Folk Tale: Silly Jura

SILLY JURA
ONCE there were two brothers. They were lazy fellows, and thieves into the bargain. They were expected to give a feast. They said to one another: "We haven't got anything. Wherever shall we find food for the feast?"
So the first said: "I'll go to our neighbour's. He has some fine apples, and I'll pluck some of them." The second said: "I'll go to the shepherd's. He has some fine rams. I'll steal a ram from him."
These two brothers hated the third, and so they abused him: "Silly Jura! You won't get anything yourself, but you'll be ready enough to eat what we get."
So Jura said: "I'll go to the burgomaster's and get some nuts."
In the evening they went their ways. When he had finished plucking the nuts, Jura went into the charnel-house at the back of the church and began to crack the nuts there. The watchmen heard the cracking in the charnel-house, and they thought the place was haunted. As there was no priest in the village (he lived in the next village), they went to the burgomaster and asked him to go with them to the charnel-house, saying that the place was haunted.
The burgomaster said: "I am so ill that I can't stand on my feet; no doctor can help me."
But the watchmen insisted, and so the burgomaster told his servant to take him on his back and carry him to the place. The servant carried him along, and the watchmen called at the churchwarden's to ask for some holy water.
When they came near to the charnel-house, Jura thought it was his brother bringing the ram, so he called out: "Are you bringing him?"
The servant was frightened, and let the burgomaster fall and ran away. The burgomaster was terrified too. He jumped up and ran after the servant. He cleared a wooden fence with one leap in his flight, and it wasn't long till he reached home. His family wondered to see him cured so quickly without the help of a doctor.
Next day the burgomaster proclaimed that he would give a pound to the man who had stolen his nuts the day before, if he would only come to see him. So Jura went to him, and the burgomaster said: "I ought to punish you for stealing, but since you have cured my illness which nobody was able to cure, I'll give you the pound I promised, but you mustn't steal any more." So Jura promised not to steal any more, and went home.
The brothers grew very fond of him now that he had money. They borrowed the money from him and bought themselves new clothes, and said: "We'll go to see the world and to get wives for ourselves. As for you, Silly Jura, you must stay at home; you'd never get a good wife for yourself."
So off they went. But Jura went too. He went to the forest and he was utterly dazzled. He had often heard that there was an enchanted castle in that forest. When he came to the place where the ruins of the castle were, night overtook him, and so he could see nothing except what looked like a light in a cellar. So he went into the cellar to make his night's lodging there. There was nobody in the cellar but a cat. The cat greeted him: "Welcome, dear Jura! How did you come here?"
Jura was frightened when he heard the cat speak, and was going to run away. But the cat told him not to go; there was no need to be frightened. He must come back, and no harm would be done to him. If he wanted to eat, he could go into the storeroom and take what he wanted. She would take him for her servant.
So he stayed there a year and had a good time. He never saw a cook, but he always found meals ready prepared in the storeroom. He had nothing to do but get firewood, and at the end of the year he was told to make a great pile of it. Then the cat said: "You must light the pile to-day, and throw me into the fire. You must not help me out, however I entreat you, but you must let me be consumed."
Jura answered: "I can't do that. I have had a good time with you. Why should I repay you in such an evil way?" The cat said: "If you don't do as I have said, you will be very unhappy. If you do it, you will be happy."
So Jura kindled the pile, and, when it was well alight, he picked up the cat and threw her into the fire. She wanted to escape from the fire, but he wouldn't let her go. At last he was so weary that he was forced to lie down, and soon he fell asleep. When he awoke, he opened his eyes, and behold! there was no ruin; he heard delightful music and saw a beautiful palace with crowds of servants. He was wondering at all this, when a splendidly dressed lady came up to him and asked him if he did not know her.
Jura said: "How should I know your ladyship? I never saw you before in my life."
The lady said: "I am that cat. Witches had put me under enchantment in the shape of a cat. Now we will go after your brothers who hated you so much and see how they are getting on."
She ordered her people to dress him in fine clothes, a fine carriage was prepared, and they drove off. As they were approaching the village, the lady said to her bridegroom: "Put your old clothes on." Then she called an old, ragged beggarwoman and sent him with her. She herself remained outside of the village.
When the brothers saw Jura coming with the ragged beggarwoman, they shouted: "He is bringing home an old ragged bride, and he's in rags too." The other brothers were married too, and they were pretty badly off, so they turned him out and wouldn't have him at home.
So Jura went out of the village; he changed his clothes and drove back with the lady to his brothers' cottage. When the carriage stopped before the cottage, the brothers said: "What a fine carriage! Who is that noble lord and the beautiful lady who have come to our cottage?" They did not recognize their brother.
So she said: "Look here. You were always hard on your brother, always sneering at him, and now you are badly off enough, while he is getting on splendidly. If you mend your ways, you will get on too."
Afterwards she gave them some money and went away with Jura.

Dreaming of Heavenly Things...

I was writing birthdays on my calender. Allison's is next month and I paused, should I write it? I wanted to so bad. Should I ever stop writing it. When can I come to that date and be ok, when does this wound become a scar...

Dreaming of heavenly things, just wrapped in angels wings
To catch every tear, whisper ‘Jesus is here’
She with him every night, she’s engulfed in his light
There is no more pain, no more fright
She’s with Jesus tonight

Dreaming of heavenly things, of Jesus and mansion scenes
He holds me so tight, whispers ‘Everything is alright’
She’s with me tonight; she’s dancing, dancing in my light
There was no hurt, no more fear
For I was always near

Know I love you
I love you so much, I hold you so near
Know that she’ll always be forever, forever with me
One day, when the time is right, you’ll be here too
You can dance with her in my light and hear the angels all night
And see those heavenly things, that are found in your dreams

Dreaming of heavenly things, Jesus tell the angels ‘sing’
Such a beautiful sound, all I feel is love all round
You’re with me tonight; cast your pain in the light
Let me take your hurt and your fear
I’ll always be here, with my angels, here with my angels

Just listen to them sing… I love you, I’m always here.

Prince of Wales

So, if you don't know I went to London for a week. (I will write more on that later). I know it's pathetic, but one of the things I was looking forward to was some Twinings' Prince of Wales Tea. Wouldn't you know it, I couldn't find it anywhere. I buy it all the time at Wal-mart back in the US. I couldn't find it anywhere in the UK. In fact, I had a hard time just finding Twinings. You think something that's been around since 1706 would be easy to find. So if buy this point of reading this you find me pitiable or just that you want to save me for the pathetic state I am in (blogging about tea), then I would love a box. If you can find it that is!

Updated Wish List

Crunchy Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter Flavor things: Nutterbutter Cookies, PB cookies mix, PB candy
Bag of Chocolate Chips
Anything with Chocolate Chips in it: Cookies, cookie mix
Real Liquid Vanilla
Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
American Cheese Flavor: Cheese-its, Chips
Chips and Salsa (medium)
Anything Spicy or Mexican Flavored
Root Beer
Cream Soda
Big Red
Dr. Pepper
Beef Jerky
Rice Krispy Treats and/or just a bag of Rice Krispies
Big Marshmallows
Hot Chocolate Mix
Muffin Mix: Blueberry, Lemon Poppyseed, Banana Nut, Mix Berry
Starbucks Coffee
Prince of Wales Twinnings Tea
Brownie Mix
Itunes Gift Cards (to rent english movies)
Harry & David Pineapple Salsa
Pancake Mix

"Only Living People Bleed"

Story told in Ravi Zacharias' speech 'Why I'm not an Atheist'

A fellow woke up one morning and said to his wife, “I believe I’m dead.” And his wife said you know that’s a strange sense of humor. It’s alright, just go on to work and bring home the paycheck type of thing and sent him on his merry way. But this impression in his mind linger for far to many hours. Every evening he’d come back and munching on his goodies in his lazy boy, would say “You know I really think I’m dead.” Finally his wife and his children decided he needed some help. If he didn’t get help, they would need some help. So they send him along to a team of doctors and psychologist all of whom were trying to help him without success. Till one doctor latched on to this idea, to try to establish for him imperially that only living people bleed. He was trying to deny that. They brought all things of evidence overhead projects, charts, and all the data on hand. Only living people bleed, only living people bleed. Finally this man after all the evidence was weighted in said “Alright I guess I’m going to have to admit to you that only living people bleed.” As soon as he said that one of the doctors took a pin and plunged it in to his veins and the blood came spurting out. He looked at it and said “Great scott, I guess dead people bleed too!”

Listen to the whole speech free on itunes podcast: Let My People Think (RZIM)

Christmas Prayers

It’s so wonderful how God answers unspoken prayers. The day after I wrote my ‘sad Christmas’ note, the prayers of my heart were answered. I guess I never prayed them b/c I should have been just content with Christ birth to make me happy and not need anything else. I guess I just felt guilty for not being content in Christ. Well, Jola, the wonderful girl I work with, invited me over for lunch on Sunday. She was showing me her house where her family (great grandma, grandparents, parents, and her) live. She lives on a farm with bunnies! One just had babies, so I think when I get back from holiday they will be big enough to hold!!! I wonder what the pet policy is here. Anyways, She was like I have a surprise for you and came out with a basket full of Christmas tree branches that had been arranged (Jola does a wonderful job of flower arrangements). We then her dad came in and was like I found it. They unwrapped this plastic bag to reveal a small Christmas tree. Jola was like since you didn’t have one you can use ours. Then she brought in three boxes of ornaments with hooks (complete with tree topper), garland, and tinsel. She also had a traditional Czech Christmas, I guess, it’s a wreath. We also went out and cut cherry twigs. At the end of the day, her and her mom wrapped up a big box of Christmas cookies for me. God is so good to me. So I just decorated my tree while listening to Christmas music and eating cookies.
Tomorrow, pastor is taking me and the other Ashley out to lunch. Then on Thursday, Jola’s family has invited me over to help them braid the bread. It’s traditional Czech sweet bread that you braid the dough before you bake it. We will also be making traditional Czech cookies. I have a Christmas party with my English class on Monday. We are having a ‘White Elephant Gift Exchange’!! I’m going to bring a bible. I’m having a surprise Christmas party for my class tomorrow. Daniel’s family has invited me over for Christmas Eve, which is like our Christmas day. You have a huge meal and open gifts. Yes, I’m going to eat Christmas carp.

Czech Folk Tales: The Twelve Months

I've decided that I will blog one folk tale a month. This month is the The Twelve Months.

THE TWELVE MONTHS
ONCE upon a time there lived a mother who had two daughters. One was her own child, the other her stepdaughter. She was very fond of her own daughter, but she would not so much as look at her step-daughter. The only reason was that Maruša, the stepdaughter, was prettier than her own daughter, Holena. The gentle-hearted Maruša did not know how beautiful she was, and so she could never make out why her mother was so cross with her whenever she looked at her. She had to do all the housework, tidying up the cottage, cooking, washing, and sewing, and then she had to take the hay to the cow and look after her. She did all this work alone, while Holena spent the time adorning herself and lazing about. But Maruša liked work, for she was a patient girl, and when her mother scolded and rated her, she bore it like a lamb. It was no
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good, however, for they grew crueller and crueller every day, only because Maruša was growing prettier and Holena uglier every day.
At last the mother thought: "Why should I keep a pretty stepdaughter in my house? When the lads come courting here, they will fall in love with Maruša and they won't look at Holena."
From that moment the stepmother and her daughter were constantly scheming how to get rid of poor Maruša. They starved her and they beat her. But she bore it all, and in spite of all she kept on growing prettier every day. They invented torments that the cruellest of men would never have thought of. One day--it was in the middle of January--Holena felt a longing for the scent of violets. "Go, Maruša, and get me some violets from the forest; I want to wear them at my waist and to smell them," she said to her sister.
"Great heavens! sister. What a strange notion! Who ever heard of violets growing under the snow?" said poor Maruša.
"You wretched tatterdemalion! how dare you argue when I tell you to do something? Off you go at once, and if you don't bring
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me violets from the forest I'll kill you!" said Holena threateningly.
The stepmother caught hold of Maruša, turned her out of the door, and slammed it to after her. She went into the forest weeping bitterly. The snow lay deep, and there wasn't a human footprint to be seen. Maruša wandered about for a long time, tortured by hunger and trembling with cold. She begged God to take her from the world.
At last she saw a light in the distance. She went towards the glow, and came at last to the top of a mountain. A big fire was burning there, and round the fire were twelve stones with twelve men sitting on them. Three of them had snow-white beards, three were not so old, and three were still younger. The three youngest were the handsomest of them all. They were not speaking, but all sitting silent. These twelve men were the twelve months. Great January sat highest of all; his hair and beard were as white as snow, and in his hand he held a club.
Maruša was frightened. She stood still for a time in terror, but, growing bolder, she went up to them and said: "Please, kind
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sirs, let me warm my hands at your fire. I am trembling with the cold."
Great January nodded, and asked her: "Why have you come here, my dear little girl? What are you looking for?"
"I am looking for violets," answered Maruša.
"This is no time to be looking for violets, for everything is covered with snow," answered Great January.
"Yes, I know; but my sister Holena and my stepmother said that I must bring them some violets from the forest. If I don't bring them, they'll kill me. Tell me, fathers, please tell me where I can find them."
Great January stood up and went to one of the younger months--it was March--and, giving him the club, he said: "Brother, take the high seat."
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
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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.
"Pick them quickly, Maruša!" commanded March.
Maruša picked them joyfully till she had a big bunch. Then she thanked the months with all her heart and scampered merrily home.
Holena and the stepmother wondered when they saw Maruša bringing the violets. They opened the door to her, and the scent of violets filled all the cottage.
"Where did you get them?" asked Holena sulkily.
"They are growing under the bushes in a forest on the high mountains."
Holena put them in her waistband. She let her mother smell them, but she did not say to her sister: "Smell them."
Another day she was lolling near the stove, and now she longed for some strawberries. So she called to her sister and said: "Go, Maruša, and get me some strawberries from the forest."
"Alas! dear sister, where could I find any
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strawberries? Who ever heard of strawberries growing under the snow?" said Maruša.
"You wretched little tatterdemalion, how dare you argue when I tell you to do a thing? Go at once and get me the strawberries, or I'll kill you!"
The stepmother caught hold of Maruša and pushed her out of the door and shut it after her. Maruša went to the forest weeping bitterly. The snow was lying deep, and there wasn't a human footprint to be seen anywhere. She wandered about for a long time, tortured by hunger and trembling with cold. At last she saw the light she had seen the other day. Overjoyed, she went towards it. She came to the great fire with the twelve months sitting round it.
"Please, kind sirs, let me warm my hands at the fire. I am trembling with cold."
Great January nodded, and asked her: "Why have you come again, and what are you looking for here?"
"I am looking for strawberries."
"But it is winter now, and strawberries don't grow on the snow," said January.
"Yes, I know," said Maruša sadly; "but my sister Holena and my stepmother bade
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me bring them some strawberries, and if I don't bring them, they will kill me. Tell me, fathers, tell me, please, where I can find them."
Great January arose. He went over to the month sitting opposite to him--it was June--and handed the club to him, saying: "Brother, take the high seat."
June took the high seat upon the stone and swung the club over the fire. The fire shot up, and its heat melted the snow in a moment. The ground was all green, the trees were covered with leaves, the birds began to sing, and the forest was filled with all kinds of flowers. It was summer. The ground under the bushes was covered with white starlets, the starry blossoms were turning into strawberries every minute. They ripened at once, and before Maruša had time to think, there were so many of them that it looked as though blood had been sprinkled on the ground.
"Pick them at once, Maruša!" commanded
June. Maruša picked them joyfully till she had filled her apron full. Then she thanked the months with all her heart and scampered
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merrily home. Holena and the stepmother wondered when they saw Maruša bringing the strawberries. Her apron was full of them. They ran to open the door for her, and the scent of the strawberries filled the whole cottage.
"Where did you pick them?" asked Holena sulkily.
"There are plenty of them growing under the young beech-trees in the forest on the high mountains."
Holena took the strawberries, and went on eating them till she could eat no more. So did the stepmother too, but they didn't say to Maruša: "Here is one for you."
When Holena had enjoyed the strawberries, she grew greedy for other dainties, and so on the third day she longed for some red apples.
"Maruša, go into the forest and get me some red apples," she said to her sister.
"Alas! sister dear, how am I to get apples for you in winter?" protested Maruša.
"You wretched little tatterdemalion, how dare you argue when I tell you to do a thing? Go to the forest at once, and if you don't bring me the apples I will kill you!" threatened Holena.
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The stepmother caught hold of Maruša and pushed her out of the door and shut it after her. Maruša went to the forest weeping bitterly. The snow was lying deep; there wasn't a human footprint to be seen anywhere. But she didn't wander about this time. She ran straight to the top of the mountain where the big fire was burning. The twelve months were sitting round the fire; yes, there they certainly were, and Great January was sitting on the high seat.
"Please, kind sirs, let me warm my hands at the fire. I am trembling with cold."
Great January nodded, and asked her: "Why have you come here, and what are you looking for?"
"I am looking for red apples."
"It is winter now, and red apples don't grow in winter," answered January.
"Yes, I know," said Maruša sadly; "but my sister and my stepmother, too, bade me bring them some red apples from the forest. If I don't bring them, they will kill me. Tell me, father, tell me, please, where I could find them."
Great January rose up. He went over to
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one of the older months--it was September. He handed the club to him and said: "Brother, take the high seat."
Month September took the high seat upon the stone and swung the club over the fire. The fire began to burn with a red flame, the snow began to melt. But the trees were not covered with leaves; the leaves were wavering down one after the other, and the cold wind was driving them to and fro over the yellowing ground. This time Maruša did not see so many flowers. Only red pinks were blooming on the hillside, and meadow saffrons were flowering in the valley. High fern and thick ivy were growing under the young beech-trees. But Maruša was only looking for red apples, and at last she saw an apple-tree with red apples hanging high among its branches.
"Shake the tree at once, Maruša!" commanded the month.
Right gladly Maruša shook the tree, and one apple fell down. She shook it a second time, and another apple fell down.
"Now, Maruša, run home quickly!" shouted the month.
Maruša obeyed at once. She picked up
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the apples, thanked the months with all her heart, and ran merrily home.
Holena and the stepmother wondered when they saw Maruša bringing the apples. They ran to open the door for her, and she gave them two apples.
"Where did you get them?" asked Holena. "There are plenty of them in the forest on the high mountain."
"And why didn't you bring more? Or did you eat them on the way home?" said Holena harshly.
"Alas! sister dear, I didn't eat a single one. But when I had shaken the tree once, one apple fell down, and when I shook it a second time, another apple fell down, and they wouldn't let me shake it again. They shouted to me to go straight home," protested Maruša.
Holena began to curse her: "May you be struck to death by lightning!" and she was going to beat her.
Maruša began to cry bitterly, and she prayed to God to take her to Himself, or she would be killed by her wicked sister and her stepmother. She ran away into the kitchen.
Greedy Holena stopped cursing and began
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to eat the apple. It tasted so delicious that she told her mother she had never tasted anything so nice in all her life. The step-mother liked it too. When they had finished, they wanted some more.
"Mother, give me my fur coat. I'll go to the forest myself. That ragged little wretch would eat them all up again on her way home. I'll find the place all right, and I'll shake them all down, however they shout at me."
Her mother tried to dissuade her, but it was no good. She took her fur coat, wrapped a cloth round her head, and off she went to the forest. Her mother stood on the threshold, watching to see how Holena would manage to walk in the wintry weather.
The snow lay deep, and there wasn't a human footprint to be seen anywhere. Holena wandered about for a long time, but the desire of the sweet apple kept driving her on. At last she saw a light in the distance. She went towards it, and climbed to the top of the mountain where the big fire was burning, and round the fire on twelve stones the twelve months were sitting. She was terrified at first, but she soon recovered. She
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stepped up to the fire and stretched out her hands to warm them, but she didn't say as much as "By your leave" to the twelve months; no, she didn't say a single word to them.
"Why have you come here, and what are you looking for?" asked Great January crossly.
"Why do you want to know, you old fool? It's no business of yours," replied Holena angrily, and she turned away from the fire and went into the forest.
Great January frowned and swung the club over his head. The sky grew dark in a moment, the fire burned low, the snow began to fall as thick as if the feathers had been shaken out of a down quilt, and an icy wind began to blow through the forest. Holena couldn't see one step in front of her; she lost her way altogether, and several times she fell into snowdrifts. Then her limbs grew weak and began slowly to stiffen. The snow kept on falling and the icy wind blew more icily than ever. Holena began to curse Maruša and the Lord God. Her limbs began to freeze, despite her fur coat.
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Her mother was waiting for Holena; she kept on looking out for her, first at the window, then outside the door, but all in vain.
"Does she like the apples so much that she can't leave them, or what is the matter? I must see for myself where she is," decided the stepmother at last. So she put on her fur coat, she wrapped a shawl round her head, and went out to look for Holena. The snow was lying deep; there wasn't a human footprint to be seen; the snow fell fast, and the icy wind was blowing through the forest.
Maruša had cooked the dinner, she had seen to the cow, and yet Holena and her mother did not come back. "Where are they staying so long?" thought Maruša, as she sat down to work at the distaff. The spindle was full already and it was quite dark in the room, and yet Holena and the stepmother had not come back.
"Alas, Lord! what has come to them?" cried Maruša, peering anxiously through the window. The sky was bright and the earth was all glittering, but there wasn't a human soul to be seen. . . . Sadly she shut the
window; she crossed herself, and prayed for her sister and her mother. . . . In the morning she waited with breakfast, she waited with dinner; but however much she waited, it was no good. Neither her mother nor her sister ever came back. Both of them were frozen to death in the forest.
So good Maruša inherited the cottage, a piece of ploughland and the cow. She married a kind husband, and they both lived happily ever after.