The legend of the golden duck

Long, long time ago the shoemaker, Lutek  lived in the Old Town in Warsaw. He was known as a good companion: happy, hard working but very poor. In Poland we say as poor as a mouse in chuch. He worked as an apprentice in his master’s  workshop  One day he went to his friend, a journeyman who was quite good because he sewed shoes for soldiers. They were having fun, eating, drinking.

- Here in Warsaw it is easy to get money and find fame but you must be brave and wise – said the journeyma -  There is a princess on Ordynacka Street, in the underground of the castle. She is a duck as she is under a charm now. If you find her, you are a winner. She will tell you how to get treasures and become rich. It can happen orly once a year. This place is a labyrinth that nobody ever came back from.

-When? – asked Lutek

- At Saint John’s night

Three days left no more – thought Lutek

At that day….

Lutek was going along Krakowskie Przedmieście, Nowy Swiat into Ordynacka Street. He went through a small window without glass into the building. It was dark so he light a handle but still felt frightened. He is going along a long, narrow,  spiral corridor down and down. After a quarter he saw  a kind of cellar with a lake in the middle. There was a golden duck in it.

- O, my dear! He was right. The golden duck is swimming there.

Suddently the duck changed into a beautiful girl with long, blond hair, a mouth like raspberries and blue eyes like stars.

- What do you want from me, little boy? – asked the duck

- The princess, I want nothing. I am ready to do what you order me.

-You will get as big treasures as nobody in the world has. You will be a rich man if you do what I will tell you. Here you are – a bag of golden coins. You must spend the money tomorrow. But nothing can be spent on another person. Even a small coin. Nothing. Remember

And she dissapeared.

-Ha, ha, ha – He was laughing - Is it hard? I will eat, drink and have fun.  I will spend 100 golden coins.

He went to Swietojerska Street to the clothes shop,  bought a hat and other clothes. Elegant.
A real count.

- It is not easy to  spend 100 golden coins for myself.

He took four horses and a chaise (an open carriage)  and went to Wilanow where he spent half a day strolling in the garden. Later he came back to the center and went to the Great Theatre. The first time in his life.

Lutek went into a pub and asked for sausages, blond pudding and rolls. He was eating, eating … enough for three days. It was getting late, not much time to spend the money. He didn’t know what to do. He was going along and thinking  when  he saw an old man.

- Sir, I haven’t eaten for 2 days – the beggar said

Lutek reached for the coins in his pocket, took a handful of gold and gave it to the old man.

-God will thank you, sir. You will be rich and happy – said the old man to express his gratefulness.

It started flashing, they heard thunder.

-You haven’t kept you promise – Lutek heard the voice and saw the duck. After saying that it disappeared. Lutek looked around, saw the old man who said:

-Money doesn’t bring happiness, work and health does. Money is worth when you earn it, when it is given for free it can bring unhappiness.

Lutek came back home happy. He woke up in the morning. Yesterday, he spent only
10 golden coins on himself.

After that, everything went better.  He became a journeyman, and a master soon. He married to a beautiful girl, had children and lived happily.

Nobody has ever heard about the golden duck again.