Atondido Stories
The Story of Kubik and the Frog
A farmer who had three sons was much troubled in his mind as
to how he should leave his property. “My farm is too small to di-
vide,” he kept thinking to himself. “If I divide it into three equal
parts and give each of my sons one part, they will all be poor
cottagers, and yet, if I give it all to one son, I shall be unjust to
the other two. My grandfather always said that it is a father’s du-
ty to treat all his children alike and I’m sure I don’t want to de-
part from his teachings.”
At last he called his sons together and said: “I have hit upon
a plan whereby fate shall decide which of you shall be my heir.
You must all go out into the world and find brides, and he who
brings back as a betrothal gift the most beautiful ring shall have
the farm.”
The sons agreed to this plan and the next day they all set out
in different directions in quest of brides.
Now the youngest son, whose name was Kubik, was not con-
sidered as bright as his brothers, for he was kind to beggars and
he never drove a hard bargain. His brothers often laughed at
him and his father pitied him, for he thought that Kubik was too
gentle to make his way in the world.
Kubik’s path took him into a deep forest. He walked on and
on until suddenly a little frog hopped up in front of him and
said:
“Where are you going, Kubik?”
Now Kubik had never in all his life heard of a frog that could
talk. At first he was frightened but even so he was too polite not
to answer a civil question. So he told the frog about his father
and the farm and the quest for betrothal gifts upon which he and
his brothers were bound.
The frog listened and when he was finished she said:
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