The Beam

Once upon a time, there was a magician who stood in a big crowd of people and performed his tricks. He made a rooster pick up a heavy beam and carry it as if it were as light as a feather.

But a girl was there who had just found a four-leaf clover. Now she was so wise that no trick could fool her. She saw that the beam was only a piece of straw. So she shouted, "People, can't you see it's just a straw the rooster is carrying, not a beam?" Right away the magic disappeared, and the people saw what it really was.

They chased the magician away, ashamed and humiliated. But he was furious inside and muttered, "I'll get my revenge soon."

Some time later, the girl's wedding day arrived. She was dressed up and, with a big procession, walked across the fields to the church. Suddenly she came to a stream that was very high and wide. There was no bridge or plank to cross.

So the bride quickly lifted her skirt and was about to wade in. Just as she stood in the water, a man – it was the magician – yelled mockingly right beside her, "Aha! Where are your eyes?

Do you think that's water?" Then her eyes were opened, and she saw that she was standing with her skirt lifted in the middle of a field full of blue flax flowers. Now all the people saw it too, and they chased her away with mockery and laughter.