Katcha and the Devil: the Story of a Clinging Vi

A woman named Katcha, known for her ill temper and scolding nature, lives alone in a village, unable to find a husband or even workers for her garden. Despite her wealth, her sour disposition alienates everyone. Each Sunday, she attends village dances, longing to dance with a partner, but is consistently ignored. In a moment of frustration, she declares she would dance with the devil if he asked. One Sunday, a mysterious stranger in hunter's green invites her to dance, and she accepts, reveling in the attention. After an evening of dancing and indulgence, the stranger reveals himself as the devil and takes her to hell. Katcha clings to him, refusing to let go, much to the devil's dismay. He seeks the Prince of Darkness for help, but the prince orders him to return to earth with Katcha, as she is too stubborn to release her grip. The devil attempts various tactics to rid himself of Katcha, but she remains steadfast. Eventually, he encounters a shepherd and, in disguise, explains his plight. The shepherd, sympathetic, offers to help. He instructs Katcha to switch her grip to him, and when she does, he throws her into a pond, successfully freeing the devil. The devil, grateful, promises to reward the shepherd. He reveals that he was meant to carry off two corrupt governors and the duke of the land, but they have reformed. The shepherd is instructed to confront the governors when the devil comes for them, demanding gold in exchange for their freedom. The shepherd follows through, successfully extracting wealth from both governors. As the time approaches for the devil to claim the duke, the shepherd, now a trusted advisor, is approached by the duke, who pleads for help. The shepherd agrees to intervene if the duke commits to ruling justly. On the fateful day, the devil arrives to claim the duke, but the shepherd distracts him by mentioning Katcha, causing the devil to flee in fear. The villagers celebrate the shepherd's cleverness, and the duke, grateful for his life, appoints the shepherd as his chief counselor. The shepherd's wisdom leads to a just rule, transforming the land for the better.

By Parker Fillmore · First published 1946 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fable, Fantasy · 2,970 words

First lines

There was once a woman named Katcha who lived in a village where she owned her own cottage and garden. She had money besides but little good it did her because she was such an ill-tempered vixen that nobody, not even the poorest laborer, would marry her. Nobody would even work for her, no matter what she paid, for she couldn't open her mouth without scolding, and whenever she scolded she raised her shrill voice until you could hear it a mile away. The older she grew the worse she became until by the time she was forty she was as sour as vinegar.

What this Textopian page supports

Katcha and the Devil: the Story of a Clinging Vine is listed on Textopian as a short story by Parker Fillmore, dated 1946 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: Parker Fillmore
• Date: 1946 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fairy Tale, Fable, Fantasy, Folklore, Comedy
• Length: 2,970 words
• Structure: 1 section, 70 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for Katcha and the Devil: the Story of a Clinging Vine by Parker Fillmore
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering Katcha and the Devil: the Story of a Clinging Vine?
• How does this short story by Parker Fillmore fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• Zlatovlaska The Golden Haired The Story Of Yirik And The Snake by Parker Fillmore
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• The Water Of Life by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
• The Charmed Ring by Joseph Jacobs
• The Water Nix by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
• Ivashko And The Wise Woman by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev

Genres

• Fairy Tale — The story features fantastical elements, including a devil and magical transformations, typical of fairy tales.
• Fable — The narrative conveys moral lessons about behavior and consequences, characteristic of fables.
• Fantasy — The presence of supernatural beings and events places the story within the fantasy genre.
• Folklore — The setting and themes reflect cultural folklore traditions, particularly in the portrayal of village life and moral lessons.

Tags

Folklore · Mythology · Adventure · Fantasy · Vine · Devil · Good vs Evil · Spiritual Journey · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Cultural Heritage · Symbolism

More by Parker Fillmore

• The Hickory Limb (1907)
• The Laughing Prince: the Story of the Boy who Could Talk Nonsense (1925)
• Beauty and the Horns: the Story of an Enchanted Maiden (1920)
• The Pigeon's Bride: the Story of a Princess who Kissed and Told (1930)
• The Little Lame Fox: the Story of the Youngest Brother who Found the Magic Grape-Vine and Married the Golden Maiden (1920)
• The Enchanted Peafowl: the Story of the Golden Apples, the Wicked Dragon, and the Magic Horse (1930)
• The Dragon's Strength: the Story of the Youngest Prince who Killed the Sparrow (1930)
• The Little Singing Frog: the Story of a Girl Whose Parents were Ashamed of Her (1930)
• All works by Parker Fillmore