Legend
The serf's stone of Helme
In the days of serfdom a cruel overseer at Helme manor beat the labourers mercilessly in the hot sun until some collapsed. One of them managed to escape, sank down on a stone and prayed that at least the stone would be soft and show him the pity the overseer never had. A miracle happened: the stone felt like a cushion beneath him. Soon afterwards he died of his wounds, and when his body was lifted, two hollows were found pressed into the rock. Another tale says a woman once found a box of gold beneath it, only to see it turn into withered leaves. Today the Orjakivi, the Serf's Stone, lies on a slope behind Helme cemetery.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Pärisorjuse ajal peksis Helme mõisa kuri kubjas teolisi palava päikese käes nii halastamatult, et mõned langesid maha. Ühel õnnestus põgeneda; ta vajus kivile istuma ja palus, et vähemalt kivi oleks pehme ja halastaks tema peale, kui kubjas ei halastanud. Juhtus ime: kivi tundus tema all nagu padi. Varsti suri mees oma haavadesse ning kui surnukeha kivilt tõsteti, nähti kivis kaht istumisjälge. Teine lugu räägib, kuidas üks naine leidis kivi alt kastitäie kulda, mis muutus aga koltunud puulehtedeks. Tänapäeval asub Orjakivi Helme surnuaia taga mäenõlval.