THE STONES OF PLOUHINEC
The cross
Source
Then the beggar fell asleep, and the next day, at daybreak, he was in the field looking for the common verbena and the five-leaf clover.
It took him a long time and he had to go deeper into the country, where the air is warmer and the plants always stay green. Finally, on New Year's Eve, he reappeared in Plouhinec with the face of a weasel which had found its way to the dovecote.
As he passed over the heath, he saw Bernèz busy striking with a pointed hammer against the highest of the stones.
"May God save me!" cried the sorcerer, laughing, "Do you want to dig yourself a house in this big pillar?"
“No,” said Bernèz calmly, "but as I am without work at the moment, I thought that if I traced a cross on one of the cursed stones, I would do something pleasing to God, who will reward me sooner or later."
“So you have something to ask him?” the old man observed.
“All Christians have to ask him for the salvation of their souls,” replied the young guy.
"And don’t you also have something to tell him about Rozennik?" added the beggar in a low voice.
Bernez looked at him.
"Ah! you know that," he continued, "after all, there is neither shame nor sin and if I am looking for the young girl, it is to bring her before the priest. Unfortunately, Marzinn wants a brother-in-law who can count on more achievements than I have small coins."
"And if I made you have more gold coins than Marzinn has?" said the sorcerer in a low voice.
"YOU!" cried Bernez.
"Me!"
"What will you ask me for that?"
"Nothing but a memory in your prayers."
"So there would be no need to harm my salvation?"
"All you need is courage."
“Then tell me what to do!” cried Bernèz, dropping his hammer, "when we have to expose ourselves to thirty deaths, I am ready, because I have less taste for living than for getting married."
When the beggar saw that he was so well disposed of, he told him how the next night the treasures of the moor would all be exposed, but without at the same time teaching him how to avoid the stones when they returned. The young boy believed that only boldness and promptness were needed, so he said:
"True as there are three persons in God, I will take advantage of the opportunity, old man, and I will always have a pint of my blood at your service for the warning you have just given me. Just let me finish the cross that I began to carve on this stone. When it's time, I'll go join you near the little fir wood."
Source: Les Pierres de Plouhinec from the French book Contes et légendes de Basse-Bretagne published in 1891.
Hello, my name is Vincent Celier.
I am writing translations of folk tales that I found in public domain French books, so that people who do not understand French may enjoy them too.
Now the beggar/sorcerer and Bernèz have met privately. The beggar realized that Bernèz could be the Christian soul he needed to keep the treasures he intended to get from under the stones.
So, he persuaded Bernèz to work with him to get the treasures, telling him that he did not want anything substantial in return. Bernèz is in danger.
As I have not seen a family doctor or a dentist for several years, I decided to find one of each not far from where I live.
I was sure I had seen a doctor's office that indicated that they were accepting new patients. I don't know how it is in other Canadian provinces or other countries, but here doctors and dentists may refuse to take new patients.
I went where I thought I could find this doctor, but I could not. I must have dreamed it.
Instead, I went to a dentist's office that accepts new patients and I have now an appointment in January 2024 for cleaning.
I searched online for a family doctor accepting new patients, and I saw one not far from where we live, working also in a medical clinic.
I went there this morning, but the information I found online was incorrect: no doctor there accepts new patients.
So, now I have a dentist, but no doctor. I am not really worried about my general health, but I think that at my age, being seen by a doctor at least once a year would be a good idea.
-- Vincent Celier
