THE TRUE BRIDE
There were once two orphans, a brother and a sister, who lived alone in the old farmhouse where their fathers before them had lived for many generations. The brother’s name was Osmo, the sister’s Ilona. Osmo was an industrious youth, but the farm was small and barren and he was hard put to it to make a livelihood.
“Sister,” he said one day, “I think it might be well if I went out into the world and found work.”
“Do as you think best, brother,” Ilona said. “I’m sure I can manage on here alone.”
So Osmo started off, promising to come back for his sister as soon as he could give her a new home. He wandered far and wide and at last got employment from the King’s Son as a shepherd.
The King’s Son was about Osmo’s age, and often when he met Osmo tending his flocks he would stop and talk to him.