Pierrot, Jeannot and Claude were brothers, the sons of a poor widow. Having become adults, they saw that they had nothing to do at home, and decided to seek happiness in a foreign land. They all set off together and, having reached the crossroads, said goodbye with the words: “We will meet here again in a year.”
Walking his way, Clodo reached the village and stopped near a bakery.
“Hey, buddy,” the baker told him, “it seems to me that you would be willing to learn my craft.”
“Yes,” answered Claudo, “but I have nothing to pay for my studies.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said the baker. - Come work for me, and in a year you will know my craft.
Jeannot walked past a locksmith's shop and stopped at the door.
“My friend,” the mechanic told him, “it seems to me that you would be willing to learn my craft.”
“Yes,” answered Jeannot, “but I don’t have money for the Study.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said the mechanic. - Apply to me, and in a year you will know my craft.
Pierrot met a gang of thieves. They shouted:
- Trick or Treat!
- Hey-hey! - said Pierrot. - But I myself demand the same!
“And if so,” the thieves told him, “would you like to join our company?”
- Willingly! - Pierrot answered.
The thieves immediately put him to the test.
“Now,” they told him, “a carriage will pass along the road, and in it a noble gentleman, you will shout to him: “Trick or treat!”
Pierrot hid near the road; when the carriage caught up with him, he jumped out and shouted:
- Trick or Treat!
The noble gentleman hastily threw his wallet to him. The carriage sped off. Pierrot picked up the wallet.
“But,” he said to himself, “they didn’t tell me to take the money, but the wallet.”
Reasoning this way, he gave the empty wallet to his comrades.
“We won’t send you to steal again,” they said, “you will cook for us.”
A year later, the thieves, having plundered enough, divided the loot among themselves; Pierrot ended up with a hefty bag of gold. He went to the crossroads, where he agreed to meet the brothers. Jeannot and Claude were already waiting for him there. So the three of them went to see their old mother. As soon as they arrived, she asked them:
- How are you, kids? What have you been doing since
left home?
“I became a baker,” said Clodo.
“And I’m a mechanic,” said Jeannot.
“And I’m a coal miner,” said Pierrot.
- Is your coal good? - asked the mother.
“Listen, mother,” said Pierrot, “I’ll tell you something, but be careful, don’t tell anyone about it.” I'm not a coal miner, I'm a thief. But just remember: don’t tell anyone!
- No, no, Pierrot, be calm. A neighbor came in.
“Well, Marion,” she said to the old woman (and she was a talkative woman, like me), “the three of your sons have returned home.” What are they doing now?
“Claudo became a baker,” answered the old woman, “Jeannot became a mechanic, and Pierrot,” he...
“You obviously can’t remember, Marion, who your Pierrot became?”
- He became a thief; Just make sure you don't tell anyone about it.
But the neighbor chatted so earnestly about the outlandish news that the rumor soon reached the lord. He called for Marion and told her:
— What does your Pierrot do?
- Your Grace, he is a coal miner.
“I heard his coal is very good.”
“Ah, your lordship, no better than others.” The lord demanded Pierrot to come to him.
- Hello, Pierrot. What are you doing now?
- I am a coal miner, your lordship.
“They say your coal is very good.”
“Ah, your lordship, the same as the others.”
“Between us, Pierrot, you are a thief,” said the lord. “I want to test your skill: I order you to steal the horse that stands in my stable, guarded by twelve of my servants.” If you have not done this by nine o'clock tomorrow morning, I will have you hanged.
- Your Grace, there is no way I can do this!
“If you don’t, I’ll hang you.”
Pierrot put on his monastic robe and went to the stables.
- Hello, good people. I came to while away the evening with you and help you capture the swindler who is going to steal your horse. I have a treat for you.
He gave them a decoction of poppy to drink, from which they all soon fell asleep. Then he wrapped the horse’s hooves with tow so that they would not knock on the stones, sat on it and rushed off.
The next morning the lord came to the stables. Don't find a horse there, he grabbed a whip and let's whip his servants.
“Pierro,” said the lord, “you are a clever thief.” Now you must steal six oxen, which will be taken to the fair by twelve of my servants.
- Your Grace, there is no way I can do this!
“You managed to steal a horse from the stable, now you will steal the oxen, or I will order you to be hanged.”
When the lord's servants led the oxen along the high road to the fair, Pierrot ran forward, stood on his head and began kicking his legs and waving his arms.
- This is interesting! - said one of the servants. - Let's come closer and take a look!
“No,” answered the other, “the lord told us to take good care of the oxen.”
Pierrot ran ahead again and began to do the same things again.
“Oh,” said one of the servants, “how amusing!” Let's go and have a quick look; six of us will go, and six will remain to guard the oxen.
“Well,” said the others, “let’s all go together, because it’s two steps away.”
Seeing that the oxen were left unattended, Pierrot ran to them in a roundabout way and took everyone away.
“Pierro,” said the lord, “you are a clever thief.” Now here's the little thing I need to do: I have an uncle priest, he always celebrates mass at midnight; he must be killed, and I will share the inheritance with you.
- Your Grace, there is no way I can do this!
“After all, you managed to steal my horse and six oxen; do everything as I told you, or I will hang you.
Pierrot bought crayfish, put them on a plate, placed it on a lectern, and hid himself. When the old priest came to celebrate mass, Piero shouted to him from behind the altar:
- First pay your maid Margarita, then put your head in the bag that lies at the altar, and you will go straight to heaven. Don't you see the angels who are holding out their hands to you?
The priest stuck his head into the bag. Pierrot immediately grabbed him and began dragging him up and down the stairs, which
led to the bell tower.
“Ah,” said the poor priest, “how many ordeals must be endured to get to heaven!”
When the old man was already barely breathing, Pierrot carried him to the smoking room. In the morning, the priest’s maid Margarita came there to give the bird food.
- Chick-chick-chick!
“What is this, Margarita,” said the poor priest, “so you are also in heaven?”
“Paradise is good, there’s nothing to say,” answered Margarita, “but this is your chicken coop!”
The priest was put to bed. After some three days he died, and the lord shared his inheritance with Pierrot.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru