3 min.

Kde bolo, tam bolo, v jednej malej chalúpke na úpätí vysokých hôr, žil chudobný chlapec menom Jakub so svojim otcom drevorubačom. Nemali veľa, ale mali jeden druhého a to im stačilo. Jakub bol známy v celej dedine svojou bystrosťou a láskavým srdcom.

Jedného dňa, keď jeho otec pracoval v lese, prišla do dediny stará žobráčka. Všetci obyvatelia pred ňou zatvárali dvere, len Jakub jej ponúkol svoj posledný krajec chleba a džbán mlieka. Žobráčka sa naňho usmiala a povedala: „Za tvoju dobrotu ti dám dar. Kedykoľvek budeš potrebovať pomoc, zavolaj na straku a tá ti poradí.“

O pár dní neskôr sa Jakubov otec nevrátil z lesa. Jakub sa vydal ho hľadať, ale namiesto otca našiel len jeho sekeru pri starom dube. Spomenul si na slová žobráčky a zavolal na straku, ktorá sedela na konári.

„Tvoj otec je uväznený v kryštálovom paláci na vrchole najvyššej hory,“ povedala straka. „Zajal ho Kráľ mrazu, ktorý chce, aby mu vytesal z ľadu večný trón. Ak sa mu to nepodarí do západu slnka, premení ho na ľadovú sochu.“

Jakub sa ihneď vydal na cestu. Straka letela pred ním a ukazovala mu cestu. Ako stúpali vyššie do hôr, vzduch bol čoraz chladnejší a vietor silnejší. Na ceste stretol tri prekážky.

Najprv narazil na plačúci potok, ktorému Kráľ mrazu ukradol všetku vodu. Jakub zobral svoj plášť a prikryl ním zamrznuté kamene, aby potok mohol opäť tiecť. Za odmenu mu potok daroval čarovnú kvapku, ktorá nikdy nezamrzne.

Potom stretol starého medveďa, ktorý nemohol zaspať zimný spánok, pretože mu Kráľ mrazu ukradol všetko teplo. Jakub sa s ním podelil o svoje jedlo a pomohol mu nájsť novú, teplú jaskyňu. Medveď mu za to daroval svoj najhustejší chlp, ktorý hreje aj v najväčšej zime.

Nakoniec prišiel k veľkej priepasti, cez ktorú viedol len tenký ľadový most. Na moste sedela malá snehová víla a plakala, pretože sa bála prejsť. Jakub ju vzal na chrbát a odvážne s ňou prešiel na druhú stranu. Vďačná víla mu darovala svoj striebristý vlas, ktorý svieti aj v najtmavšej noci.

Keď konečne dorazil ku kryštálovému palácu, našiel svojho otca, ako sa trasie od zimy a márne sa snaží vytesať trón z večného ľadu. Kráľ mrazu sa zlomyseľne smial z jeho balkóna.

Jakub použil všetky tri dary. Kvapku, ktorá nikdy nezamrzne, kvapol na ľad, z ktorého mal byť trón. Medvedí chlp obtočil okolo otcových ramien, aby ho zahrial. A keď sa začalo stmievať, použil svietiaci vlas snežnej víly, aby otec videl na prácu.

Kráľ mrazu zúril, keď videl, že jeho kúzla prestávajú účinkovať. Jeho moc slabla s každým úderom otcovej sekery do ľadu. Nakoniec sa jeho ľadové srdce roztopilo a on sa rozplynul ako ranná hmla.

Jakub s otcom sa šťastne vrátili domov. Jar prišla skôr než zvyčajne a ľudia v dedine hovorili, že to Jakubova dobrota a odvaha porazili zimu. Žobráčka sa už nikdy neukázala, ale straka občas priletela na ich okno, akoby chcela skontrolovať, či sa majú dobre.

A ak nezomreli, žijú tam šťastne až dodnes.

Wise Little Jacob

Once upon a time, in a small cottage at the foot of tall mountains, lived a poor boy named Jacob with his woodcutter father. They didn’t have much, but they had each other, and that was enough. Jacob was known throughout the village for his quick wit and kind heart.

One day, while his father was working in the forest, an old beggar woman came to the village. All the villagers closed their doors to her, but Jacob offered her his last piece of bread and a jug of milk. The beggar woman smiled at him and said, „For your kindness, I’ll give you a gift. Whenever you need help, call upon the magpie, and she will guide you.“

A few days later, Jacob’s father didn’t return from the forest. Jacob went searching for him but found only his axe by an old oak tree. Remembering the beggar woman’s words, he called to the magpie sitting on a branch.

„Your father is imprisoned in the crystal palace atop the highest mountain,“ said the magpie. „The Frost King has captured him to carve an eternal throne from ice. If he fails before sunset, he’ll be turned into an ice statue.“

Jacob set off immediately. The magpie flew ahead, showing him the way. As they climbed higher into the mountains, the air grew colder and the wind stronger. On his journey, he faced three challenges.

First, he met a weeping stream whose water had been stolen by the Frost King. Jacob took off his cloak and covered the frozen stones, allowing the stream to flow again. In return, the stream gave him a magical droplet that would never freeze.

Next, he met an old bear who couldn’t hibernate because the Frost King had stolen all his warmth. Jacob shared his food with him and helped him find a new, warm cave. The bear gave him his thickest fur in return, which could warm anyone even in the coldest winter.

Finally, he came to a great chasm with only a thin ice bridge crossing it. On the bridge sat a small snow fairy, crying because she was afraid to cross. Jacob carried her on his back and bravely crossed to the other side. The grateful fairy gave him her silvery hair, which could shine even in the darkest night.

When he finally reached the crystal palace, he found his father shivering with cold, hopelessly trying to carve the throne from eternal ice. The Frost King laughed wickedly from his balcony.

Jacob used all three gifts. He dropped the never-freezing droplet on the ice meant for the throne. He wrapped the bear’s fur around his father’s shoulders to warm him. And when it began to grow dark, he used the snow fairy’s glowing hair so his father could see to work.

The Frost King raged as he saw his spells weakening. His power faded with each strike of the father’s axe against the ice. Finally, his icy heart melted, and he dissolved like morning mist.

Jacob and his father returned home happily. Spring came earlier than usual, and the villagers said it was Jacob’s kindness and courage that had defeated winter. The beggar woman was never seen again, but the magpie would sometimes fly to their window, as if checking to see if they were doing well.

And if they haven’t died, they live there happily to this day.