Atondido Stories
"Quick!" the Devil whispered. "Get up and hurry out to the
shed! The landlord is about to murder the orphan for his mon-
ey."
Peter jumped out of bed and ran outside to the shed where
Yirik slept. He burst open the door just as the landlord was
ready to stab the sleeping boy with a dagger.
"You sinner!" Peter cried. "I've caught you at last! Off to hell
you go with me this instant to stew forever in boiling oil!"
The landlord fainted with terror. Peter dragged him senseless
into the house. When he came to himself he fell on his knees be-
fore Peter and begged for mercy. He offered Peter everything he
possessed if only Peter would grant him another chance and he
solemnly vowed that he would repent and give up his evil ways.
At last Peter said:
"Very well. I'll give you another chance provided that, from
this time on, you treat Yirik as your son. Be kind to him and
send him to school. The moment you forget your promise and
treat him cruelly, I'll come and carry you off to hell! Remember!"
There was no need to urge the landlord to remember. From
that night he was a changed man. He became honest in all his
dealings and he really did treat Yirik as though he were his own
son.
Peter stayed on at the tavern and stories about him and his
golden ducats began to spread through the country-side. The
prince of the land heard of him and sent word that he would like
to see him at the castle. Peter answered the prince's messenger
that if the prince wished to see him he could come to the tavern.
"Who is this prince of yours," Peter asked the landlord, "and why
does he want to see me?"
"He'd probably like to borrow some money from you," the
landlord said. "He's deep in debt for he has two of the wickedest,
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