The Mysterious Servant: the Story of a Young Man

Name: The Mysterious Servant: the Story of a Young Man who Respected the Dead
Author: Parker Fillmore

A wealthy merchant imparts two crucial pieces of advice to his son, Matti, on his deathbed: to cherish the wealth he will inherit and to never leave their village, lest he marry a woman with horns due to a prophecy. After the merchant's death, Matti, feeling confined, decides to explore the world despite the warning. He becomes a merchant in a city but encounters a dead man being disrespected by a crowd. Matti intervenes, pays off the dead man's debts, and is left with only nine silver kopeks. On his way back to his village, a man offers to be his servant despite Matti's poverty. The servant, confident and resourceful, arranges for meals at inns, magically filling their needs with the money he conjures from the measure. They return to Matti's village, where the servant reminds him of his fate to marry a horned woman. The servant reveals that the king has three daughters, all horned, and guides Matti through the process of selecting the youngest, who has the least pronounced horns. Matti marries the youngest princess, who is under an enchantment. On their wedding night, the servant intervenes, beating the princess to break the spell, revealing her true beauty. With the enchantment lifted, Matti falls in love with her. The servant departs, having fulfilled his purpose, and Matti is left to enjoy his new life with his beautiful bride, rewarded for his respect for the dead and the kindness he showed.

By Parker Fillmore · First published 1920 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure · 2,431 words

First lines

There was once a rich merchant who had an only son. As he lay dying, he said:

"Matti, my boy, my end is approaching and there are two things I want to say to you: The first is that I am leaving you all my wealth. If you are careful you will have enough to suffice you for life. The second thing I have to say is to beg you never to leave this, your native village. At your birth there was a prophecy which declared that if ever you left this village you would have to marry a woman with horns. Now that I have warned you in time it will be your own fault if ever you have to meet this fate."

What this Textopian page supports

The Mysterious Servant: the Story of a Young Man who Respected the Dead is listed on Textopian as a short story by Parker Fillmore, dated 1920 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: 1920 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure, Moral Tale, Folklore
Length: 2,431 words
Structure: 1 section, 70 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Work identity for The Mysterious Servant: the Story of a Young Man who Respected the Dead by Parker Fillmore
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Discussion starters

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Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The story involves magical elements such as a prophecy, a servant with supernatural abilities, and a transformation of a cursed princess.
Fairy Tale — The narrative structure and themes align with traditional fairy tales, including moral lessons, magical transformations, and a royal marriage.
Adventure — Matti's journey from his village to the city and back, along with his encounters, embodies the adventure genre.
Moral Tale — The story emphasizes themes of respect for the dead and the consequences of one's actions, typical of moral tales.