The Beam

Once upon a time there was a magician who stood in the midst of a large crowd and performed his miracles. Then he also let a rooster walk along, which lifted a heavy beam and carried it as if it were as light as a feather. But now there was a girl who had just found a four-leaf clover and had become so wise that no deception could stand before her, and she saw that the beam was nothing but a straw. Then it cried, "You people, don't you see, that's a mere straw and not a beam that the rooster is carrying." Immediately the magic disappeared, and the people saw what it was and chased the sorcerer away with shame and disgrace. But he, full of inward anger, said, "I will take revenge." After a while the girl had a wedding, was dressed up, and went in a big procession across the field to the place where the church stood. Suddenly they came to a very swollen brook, and there was no bridge and no footbridge to cross. The bride was quick, picked up her clothes and wanted to wade through. As she stands in the water, a man next to her, and it was the magician, calls out mockingly, "Eh! Where are your eyes that you take it for water?” Then her eyes opened wide and she saw that she was standing with her clothes up in the middle of a field of blue blossoming flax. Then the people all saw it and drove them away with abuse and laughter.