Atondido Stories
The Story of Prince Raduz and the Faithful Ludmila
Once upon a time there was a king who had four sons. One day
the queen said to him:
“It is time that one of our boys went out into the world to
make his fortune.”
“I have been thinking that very same thing,” the king said.
“Let us get ready Raduz, our youngest, and send him off with
God’s blessing.”
Preparations were at once made and in a few days Raduz bid
his parents farewell and set forth.
He traveled many days and many nights over desert plains
and through dense forests until he came to a high mountain.
Halfway up the mountain he found a house.
“I’ll stop here,” he thought to himself, “and see if they’ll take
me into service.”
Now this house was occupied by three people: old Yezibaba,
who was a bad old witch; her husband, who was a wizard but
not so bad as Yezibaba; and their daughter, Ludmila, the sweet-
est, kindest girl that two wicked parents ever had.
“Good day to you all,” Raduz said, as he stepped into the
house and bowed.
“The same to you,” old Yezibaba answered. “What brings
you here?”
“I’m looking for work and I thought you might have some-
thing for me to do.”
“What can you do?” Yezibaba asked.
“I’ll do anything you set me to. I’m trustworthy and industri-
ous.”
Yezibaba didn’t want to take him, but the old man wanted
him and in the end Yezibaba with very ill grace consented to
give him a trial.
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