Božena Němcová

“ One wondered at her snow-white hair, another at her wrinkled forehead, and the third cried: "Why Grandma, you have but four teeth!" She smiled, smoothed down Barunka's dark brown hair, and said: "My child, I am old; when you grow old, you, too, will look different." But they could not comprehend how their smooth, soft hands could ever become wrinkled like her's. The hearts of the grandchildren were won the first hour, for Grandmother surrendered herself to them entirely. Mr. Proshek won her love by his frankness and the goodness of heart that beamed from his handsome face. ”

“ Elška asked of Bára.
“Dear Lord, I haven’t any one to think of!” sighed the girl. “I’ll cast the wreath at random to see if it floats after yours. I only wish that when you marry, Elška, I could go with you.”
Elška became silent as a blush overspread her cheeks. After a pause she said, extending her hand to Bára: “Here is my hand on it that we shall stay together; if you do not marry, I shall never marry,” she added with a deep sigh.
“What are you saying, Elška? Very few people love me, but everyone cares for you. You will be rich; I am poor. You are beautiful and I am homely. ”

“ March took the high seat upon the stone and waved the club over the fire. The fire blazed up, the snow began to melt, the trees began to bud, and the ground under the young beech-trees was at once covered with grass and the crimson daisy buds began to peep through the grass. It was springtime. Under the bushes the violets were blooming among their little leaves, and before Maruša had time to think, so many of them had sprung up that they looked like a blue cloth spread out on the ground. ”

“ The last the children did not hear, for as soon as the father said 'Begone,' the whole crowd rushed like a hurricane through the door.
"What a whirl!" remarked the gamekeeper with a smile.
"Children will be children,—youthful blood!" added Grandmother.
"But if only those boys were not so wild! Believe me, Grandma, at times I am dying with terror. They climb up trees and over pitfalls, turn somersets, tear their trowsers,—it's dreadful to relate! I thank the Lord for this one good child; she is a treasure," said the mother. ”

“ Bára looked out upon the grave of her mother, recalled her lonely childhood, the dislike and scorn of her by the people of the village, and for the first time she felt the weight of it all and for the first time the thought came to her, “Oh, mother, would that I could be lying there beside you!” One thought gave birth to another, vision succeeded vision. In spirit she embraced the beautiful Elška, and on the forest path her imagination portrayed as by magic the figure of a tall, broad-shouldered huntsman, with a face expressing earnestness, energy and strength. ”

“ Looking in the ear of the ox, there he spied Palecek. He was delighted with the little chap and wished that he might have him for his own. "Ha, ha", he said, "that's the lad for me. He's so small, that he won't eat very much." That suited him, for he was a very stingy man.
"Will you enter my service", he asked Little Thumb?
"Why not, if my father is willing", he replied. Then he sprang like a shot from the ear of the ox, and running to his father, whispered, "Father, the merchant wants to hire me, but don't let him have me too cheap. Have no fear for me. ”

“ High above the heads of the girls the lark soared, singing, and above the summit of the green forests the sun was rising, pouring its golden glow over the emerald valley. Jacob came out in front of the cottage and the sound of the shepherd’s horn reminded the girls it was time to go home.
“Along the way we can tell each other,” said Bára, leading Elška by the hand from the bridge to the meadow path.
“But how did you guess it about me?” questioned Elška.
“Dear Lord, that’s easy to know. You are often absorbed in thought, sometimes you’re sad and then again your face fairly glows. ”

“ Víťazko gave her back the spit; he led the magic horse back to its stall, thanked Holy Sunday, and, hanging the pig from the beech-tree, made haste to go home to his mother.
The mother and the griffin were feasting; they did not expect Víťazko, and here he was. They ran away and discussed what they should do with him.
"When he has given you the pig, you must still pretend to be ill," said the griffin; "and when he asks you what will save you, tell him that only the Water of Life and the Water of Death can cure you. If he goes in quest of that, he is bound to perish." ”

“ TO-DAY Grandmother's room is like a garden; wherever a person turns everything is full of roses, mignonette, cherry blossoms, and other flowers; among the rest is a whole armful of oak leaves. Barunka and Manchinka are making bouquets, and Celia is weaving a large garland. On the bench by the stove sit Adelka and the boys, reciting the congratulation.
It is the eve of St. John's, and to-morrow will be father's name's day, [1] a great day for the family. Mr. Proshek had invited several of his dearest friends to dinner; that always was his custom. ”

“ Let God judge between us." He took her hand and led her to the castle yard, unsheathed his sword, and said: "Behold, mother! I will throw this sword into the air. If I am guilty, it will strike me; if you are guilty, it is you it will strike. Let God decide."
The sword whirled through the air, it darted past Víťazko's head, and smote straight into his mother's heart.
Víťazko lamented over her and buried her. Then he returned to Holy Sunday and thanked her well for all her kindness. He girded on the sword, took his beech-tree in his hand, and went to his beautiful princess. ”

“ Proshek went back and the company entered the elegant parlor. The children held their breath, while their feet slipped upon the floor, smooth as glass. Grandmother was as in a vision; she was afraid to step upon the beautiful rugs. "It is a thousand pities!" she said to herself. But what could be done? They lay everywhere and the chamberlain walked upon them. He led them through the concert hall and library to the cabinet; then he returned to his post grumbling: "Their Lordships have odd whims that one should be at the service of a common old woman and children!" ”

“ The village herdsman was called Jacob and, lived with his daughter, Bára, in the last cottage. Jacob was in his sixties and Bára was his first-born and only child. To be sure he had wished for a son to inherit his name, but when Bára grew older he did not regret that she was a girl. She was dearer to him than a son and many times he thought to himself: “Even though she is a girl, she is my own. I shall die like a man and I have, as a father, a stepping-stone to heaven.” ”

“ Christina folded the letter, and turned her questioning eyes to Grandmother's face.
"You can be comforted; he is a good boy; give him my greeting and tell him to trust in God; tell him the darkest days pass away and the sun shines again, and his sun, too, will shine. I cannot tell you positively, it is thus or so, as long as I am not certain. When it is necessary, go with the reapers; I want you to present the garland to the Princess at the harvest festival, for since you work in her fields, it will be becoming for you to do it?" ”

“ And there were so many people on the streets as if there were a procession, some of them dressed in holiday costume even on the week days, carriages driving by constantly, turmoil and noise so that a person doesn’t know who is with them. Just wait. Next year you and I will go there together to a church pilgrimage,” added Elška.
“What would I do there! People would laugh at me!” said Bára.
“Don’t believe it, dear. There, on the streets one person doesn’t notice another, one doesn’t even greet another in passing.”
“I wouldn’t like that. That must be a strange world,” Bára wondered. ”

“ A little way from the peacocks was seen a flock of speckled, blear-eyed guinea hens; white rabbits, pricking up their ears, ready to flee from the smallest danger; a handsome fawn, with a red band around its neck, lying at the door; and several dogs lounging about. Hardly had the children spoken to the dogs, when they gave a joyous bark and bounded out to meet them. The fawn, called by Adelka, also came and with her blue eyes looked up lovingly at the child as if she would say "Ah, it is you, who bring me those good morsels. ”

“ One can see groves of cypress and laurel, beautiful flowers, and a blue, unclouded sky."
"Oh, I know!" exclaimed Barunka, "that is the city you have painted in your room, is it not, Miss Hortense? In the middle is a wide river, and above the river, on a high hill, is built the city. O Grandma, such beautiful houses and churches! On one side are so many small houses and gardens; by one of those houses a little girl is playing; by her side sits an old lady,--they are Miss Hortense and her nurse; isn't it so? You told us that while we were at the castle," asked Barunka turning to the Countess. ”

“ When Bára frowned her face resembled the sky covered with black clouds, from which only a bit of blue shone forth. But she seldom wore a frown, except when the youngsters called her names, saying she had bull's eyes. Then her eyes flashed with anger and often she would burst into tears. But Jacob would always say: “You foolish girl, why do you mind them? I, too, have big eyes. And even if they are ‘bull’s eyes,’ that’s nothing bad. Why, the dumb animals can look at a man far more kindly than those human beings there!” At this he would always point with his stick towards the village. ”

“ They said this at our house.
"He is a real ghoul," said the blacksmith's wife with great assurance; "but don't you be afraid, Victorka, I shall help you; all is not lost yet. To-morrow I shall bring you something which you must carry with you everywhere. In the morning, when you leave your room, you must never omit to bless yourself with holy water and say: 'God be with us, and the evil one away!' When you go through the fields, you must not turn to the right or to the left, and should that soldier address you, never mind, though he speak as an angel. He can charm even with the voice. ”