The Talkative Old Woman

In a village full of flowers lived an elderly woman who loved to talk. At breakfast she told her husband and grown-up daughter so many stories that the tea had…

In a village full of flowers lived an elderly woman who loved to talk. At breakfast she told her husband and grown-up daughter so many stories that the tea had time to grow cold. One day her daughter set off to visit an aunt who lived beyond the forest. Her mother gave her ten pieces of advice at once, while her father smiled and simply asked her to take her time on the road.

By noon the young woman had safely reached a small house in the forest. Her kind elderly aunt was already waiting by the open gate. They hugged, took the basket inside and checked the way home on a map. The sun was shining, and a wide, familiar path could be seen among the trees.

That evening a merchant came to the house after being caught in the rain on his journey. The aunt invited him in to warm himself, and the young woman put a bowl of millet porridge and two spoons on the table. The merchant explained that a signpost had fallen at a fork, and he did not know the short way to the fair. She listened carefully and recalled all the landmarks she had seen along the road.

In the morning she walked the merchant to the gate and explained the route: go past two birches, turn right at the stream, and join the main road by the red rowan. To thank her, the merchant gave her a folded embroidered scarf and a small loaf. She had not asked for a reward, but accepted the gifts so as not to offend her aunt's guest.

By sunset the young woman was home again. Her mother hurried out through the gate and hugged her, while her father smiled and helped set the basket on the porch. The merchant arrived just after her: he had decided to thank her once more and send his greetings to her aunt. Her mother warmly welcomed the guest, but first let her daughter finish her story without interruption. The young woman showed them the embroidered scarf, shared the bread among the four of them and told them about her aunt and the traveller. This time her talkative mother did not interrupt. She had understood that sometimes the most important part of a conversation is knowing how to listen.