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took on various odd jobs around the village. The family spent many years living an
impoverished life, all the time wary of the wolves who roamed in the forest, all the time
hungry for food or in need of extra money to buy clothes or medicines.
During those hard years, Antek, the mean hearted brother, became the wealthiest man in
the county, but never once did he offer to help his poor brother.
One day, as Antek was hosting a lavish wedding for his eldest daughter, Jonek decided to
visit the church to pray for help. In the church he saw his brother and his family – all sitting
in the front row, all dressed in extravagant silks and furs and smooth leather boots, while
poor Jonek remained at the back of the church: a cold and hungry figure hiding in the
shadows.
Once the ceremony had come to an end, Jonek followed the wedding procession towards
his old family home. He stayed in the background where he would not be seen, tears filling
his eyes, overcome with grief at all that he had lost. When he reached the farmhouse, he
stood hunched in the doorway and pleaded with his brother. ‘Brother,’ he whispered, ‘God
be with you. I am famished. My wife and children are starving. Take a moment from your
festivities to help us, please.’
Upon seeing his poor brother, Antek growled:”I do not help idle creatures.” And with that
he grabbed a bone with barely a few scraps of meat on it and thrust the feeble offering into
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