Atondido Stories
Just as she had lifted the last pot, the old frog came hopping
in to her in great excitement.
"Oh, my dear, my dear!" she croaked. "What have you done
setting free all those souls! Quick and get you a lump of dry
earth or a piece of toasted bread or my husband will catch you
and take your soul! Here he comes now!"
Lidushka looked up through the crystal walls of the house
but could see no one coming. Then in the distance she saw some
beautiful bright red streamers floating towards her on the top of
the water. They came nearer and nearer.
"Oh!" she thought to herself in sudden fright. "Those must be
the red streamers of a nickerman!"
Instantly she remembered the stories her grandmother used
to tell her when she was a child, how the wicked nickerman
lured people to their death with bright red streamers. Many an
innocent maid, haying along the river, has seen the lovely
streamers in the water and reached after them with her rake.
That is what the nickerman wants her to do for then he can catch
her and drag her down, down, down, under the water where he
drowns her and takes her soul. The nickerman is so powerful
that, if once he gets you, he can drown you in a teaspoon of wa-
ter! But if you clutch in your hand a clod of dry earth or a piece
of toasted bread, then he is powerless to harm you.
"Oh!" Lidushka cried. "Now I understand! Those white doves
were the souls of poor innocents whom this wicked nickerman
has drowned! God help me to escape him!"
"Hurry, my dear, hurry!" the old frog croaked. "Run up the
crystal stairs and replace the stone!"
Lidushka flew up the stairs and as she reached the top she
clutched a handful of dry earth. Then she replaced the stone and
the water flowed over the stairs.
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