Serbia of Eastern Europe is the
land of hills traversed by the rivers at its heart and northern part. The
southern part is dominated by spectacular mountains. Once upon a time, in those
impressive lands lived three brothers…
They possessed nothing, but a
single pear tree. So they took turns in guarding this pear tree. One day, God
sent an angel to see how brothers were living and to give them assistance, if
they needed it. The angel disguised himself as a beggar. He asked the youngest
brother, who was guarding the pear tree that day, if he could give him a pear.
The brother picked one of his pears and gave it to the angel saying, “Here,
take one from my share of pears, for I cannot give you any from my brothers.”
The angel thanked him and left.
The following day, it was the
middle brother’s turn to guard the pear tree. So the angel asked him the same
question, if he could have a pear. The middle brother also picked one of his
pears and gave it to the angel saying, “Here, take one from my share of pears,
for I cannot give you any from my brothers.” The angel thanked him and left.
The following day, it was the
oldest brother’s turn to guard the pear tree. So the angel asked the same
question again, if he could have a pear. The oldest brother also picked one of
his pears and gave it to the angel saying, “Here, take one from my share of
pears, for I cannot give you any from my brothers.” The angel thanked him and
left.
On the fourth day, the angel
disguised himself as a monk. He found all three brothers and said, “Come with
me and I shall reward you for your generosity and give each of you the one
thing you desire the most.” The brothers followed him without a word.
When they came upon a field full
of pigeons, the angel turned to the oldest brother and asked him, “What do you
desire the most?”
The oldest brother replied, “I
want all these pigeons to turn into sheep and I want them all to be mine.”
The angel turned all pigeons
into sheep and said, “You got what you asked for. So, now live with it.”
Then, he continued walking with
two other brothers. When they got to a large stream, the angle turned to the
middle brother and asked him, “What do you desire the most?”
The middle brother replied, “I
want all this water to turn into wine and I want it all to be mine.”
The angel turned the water into
wine and said, “You got what you asked for. So, now live with it.”
Then, he continued walking with
the youngest brother and asked him, “What do you desire the most?”
The youngest brother answered,
“I only wish for a wife, who is kind and compassionate.”
They kept on walking until they
reached a village, where the angel directed him to a young woman, who was kind
and compassionate. After the wedding, the angel took the young couple to the
forest and left them there.
After a year, the angel came
back to see how the brothers were doing and to see if they needed any
assistance. The angel again disguised himself as a beggar. First he went to see
how the oldest brother was doing. He found him in the field full of sheep, so
he asked him for a piece of cheese. But the brother refused saying, “If I were
to give everyone a piece of my cheese, nothing would be left of all my wealth.”
In that instance, the angel
turned the sheep back into the pigeons and said, “Such wealth is not for you,
go and guard the pear tree again.”
After that, he went to check on
the middle brother and asked him for a glass of wine. But the brother refused
saying, “If I were to give everyone a glass of my wine, nothing would be left
of all my wealth.”
In that instance, the angel
turned the wine back into the water and said, “Such wealth is not for you, go
and guard the pear tree again.”
Finely, the angel went to see
the youngest brother and his wife. In the forest, he found a small hut. He
asked them if they would let him spend the night in their hut. They welcomed
him warmly and asked for forgiveness saying, “We are poor and cannot welcome
you like we ought to.”
The angel replied, “Whatever
little you have is enough for me.” They shared the last piece of bread and the last
glass of wine with the angel.
The following morning, the angel
turned the small hut into a palace and filled it with plenty of everything. The
young couple lived happily with plenty of food and warmth till the end of their
time.
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