HOW DIFFERENT WE ARE - Kompalita

I Czech Republic The Clever Mountain Lass –
Božena Němcová
Once upon a time there were two brothers. The
first of them was a very wealthy landowner, who didn’t have any children
and was very mean. The second one, poor small farmer had only
one daughter and was really good. When the girl reached the twelfth
year, he gave her to his brother as a goosegirl. For two years she was
working just for food and living, but after that she grew up, got stronger
and became a maidservant.
Her uncle told her: ”Manka, if you serve for me equitably and
honestly, after your service I’ll give you a heifer instead of money. I
think that you’ll appreciate it more.“
Manka enthusiastically agreed and from that moment, she was so
into the work and never stole a single uncle’s coin . But her uncle
was a cagey rogue. Manka served there for next three years honestly
and without answering back, but her father was still getting worse in
health and the age made a big sign on him. One day Manka recognized
that she has to go home, so she asked for her pledged heifer. But what
happened! Her uncle seemed not to be anxious about his brother and
told Manka that he won’t give her so much as a cow was. He offered
her a few sous instead. She wasn’t stupid to accept the offer.
At home crying Manka told everything her father and strenuously
asked him to go to local procurator’s office and complain. Her father,
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