WAK - JAOSIK ANDREW MATTHEWS - Wanted: Janosik - Chapter 1A Poor Orphan

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky

A persecuted family story from long ago near the Tatra Mountains, where Duke Edmund’s cruelty drives Tomas and Rosa into ruin. After Tomas cannot pay harvest rents, he is executed and Rosa and their young son Janosik are forced from their home. Hunger, fear, and sickness follow through winter, ending Rosa’s life and leaving Janosik with no way to properly bury her. In spring, Janosik survives by teaching himself to hunt in the mountains.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages68

Reading Time1 h 45 min

AccessFree to download

Chapter 1A Poor Orphan

A Poor Orphan

WAK JAOSIK ANDREW MATTHEWS Wanted:Janosik byAndrew MatthewS Illustrated by Dylan Gibson First published in 2009 in Great Britain byBarrington Stoke Ltd18 Walker St,Edinburgh,EH37LP www.barringtonstoke.co.uk Copyright o 2009 Andrew MatthewsIllustrations o Dylan Gibson The moral rnight of the author has been asserted inaccordance with the Copyright,Designs andPatents Act 1988 ISBN:978-1-84299-612-6 Printed in Great Britain by Bell &Bain Ltd ESSEX COUNTYCOUNCIL LIBRARY Contents 1 1 A Poor Orphan 2The Fight8 The Test12 3 4The Gifts19 5Ambush!23 In the Forest30 6 7The Traitor36 8The Spy's Plan41 9Captured47 10 On the Gallows52 Battle Cards58 # Chapter 1A Poor Orphan Long,long ago,the people who lived closeto the Tatra Mountains of Poland were ruledby Duke Edmund.The Duke was a mean,greedy man.Every year,at harvest time,heleft his castle,and rode out with his soldiersto collect rents and taxes from the poor. One year,the Duke and his men went tothe farm of a man called Tomas,who livedwith his wife Rosa and their little boy Janosik.The three of them went out to meetthe Duke in the yard outside their home. Duke Edmund did not get down from hishorse."Where is the rent you owe me?"heasked Tomas. Tomas shook with fear."The summer wastoo hot and dry,my lord,"he said."My cropsdid not grow.I have no money to pay yourrent,but I promise that I will pay you doublenext year.” “Your promises are of no use to me!”shouted the Duke.He turned to his chiefsoldier.“Captain,hang this man from thattree over there.Turn the woman and thebrat out of the house.I'll rent the farm tosomeone else.” Tomas begged for mercy,but Duke Edmund had already ridden away.He didn'teven turn round. Janosik was too young to do anything tohelp.He could only watch the soldiers dotheir work.They hung his father from thetree with a rope round his neck.Janosikwatched him die,writhing,turning this wayand that and twitching.Rosa fell to herknees,howling in misery. Janosik and his mother had nowhere togo.The soldiers took their farm.They had towalk from village to village,begging for foodand shelter.In the winter,hunger and sorrowdrove Rosa mad,then she became ill with afever and died.Janosik couldn't dig a grave tobury her.No one would lend him a shovel,and the ground was frozen too hard for himto dig a grave with his bare hands.He had toleave her in a ditch. In the spring,Janosik went into the mountains.He taught himself how to hunt,and learned which roots and berries weregood to eat.As the years passed and he

FAQs

Why is Tomas punished by Duke Edmund?

Tomas cannot pay the rent because the summer was too hot and dry and his crops failed. Duke Edmund refuses his promises.

What happens to Janosik’s father and mother?

Soldiers hang Tomas from a tree. Rosa later dies of illness after winter hunger and sorrow.

How does Janosik survive after losing his family?

In spring, Janosik goes into the mountains, teaches himself hunting, and learns which roots and berries are safe to eat.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky