. Laboulaye's fairy book . less you, niy good lords! said the dazzled had he spoken when men, room, and cards van-ished. In the morning a peasant on his way to the fields heardthe sound of a pipe as he approached the cross-road. Itis Swanda, said he. But where was the piper? Seatedon a corner of the gallows, he was blowing with all hismight, while the corpses of the robbers danced in the windto his music. Halloo, comrade! cried the peasant. How long haveyou been playing the cuckoo up there? Swanda started, dropped his pipe, opened his eyes,and glided, bewildered, down the gallow
. Laboulaye's fairy book . less you, niy good lords! said the dazzled had he spoken when men, room, and cards van-ished. In the morning a peasant on his way to the fields heardthe sound of a pipe as he approached the cross-road. Itis Swanda, said he. But where was the piper? Seatedon a corner of the gallows, he was blowing with all hismight, while the corpses of the robbers danced in the windto his music. Halloo, comrade! cried the peasant. How long haveyou been playing the cuckoo up there? Swanda started, dropped his pipe, opened his eyes,and glided, bewildered, down the gallows. His firstthought, however, was for his ducats. He rummaged hispockets and turned his hat inside out, but all in vain;there was not even a kreutzer! My friend, said the peasant, making the sign of thecross, God has punished you by giving you the devilfor a partner; you love cards too well. You are right, said Swanda, trembling; I will nevertouch them again in my life. He kept his word; and, to thank Heaven for having 100. SWANDA, THE PIPER preserved him from such peril, he took the fatal pipe towhich the devil had danced, and suspended it as a votiveoffering in the church of Strakonic, his birthplace, whereit may be seen to this day. The pipe of Strakonic hasbecome a proverb, and it is even said that its sound isheard every year at the day and hour when Swanda playedfor Satan and his friends.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectfairyta, bookyear1920
