Atondido Stories
child had received a handful of ducats as a christening gift. If she
comes here to see you, make up your mind what you’re going to
say.”
Then Lukas built a fire. Presently the old woman came and
soon good hot soup was ready. It was just plain milk soup, but I
can tell you it tasted better to hungry Lukas and his wife than
the rich food which the king himself ate that day from a golden
platter.
The next day after breakfast Lukas set out for town. The bur-
gomaster’s wife took advantage of his absence to visit his wife
and find out what she could about the money.
“My dear neighbor,” she said, after she had made the neces-
sary inquiries about health, “the blessing of God came into your
house with that child.”
“Oh,” said the other, “if you mean the christening gift, it isn’t
so very much. A handful of ducats soon roll away. However,
may God repay that good woman, the godmother. At least we
can now buy back our old farm and live like respectable people.”
On the way home the burgomaster’s wife stopped at the houses
of her various friends and gave them a full account of Lukas’
wealth. Before noon every small boy in the village knew that at
Lukas’ house they had a hogshead of ducats.
In the evening Lukas came back from town driving a cart
that was piled high with furniture and clothing and feather beds
and food. The next day he bought back his old farm with the
cattle and the implements.
This marked the beginning of a new life for Lukas. He set to
work with industry and put into practice all the lessons that
poverty had taught him.
He and his wife lived happily. Their greatest joy was Marish-
ka, a little girl so charming and so pretty that every one loved
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