This was back in the days when gentlemen could do whatever they wanted with a man. There lived in one volost a lively little man - Andritis. So the master decided to forcefully marry him to his maid.
Only Andritis refuses:
- Well, no, if the master himself doesn’t take her, then where should I go?
Only the master doesn’t listen - he ordered the wedding to take place next Sunday.
“Okay!” Andritis thinks. “If you’re so excited, then I need to hurry up. I heard that they’re setting up a new parish in Kurzeme, and they’re taking all sorts of people into it. I’ll run away on Saturday, and then whistle with your maid.”
OK. But only the next day someone informed the master: Andritis wanted to run away on Saturday. The master immediately mounts his horse and goes to Andritis:
-Are you going to go on the run? Why are you getting along, why don’t you take your staff on the road?
- For mercy, master! Yes, this is a stake!
- If this is a stake, then why are both ends hewn?
– And here, you see, is such a thing. I did everything in one go. The lower end of the stake will rot, I will pull it out and stick it in with the other end, no ax or butt will be needed.
– How long are you going to live here, Andritis? if you think about waiting until the stake rots!
- But we can’t know this, we all walk under God!
The master thinks: “Why don’t the whisperers talk? No, this one won’t run away. But still, to be more faithful, let me marry them on Saturday.”
OK. Saturday is coming. Andritis waved in Kurzeme. He meets a pastor on the way:
-Where are you going?
- To church! – Andritis was found.
- Those are the times! Why not to the estate? Your master told me that you should be married on Saturday on the estate, and not in the church!
- What kind of Saturday is it today? Today is Sunday, that's why I'm going to church.
- No, Andritis, today is Saturday, Saturday!
- What are you talking about, Reverend Father! I remember every day: on Monday I stabbed a goat, on Tuesday I skinned it, on Wednesday I cooked it, on Thursday I ate it, on Friday I heated a bathhouse, on Saturday I took a steam bath, today is Sunday, so I’m going to church. Farewell!
And Andritis left for Kurzeme, settled there and lived carefree. And the master, as soon as he found out about this, screamed:
- Oh, Andritis, Andritis, who will I sell my maid to now!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru