The Priest And The Beggar

One Sunday, the priest went to the church to hold a service. A beggar joined him on the road. When both arrived at one to the stream, demanded the last-mentioned priest to go with him across the water. But the priest, knowing well that he was a great sinner, was frightened and went down the stairs until, but the pious beggar was supported by the water, so that he walked across the stream with dry feet.

The priest had barely climbed into the pulpit when the devil appeared in the church and began to make terrible faces only in front of him and the beggar. The priest couldn't hold back his laughter, so few in the church the visitors, who had not yet fallen asleep, were astonished. Then the devil threatened the priest and disappeared.

On the way home, the beggar joined the priest again, who suddenly felt hard thirst When they came to the same stream, said the beggar, “Here it is clean, clear water, drink from it!" The priest did so. Then it took the beggar him farther and farther along the brook, so until they they came to the source where the stream began; there lay the carrion, of which the water came out clear and clean.

"Now look what water you have drunk," said the beggar. “You yourself are the same carrion from which the word of God you preach springs forth pure and bright."

Then he brought back the one who hurt the most deeply in his heart. When they separated, the beggar asked the priest to visit his hut. "I i will send you a white horse one day, it will carry you to me."

Three days later a white stallion indeed appeared at the parsonage, the priest got on its back and it carried him to a beautiful birch forest through to the front of the beggar's hut. Both men greeted each other and the host, poor as he looked, offered his guest a glass of fine wine. The priest drank the wine, thanked him and immediately rode off again home. But what did he see when he came to the rectory?... Everything looked perfect different than he had left them half an hour ago; renew buildings, strange faces in the yard and in the house -- even a new one strangely dressed priest too. "My God, what has happened here?" cried the returnee, astonished and horrified!

After talking here and there for a longer time, because they can only difficult to understand each other, even though they thought they were speaking the same language, said the new priest: "God must have done a great miracle here! More than three hundred years ago, you had to live in this rectory the priest of your name, the great sinner, who was carried away by the white horse forever".

"Three hundred years," cried the unfortunate, "and I am but glass." drinking wine at a beggar's house!" Then he collapsed and changed to dust.