Page:RussianFolkTales Afanasev 368pgs.djvu/140

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124
RUSSIAN FOLK-TALES

want to leave it, and they drank of it, and the water was so pure, so chilled, and so sweet. And they came back, "Why have you been so long?" the Saviour asked them.

"Why, we only took a short drink," the Apostles answered, "and we were only away three little minutes."

"You were not there three little minutes, but three whole years," the Lord answered. "As it was in the first well, so ill shall in the next world deal by the rich peasant; and as it was in the second well, so good shall be the poor widow's fare."