XXXVI.—BULGARIAN HOSPITALITY.
Once upon a time, when the Lord had formed the world,
he wished to see how his people lived; he came down from
heaven first of all on the Balkan Mountains, took the form
of a man with a long white beard and white clothes; took
a staff in his hand, and went about the world in the Bulgarian
land; he travelled much, a whole day long, over
desolate mountains. In the evening he came to a village
to pass the night. He went into the first house at the end
of the village and sat down on the threshold, said nothing,
but meditated by himself. The mistress was in her house
doing some work, and did not see him. But now her husband
came from the field, from his plough, espied the old man,
was delighted, and said to him: `Old man, you are very
tired; you are a weary traveller. Come into the house;
rest yourself, if it is but a poor one. I will entertain you
with all that the Lord has given me—only say the word.'
The old man regarded him with cheerful eyes, went into the
house and sat down. The man and his wife quickly rose
up and prepared a hospitable meal according to what they
possessed, and as nicely and as handsomely as they could,
and placed it on the table. The couple ate of their homely
meal, but the old man would not; he only smelt the homely
banquet, said nothing, but watched how the two persons
enjoyed themselves, and rejoiced. They urged him, they
begged him. `Old man, why don't you eat? You will
remain hungry. Take, and taste, and try what you please.
What we have is all here before you.' The old man only
said this: `Eat you—eat; I am thinking of something'
When they had eaten their fill, they rose. The mistress
went out to feed the child because it was crying. Then
said the old man to her husband: `Do you know what,
master, if you wish to entertain me? I cannot eat everything,
but I wish for baked human flesh. Kill your little
son, wash him nicely, and place him whole on the frying-pan
in the oven; only look out that your wife does not see you,
for she will weep.' He replied: `Is this all that you want,
old man? Why did you not tell me long before, that you
might not have sat a hungry guest in the house? Did I
not tell you that all was yours that the Lord had given me?
Indeed, I love you exceedingly, old man; my heart tells me
that you are good and worthy, and now you shall see; only
have a little patience, till I get ready that which you desire.'
The man went out of doors, and his wife had begun to do
some work, and had left her child to play by itself in the
moonlight till it fell asleep, without knowing what was about
to take place. Her husband stole the child, killed it with
all haste, put it entire in the frying-pan, and shut it up in
the oven, that its mother might not see it till it was cooked;
he then went to the old man, sat down by him and conversed
cheerfully with him. They had not talked long,
when the old man became silent, sniffed with his nose, and
said to the servant lad: `Go, look at the baked meat; it
smells nicely; perhaps it is cooked.'
The lad rose, went out, opened the oven to look at and
take out the baked meat. But what did he see? He was
amazed and frightened at the wonder; all the oven and all
the house was glittering with the brightness of the child.
The frying-pan and the child had become gold, and shone
like the sun. The child was sitting in the frying-pan like a
big boy—handsome, cheerful, bright, and well. On his
head was a crown of pearls and precious stones; on the
girdle at his waist was a sword. In his right hand he held
a book of blessing; in his left hand he had a wheatsheaf full
of ears; and all this was shining more than fire, because it
had all become gold. He returned to tell the old man what
a wonder had taken place, and to ask what was to be done;
but the old man was no longer there; he had gone out in
front of the house, and said to them: `Fare ye well, and
live as ye have done till now, honourably and contentedly.
Your good hearts will have good from field and cattle, and
blessing and peace upon your children and children's
children from the Lord. He will receive you and entertain
you in his heavenly house.' He then went away alone
under cover of the night, no one knows whither.
