Once upon a time there were two sisters who were as like each other as two peas in a pod; but one was good, and the other was bad-tempered. Now their father had no work, so the girls began to think of going to service.
Éng-kòe, ū 2 ê chí-mōe-á seⁿ kah chiok sio-siâng, to bē-su sī kāng 1 ngeh hô-lân-tāu-ngeh lāi-té ê 2 lia̍p hô-lân-tāu kāng khoán--leh; m̄-koh 1 ê lâng hó-siàng, lēng-gōa 1 ê sèng-tē bái. Taⁿ in ê lāu-pē bô thâu-lō͘, só͘-pái in 2 ê chŏ͘-gín-á ū leh khó-lī beh khì chò lâng ê chŏ͘-kán-á.
"I will go first and see what I can make of it," said the younger sister, ever so cheerfully, "then you, sis, can follow if I have good luck."
「我seng去piàⁿ看ē有啥成果--無，」hit ê小妹歡頭喜面án-ne講，koh講：「nā我運氣bē-bái，阿姊你chiah tòe leh來to̍h好。」
“Góa seng khì piàⁿ khòaⁿ ē ū siáⁿ sêng-kó--bô,” hit ê sió-mōe hoaⁿ-thâu-hí-bīn án-ne kóng, koh kóng: “Nā góa ūn-khì bē-bái, a-ché lí chiah tòe leh lâi to̍h hó.”
So she packed up a bundle, said good-bye, and started to find a place; but no one in the town wanted a girl, and she went farther afield into the country. And as she journeyed she came upon an oven in which a lot of loaves were baking. Now as she passed, the loaves cried out with one voice:
Só͘-pái，伊包袱á款--leh，相辭了後，to̍h開始去chhōe頭路；m̄-koh庄--ni̍h無人想beh chhiàⁿ 1 ê chŏ͘-gín-á，伊to̍h koh ùi jú hn̄g ê草地所在--去。Tī路--ni̍h，伊tú tio̍h 1 ê烘pháng窯，窯--ni̍h有真chē塊pháng tng teh烘。伊beh行--過ê時，hia ê pháng齊聲hoah講：
Só͘-pái, i pau-ho̍k-á khoán--leh, sio-sî liáu-āu, to̍h khai-sí khì chhōe thâu-lō͘; m̄-koh chng--ni̍h bô lâng siūⁿ beh chhiàⁿ 1 ê chŏ͘-gín-á, i to̍h koh ùi jú hn̄g ê chháu-tē só͘-chāi--khì. Tī lō͘--ni̍h, i tú tio̍h 1 ê hang-pháng-iô, iô--ni̍h ū chin chē tè pháng tng teh hang. I beh kiâⁿ--kòe ê sî, hia ê pháng chê-siaⁿ hoah kóng:
"Little girl! Little girl! Take us out! Please take us out! We have been baking for seven years, and no one has come to take us out. Do take us out or we shall soon be burnt!"
「姑娘á！姑娘á！Kā goán the̍h--出-來！拜托--leh，kā goán the̍h--出-來！Goán已經tī chia烘7冬--a，lóng無人來kā goán the̍h--出-來。緊Kā goán the̍h--出-來，nā無goán sûi to̍h ē臭火ta--a！」
“Ko͘-niû-á! Ko͘-niû-á! Kā goán the̍h--chhut-lâi! Pài-thok--leh, kā goán the̍h--chhut-lâi! Goán í-keng tī chia hang 7 tang--a, lóng bô lâng lâi kā goán the̍h--chhut-lâi. Kín kā goán the̍h--chhut-lâi, nā bô goán sûi to̍h ē chhàu-hóe-ta--a!”
Then, being a kind, obliging little girl, she stopped, put down her bundle, took out the bread, and went on her way saying:
"You will be more comfortable now."
伊是1 ê善良koh熱心kâng tàu-saⁿ-kāng ê chŏ͘-gín-á，só͘-pái伊停脚，包袱á hē--leh，kā pháng lóng the̍h--出-來，sòa--lo̍h ná繼續行伊ê路ná講：
「Án-ne lín to̍h ē khah爽快--ah。」
I sī 1 ê siān-liông koh jia̍t-sim kâng tàu-saⁿ-kāng ê chŏ͘-gín-á, só͘-pái i thêng-kha, pau-ho̍k-á hē--leh, kā pháng lóng the̍h--chhut-lâi, sòa--lo̍h ná kè-sio̍k kiâⁿ i ê lō͘ ná kóng:
“Án-ne lín to̍h ē khah sóng-khoài--ah.”
After a time she came to a cow lowing beside an empty pail, and the cow said to her:
"Little girl! Little girl! Milk me! Please milk me! Seven years have I been waiting, but no one has come to milk me!"
Koh過1時á，伊來到1隻奶牛hia，奶牛khiā tī空柴桶邊ma-ma吼，he牛á kā伊講：
「姑娘á！姑娘á！Kā我tàu lu̍t乳！拜托--leh，kā我tàu lu̍t乳！我已經等7冬--a，m̄-koh lóng無人來kā我tàu lu̍t乳！」
Koh kòe 1-sî-á, i lâi kàu 1 chiah leng-gû hia, leng-gû khiā tī khang chhâ-tháng piⁿ ma-ma-háu, he gû-á kā i kóng:
“Ko͘-niû-á! Ko͘-niû-á! Kā góa tàu lu̍t-leng! Pài-thok--leh, kā góa tàu lu̍t-leng! Góa í-keng tán 7 tang--a, m̄-koh lóng bô lâng lâi kā góa tàu lu̍t-leng!”
So the kind girl stopped, put down her bundle, milked the cow into the pail, and went on her way saying:
"Now you will be more comfortable."
咱chit ê好心ê chŏ͘-gín-á to̍h停脚，包袱á hē--leh，kā chit隻牛ê乳lu̍t入去脚桶--ni̍h，beh koh chiūⁿ路ê時，伊kā牛á講：
「Án-ne你to̍h ē ke khah爽快--ah。」
Lán chit ê hó-sim ê chŏ͘-gín-á to̍h thêng-kha, pau-ho̍k-á hē--leh, kā chit chiah gû ê leng lu̍t ji̍p-khì kha-tháng--ni̍h, beh koh chiūⁿ-lō͘ ê sî, i kā gû-á kóng:
“Án-ne lí to̍h ē ke khah sóng-khoài--ah.”
By and by she came to an apple tree so laden with fruit that its branches were nigh to break, and the apple tree called to her:
"Little girl! Little girl! Please shake my branches. The fruit is so heavy I can't stand straight!"
Koh過無jōa久，伊行來到1叢蘋果樹頭前，he樹á頂生kah全全lóng蘋果，樹oe to kiōng-beh ho͘ teh斷--去，蘋果樹對伊hoah講：
「姑娘á！姑娘á！拜托你kā我ê樹oe搖搖--leh，chia-ê果子á siuⁿ重--ā，已經teh kah我lóng歪腰--a！」
Koh kòe bô jōa kú, i kiâⁿ lâi kàu 1 châng phōng-kó-chhiū thâu-chêng, he chhiū-á téng seⁿ kah choân-choân lóng phōng-kó, chhiū-oe to kiōng-beh ho͘ teh tn̄g--khì, phōng-kó-chhiū tùi i hoah kóng:
“Ko͘-niû-á! Ko͘-niû-á! Pài-thok lí kā góa ê chhiū-oe iô-iô--leh, chia-ê kóe-chí-á siuⁿ tāng--ā, í-keng teh kah góa lóng oai-io--a!”
Then the kind girl stopped, put down her bundle, and shook the branches so that the apples fell off, and the tree could stand straight. Then she went on her way saying:
"You will be more comfortable now."
咱chit ê好心ê chŏ͘-gín-á to̍h停脚，包袱á hē--leh，去kā樹oe搖搖--leh hō͘ he蘋果lak--落-來，án-ne樹á to̍h khiā ē直--ah。伊sòa lŏe beh繼續行ê時koh講：
「Án-ne你to̍h ē ke真爽快--ah。」
Lán chit ê hó-sim ê chŏ͘-gín-á to̍h thêng-kha, pau-ho̍k-á hē--leh, khì kā chhiū-oe iô-iô--leh hō͘ he phōng-kó lak--lo̍h-lâi, án-ne chhiū-á to̍h khiā ē ti̍t--ah. I sòa lŏe beh kè-sio̍k kiâⁿ ê sî koh kóng:
“Án-ne lí to̍h ē ke chin sóng-khoài--ah.”
So she journeyed on till she came to a house where an old witch-woman lived. Now this witch-woman wanted a servant-maid, and promised good wages. Therefore the girl agreed to stop with her and try how she liked service. She had to sweep the floor, keep the house clean and tidy, the fire bright and cheery. But there was one thing the witch-woman said she must never do; and that was look up the chimney!
伊to̍h koh直直行--去，一直到伊行來kah 1間厝，有1 ê老女術士tòa tī hin。Tú好chit ê女術士需要1 ê女僕，mā保証講待遇bē-bái。Só͘-pái，chŏ͘-gín-á to̍h答應伊beh留--落-來，試看伊ka-tī kám ē kah意chit ê khang-khòe。伊tio̍h ài掃土脚，ài kā厝內保持ho͘清氣koh整齊，壁爐ê火ài燒kah光iāⁿ koh sù-sī。M̄-koh有1件代誌女術士叫伊千萬m̄-thang做；hit件代誌to̍h是探頭去看煙筒kóng內底！
I to̍h koh ti̍t-ti̍t kiâⁿ--khì, it-ti̍t kàu i kiâⁿ lâi kah 1 keng chhù, ū 1 ê lāu lú-su̍t-sū tòa tī hin. Tú-hó chit ê lú-su̍t-sū su-iàu 1 ê lú-po̍k, mā pó-chèng kóng thāi-gū bē-bái. Só͘-pái, chŏ͘-gín-á to̍h tah-èng i beh lâu--lo̍h-lâi, chhì khòaⁿ i ka-tī kám ē kah-ì chit ê khang-khòe. I tio̍h ài sàu thô͘-kha, ài kā chhù-lāi pó-chhî ho͘ chheng-khì koh chéng-chê, piah-lô͘ ê hóe ài sio kah kng-iāⁿ koh sù-sī. M̄-koh ū 1 kiāⁿ tāi-chì lú-su̍t-sū kiò i chhian-bān m̄-thang chò; hit kiāⁿ tāi-chì to̍h sī tham-thâu khì khòaⁿ ian-tâng-kóng lāi-té!
"If you do," said the witch-woman, "something will fall down on you, and you will come to a bad end." Well! the girl swept, and dusted, and made up the fire; but ne'er a penny of wages did she see. Now the girl wanted to go home as she did not like witch-service; for the witch used to have boiled babies for supper, and bury the bones under some stones in the garden. But she did not like to go home penniless; so she stayed on, sweeping, and dusting, and doing her work, just as if she was pleased. Then one day, as she was sweeping up the hearth, down tumbled some soot, and, without remembering she was forbidden to look up the chimney, she looked up to see where the soot came from. And, lo and behold! a big bag of gold fell plump into her lap.
女術士講：「Nā是你án-ne做，to̍h ē有物件lak tī你ê身軀，到時你to̍h無好尾。」Só͘-pái，chŏ͘-gín-á to̍h掃土脚，chhéng eng-ia，起火顧火；m̄-koh伊連半sián工錢mā無khoàiⁿ。Taⁿ chŏ͘-gín-á想beh轉厝--ah，伊無kah意koh做女術士ê使用人；因為hit ê女術士慣勢kā紅嬰á煮來做暗頓，koh kā骨頭tâi tī花園á ê 1-kóa石頭ē脚。M̄-koh伊koh無想beh袋磅子轉去厝，só͘-pái伊to̍h暫且留tī hia掃土脚，chhéng eng-ia，盡伊ê本份，bē輸伊kài kah意做kāng款。尾--á有1 kang，伊tng teh piàⁿ掃壁爐ê時，有1-kóa土炭hu lak--落-來，伊soah bē記chit伊hông教講bē-tàng看煙筒kóng內底，伊to̍h探頭hiòng頂面看，想beh看he土炭hu是ùi tó位來--ê。Oah，nah chiah好khang！1大lok ê金á hiông-hiông lak tī伊大腿--ni̍h。
Lú-su̍t-sū kóng: “Nā sī lí án-ne chò, to̍h ē ū mi̍h-kiāⁿ lak tī lí ê sin-khu, kàu-sî lí to̍h bô hó-bóe.” Só͘-pái, chŏ͘-gín-á to̍h sàu thô͘-kha, chhéng eng-ia, khí-hóe kò͘-hóe; m̄-koh i liân pòaⁿ sián kang-chîⁿ mā bô khoàiⁿ. Taⁿ chŏ͘-gín-á siūⁿ beh tńg-chhù--ah, i bô kah-ì koh chò lú-su̍t-sū ê sú-iōng-lâng; in-ūi hit ê lú-su̍t-sū koàn-sì kā âng-eⁿ-á chú lâi chò àm-tǹg, koh kā kut-thâu tâi tī hoe-hn̂g-á ê 1-kóa chio̍h-thâu ē-kha. M̄-koh i koh bô siūⁿ beh tē-pōng-chí tńg-khì chhù, só͘-pái i to̍h chiām-chhiáⁿ lâu tī hia sàu thô͘-kha, chhéng eng-ia, chīn i ê pún-hūn, bē-su i kài kah-ì chò kāng-khoán. Bóe--á ū 1 kang, i tng teh piàⁿ-sàu piah-lô͘ ê sî, ū 1-kóa thô͘-thòaⁿ-hu lak--lo̍h-lâi, i soah bē-kì-chit i hông kà kóng bē-tàng khòaⁿ ian-tâng-kóng lāi-té, i to̍h tham-thâu hiòng téng-bīn khòaⁿ, siūⁿ beh khòaⁿ he thô͘-thòaⁿ-hu sī ùi tó-ūi lâi--ê. Oah, nah chiah hó-khang! 1 tōa lok ê kim-á hiông-hiông lak tī i tōa-thúi--ni̍h.
Now the witch happened to be out on one of her witch errands; so the girl thought it a fine opportunity to be off home.
Tú好chit-chūn hit ê女術士出門去辦in術士ê khang-khòe；só͘-pái chŏ͘-gín-á感覺che是1 ê liu-soan轉去厝ê好時機。
Tú-hó chit-chūn hit ê lú-su̍t-sū chhut-mn̂g khì pān in su̍t-sū ê khang-khòe; só͘-pái chŏ͘-gín-á kám-kak che sī 1 ê liu-soan tńg-khì chhù ê hó sî-ki.
So she kilted up her petticoats and started to run home; but she had only gone a little way when she heard the witch-woman coming after her on her broomstick. Now the apple tree she had helped to stand straight happened to be quite close; so she ran to it and cried:
伊to̍h kā裙láng--起-來，用走--ê beh轉厝；m̄-koh伊chiah走無jōa hn̄g，to̍h聽tio̍h女術士騎掃帚飛來teh jiok。進前hit叢伊有ka tàu-saⁿ-kāng，hō͘伊khiā ē直ê蘋果樹to̍h tú好tī附近，伊to̍h走去樹á hia，大聲hoah講：
I to̍h kā kûn láng--khí-lâi, iōng cháu--ê beh tńg-chhù; m̄-koh i chiah cháu bô jōa hn̄g, to̍h thiaⁿ tio̍h lú-su̍t-sū khiâ sàu-chhiú poe lâi teh jiok. Chìn-chêng hit chhâng i ū ka tàu-saⁿ-kāng, hō͘ i khiā ē ti̍t ê phōng-kó-chhiū to̍h tú-hó tī hù-kīn, i to̍h cháu khì chhiū-á hia, tōa-siaⁿ hoah kóng:
"Apple tree! Apple tree, hide me
So the old witch can't find me,
For if she does she'll pick my bones,
And bury me under the garden stones."
「蘋果樹！蘋果樹，kā我chhàng ho͘好
hō͘ hit ê老女術士chhōe我無，
我nā去ho͘ chhōe--tio̍h，伊to̍h ē chhńg我ê骨，
Koh kā我tâi tī花園á ê石頭ē底ut。」
“Phōng-kó-chhiū! Phōng-kó-chhiū, kā góa chhàng ho͘ hó
hō͘ hit ê lāu lú-su̍t-sū chhōe góa bô,
Góa nā khì ho͘ chhōe--tio̍h, i to̍h ē chhńg góa ê kut,
Koh kā góa tâi tī hoe-hn̂g-á ê chio̍h-thâu ē-té ut.”
Then the apple tree said, "Of course I will. You helped me to stand straight, and one good turn deserves another."
蘋果樹to̍h ìn講：「當然是無問題。你kā我tàu-saⁿ-kāng，hō͘我khiā ē直，好來好去是應該。 」
Phōng-kó-chhiū to̍h ìn kóng: “Tong-jiân sī bô būn-tê. Lí kā góa tàu-saⁿ-kāng, hō͘ góa khiā ē ti̍t, hó-lâi-hó-khì sī eng-kai.”
So the apple tree hid her finely in its green branches; and when the witch flew past saying:
來蘋果樹to̍h用伊青翠ê樹ōe kā chŏ͘-gín-á藏kah好勢好勢；koh來hit ê女術士飛經過ê時問講：
Lâi phōng-kó-chhiū to̍h iōng i chheⁿ-chhùi ê chhiū-ōe kā chŏ͘-gín-á chhàng kah hó-sè hó-sè; koh-lâi hit ê lú-su̍t-sū poe keng-kòe ê sî mn̄g kóng:
"Tree of mine! O Tree of mine!
Have you seen my naughty little maid
With a willy willy wag and a great big bag,
She's stolen my money—all I had?"
「我ê樹á！我ê樹á ôe！
你kám有看tio̍h我hit ê chiān蟲ê細漢chŏ͘-kán-á，
Kha-chhng花搖--leh搖--leh koh phāiⁿ 1脚大袋，
伊偷the̍h我ê錢，koh 1遍lóng總the̍h！」
“Góa ê chhiū-á! Góa ê chhiū-á ôe!
Lí kám ū khòaⁿ tio̍h góa hit ê chiān-thâng ê sè-hàn chŏ͘-kán-á,
Kha-chhng-hoe iô--leh iô--leh koh phāiⁿ 1 kha tōa-tē,
I thau the̍h góa ê chîⁿ, koh 1 piàn lóng-chóng the̍h!”
The apple tree answered:
"No, mother dear,
Not for seven year!"
蘋果樹ìn講：
「無neh，親愛ê阿婆，
Chit 7冬lóng無看--過！」
Phōng-kó-chhiū ìn kóng:
“Bô neh, chhin-ài ê a-pô,
Chit 7 tang lóng bô khòaⁿ--kòe!”
So the witch flew on the wrong way, and the girl got down, thanked the tree politely, and started again. But just as she got to where the cow was standing beside the pail, she heard the witch coming again, so she ran to the cow and cried:
To̍h án-ne，女術士飛m̄ tio̍h pêng--去，chŏ͘-gín-á peh落樹，好禮á kā樹á seh多謝，來to̍h koh開始走。M̄-koh伊走到奶牛khiā tī柴桶邊--á hit tah ê時，iû-koh聽tio̍h女術士飛teh-beh到，só͘-pái伊to̍h走去牛á邊--á，大聲hoah講：
To̍h án-ne, lú-su̍t-sū poe m̄ tio̍h pêng--khì, chŏ͘-gín-á peh lo̍h chhiū, hó-lé-á kā chhiū-á seh to-siā, lâi to̍h koh khai-sí cháu. M̄-koh i cháu kàu leng-gû khiā tī chhâ-tháng piⁿ--á hit tah ê sî, iû-koh thiaⁿ tio̍h lú-su̍t-sū poe teh-beh kàu, só͘-pái i to̍h cháu khì gû-á piⁿ--á, tōa-siaⁿ hoah kóng:
"Cow! Cow, please hide me
So the witch can't find me;
If she does she'll pick my bones,
And bury me under the garden stones!"
「牛á！牛á！Kā我藏ho͘好，
Hō͘ hit ê女術士chhōe我無，
我nā去ho͘ chhōe--tio̍h，伊to̍h ē chhńg我ê骨，
Koh kā我tâi tī花園á ê石頭ē底ut！」
“Gû-á! Gû-á! Kā góa chhàng ho͘ hó,
Hō͘ hit ê lú-su̍t-sū chhōe góa bô,
Góa nā khì ho͘ chhōe--tio̍h, i to̍h ē chhńg góa ê kut,
Koh kā góa tâi tī hoe-hn̂g-á ê chio̍h-thâu ē-té ut!”
"Certainly I will," answered the cow. "Didn't you milk me and make me comfortable? Hide yourself behind me and you'll be quite safe."
牛á to̍h ìn講：「當然是無問題。你kám m̄是有kā我tàu lu̍t乳，hō͘我真輕鬆？Bih去我ê seng-khu後壁，你to̍h ē真安全。 」
Gû-á to̍h ìn kóng: “Tong-jiân sī bô būn-tê. Lí kám m̄ sī ū kā góa tàu lu̍t-leng, hō͘ góa chin khin-sang? Bih khì góa ê sin-khu āu-piah, lí to̍h ē chin an-choân.”
And when the witch flew by and called to the cow:
"O Cow of mine! Cow of mine!
Have you seen my naughty little maid
With a willy willy wag and a great big bag,
Who stole my money—all that I had?"
女術士飛經過ê時，to̍h kho͘牛á過來講：
「我ê牛á！我ê牛á ôe！
你kám有看tio̍h我hit ê chiān-thâng ê細漢chŏ͘-kán-á
Kha-chhng花搖--leh搖--leh koh phāiⁿ 1脚大袋，
伊偷the̍h我ê錢，koh 1遍lóng總the̍h！」
Lú-su̍t-sū poe keng-kòe ê sî, to̍h kho͘ gû-á kòe-lâi kóng:
“Góa ê gû-á! Góa ê gû-á ôe!
Lí kám ū khòaⁿ tio̍h góa hit ê chiān-thâng ê sè-hàn chŏ͘-kán-á
Kha-chhng-hoe iô--leh iô--leh koh phāiⁿ 1 kha tōa-tē,
I thau the̍h góa ê chîⁿ, koh 1 piàn lóng-chóng the̍h!”
She just said politely:
"No, mother dear,
Not for seven year!"
牛á ka ìn講：
「無neh，親愛ê阿婆，
Chit 7冬lóng無看--過！」
Gû-á ka ìn kóng:
“Bô neh, chhin-ài ê a-pô,
Chit 7 tang lóng bô khòaⁿ--kòe!”
