Základná škola

Dr. Daniela Fischera 2

060 01 Kežmarok

Slovakia

Project   COMENIUS

RICHNESS    OF    DIVERSITY

Slovak fairy – tale

SALT  BETTER  THAN  GOLD

translation:  Petra Hardoňová (15 years old)

                    Mária Semaňáková (15 years old)

                    Adrián Backár (15 years old)

                    Nikol Mištíková (15 years old)

                    Matúš Figlár (15 years old)

                    Katarína Rumlová (15 years old)

                    Mgr. Janka Števíková

illustration:  Simona Nováková (12 years old)

                    Simona Gáborčíková (12 years old)

                    Patrícia Marková (12 years old)

                    Nikola Knapíková (12 years old)

                    Kristína Semaňáková (12 years old)

                    Mgr. Jana Galliková

Salt Better Than Gold

(Slovak Folk Tale)

Once upon a time, there lived a King who had three daughters. He loved each of them equally. When he was very old,  he thought about which of  them would become the Queen. He decided that the princess, who loved him most, would be the Queen.

He summoned his  three daughters and said to them:

"I am old and I want  one of you  to become the Queen. I want  to know how much you love me. Tell me, my oldest daughter,  how much you love your father.“

"My dear father, I love you more than gold," answered  the oldest daughter and she kissed her father's hand.

"Well, and  now, my middle daughter, how much do you love your father?"

"My dear father, I love you more than the most beautiful music," said the middle daughter.

"That is fine! I can see both of you love me very much. I am very happy. And now, Marushka, my youngest daughter, how much do you love your father?"

"Daddy, I love you, I love you  like salt!"

The King couldn’t believe his own ears and he was very shocked.

„So do  you love your father like salt?“ he shouted.

„Yes, my dear father, I love you as much as  salt,“ Marushka  repeated  once more and she looked at her father kindly.

The King was really furious very much  and  he shouted:

„Go away from my eyes!  Let I don’t want to see you any more!  You are a very bad daughter, if you love your father  only as much as worthless salt that is taken by everyone between their fingers!" Marushka  started crying and ran away from a castle.

She climbed mountains, and walked in valleys,  till she came to a dark forest. She didn’t know what to do, she was very unhappy. Suddenly a nice old woman  appeared in front of her.

“Why are you crying, Marushka?" the old woman asked her. Marushka told her everything and the old woman took her into her small cottage.

Marushka lived in it with this kind woman. She helped her to tidy, cook and pick  the magic herbs.

She often thought of her father and sisters, and she felt very unhappy. The old woman  tried to comfort her:

„Don’t be afraid, soon you will come back home and salt will be worth more than gold,“ she said and  looked at Marushka nicely.

In the meantime, the old woman arranged that all the salt had disappeared in the Kingdom. Cooks couldn’t salt the food and everything was either sweet or sour. The King and his two daughters  fell  ill. At that time  the old woman told Marushka:

"Your time to return home has come. There is not a pinch of salt in your Kingdom.  Salt is worth more than gold. Now your father must admit that you loved him most.“ Afterwards she asked Marushka a question: "You served me nicely,  what do you want to get for your service?"

"I’d like to ask you for some salt. I’ll bring it to my father, sisters and all people in my Kingdom. I wish my Daddy recovered quickly."

„You are  a very clever and good daughter, Marushka, I’ll give you what you are asking for. Take this  saltbox, the salt will never disappear from here.“

Marushka was delighted and she was running  home happily.

Sorrow ruled in the Kingdom. The King was not only ill, but also very sad because  he sent his dearest daughter away from his home.

Marushka went back home. She took a slice of bread, sprinkled it with salt and handed it to her father. He was unable to recognize his own daughter because he was so weakened. When he tasted the bread, he called with delight: „ My dear! It’s salt! How can I reward you, strange woman?“

Then Marushka took the scarf off her head, she looked at her father nicely and said warmly: „Don’t mention it, my father, just love me  as you love this salt!"

The King felt happy and hugged his daughter. He summoned all the people  and said: „This is my dear child, Marushka, she has  brought all of us a gift that is worth more than all the others – salt. She is your future Queen because she loves me most.“

The people were very delighted and Marushka gave away bread and salt which they have been missing for such a long time.

Since  the guests have been welcomed by bread and salt in the Kingdom.