated as a result, which is why Pärtel always did as soon as he had free time hurried to his stone to see the beautiful white serpent She had recently become so used to him that she often looked after him Legs wall.

Pärtel had now entered adolescence, both of which were his parents died, and his brothers and sisters all lived far away, like that that they didn't hear much from each other, let alone see each other. But he preferred the white snake to brothers and sisters become; During the day his thoughts were focused on her, and almost everyone At night he dreamed of her. That's why the winter time was very long for him, where there was deep snow and the ground was frozen. As in the spring The sun's rays had melted the snow and thawed the ground, was Pärtel's first trip back to the Steine ​​unter der Linde, although still not a single leaf was to be seen on the tree. Oh the joy! As soon as he gets his longing had breathed out in the tones of the Jew's harp, it crawled white snake from under the stone and played at his feet, but It seemed to the Pärtel today as if the serpent was shedding tears and that hurt his heart. Now he didn't miss any more evenings go there without coming to the stone, and the serpent became ever bolder, so that she let herself be petted, but when Pärtel her Wanting to hold on, it slipped through his fingers and crawled back under the stone.

On the evening of St. John's Day, when all the villagers, old and young, came along Pärtel wasn't allowed to go to the St. John's fire with each other either stay behind, even though his heart tempted him to take a different path. But in the middle of the merriment, as the others sang, danced, etc While they were drifting, he sneaked away from them to the linden tree, because it was the only place where his heart found rest. As he got closer, A bright little fire shone towards him from the stone, which made him was very astonished because, as far as he knew, people were around didn't stay there that time. When he arrived the fire had gone out, and had left neither ashes nor sparks behind. He sat down on the Stone and began to play the Jew's harp as usual. With a Sometimes the fire reappeared and it was nothing more than that sparkling pair of eyes of the white snake. This played to his again feet, allowed himself to be stroked, and looked at him as penetratingly as if he wanted to you speak. Midnight couldn't be far away when the snake went under the stone slipped into her nest, and not again at Bartel's game came to light. As he took his instrument from his mouth and into his pocket and was getting ready to go home when the leaves rustled the linden tree in the breath of the wind is so wonderful that it feels like one A human voice hit his ear, and he heard the words several times believed:

»The lucky egg has a delicate shell,
Tough core is the tribulation;
Don’t hesitate to chase your luck.”

Then he felt a longing so painful that it broke his heart threatened, and yet he himself didn't know what he longed for. Bitter Tears streamed down his cheeks and he lamented: "What's the use for me? The lucky egg to the unfortunate, since I have no luck in this world is decided! From a young age I feel that I am not for people Fit, they don't understand me, and I don't understand them: what makes them happy does, that creates torment for me, but what could make me happy is that I don't know myself, how would anyone else know? The wealth and The poor people have both been godfathers to me, that's why I have "We can't get anything right either." Then it suddenly became so bright it as if the linden tree and the stone were illuminated by the full sun, so that he couldn't open his eyes for a while, but only looked at himself had to get used to the brightness. Then he saw one on the stone next to him beautiful female image standing, in snow-white clothes, as if an angel would have descended from heaven. But from the mouth of the virgin came a voice that sounded sweeter to him than the song of the nightingale, and the voice said: “Dear young man, do not be afraid; answer the request of an unfortunate girl! Poor me, I live in one miserable dungeon, and if you do not have mercy on me, I have no hope of salvation. Oh, dear youth, have pity on me, and don't reject me. I am the daughter of a mighty king from the Eastern lands, infinitely rich in gold and treasure, but that can't do anything for me help because a magic forced me to stay here in the form of a snake to live on the rock where I have been for many hundreds of years without ever to get older. Although I have never done harm to a human child everyone flees from my figure, just as they flee from me catch sight of. You are the only living being who does not accept my approach shied away from; yes, I was allowed to play at your feet, and your hand has me often gently petted. That's why the awakened in my heart Hope that you could become my savior. Your heart is pure, eh that of a child in whom lies and deceit do not yet reside. Also hits with you everything that is necessary for my salvation: a noble one Lady and a beggar stood together godfather with you, and the lucky egg became your godfather's gift. Only once every five and twenty years On St. John's Eve I am granted one hour in human form to walk long on the earth, and then when a youth of pure heart, who has these special gifts will come and hear my request If so, I could be released from my long imprisonment. Save, oh save me from endless imprisonment, I beg you with all my heart Angel names." So saying, she fell at the Pärtel's feet and clasped his knees and cried bitterly.

The Pärtel's heart melted at this sight and at this speech asked the Virgin to stand up and tell him how rescue was possible be. "I would go through fire and water without hesitation," he said, “If this would make it possible for you to be saved, and I would have ten lives to spare lose, I would give them all for your salvation! One never familiar longing no longer gives me peace, but what I long for I don’t know myself.”

The maiden said, “Come back tomorrow evening around sunset here, and when I come towards you as a snake, and like myself If you wrap a belt around your body and kiss you three times, you will be frightened don't, and don't shake back, otherwise I'll have to sigh again the curse of the enchantment, and who knows for how many hundred years.” With these words the maiden was before the young man's gaze disappeared, and again there was a whisper from the linden tree's foliage:

»The lucky egg has a delicate shell,
Tough core is tribulation;
Don’t hesitate to chase your luck!”

Pärtel had come home and gone to sleep before daybreak laid, but wonderfully colorful dreams, some friendly, some ugly ones, scaring away the peace from his bed. With a scream jumped he woke up because a dream had shown him that the white snake wrapped around his chest and suffocated him. True, he didn't pay attention continued to look at this horror, rather he was determined to do so To release the king's daughter from the bonds of enchantment, and if he himself was to perish over it - but his heart was still broken increasingly difficult as the sun got closer to the horizon. At the appointed time For a while he stood on the stone under the linden tree and looked up at the sky, sighing up, whom he begged for courage and strength so that he would not be overwhelmed by weakness tremble as the snake coils around his body and kisses him become. Then he suddenly remembered the lucky egg; he pulled out the box out of the bag, unwrapped it, and took the little egg that wasn't there bigger than a warbler's egg between your fingers.

At the same moment the snow-white snake was under the stone had slipped out, wrapped itself around his body, and was straightening her head up to kiss him, then - the man didn't know himself As it happened, he put the lucky egg in the snake's mouth plugged in. He stood, even with a cold heart, without trembling, until the snake had kissed him three times. Now there was a crash and Glow as if lightning had struck the stone, and heavier Thunder made the earth tremble, so that Pärtel fell to the ground as if dead, and no longer knew what was happening to him or around him.

But in this terrible moment the bonds of magic were there broken, and the royal maiden was released from her long imprisonment. When Pärtel woke up from his severe unconsciousness, he found himself standing soft silk cushions, in a magnificent glass chamber of sky blue Color. The beautiful girl knelt in front of his bed and stroked his cheeks, and when he opened his eyes he cried: “Thanks to heavenly Father, who heard my prayer! and a thousand, thousand thanks to you too, Dear young man, you have released me from the long spell of enchantment. Now take my kingdom, this magnificent royal castle, with you as your reward all his treasures, and if you want, me as your wife too the purchase. From now on you should live happily here, as the Lord of the... Good luck is due. Until today your lot has been like that of your _baptized father_, Now a better fate awaits you, one like yours had fallen to _baptismmother_."

No one could describe Pärtel's happiness and joy; all uncomprehended longing of his heart that keeps him restless drifted under the linden tree, was now quiet. Lived divorced from the world he and his dear wife in the lap of happiness until the end. -- But in the village and on the farm where he served and where The fact that people loved him because of his pious nature excited him Disappear great sorrow. Therefore everyone set out to see him search, and their first walk was to the linden tree, which Pärtel so often visits He used to visit and wherever he had gone the evening before see. Great was the people's astonishment when they saw neither the Pärtel, nor the linden tree, nor the stone; also the small spring in the near was dried up, and no human eye can see these things ever seen again.