Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

The foolish lad (Hungarian folk tale)

Author: I'll tell you

Share this story!

There was once a poor man who left a bull for his three sons. The sons agreed that each of the three would build a barn, and whichever bull ran into the barn would own it.

Advertisement
Continue reading

Well, they build it: the two bigger ones are so fancy that even the priest could have slept in them, the third one - he was a bit crazy - wove one out of a birch tree.

They let the bull go, and he ran straight into the sheepfold.

The two older lads were annoyed enough, but they wanted it that way, they had to let the bull go to the fool.

The boy throws a rope over the bull's head and leads him by it to the fair.

As he is driving along the highway, a great wind comes up, and a big hooked willow tree starts creaking like a chicka's wagon.

Advertisement
Continue reading

"Hm," thinks the foolish lad to himself, "this one certainly wants to buy the bull."

He shouts at the willow tree:

- What'll you give me for it, hey?

But the willow creaked and creaked.

"Ehe," thinks the lad, "I see I must knock off both horns." - He catches himself, and knocks off both the bull's horns at once.

But the willow just creaked.

Advertisement
Continue reading

- Don't you have money now? No problem, just lucky! I'll come next week.

He ties the bull to the willow tree and starts walking home.

His brothers at home ask:

- Well, you fool, have you sold the bull?

- I believe it," said the foolish lad.

- Who did you sell it to, you fool? Because I know that I have been divinely deceived," teases the eldest brother.

- But it's in the right place, hey! I sold a hooked willow for forty forints.

- So where is the money?

- He'll give it to me next week when I'm there.

The two lads start giggling.

- Well, you fool of the world! You've sold that well, you'll get your price on veal skinning Good Friday.

The foolish lad didn't even look at his brothers.

Advertisement
Continue reading

A week later, he goes to the willow tree, asks for the money, but the willow tree doesn't even say "Michael!

- I do! - says the lad. - Is that honour?

He takes the axe, strikes a blow at the willow tree, and it falls uprooted from the ground. He looks at it, and there's a great big pot of money under it!

The willow tree says to the lad:

- Well, you see, I'll take the money you owe and the rest I'll take as interest. As it was, he took out the kettle, put it in the handle of the axe, put it on his back, and did not stop till he reached home.

When he arrives, the two other lads see the sea of money and whisper that they would rather have the money than that fool.

But the foolish lad had good ears, and heard what his brothers were up to. He fled from home in the night, and in the morning went straight to the king to complain.

The daughter of this king was such a daughter that no human soul could ever make her laugh, she was so sad.

When the foolish lad told his complaint, he laughed so loudly that the whole house roared.

The King says:

- Well, you lad! I have sworn that whoever can make my daughter laugh, I will give it to him, and I will not go back on my word. I'll give you my daughter and half my kingdom, and I'll drive your brothers out of the country.

- My sovereign King! Do not drive away the poor, they will be good for the court as hired servants.

- 'Very well, you are full,' said the king.

Then they had such a feast that for seven days and seven nights even the horse drank wine.

Then the loving couple got into an eggshell, sailed down the Küküllő, and when they get out, they'll be your guests!

(Ágnes Kovács: Folk tales for kindergarten children)

Leave a Comment

You cannot copy content of this page

×