Erau odat\u0103 un mo\u015fneag\u015fi-o bab\u0103;\u015fi mo\u015fneagul avea o fat\u0103,\u015fi baba iar o fat\u0103. Fata babei era slut\u0103, lene\u015f\u0103,\u0163\u00e2fnoas\u0103\u015fi rea la inim\u0103; dar, pentru c\u0103 era fata mamei, se alinta cum s-alint\u0103 cioara-n la\u0163, l\u0103s\u00e2nd tot greul pe fata mo\u015fneagului. Fata mo\u015fneagului \u00eens\u0103 era frumoas\u0103, harnic\u0103, ascult\u0103toare\u015fi bun\u0103 la inim\u0103. Dumnezeu o \u00eempodobise cu toate darurile cele bune\u015fi frumoase. Dar aceast\u0103 fat\u0103 bun\u0103 era horopsit\u0103\u015fi de sora cea de scoar\u0163\u0103,\u015fi de mama cea vitreg\u0103; noroc de la Dumnezeu c\u0103 era o fat\u0103 robace\u015fi r\u0103bd\u0103toare; c\u0103ci altfel ar fi fost vai\u015f-amar de pielea ei.

Fata mo\u015fneagului la deal, fata mo\u015fneagului la vale; ea dup\u0103 g\u0103teje prin p\u0103dure, ea cu t\u0103buie\u0163ul \u00een spate la moar\u0103, ea, \u00een sf\u00e2r\u015fit, \u00een toate p\u0103r\u0163ile dup\u0103 treab\u0103. C\u00e2t era ziulica de mare, nu-\u015fi mai str\u00e2ngea picioarele; dintr-o parte venea\u015fi-n alta se ducea.\u015e-apoi baba

C\u00e2nd se duceau am\u00e2ndou\u0103 fetele \u00een sat la\u015fez\u0103toare seara, fata mo\u015fneagului nu se \u00eencurca, ci torcea c\u00e2te-un ciur plin de fuse; iar fata babei \u00eendruga\u015fi ea cu mare ce c\u00e2te- un fus;\u015f-apoi, c\u00e2nd veneau am\u00e2ndou\u0103 fetele acas\u0103 noaptea t\u00e2rziu, fata babei s\u0103rea iute peste p\u00e2rlaz\u015fi zicea fetei mo\u015fneagului s\u0103-i dea ciurul cu fusele, ca s\u0103-l\u0163ie p\u00e2n\u0103 va s\u0103ri\u015fi ea. Atunci fata babei, viclean\u0103 cum era, lua ciurul\u015fi fuga \u00een cas\u0103 la bab\u0103\u015fi la mo\u015fneag, spun\u00e2nd c\u0103 ea a tors acele fuse. \u00cen zadar fata mo\u015fneagului spunea \u00een urm\u0103 c\u0103 acela este lucrul m\u00e2inilor sale; c\u0103ci \u00eendat\u0103 o apucau de obraz baba\u015fi cu fiic\u0103-sa\u015fi trebuia numaidec\u00e2t s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2ie pe-a lor. C\u00e2nd veneau duminica\u015fi s\u0103rb\u0103torile, fata babei era \u00eempopo\u0163at\u0103\u015fi netezit\u0103 pe cap, de parc-o linseser\u0103 vi\u0163eii. Nu era joc, nu era clac\u0103 \u00een sat la care s\u0103 nu se duc\u0103 fata babei, iar fata mo\u015fneagului era oprit\u0103 cu asprime de la toate aceste.\u015e-apoi, c\u00e2nd venea mo\u015fneagul de pe unde era dus, gura babei umbla cum umbl\u0103 meli\u0163a; c\u0103 fata lui nu ascult\u0103, c\u0103-i u\u015fernic\u0103, c\u0103-i lene\u015f\u0103, c\u0103-i soi r\u0103u... c\u0103-i laie, c\u0103-i b\u0103laie;

Mo\u015fneagul, fiind un gur\u0103-casc\u0103, sau cum \u00ee\u0163i vrea s\u0103-i zice\u0163i, se uita \u00een coarnele ei,\u015fi ce-i spunea ea sf\u00e2nt era. Din inim\u0103, bietul mo\u015fneag poate c-ar fi mai zis c\u00e2te ceva; dar acum apucase a c\u00e2nta g\u0103ina la casa lui,\u015fi cuco\u015ful nu mai avea nici o trecere;\u015f-apoi, ia s\u0103-l fi pus p\u0103catul s\u0103 se \u00eentreac\u0103 cu dedeochiul; c\u0103ci baba\u015fi cu fiic\u0103-sa \u00eel umplea de bogdaproste.

\u2014 Draga tatei, iaca ce-mi tot spune m\u0103-ta de tine: c\u0103 n-o ascul\u0163i, c\u0103 e\u015fti rea de gur\u0103\u015fi \u00eenn\u0103r\u0103vit\u0103\u015fi c\u0103 nu este de chip s\u0103 mai stai la casa mea; de-aceea du-te\u015fi tu \u00eencotro te-a \u00eendrepta Dumnezeu, ca s\u0103 nu se mai fac\u0103 at\u00e2ta g\u00e2lceav\u0103 la casa asta, din pricina ta. Dar te sf\u0103tuiesc, ca un tat\u0103 ce-\u0163i sunt, c\u0103, ori\u015fiunde te-i duce, s\u0103 fii supus\u0103, blajin\u0103\u015fi harnic\u0103; c\u0103ci la casa mea tot ai dus-o cum ai dus-o: c-a mai fost\u015fi mila p\u0103rinteasc\u0103 la

Atunci biata fat\u0103, v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 baba\u015fi cu fiic\u0103-sa voiesc cu orice chip s-o alunge, s\u0103rut\u0103 m\u00e2na tat\u0103-s\u0103u\u015fi, cu lacrimi \u00een ochi, porne\u015fte \u00een toat\u0103 lumea, dep\u0103rt\u00e2ndu-se de casa p\u0103rinteasc\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 nici o n\u0103dejde de \u00eentoarcere!

Fata, harnic\u0103 cum era, cur\u0103\u0163\u0103 p\u0103rul de usc\u0103turi\u015fi de omizi cu mare \u00eengrijire\u015fi apoi se tot duce \u00eenainte s\u0103-\u015fi caute st\u0103p\u00e2n.\u015ei, merg\u00e2nd ea mai departe, numai iaca ce vede o f\u00e2nt\u00e2n\u0103 m\u00e2lit\u0103\u015fi p\u0103r\u0103sit\u0103. F\u00e2nt\u00e2na atunci zice:

Fata r\u00e2ne\u015fte f\u00e2nt\u00e2na\u015fi-o grije\u015fte foarte bine; apoi o las\u0103\u015fi-\u015fi caut\u0103 de drum.\u015ei, tot merg\u00e2nd mai departe, numai iaca ce d\u0103 de-un cuptor nelipit\u015fi mai-mai s\u0103 se risipeasc\u0103. Cuptorul, cum vede pe fat\u0103, zice:

Fata, care\u015ftia c\u0103 de f\u0103cut treab\u0103 nu mai cade coada nim\u0103nui, \u00ee\u015fi suflec\u0103 m\u00e2necile, c\u0103lc\u0103 lut\u015fi lipi cuptorul, \u00eel humui\u015fi-l griji, de-\u0163i era mai mare dragul s\u0103-l prive\u015fti! Apoi \u00ee\u015fi sp\u0103l\u0103 frumu\u015fel m\u00e2inile de lut\u015fi porni iar\u0103\u015fi la drum.

nu-\u015fi pierdu n\u0103dejdea \u00een Dumnezeu, ci merse tot \u00eenainte p\u00e2n\u0103 ce, \u00eentr-una din zile, dis- diminea\u0163\u0103, trec\u00e2nd printr-un codru \u00eentunecos, d\u0103 de-o poian\u0103 foarte frumoas\u0103,\u015fi \u00een poian\u0103 vede o c\u0103su\u0163\u0103 umbrit\u0103 de ni\u015fte lozii pletoase;\u015fi c\u00e2nd s-apropie de acea cas\u0103, numai iaca o bab\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2mpin\u0103 pe fat\u0103 cu bl\u00e2nde\u0163e\u015fi-i zice:

\u2014 Da' ce cau\u0163i prin aceste locuri, copil\u0103,\u015fi cine e\u015fti? \u2014 Cine s\u0103 fiu, m\u0103tu\u015f\u0103? Ia, o fat\u0103 s\u0103rac\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 mam\u0103\u015fi f\u0103r\u0103 tat\u0103, pot zice; numai Cel-de-sus\u015ftie c\u00e2te-am tras de c\u00e2nd mama care m-a f\u0103cut a pus m\u00e2inile pe piept! St\u0103p\u00e2n caut\u015fi, necunosc\u00e2nd pe nime\u015fi umbl\u00e2nd din loc \u00een loc, m-am r\u0103t\u0103cit. Dumnezeu \u00eens\u0103 m-a pov\u0103\u0163uit de-am nimerit la casa d-tale\u015fi te rog s\u0103-mi dai s\u0103l\u0103\u015fluire.

\u2014 S\u0103rman\u0103 fat\u0103! zise b\u0103tr\u00e2na. Cu adev\u0103rat numai Dumnezeu te-a \u00eendreptat la mine\u015fi te-a sc\u0103pat de primejdii. Eu sunt Sf\u00e2nta Duminic\u0103. Sluje\u015fte la mine ast\u0103zi\u015fi fii \u00eencredin\u0163at\u0103 c\u0103 m\u00e2ine n-ai s\u0103 ie\u015fi cu m\u00e2inile goale de la casa mea.

\u2014 Bine, m\u0103icu\u0163\u0103, dar nu\u015ftiu ce trebi am s\u0103 fac. \u2014 Ia, s\u0103-mi lai copila\u015fii, care dorm acum,\u015fi s\u0103-i hr\u0103ne\u015fti; apoi s\u0103-mi faci bucate;\u015fi, c\u00e2nd m-oi \u00eentoarce eu de la biseric\u0103, s\u0103 le g\u0103sesc nici reci, nici fierbin\u0163i, ci cum \u00ees mai bune de m\u00e2ncat.

\u2014 Copii, copii, copii! Veni\u0163i la mama s\u0103 v\u0103 l\u0103ie!\u015ei c\u00e2nd se uit\u0103 fata, ce s\u0103 vad\u0103? Ograda se umpluse\u015fi p\u0103durea fojg\u0103ia de-o mul\u0163ime de balauri\u015fi de tot soiul de jivine mici\u015fi mari! \u00cens\u0103, tare \u00een credin\u0163\u0103 \u015fi cu n\u0103dejdea la Dumnezeu, fata nu se sperie; ci le ia pe c\u00e2te una\u015fi le l\u0103\u015fi le \u00eengrije\u015fte c\u00e2t nu se poate mai bine. Apoi s-apuc\u0103 de f\u0103cut bucate,\u015fi c\u00e2nd a venit Sf\u00e2nta Duminic\u0103 de la biseric\u0103\u015fi a v\u0103zut copiii l\u0103u\u0163i frumos\u015fi toate trebile bine f\u0103cute, s-a umplut de bucurie;\u015fi dup\u0103 ce-a\u015fezut la mas\u0103, a zis fetei s\u0103 se suie \u00een pod\u015fi s\u0103-\u015fi aleag\u0103 de-acolo o lad\u0103, care-a vrea ea,\u015fi s\u0103\u015fi-o ia ca simbrie; dar s\u0103 n- o deschid\u0103 p\u00e2n-acas\u0103, la tat\u0103-s\u0103u. Fata se suie \u00een pod\u015fi vede acolo o mul\u0163ime de l\u0103zi: unele mai vechi\u015fi mai ur\u00e2te, altele mai noi\u015fi mai frumoase. Ea, \u00eens\u0103, nefiind lacom\u0103,\u015f- alege pe cea mai veche\u015fi mai ur\u00e2t\u0103 dintre toate.\u015ei c\u00e2nd se d\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsa jos, Sf\u00e2nta Duminic\u0103 cam \u00eencre\u0163e\u015fte din spr\u00e2ncene, dar n-are \u00eencotro. Ci binecuv\u00e2nteaz\u0103 pe fat\u0103, care \u00ee\u015fi ia lada \u00een spate\u015fi se \u00eentoarn\u0103 spre casa p\u0103rinteasc\u0103 cu bucurie, tot pe drumul pe unde venise.

C\u00e2nd, pe drum, iaca cuptorul grijit de d\u00e2nsa era plin de pl\u0103cinte crescute\u015fi rumenite...\u015ei m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 fata la pl\u0103cinte,\u015fi m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103, h\u0103t bine; apoi \u00ee\u015fi mai ia c\u00e2teva la drum\u015fi porne\u015fte.

C\u00e2nd, mai \u00eencolo, numai iaca f\u00e2nt\u00e2na grijit\u0103 de d\u00e2nsa era plin\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103-n gur\u0103 cu ap\u0103 limpede cum \u00eei lacrima, dulce\u015fi rece cum \u00eei ghea\u0163a.\u015ei pe colacul f\u00e2nt\u00e2nii erau dou\u0103 pahare de argint, cu care a b\u0103ut la ap\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 s-a r\u0103corit. Apoi a luat paharele cu sine\u015fi a pornit \u00eenainte.

De-acolo merg\u00e2nd mai departe, iaca se \u00eent\u00e2lne\u015fte\u015fi cu c\u0103\u0163elu\u015fa, care acum era voinic\u0103\u015fi frumoas\u0103, iar\u0103 la g\u00e2t purta o salb\u0103 de galbeni pe care a dat-o fetei, ca mul\u0163umit\u0103 pentru c\u0103 a c\u0103utat-o la boal\u0103.\u015ei de aici, fata, tot merg\u00e2nd \u00eenainte, a ajuns acas\u0103 la tat\u0103- s\u0103u. Mo\u015fneagul, c\u00e2nd a v\u0103zut-o, i s-au umplut ochii de lacrimi\u015fi inima de bucurie. Fata atunci scoate salba\u015fi paharele cele de argint\u015fi le d\u0103 t\u0103t\u00e2ne-s\u0103u; apoi deschiz\u00e2nd lada \u00eempreun\u0103, nenum\u0103rate herghelii de cai, cirezi de vite\u015fi turme de oi ies din ea, \u00eenc\u00e2t mo\u015fneagul pe loc a \u00eentinerit, v\u0103z\u00e2nd at\u00e2tea bog\u0103\u0163ii! Iar\u0103 baba a r\u0103mas op\u0103rit\u0103\u015fi nu\u015ftia ce s\u0103 fac\u0103 de ciud\u0103. Fata babei atunci\u015fi-a luat inima-n din\u0163i\u015fi a zis:

de cuptorul cel nelipit\u015fi aproape s\u0103 se risipeasc\u0103; dar c\u00e2nd o roag\u0103\u015fi c\u0103\u0163elu\u015fa,\u015fi p\u0103rul,\u015fi f\u00e2nt\u00e2na,\u015fi cuptorul ca s\u0103 \u00eengrijeasc\u0103 de d\u00e2nsele, ea le r\u0103spundea cu ciud\u0103\u015fi \u00een b\u0103taie de joc: