Once upon a time there lived a king. Once he decided to see how his subjects lived – in misery or luxury. He disguised as a villager and went around the kingdom.
He reached a town. Suddenly, as he was walking along a street he heard for the nearest workshop of a Romani shoe-maker a sad song. There was only one refrain in the song: ‘I blocked my luck myself, I blocked my luck myself!’
The king entered and asked the shoe-maker what a song it was.
‘It is not a song but the truth itself! – the Roma shoe-maker answered. – I dreamt a strange dream tonight! I was in heaven and I saw thousands of fountains there. A winged angel was standing near them. I greeted him and asked: “What are these fountains?’
And the angel answered: ‘These are the fountains of people’s happiness.’
I stayed for a while and asked the angel: ‘Will you take me to see my own fountain?’
‘All right!’ – he agreed.
We were walking, walking and finally we reached one which was scarcely dropping.
‘This is your fountain’ – the angel said.
I looked around – all the other fountains were flowing strongly! ‘Whose are those fountains that flow so strong?’ – I asked.
‘These are the fountains of the rich people. This one here is the priest’s, it is flowing so strong! The other one next to it that will almost burst is the chorbadji’s (rich man)! Their luck is flowing, you see!’
As the angel said this he left. I looked around – there was no body! ‘Why shouldn’t I put my finger in the tap and unclog it! It might help my luck flow!’ I did so but instead of unclogging it, it stopped flowing at all! I blocked my luck myself!
It could seem a lie to you, stranger, but before dreaming this dream I had at least one or two clients per day. But since I dreamed this no body has dropped here. My children will starve. But this is all my fault – I blocked my luck!
The king heard everything and decided to check whether it was true. He ordered his soldiers to take a loaf of bread, to fill it with golden coins, take it to the shoe-maker, and tell him that this is from the king for his children.
When the shoe-maker received the bread from the soldiers he decided to give it to the owner of the local tavern.
‘This bread is too white and nice, - the gypsy said – but it is not enough! It is better change it with you for black one but twice as much! Only this way I can feed my children!’
When the pub-keeper saw the white bread he immediately changed it with the poor man.
On the next day the king went to check whether his orders were fulfilled and was surprised to hear the same song.
‘Why do you sing the same song? Did not the king send you nice white bread last night? Didn’t you eat it?’
‘Well, I changed the white bread with the pub-keeper for more black bread. They’ve had a good meal but I do not know what I will take them tonight when no body has come today!’
In the evening the king sent his soldiers again. This time they were carrying a whole hen full with golden coins again. When the shoe-maker was going back home he passed the pub and decided again to change the hen for more bread.
The pub-keeper immediately took the hen and filled his bag with bread.
On the next day the king heard the same song.
‘What happened, man, didn’t the king send you a hen last night? Why do you still sing the same song?’
The poor man explained what he did and why he was still sad. Then the king ordered his soldiers to put a purse of golden coins on the bridge on his way home.
On the evening when the shoe-maker was going back home he reached the bridge, stopped and said:
‘I have past through this bridge for so many years, so let me try once if I can do it with closed eyes!’
He closed his eyes and passed through the bridge. The soldiers took the golden coins back to the king and told him everything.
On the next day the king went to the shoe-maker and told him:
‘Hey, man, you have really blocked your luck!’
After this he went to the pub-keeper and asked him whether he had taken the bread and the hen. The man got scared and confessed what he had done:
‘Forgive me, Your Majesty! I knew it was a gift from you, but I took them and kept the golden coins! I will give them back right now!’
‘Do not give them to me, - the king answered, - but take them to the shoe-maker!’
On the next day the king passed by the workshop of the poor shoe-maker again but this time he could not hear the sad song.
‘What happened to you, man? – the king asked. – You do not sing about you bad luck any more.’
‘You won’t believe it stranger, - the Romani who did not guess it was the king answered - but last night I had the same dream. I was at the same place with the fountains. But this time my fountain was flowing strongly. And I just woke up when I heard the pub-keeper calling me. He brought me two purses of golden coins. He did not explain anything. But the dream came true!