The Kind Priest

Once upon a time, there was a priest. He hired a worker and brought him home.

"Well, worker," he said, "serve me well, and I won't abandon you."

The worker lived with him for about a week, and then haymaking season arrived.

"Well, my dear," said the priest, "God willing, we'll get through this smoothly. Let's wait for morning and go mow the hay tomorrow."

"Very well, Father."

They waited for morning and got up early. The priest said to his wife:

"Come on, dear, let's have breakfast. We're going to the field to mow hay."

The priest's wife set the table. The two of them sat down and had a proper breakfast. Then the priest said to the worker:

"Come on, my dear, let's have lunch all at once, and then we'll mow properly."

"As you wish, Father. Let's have lunch, then."

"Set the table for lunch, dear," the priest ordered his wife.

She served them lunch. They took a spoonful or two—and were full.

The priest said to the worker:

"Come on, my dear, let's have our afternoon snack at the same table, and then we'll mow until dinner."

"As you wish, Father. If it's time for an afternoon snack, then let's have it!"

The priest's wife served them the afternoon snack. They took a spoonful or two again—and were full.

"While we're at it, my dear," said the priest to the worker, "let's have dinner too, and we'll spend the night in the field—we'll get an early start on work tomorrow."

"Very well, Father."

The priest's wife served them dinner. They took a bite or two and got up from the table.

The worker grabbed his coat and started to leave.

"Where are you going, my dear?" asked the priest.

"Where? You know yourself, Father, that after dinner it's time to go to bed."

He went to the barn and slept until dawn.

From that day on, the priest stopped feeding the worker breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner all at once.

More fairy tales

• The White Duck
• The Man and the Bear
• The Bear with the Linden Leg
• The Seven-Year-Old Daughter
• The Three Kingdoms - Copper, Silver, and Golden