Four from one village went to a distant city to the market. We bought what anyone needed and headed back.
Three are ahead, and the fourth is behind. He was the poorest in the whole village. And the heaviest burden he had was that he carried stone millstones for a hand mill on his shoulders.
Halfway there, the travelers met a peasant from their village.
Three people stopped - those who were walking ahead - and asked:
- Tell me, buddy, did any trouble happen in our houses while we were walking into the city?
“Nothing happened to you,” the fellow countryman tells them, “but the one over there who’s dragging the millstone is really in trouble—his mule died.”
Then one peasant said:
“You don’t need to tell him about this now.” It’s already difficult for him to walk.
“Your truth,” said the other, “let him then know about the trouble when he comes home.”
And the third is silent. This third one was a great talker. Whatever you tell him, he will immediately blurt it all out.
“Look,” they tell him, “if you spill the beans, we won’t beat you up much, but we’ll also force you to carry the millstone.”
- No, I won’t say anything! - says the chatterbox. - You'll see, I won't say a word! I won't open my mouth!
While they stood and talked like that, the poor man came up with his millstones; and they walked on all together.
The chatterbox goes and suffers. He has no strength - how difficult it is for him to remain silent!
He walked a hundred steps - and could not stand it, he gave free rein to his tongue.
The poor man learned about his misfortune and completely lowered his head, as if a double weight had fallen on his shoulders.
And his comrades attacked the chatterbox.
- Have you forgotten about the agreement? Don’t you remember what you promised us? Why talk to you! Giving advice to a fool is like measuring fleas! Same benefit! Well, we’ll keep our word!
They beat him well, and then they put the millstone on his shoulders and ordered him to carry him all the way to the village.
The chatterbox didn't even argue. He drags stone slabs and grins:
- Isn’t this heavy! It’s much more difficult to keep someone else’s secret on your tongue!
That’s why they talk about talkers: it’s easier for an empty person to carry a millstone than to keep his word.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru