The Two Sisters
Once upon a time, a widow had twin daughters. Anna and Maria looked alike, though they were cut from different cloth. Anna’s heart overflowed with kindness, obedience, and diligence. Maria, on the other hand, was the polar opposite – lazy, disobedient, and self-absorbed.
The Hardworking and The Lazy
Whenever there was work to be done around the house, Anna willingly lent a hand, her upbeat song echoing as she diligently tackled tasks. Conversely, Maria regarded house chores with disdain, grumbling and gripping her way through each task.
An Unusual Request at The Well
One day, the mother sent Anna to fetch water from a nearby well. Upon her arrival, Anna met an old woman who requested a drink from her jug. Without hesitation, Anna offered her water jug to quench the old woman’s thirst. Touched by Anna’s kindness, the old lady stated that roses and jewels would drop from Anna’s mouth with every word she uttered. Anna left puzzled, but upon reaching home, her mother and sister were left in awe when jewels and roses fell from her lips as she spoke.
Maria’s Encounter with The Old Woman
Seeing this, their mother sent Maria down to the well in hopes of a similar gift. Maria grumbled about carrying the heavy jug but trudged down to the well regardless. Upon her arrival, she was met by the same old woman, who asked her for a drink. Unlike her sister, Maria refused, responded harshly and told the old woman to fetch her own water. Angered by Maria’s unkind behavior, the old woman declared that, henceforth, a viper or scorpion would tumble from Maria’s mouth every time she spoke.
Twist in The Story
Maria dismissed the old woman’s words as nonsense, but upon reaching home, a viper fell from her mouth as she spoke, thus fulfilling the old woman’s curse. Terribly scared by the horrifying event, Maria selectively spoke thereafter. Her mother pleaded with the old woman to lift the curse, but the old woman insisted that Maria learn to be obedient, kind, and gentle. Only then would the curse be broken.
A Lesson Learned
Maria initially struggled with the ordeal but eventually learned her lesson. The fear of having vipers drop from her lips taught her to measure her words and taught her kindness, obedience, and consideration. Gradually, Maria’s demeanor changed, and she became as amiable and helpful as her sister, earning their mother’s pride and admiration.