Atondido Stories
face.
In the next village he applied for work at the bailiff's house.
The bailiff's wife answered his knock.
"The master is playing cards with two of his friends," she
said. "I'll go in and ask him if he has anything for you to do."
Peter heard her speak to some one inside and then a rough
voice bellowed out:
"No! How often have I told you not to interrupt me when I'm
busy! Tell the fellow to go to the Devil!"
Without waiting for the bailiff's wife, Peter turned away.
Tired and discouraged he took a path into the woods and sat
down.
"There doesn't seem to be any place for me in all the world,"
he thought to himself. "They all tell me to go to the Devil—my
stepmother, the farmer, and now the bailiff. If I knew the way to
hell I think I'd take their advice. I'm sure the Devil would treat
me better than they do!"
Just then a handsome gentleman, dressed in green, walked
by. Peter touched his hat politely and said:
"Let every one praise Lord Jesus."
The man passed him without responding. Then he looked
back and asked Peter why he looked so discouraged.
"I have reason to look discouraged," Peter said. "Everywhere
I ask for work they tell me to go to the Devil. If I knew the way
to hell I think I'd take their advice and go."
The stranger smiled.
"But if you saw the Devil, don't you think you'd be afraid of
him?"
Peter shook his head.
"He can't be any worse than my stepmother, or the farmer, or
the bailiff."
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