Oldal 112 [112]
ie Bohemian Tale”
HERE was once a woman who was left a widow
with two children. The elder, who was only her step¬
daughter, was named Dobrunka; the younger, who was
as wicked as her mother, was called Katinka. The
mother worshiped her daughter, but she hated Do¬
brunka, simply because she was as beautiful as her sister
was ugly. Dobrunka did not even know that she was
pretty, and she could not understand why her stepmother
flew into a rage at the mere sight of her. The poor child
was obliged to do all the work of the house; she had to
sweep, cook, wash, sew, spin, weave, cut the grass, and take
care of the cow, while Katinka lived like a princess—that
is to say, did nothing.
Dobrunka worked with a good will, and took reproaches
and blows with the gentleness of a lamb; but nothing
soothed her stepmother, for every day added to the beauty
of the elder sister and the ugliness of the younger. “They
are growing up,” thought the mother, "and suitors will
soon appear, who will refuse my daughter when they see
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