There lived a landowner on a rich estate, and there was no more evil and greedy person in the world. He starved the peasants who worked in his fields and tore three of their skins. And that’s why the people hated him fiercely and kept saying: “Damn him!” The devil listened and listened to such speeches and decided to drag the landowner to his underworld. So the devil appeared in the estate and said:
- Get ready, landowner! People tell you to go to hell every now and then. So I came for your soul. I don't need to wait any longer. You can't become worse than you are.
And the landowner answers him:
- Well, you never know who tells anyone to go to hell! If you start dragging everyone to your underworld, then who will remain on earth? If you want, let’s go when we arrive, and then you’ll hear it yourself.
The devil turned out to be flexible. He persuaded the landowner and they decided to go when they arrived. And if the one they meet does not send the landowner to hell, but someone else, then the devil will set the landowner free.
So they went into one house, and there was a peasant woman churning butter.
The woman saw the guests and went to meet them. Meanwhile, a pig that was running around the room stuck its face into the churn, knocked it over and spilled all the milk on the floor.
- Well, what a punishment for me with this animal! - the woman screamed. - Damn you, you such a scoundrel!
The landowner was delighted and said to the devil:
- Here, take the pig!
And the devil answers him:
“Do you think she really wants to give me the pig?” What will she then feed on in winter? Eh, no, she didn’t say that from the bottom of her heart!
And they moved on. We looked into another house, and there the child misbehaved.
- Oh, I'm tired of you! - his mother shouted at him. - Just follow you, wipe, and clean up! Damn you, or what!
The landowner was delighted:
“Here, take the child,” he says to the devil.
And the devil answers him:
- What kind of mother would agree to give up her child? No, she didn’t say that from the bottom of her heart.
They went further and met two peasants.
- Look! Our landowner is coming,” says one.
“Damn that bloodsucker,” replies the other.
- This is said from the bottom of my heart! - the devil shouted and dragged the landowner into the underworld.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru