GRAIN-OF-MILLET
The cattle thieves brought back to their captain I don't know how many mares, foals, calves, oxen, and cows.
“Come on, comrades, you have not wasted your night. Quick, let's go to the fair. With the money from these cattle to sell, we will have enough to eat well for a long time and play cards."
What was said was done. But the captain of the thieves had no idea that he was taking Grain-of-Millet to the fair, which had found its way into his pocket.
The cattle sold, the captain said:
“Comrades, let’s go and have a drink at the inn."
From drinking so much, everyone ended up falling dead drunk under the table. Then, Grain-of-Millet searched the captain of the thieves and set off at full gallop for the Lacouture farm.
“Hello, Father. Hello, Mother. Hold. Here is a hundred times more than is needed to replace our disemboweled Caubet, and to renew the rest of our livestock, stolen last night. »
It was true. The captain of the thieves' purse contained I don't know how many double gold coins and quadruple Spanish ones.
“And now, father, bring a vial."
What was said was done. Grain-of-Millet entered the vial.
“And now, Father, take this vial and go and sell me for three thousand pistoles to the Bishop of Lectoure."
The father took the vial and went to find the bishop of Lectoure.
“Hello, Monsignor. I changed my mind. If you still want Grain-of-Millet as your coachman, count me three thousand pistoles."
Without haggling, the Bishop of Lectoure paid cash, and the father returned to Lacouture.
For a whole week, Grain-of-Millet showed what he was capable of. Never had the horses of the Bishop of Lectoure been so well groomed and harnessed. His carriage had never been so clean, so well equipped. Never, ever, had a coachman driven like Grain-of-Millet.
The Bishop of Lectoure was pleased. But there is an end to everything.
On the morning of the eighth day, Grain-of-Millet cried out in the stable, like a man being skinned alive:
“Ouch!” Ouch! Ouch! I am dead. Ouch! ouch! ouch! I am dead."
"What’s the matter with you, Grain-of-Millet? What have you?"
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I am dead. A horse crushed me under its foot. Ouch! ouch! ouch! I am dead."
"Show yourself, Grain-of-Millet. Show yourself while we get the surgeon."
But Grain-of-Millet did not show himself and no longer shouted. Then the Bishop of Lectoure thought:
“Grain-of-Millet is dead. I paid dearly for his good services for a week."
But Grain-of-Millet was not dead. He arrived at the threshold of the Lacouture farm.
“Hello, Father. Hello, Mother. Now let's leave the country. We have what it takes to make others work for us. Let's go, like the nobles, to live happily and richly in a castle.
Source: Grain-de-Millet, from the French book Contes populaires de la Gascogne, tome 3, published in 1886
Next Tale: The Flute of Shortboot
Hello, my name is Vincent Celier.
I am writing translations of folk tales that I found in public domain French books, so that people who do not understand French may enjoy them too.
Grain-of-Millet took advantage of the cattle thieves and got all their money.
Then he took advantage of the bishop, faking his death.
He said to his parents that they should leave the country, in part because otherwise, the bishop might have learned that Grain-of-Millet was not dead.
Yesterday, we started again to walk. The goal is to walk at least 6,000 steps every day and, if possible, 8,000.
When we went outside our building in the back, we noticed a tree that had been broken or cut but has also a branch that was growing vertically.
This is one of our favorite walks. Not too far from our apartment, there is the Lafarge Lake. It was originally a quarry exploited by the cement company Lafarge that has donated the land to the municipality of Coquitlam to make it a park around the 5-hectare lake.
Every year, the city installs Christmas light decorations around the lake and they stay installed for two months.
We are definitely in Canada, and in the heart of the city of Coquitlam.
Kati insisted that she wanted to take this picture.
-- Vincent Celier