Once upon a time, in a small town on the banks of a large and deep  river, a castle rose. The castle belonged to the Count.  

Count was very rich, so he had another castle in the country. Thus, the count and his family lived in a castle in the countryside in the summer, and in winter they came to the city castle.

The Count was very busy. He was engaged in the trade and importation of goods from the Far East. While he was working, the Countess was in painting. She loved to stay outside and paint nature. Their children were cared for by nannies and teachers. 

The Count and Countess often threw parties for their friends and acquaintances. The parties would last until the early hours of the morning.

Before and after the party the servants had a lot of work to do. 

They had to be careful that the fire wouldn't burn out, and yet not to make it too hot for the gentlemen. That task was entrusted to Ana.

Ana was almost a child, she was only 13 years old. She was her parents' eldest child. When she was 10, her parents sent her to town for a maid. First she worked at a pastry chef's. But the pastry chef got sick, sold her patisserie and went to the hospice. So Ana lost her job and a roof over her head. She was sad and lonely. She couldn't go home. She knew her parents were counting on her and the money she was sending them. She missed her younger sisters so much, especially her youngest brother. She roamed the city and the path took her to the shore of a large and deep river. Even though it was winter, the day was warm and sunny. The sun was lying on the surface of the river.

Swans and ducks swam in the river. Ana went down to the river.
- Come on, I've got a nice cake - she called them.
The biggest swan swam first, and everyone else swam after him. The ducks stayed away and waited their turn. Ana crushed almost everything she had. She only left one little piece to eat for dinner. That's when she saw a young swan that ran out of cookies.
 - Come here, little one, don't be afraid. It's for you too. -  Ana said, and extended her hand with the cake.

The swan swam fearlessly to Ana. He spewed it, swallowed a piece of cake and said.
- Thank you, it's delicious. Why are you here alone? – he asked curiously.
Ana told him how she lost her job and a roof over her head. 

- Few days ago the Countess was here. I heard her complain to her maid that this winter they lost half their servants due to illness. Maybe you could go to the castle and ask for a job.
- Oh thank you, thank you.
 So Ana went to the castle and found a new job and a new home.

Every morning Ana had to get up when it was dark outside. First she would clean the ashes in the stove in the kitchen and make a fire.  Then clean the fireplaces and light fires in the rooms where the Count's family stayed during the day. There were about 10 rooms. All that ashes would make Ana dirty, so others didn't want her around. She had no friends.

Ana would stay in the Countess's salon the longest. There she saw a picture depicting a young swan. She would stand in front of the picture and look at the swan with a smile. She imagined the swan was her friend.

One winter morning Ana went into the kitchen, cleaned the stove and lit a fire. Just as she got off the floor and took the ash bucket, they slammed the pantry door. Ana was scared.
- Who's there? - she asked in a trembling voice.
There was no answer. Ana stood and waited. There was a kick like something heavy falling to the floor.
She fearfully received the door handle and opened the door. She looked inside, but she didn't see anyone. There was only a bunch of scattered potatoes on the floor. Ana didn't understand what happened.

In the Countess's salon, she first went to a picture of a swan.

- My swan, a strange thing happened today. They slammed the door, and there was no one there, just a bunch of potatoes. As...
At that moment, they're rattling the glass on the chandelier. Ana turns around and sees the chandelier swaying. He hears laughter.
- Hi, hi! Ana, you're such a silly little girl. You're talking to a picture.
- Who are you? I don't see you. Where are you?
- Here, hi, hi, hi! - you could hear it behind the armchair.
- Show you!
There's a ghost sticking out from behind the sofa.

In the following days, the ghost no longer appeared. Everything was just like it was before. Winter was coming to an end. The days were getting warmer. One morning Ana entered the kitchen, and the fire was already burning.
- What is this? Has anyone decided to help me?
- Hi, hi, hi. It was me! – it was heard under the table.
- You do it again! Why are you here again?
The ghost comes out from under the table and climbs into the chair.

- I've been here a long time.  Not everyone sees and hears me. I only talk to lonely souls. I don't like it when others are arrogant and think they're better than others.

 - You'd better call them and scare them, not me. 

 - I can't, it' forbidden for me to scare people. I'm a good ghost. My name is Zvonimir (ring peace). At least I think I should be Bjesomir (angry). Sometimes I'm very angry.