Atondido Stories
"Of course I know him. The last time I saw him he was sitting
far back in the chimney corner looking very sad and lonely."
"What! My son sitting far back in the chimney corner! Poor
boy, he must be in need of money! My good man, will you take
him something from me? I'd like to send him three hundred
golden ducats and material for six fine shirts. And tell him not to
be lonely as I'll come to him soon."
The laborer was delighted at the success of his yarn and he
told the lady of the castle he'd gladly take with him the ducats
and the fine shirting and he asked her to give them to him at
once as he had to get back to heaven without delay.
The foolish woman wrapped up the shirting and counted out
the money and the laborer hurried off.
Once out of sight of the castle he sat down by the roadside,
stuffed the fine shirting into the legs of his trousers, and hid the
ducats in his pockets. Then he stretched himself out to rest.
Meantime the lord of the castle got home and his wife at once
told him the whole story and asked him if he didn't think she
was fortunate to find a man who had consented to deliver to
their son in heaven three hundred golden ducats and material
for six fine shirts.
"What!" cried the husband. "Oh, what a gullible creature you
are! Who ever heard of a man falling out of heaven! And if he
were to fall, how could he climb back? The rogue has swindled
you! Which way did he go?"
And without waiting to hear the poor lady's lamentations,
the nobleman mounted his horse and galloped off in the direc-
tion the laborer had taken.
The laborer, who was still resting by the wayside, saw him
coming and guessed who he was.
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