Section 1
Once upon a time, there was a peasant who had a son, when the son reached an appropriate age, the father arranged for him to learn a trade through an apprenticeship, however, the boy, lacking any interest in working, consistently returned home to his parents, this situation greatly troubled the father, leaving him uncertain about the best course of action to take. On a certain day, the father entered a church and, after reciting the Lord's Prayer, he uttered these words: "Which trade should I choose for my son? He escapes from every opportunity."
Coincidentally, the clerk, who was standing behind the altar at that very moment, overheard the peasant's words and promptly responded, exclaiming, "Teach him witchcraft! Teach him witchcraft!"
Unaware that it was actually the clerk who made the suggestion, the peasant believed that it was divine guidance from the Lord. Firmly convinced, he decided to heed the advice, the following day, he informed his son that they would embark on a journey to find him a new opportunity. They walked a considerable distance into the countryside until they encountered a shepherd taking care of his flock.
"Good man, where are you headed?" inquired the shepherd.
"I am seeking a master who can teach my son the dark arts," answered the peasant. The shepherd responded, "You may find him soon enough. Just continue straight ahead, and you will reach the most renowned sorcerer in the entire land."The peasant expressed his gratitude for the shepherd's guidance and continued on his way. Before long, he arrived at a vast forest, within which stood the dwelling of the wizard. Approaching the door, he knocked and inquired of the troll-like figure inside if he had any interest in accepting a young boy as his apprentice.
"Yes," replied the troll-man, "but only on the condition that the apprenticeship lasts for a minimum of four years. Here is our agreement: At the end of that period, you shall return, and if you manage to locate your son, he will be reunited with you. However, if you are unable to find him, he will remain in my house and serve me for the remainder of his life."
The peasant accepted the terms and conditions proposed by the troll-man and returned home alone. After a week had passed, he eagerly awaited his son's return, anticipating that, as had happened previously, the boy would escape from his new master. However, the son did not come back, and his absence caused great distress to his mother. She began to cry and expressed her belief that her husband had made a grave mistake by entrusting their child to the powers of darkness, she feared that they would never see their son again.
After the passage of four years, the peasant embarked on a journey to the magician's abode as per their agreement. Shortly before reaching the forest, he encountered the same shepherd who provided him with guidance on how to proceed in order to retrieve his son.
"When you arrive there," said the shepherd, "you must keep your eyes fixed on the fireplace throughout the night and be careful not to fall asleep. If you doze off, the troll-man will transport you back to your home and later claim that you did not arrive at the agreed time.The following day, you will witness three dogs in the yard, feasting on milk-porridge from a dish. Your son will be among them, occupying the middle position, and it is imperative that you select him
Expressing his gratitude, the peasant thanked the shepherd for sharing the valuable information and bid him farewell.
As the peasant entered the magician's house, everything unfolded exactly as the shepherd had described. He was led to the yard, where he laid eyes upon three dogs.
Two of the dogs possessed attractive, smooth coats, while the third one appeared thin and unwell. As the peasant stroked the dogs, the two handsome ones growled, whereas the lean dog wagged its tail instead. The troll-man then inquired, "Can you now determine which of these three dogs is your son? If you can, you may take him with you. If not, he belongs to me."
"Well, in that case, I will select the one that seems the most friendly," replied the peasant, "even if he appears less attractive than the others." The troll-man responded, "That is a wise decision. The one who advised you knew what they were talking about."
The peasant was granted permission to accompany his son back home. Thus, he placed a cord around the dog's neck and began his journey, lamenting the transformation of his son into a dog. "Why do you weep so?" questioned the shepherd upon emerging from the forest. "To me, it seems you have not faced such great misfortune."
