Atondido Stories
“That’s nothing, my child. Just go behind the hut and you
will find a spring.”
Lenka went and there, sure enough, was a clear bubbling
spring and on the ground beside it a bucket. She filled the bucket
and carried it back to the hut.
As she entered the door she could hardly believe her eyes,
for on the wall she saw a row of shining plates, big plates and
little plates, and cups, and everything else that ought to be in a
kitchen. The old beggar had started a fire, so Lenka at once put
on water to boil.
“Look in the sack,” the beggar said.
Lenka untied the sack again and here it was full of fine meal
and bread and smoked meat!
So now Lenka lost no time in preparing a good supper. Then
she washed the old beggar’s face and hands and together they
ate. After supper Lenka spread out her ragged clothes on the
floor of the inner room and put the beggar in there for the night.
She herself stretched out on the kitchen bench. It was a hard bed
but Lenka made no complaint and presently she fell asleep.
At midnight there was a knocking at the door and a voice
called out:
“A m an am I
Six inches high,
But a long, long beard
Hangs from my chin.
Open the door
And let me in!”
Lenka jumped down and opened the door and there before
her stood a tiny dwarf with a long beard. He was Long Beard
who lived in the mountains and of whom Lenka had often heard
stories.
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