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+The Project Gutenberg eBook of Folk Tales from the Russian
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
+whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
+of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
+www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
+will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
+using this eBook.
+
+Title: Folk Tales from the Russian
+
+Author: Various
+
+Release Date: July 8, 2004 [eBook #12851]
+[Most recently updated: March 31, 2023]
+
+Language: English
+
+Produced by: Bob Jones, Frank van Drogen, Tamiko I. Camacho and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK TALES FROM THE RUSSIAN ***
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "_She gave him a touchstone and flint_"]
+
+
+
+FOLK TALES
+
+
+
+FROM THE RUSSIAN
+
+
+
+RETOLD BY
+
+VERRA XENOPHONTOVNA KALAMATIANO DE BLUMENTHAL
+
+
+
+
+FOREWORD
+
+
+In Russia, as elsewhere in the world, folklore is rapidly scattering
+before the practical spirit of modern progress. The traveling peasant
+bard or story teller, and the devoted "nyanya", the beloved nurse of
+many a generation, are rapidly dying out, and with them the tales and
+legends, the last echoes of the nation's early joys and sufferings,
+hopes and fears, are passing away. The student of folk-lore knows that
+the time has come when haste is needed to catch these vanishing songs
+of the nation's youth and to preserve them for the delight of future
+generations. In sending forth the stories in the present volume, all
+of which are here set down in print for the first time, it is my hope
+that they may enable American children to share with the children of
+Russia the pleasure of glancing into the magic world of the old Slavic
+nation.
+
+
+THE AUTHOR.
+
+
+
+
+THE TABLE OF CONTENTS
+
+_Foreword_
+
+_A List of Illustrations_
+
+_Dedication_
+
+_Notes_
+
+
+
+FOLK TALES
+
+The Tsarevna Frog
+
+Seven Simeons
+
+The Language of the Birds
+
+Ivanoushka the Simpleton
+
+Woe Bogotir
+
+Baba Yaga
+
+Dimian the Peasant
+
+The Golden Mountain
+
+Father Frost
+
+
+
+A LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+"She gave him a touchstone and flint".
+
+The Tsarevna Frog
+
+"Hunters, grooms, and servants rushed in all directions"
+
+Ivan learns the language of the birds
+
+"The old man went begging from town to town"
+
+"One brother was sent to watch the turkeys"
+
+The rich brother
+
+"The children ran away as fast as their little feet could possibly
+carry them"
+
+"Well, I struck a snag"
+
+"Old Frost gave the gentle girl many beautiful, beautiful things"
+
+
+
+_TO MY LITTLE FRIEND_
+
+EDITH EVANS
+
+_AND ALL AMERICAN CHILDREN_
+
+[Illustration: _The Tsarevna Frog_]
+
+
+
+
+
+THE TSAREVNA FROG
+
+
+[Illustration] In an old, old Russian tsarstvo, I do not know when,
+there lived a sovereign prince with the princess his wife. They had
+three sons, all of them young, and such brave fellows that no pen
+could describe them. The youngest had the name of Ivan Tsarevitch. One
+day their father said to his sons:
+
+"My dear boys, take each of you an arrow, draw your strong bow and let
+your arrow fly; in whatever court it falls, in that court there will
+be a wife for you."
+
+The arrow of the oldest Tsarevitch fell on a boyar-house just in front
+of the terem where women live; the arrow of the second Tsarevitch flew
+to the red porch of a rich merchant, and on the porch there stood
+a sweet girl, the merchant's daughter. The youngest, the brave
+Tsarevitch Ivan, had the ill luck to send his arrow into the midst of
+a swamp, where it was caught by a croaking frog.
+
+Ivan Tsarevitch came to his father: "How can I marry the frog?"
+complained the son. "Is she my equal? Certainly she is not."
+
+"Never mind," replied his father, "you have to marry the frog, for
+such is evidently your destiny."
+
+Thus the brothers were married: the oldest to a young boyarishnia, a
+nobleman's child; the second to the merchant's beautiful daughter, and
+the youngest, Tsarevitch Ivan, to a croaking frog.
+
+After a while the sovereign prince called his three sons and said to
+them:
+
+"Have each of your wives bake a loaf of bread by to-morrow morning."
+
+Ivan returned home. There was no smile on his face, and his brow was
+clouded.
+
+"C-R-O-A-K! C-R-O-A-K! Dear husband of mine, Tsarevitch Ivan, why so
+sad?" gently asked the frog. "Was there anything disagreeable in the
+palace?"
+
+"Disagreeable indeed," answered Ivan Tsarevitch; "the Tsar, my father,
+wants you to bake a loaf of white bread by to-morrow."
+
+"Do not worry, Tsarevitch. Go to bed; the morning hour is a better
+adviser than the dark evening."
+
+The Tsarevitch, taking his wife's advice, went to sleep. Then the
+frog threw off her frogskin and turned into a beautiful, sweet girl,
+Vassilissa by name. She now stepped out on the porch and called aloud:
+
+"Nurses and waitresses, come to me at once and prepare a loaf of white
+bread for to-morrow morning, a loaf exactly like those I used to eat
+in my royal father's palace."
+
+In the morning Tsarevitch Ivan awoke with the crowing cocks, and you
+know the cocks and chickens are never late. Yet the loaf was already
+made, and so fine it was that nobody could even describe it, for only
+in fairyland one finds such marvelous loaves. It was adorned all
+about with pretty figures, with towns and fortresses on each side, and
+within it was white as snow and light as a feather.
+
+The Tsar father was pleased and the Tsarevitch received his special
+thanks.
+
+"Now there is another task," said the Tsar smilingly. "Have each of
+your wives weave a rug by to-morrow."
+
+Tsarevitch Ivan came back to his home. There was no smile on his face
+and his brow was clouded.
+
+"C-R-O-A-K! C-R-O-A-K! Dear Tsarevitch Ivan, my husband and master,
+why so troubled again? Was not father pleased?"
+
+"How can I be otherwise? The Tsar, my father, has ordered a rug by
+to-morrow."
+
+"Do not worry, Tsarevitch. Go to bed; go to sleep. The morning hour
+will bring help."
+
+Again the frog turned into Vassilissa, the wise maiden, and again she
+called aloud:
+
+"Dear nurses and faithful waitresses, come to me for new work. Weave a
+silk rug like the one I used to sit upon in the palace of the king, my
+father."
+
+Once said, quickly done. When the cocks began their early
+"cock-a-doodle-doo," Tsarevitch Ivan awoke, and lo! there lay the
+most beautiful silk rug before him, a rug that no one could begin
+to describe. Threads of silver and gold were interwoven among
+bright-colored silken ones, and the rug was too beautiful for anything
+but to admire.
+
+The Tsar father was pleased, thanked his son Ivan, and issued a new
+order. He now wished to see the three wives of his handsome sons, and
+they were to present their brides on the next day.
+
+The Tsarevitch Ivan returned home. Cloudy was his brow, more cloudy
+than before.
+
+"C-R-O-A-K! C-R-O-A-K! Tsarevitch, my dear husband and master, why so
+sad? Hast thou heard anything unpleasant at the palace?"
+
+"Unpleasant enough, indeed! My father, the Tsar, ordered all of us to
+present our wives to him. Now tell me, how could I dare go with thee?"
+
+"It is not so bad after all, and might be much worse," answered the
+frog, gently croaking. "Thou shalt go alone and I will follow thee.
+When thou hearest a noise, a great noise, do not be afraid; simply
+say: 'There is my miserable froggy coming in her miserable box.'"
+
+The two elder brothers arrived first with their wives, beautiful,
+bright, and cheerful, and dressed in rich garments. Both the happy
+bridegrooms made fun of the Tsarevitch Ivan.
+
+"Why alone, brother?" they laughingly said to him. "Why didst thou not
+bring thy wife along with thee? Was there no rag to cover her? Where
+couldst thou have gotten such a beauty? We are ready to wager that in
+all the swamps in the dominion of our father it would be hard to find
+another one like her." And they laughed and laughed.
+
+Lo! what a noise! The palace trembled, the guests were all frightened.
+Tsarevitch Ivan alone remained quiet and said:
+
+"No danger; it is my froggy coming in her box."
+
+To the red porch came flying a golden carriage drawn by six splendid
+white horses, and Vassilissa, beautiful beyond all description, gently
+reached her hand to her husband. He led her with him to the heavy oak
+tables, which were covered with snow-white linen and loaded with
+many wonderful dishes such as are known and eaten only in the land of
+fairies and never anywhere else. The guests were eating and chatting
+gayly.
+
+Vassilissa drank some wine, and what was left in the tumbler she
+poured into her left sleeve. She ate some of the fried swan, and the
+bones she threw into her right sleeve. The wives of the two elder
+brothers watched her and did exactly the same.
+
+When the long, hearty dinner was over, the guests began dancing and
+singing. The beautiful Vassilissa came forward, as bright as a star,
+bowed to her sovereign, bowed to the honorable guests and danced with
+her husband, the happy Tsarevitch Ivan.
+
+While dancing, Vassilissa waved her left sleeve and a pretty lake
+appeared in the midst of the hall and cooled the air. She waved her
+right sleeve and white swans swam on the water. The Tsar, the guests,
+the servants, even the gray cat sitting in the corner, all were amazed
+and wondered at the beautiful Vassilissa. Her two sisters-in-law alone
+envied her. When their turn came to dance, they also waved their left
+sleeves as Vassilissa had done, and, oh, wonder! they sprinkled wine
+all around. They waved their right sleeves, and instead of swans the
+bones flew in the face of the Tsar father. The Tsar grew very angry
+and bade them leave the palace. In the meantime Ivan Tsarevitch
+watched a moment to slip away unseen. He ran home, found the frogskin,
+and burned it in the fire.
+
+Vassilissa, when she came back, searched for the skin, and when she
+could not find it her beautiful face grew sad and her bright eyes
+filled with tears. She said to Tsarevitch Ivan, her husband:
+
+"Oh, dear Tsarevitch, what hast thou done? There was but a short time
+left for me to wear the ugly frogskin. The moment was near when we
+could have been happy together forever. Now I must bid thee good-by.
+Look for me in a far-away country to which no one knows the roads, at
+the palace of Kostshei the Deathless;" and Vassilissa turned into a
+white swan and flew away through the window.
+
+Tsarevitch Ivan wept bitterly. Then he prayed to the almighty God,
+and making the sign of the cross northward, southward, eastward, and
+westward, he went on a mysterious journey.
+
+No one knows how long his journey was, but one day he met an old, old
+man. He bowed to the old man, who said:
+
+"Good-day, brave fellow. What art thou searching for, and whither art
+thou going?"
+
+Tsarevitch Ivan answered sincerely, telling all about his misfortune
+without hiding anything.
+
+"And why didst thou burn the frogskin? It was wrong to do so. Listen
+now to me. Vassilissa was born wiser than her own father, and as he
+envied his daughter's wisdom he condemned her to be a frog for three
+long years. But I pity thee and want to help thee. Here is a magic
+ball. In whatever direction this ball rolls, follow without fear."
+
+Ivan Tsarevitch thanked the good old man, and followed his new guide,
+the ball. Long, very long, was his road. One day in a wide, flowery
+field he met a bear, a big Russian bear. Ivan Tsarevitch took his bow
+and was ready to shoot the bear.
+
+"Do not kill me, kind Tsarevitch," said the bear. "Who knows but that
+I may be useful to thee?" And Ivan did not shoot the bear.
+
+Above in the sunny air there flew a duck, a lovely white duck. Again
+the Tsarevitch drew his bow to shoot it. But the duck said to him:
+
+"Do not kill me, good Tsarevitch. I certainly shall be useful to thee
+some day."
+
+And this time he obeyed the command of the duck and passed by.
+Continuing his way he saw a blinking hare. The Tsarevitch prepared an
+arrow to shoot it, but the gray, blinking hare said:
+
+"Do not kill me, brave Tsarevitch. I shall prove myself grateful to
+thee in a very short time."
+
+The Tsarevitch did not shoot the hare, but passed by. He walked
+farther and farther after the rolling ball, and came to the deep blue
+sea. On the sand there lay a fish. I do not remember the name of the
+fish, but it was a big fish, almost dying on the dry sand.
+
+"O Tsarevitch Ivan!" prayed the fish, "have mercy upon me and push me
+back into the cool sea."
+
+The Tsarevitch did so, and walked along the shore. The ball, rolling
+all the time, brought Ivan to a hut, a queer, tiny hut standing on
+tiny hen's feet.
+
+"Izboushka! Izboushka!"--for so in Russia do they name small
+huts--"Izboushka, I want thee to turn thy front to me," cried Ivan,
+and lo! the tiny hut turned its front at once. Ivan stepped in and saw
+a witch, one of the ugliest witches he could imagine.
+
+"Ho! Ivan Tsarevitch! What brings thee here?" was his greeting from
+the witch.
+
+"O, thou old mischief!" shouted Ivan with anger. "Is it the way in
+holy Russia to ask questions before the tired guest gets something to
+eat, something to drink, and some hot water to wash the dust off?"
+
+Baba Yaga, the witch, gave the Tsarevitch plenty to eat and drink,
+besides hot water to wash the dust off. Tsarevitch Ivan felt
+refreshed. Soon he became talkative, and related the wonderful story
+of his marriage. He told how he had lost his dear wife, and that his
+only desire was to find her.
+
+"I know all about it," answered the witch. "She is now at the palace
+of Kostshei the Deathless, and thou must understand that Kostshei is
+terrible. He watches her day and night and no one can ever conquer
+him. His death depends on a magic needle. That needle is within a
+hare; that hare is within a large trunk; that trunk is hidden in the
+branches of an old oak tree; and that oak tree is watched by Kostshei
+as closely as Vassilissa herself, which means closer than any treasure
+he has."
+
+Then the witch told Ivan Tsarevitch how and where to find the oak
+tree. Ivan hastily went to the place. But when he perceived the oak
+tree he was much discouraged, not knowing what to do or how to begin
+the work. Lo and behold! that old acquaintance of his, the Russian
+bear, came running along, approached the tree, uprooted it, and the
+trunk fell and broke. A hare jumped out of the trunk and began to run
+fast; but another hare, Ivan's friend, came running after, caught it
+and tore it to pieces. Out of the hare there flew a duck, a gray one
+which flew very high and was almost invisible, but the beautiful white
+duck followed the bird and struck its gray enemy, which lost an egg.
+That egg fell into the deep sea. Ivan meanwhile was anxiously watching
+his faithful friends helping him. But when the egg disappeared in the
+blue waters he could not help weeping. All of a sudden a big fish came
+swimming up, the same fish he had saved, and brought the egg in his
+mouth. How happy Ivan was when he took it! He broke it and found the
+needle inside, the magic needle upon which everything depended.
+
+At the same moment Kostshei lost his strength and power forever.
+Ivan Tsarevitch entered his vast dominions, killed him with the
+magic needle, and in one of the palaces found his own dear wife, his
+beautiful Vassilissa. He took her home and they were very happy ever
+after.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+SEVEN SIMEONS
+
+
+[Illustration] In an empire, in a country beyond many seas and
+islands, beyond high mountains, beyond large rivers, upon a level
+expanse, as if spread upon a table, there stood a large town, and
+in that town there lived a Tsar called Archidei, the son of Aggei;
+therefore he was called Aggeivitch.
+
+A famous Tsar he was, and a clever one. His wealth could not be
+counted; his warriors were innumerable. There were forty times forty
+towns in his kingdom, and in each one of these towns there were ten
+palaces with silver doors and golden ceilings and magnificent crystal
+windows.
+
+For his council twelve wise men were selected, each one of them having
+a beard half a yard long and a head full of wisdom. These advisers
+offered nothing but truth to their father sovereign; none ever dared
+advance a lie.
+
+How could such a Tsar be anything but happy? But it is true, indeed,
+that neither wealth nor wisdom give happiness when the heart is not at
+ease, and even in golden palaces the poor heart often aches.
+
+So it was with the Tsar Archidei; he was rich and clever, besides
+being a handsome fellow; but he could not find a bride to his taste, a
+bride with wit and beauty equal to his own. And this was the cause of
+the Tsar Archidei's sorrow and distress.
+
+One day he was sitting in his golden armchair looking out of the
+window lost in thought. He had gazed for quite a while before he
+noticed foreign sailors landing opposite the imperial palace. The
+sailors ran their ship up to the wharf, reefed their white sails,
+threw the heavy anchor into the sea and prepared the plank ready to
+go ashore. Before them all walked an old merchant; white was his beard
+and he had about him the air of a wise man. An idea suddenly occurred
+to the Tsar: "Sea merchants generally are well informed on many
+subjects. If I ask them, perchance I shall find that they have met
+somewhere a princess, beautiful and clever, suitable for me, the Tsar
+Archidei."
+
+Without delay the order was given to call the sea merchants into the
+halls of the palace.
+
+The merchant guests appeared, prayed to the holy icons hanging in
+the corner, bowed to the Tsar, bowed to the wise advisers. The Tsar
+ordered his servants to serve them with tumblers of strong green wine.
+The guests drank the strong green wine and wiped their beards with
+embroidered towels. Then the Tsar Archidei addressed them:
+
+"We are aware that you gallant sea merchants cross all the big
+waters and see many wonderful things. My desire is to ask you about
+something, and you must give a straightforward answer without any
+deceit or evasion."
+
+"So be it, mighty Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch," answered the merchant
+guests, bowing.
+
+"Well, then, can you tell me if somewhere in an empire or kingdom,
+or among great princes, there is a maiden as beautiful and wise as
+I myself, Tsar Archidei; an illustrious maiden who would be a proper
+wife for me, a suitable Tsaritza for my country?"
+
+The merchant guests seemed to be puzzled, and after a long silence the
+eldest among them thus replied:
+
+"Indeed, I once heard that yonder beyond the great sea, on an island
+called Buzan, there is a great country; and the sovereign of that land
+has a daughter named Helena, a princess very beautiful, not less so,
+I dare say, than thyself. And wise she is, too; a wise man once tried
+for three years to guess a riddle that she gave, and did not succeed."
+
+"How far is that island, pray tell, and where are the roads that lead
+to it?"
+
+"The island is not near," answered the old merchant. "If one chooses
+the wide sea he must journey ten years. Besides, the way to it is not
+known to us. Moreover, even suppose we did know the way, it seems that
+the Princess Helena is not a bride for thee."
+
+The Tsar Archidei shouted with anger:
+
+"How dost thou dare to speak such words, thou, a long-bearded buck?"
+
+"Thy will be done, but think for thyself. Suppose thou shouldst send
+an envoy to the island of Buzan. He would require ten long years to go
+there, ten years equally long to come back, and so his journey would
+require fully twenty years. By that time a most beautiful princess
+would grow old--a girl's beauty is like the swallow, a bird of
+passage; it lasts not long."
+
+The Tsar Archidei became thoughtful.
+
+"Well," he said to the merchant guests, "you have my thanks, guests of
+passage, respectable men of trade. Go in God's name, transact business
+in my tsarstvo without any taxes whatever. What to do about the
+beautiful Princess Helena I will try to think out by myself."
+
+The merchants bowed low and left the Tsar's rich palace.
+
+The Tsar Archidei sat still, wrapped in thought, but he could find
+neither beginning nor end to the problem. "Let me ride into the wide
+fields," he said; "let me forget my sorrow amid the excitement of the
+noble hunt, hoping that the future may bring advice."
+
+The falconers appeared, cheerful notes from the golden trumpets
+resounded, and falcons and hawks were soon slumbering under their
+velvet caps as they sat quietly on the fingers of the hunters.
+
+The Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch came with his men to a wide, wide field.
+All of his men were watching the moment to loose their falcons in
+order to let the birds pursue a long-legged heron or a white-breasted
+swan.
+
+Now, you, my listeners, must understand that the fairy tale is quick,
+but life is not. The Tsar Archidei was on horseback for a long while,
+and finally came to a green valley. Looking around he saw a well
+cultivated field where the golden ears of the grain were already ripe,
+and oh, how beautiful! The Tsar stopped in admiration.
+
+"I presume," he exclaimed, "that good workers are owners of this
+place, honest plowmen and diligent sowers. If only all fields in
+my tsarstvo were equally cultivated, my people need never know what
+hunger means, and there would even be plenty to send beyond the sea to
+be exchanged for silver and gold."
+
+Then the Tsar Archidei gave orders to inquire who the owners of the
+field were, and what were their names. Hunters, grooms, and servants
+rushed in all directions, and discovered seven brave fellows, all of
+them fair, red-cheeked, and very handsome. They were dining according
+to the peasant fashion, which means that they were eating rye bread
+with onions, and drinking clear water. Their blouses were red, with a
+golden galloon around the neck, and they were so much alike that one
+could hardly be recognized from another.
+
+The royal messengers approached.
+
+"Whose field is this?" they asked; "this field with golden wheat?"
+
+The seven brave peasants answered cheerfully:
+
+"This is our field; we plowed it, and we also have sown the golden
+wheat."
+
+"And what kind of people are you?"
+
+"We are the Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch's peasants, farmers, and we are
+brothers, sons of one father and mother. The name for all of us is
+Simeon, so you understand we are seven Simeons."
+
+[Illustration: "_Hunters, grooms, and servants rushed in all
+directions_"]
+
+This answer was faithfully delivered to the Tsar Archidei by the
+envoys, and the Tsar at once desired to see the brave peasants, and
+ordered them to be called before him. The seven Simeons presently
+appeared and bowed. The Tsar looked at them with his bright eyes and
+asked them:
+
+"What kind of people are you whose field is so well cultivated?"
+
+One of the seven brothers, the eldest of them, answered:
+
+"We are all thy peasants, simpletons, without any wisdom, born of
+peasant parents, all of us children of the same father and the same
+mother, and all having the same name, Simeon. Our old father taught us
+to pray to God, to obey thee, to pay taxes faithfully, and besides to
+work and toil without rest. He also taught to each of us a trade,
+for the old saying is, 'A trade is no burden, but a profit.' The old
+father wished us to keep our trades for a cloudy day, but never to
+forsake our own fields, and always to be contented, and plow and
+harrow diligently.
+
+"He also used to say, 'If one does not neglect the mother earth, but
+thoroughly harrows and sows in due season, then she, our mother, will
+reward generously, and will give plenty of bread, besides preparing
+a soft place for the everlasting rest when one is old and tired of
+life.'"
+
+The Tsar Archidei liked the simple answer of the peasant, and said:
+
+"Take my praise, brave good fellows, my peasants, tillers of the soil,
+sowers of wheat, gatherers of gold. And now tell me, what trades did
+your father teach you, and what do you know?"
+
+The first Simeon answered:
+
+"My trade is not a very wise one. If thou wouldst let me have
+materials and working men, then I could build a post, a white stone
+column, reaching beyond the clouds, almost to the sky."
+
+"Good enough!" exclaimed the Tsar Archidei. "And thou, the second
+Simeon, what is thy trade?"
+
+The second Simeon was quick to give answer:
+
+"My trade is a simple one. If my brother will build a white stone
+column, I can climb upon that column high up in the sky, and I shall
+see from above all the empires and all the kingdoms under the sun, and
+everything which is going on in those foreign countries."
+
+"Thy trade is not so bad either," and the Tsar smiled and looked at
+the third brother. "And thou, third Simeon, what trade is thine?"
+
+The third Simeon also had his answer ready:
+
+"My trade is simple, too; that is to say, a peasant's trade. If thou
+art in need of ships, thy learned men of foreign birth build them for
+thee as well as their wisdom teaches them. But if thou wilt order, I
+will build them simply--one, two! and the ship is ready. My ships will
+be the result of the quick headwork of a peasant simpleton. But where
+a foreign ship sails a year, mine will sail an hour, and where others
+take ten years, mine will take not longer than a week."
+
+"Well, well!" laughed the Tsar. "And thy trade, the fourth Simeon?" he
+asked.
+
+The fourth brother bowed.
+
+"My trade needs no wisdom either. If my brother will build thee a
+ship, I then will sail that ship; and if an enemy gives chase or a
+tempest rises, I'll seize the ship by the black prow and plunge her
+into the deep waters where there is eternal quiet; and after the storm
+is over or the enemy far, I'll again guide her to the surface of the
+wide sea."
+
+"Good!" approved the Tsar. "And thou, fifth Simeon, what dost thou
+know? Hast thou also a trade?"
+
+"My trade, Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, is not a fair one, for I am a
+blacksmith. If thou wouldst order a shop built for me, I at once would
+forge a self-shooting gun, and no eagle far above in the sky or wild
+beast in the wood would be safe from that gun."
+
+"Not bad either," answered the Tsar Archidei, well pleased. "Thy turn
+now, sixth Simeon."
+
+"My trade is no trade," answered the sixth Simeon, rather humbly. "If
+my brother shoots a bird or a beast, never mind what or where, I can
+catch it before it falls down, catch it even better than a hunting
+dog. If the prey should fall into the blue sea, I'll find it at the
+sea's bottom; should it fall into the depth of the dark woods, I'll
+find it there in the midst of night; should it get caught in a cloud,
+I'll find it even there."
+
+The Tsar Archidei evidently liked the trade of the sixth Simeon very
+well also. These were all simple trades, you see, without any wisdom
+whatever, but rather entertaining. The Tsar also liked the peasants'
+speech, and he said to them:
+
+"Thanks, my peasants, tillers of the soil, my faithful workers. Your
+father's words are true ones: 'A trade is not a burden, but a profit.'
+Now come to my capital for a trial; people like you are welcome. And
+when the season for harvest arrives, the time to reap, to bind in
+bundles the golden grain, to thresh and carry the wheat to the market,
+I will let you go home with my royal grace."
+
+Then all the seven Simeons bowed very low. "Thine is the will," said
+they, "and we are thy obedient subjects."
+
+Here the Tsar Archidei looked at the youngest Simeon and remembered
+that he had not asked him about his trade. So he said:
+
+"And thou, seventh Simeon, what is thy trade?"
+
+"I have none, Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch. I learned many, but not a
+single one did me any good, and though I know something very well, I
+am not sure your majesty would like it."
+
+"Let us know thy secret," ordered the Tsar Archidei.
+
+"No, Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch! Give me, first of all, thy royal word
+not to kill me for my inborn talent, but to have mercy upon me. Then
+only will I be willing to disclose my secret."
+
+"Thy wish is granted. I give thee my royal word, true and not to be
+broken, that whatever thou shalt disclose to me, I will have mercy
+upon thee."
+
+Hearing these kind words, the seventh Simeon smiled, looked around,
+shook his curls and began:
+
+"My trade is one for which there is no mercy in thy tsarstvo, and it
+is the one thing I am able to do. My trade is to steal and to hide the
+trace of how and when. There is no treasure, no fortunate possession,
+not even a bewitched one, nor a secret place that could be forbidden
+me if it be my wish to steal."
+
+As soon as these bold words of the seventh Simeon reached the Tsar's
+ears he became very angry.
+
+"No!" he exclaimed, "I certainly shall not pardon thee, thief and
+burglar! I will give orders for thy cruel death! I will have thee
+chained and thrown into my subterranean prison with nothing but bread
+and water for food until thou forget thy trade!"
+
+"Great and merciful Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, postpone thy orders.
+Listen to my peasant talk," prayed the seventh Simeon. "Our old
+Russian saying is: 'He is no thief who is not caught, and neither is
+he who steals, but the one who instigates the theft.' If my wish had
+been to steal, I should have done it long ago. I should have stolen
+thy treasures and thy judges would not have objected to take a small
+share of them, and I could have built a white-walled stone palace and
+have been rich. But, mark this: I am a stupid peasant of low origin. I
+know well enough how to steal, but will not. If thy wish were to learn
+my trade, how could I keep it from thee? And if thou, for this sincere
+acknowledgment, wilt have me put to death, then what is the value of
+thy royal word?"
+
+The Tsar thought a moment. "For this time," he said, "I will not let
+thee die, for it pleases me to grant thee my grace. But from this very
+day, this very hour, thou never shalt see God's light nor the bright
+sunshine nor the silvery moon. Thou shalt never walk at liberty
+through the wide fields, but thou, my dear guest, shalt dwell in a
+palace where no sunny ray ever penetrates. You, my servants, take him,
+chain his hands and his feet and lead him to my chief jailor. And you
+six Simeons follow me. You have my grace and reward. To-morrow every
+one of you will begin to work for me according to his gifts and
+capacities."
+
+The six Simeons followed the Tsar Archidei, and the seventh brother,
+the youngest, the beloved one, was fallen upon by the servants, taken
+away to the dark prison and heavily chained.
+
+The Tsar Archidei ordered carpenters to be sent to the first Simeon,
+as well as masons and blacksmiths and all sorts of workingmen. He also
+ordered a supply of bricks, stones, iron, clay, and cement. Without
+any delay, Simeon, the first brother, began to build a column, and
+according to his simple peasant's habits his work progressed rapidly,
+and not a moment was wasted in clever combinations. In a short time
+the white column was ready, and lo, how high it went! as high as the
+great planets. The smaller stars were beneath it, and from above the
+people seemed to be like bugs.
+
+The second Simeon climbed the column, looked around, listened to
+all sounds, and came down. The Tsar Archidei, anxious to know about
+everything under the sun, ordered him to report, and Simeon did so. He
+told the Tsar Archidei all the wonderful doings all over the world. He
+told how one king was fighting another, where there was war and
+where there was peace, and with other things the second Simeon even
+mentioned deep secrets, quite surprising secrets, which made the Tsar
+Archidei smile; and the courtiers, encouraged by the royal smile,
+roared with laughter.
+
+Meantime the third Simeon was accomplishing something in his line.
+After crossing himself three times the fellow rolled up his sleeves
+to the elbow, took a hatchet and--one, two--without any haste built
+a vessel. What a curious vessel it was! The Tsar Archidei watched
+the wonderful structure from the shore and as soon as the orders were
+given for sailing, the new vessel sailed away like a white-winged
+hawk. The cannon were shooting and upon the masts, instead of rigging,
+were drawn strings upon which musicians were playing the national
+tunes.
+
+As soon as the wonderful vessel sailed into deep water, the fourth
+Simeon snatched the prow and no trace of it remained on the surface;
+the whole vessel went to the depths like a heavy stone. In an hour or
+so Simeon, with his left hand, led the ship to the blue surface of
+the sea again, and with his right he presented to the Tsar a most
+magnificent sturgeon for his "kulibiaka," the famous Russian fish pie.
+
+While the Tsar Archidei enjoyed himself with looking at the marvelous
+vessel, the fifth Simeon built a blacksmith shop in the court back of
+the palace. There he blew the bellows and heated the iron. The noise
+from his hammers was great and the result of his peasant work was
+a self-shooting gun. The Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch went to the wild
+fields and perceived high above him, very high under the sky, an eagle
+flying.
+
+"Now!" exclaimed the Tsar, "there is an eagle forgetting himself with
+watching the sun; shoot it. Perchance thou shalt have the good luck to
+hit it. Then I will honor thee."
+
+Simeon shook his locks, smiled, put into his gun a silver bullet,
+aimed, shot, and the eagle fell swiftly to the earth. The sixth Simeon
+did not even allow the eagle to fall to the ground, but, quick as a
+flash, he ran under it with a plate, caught it on that big plate and
+presented his prey to the Tsar Archidei.
+
+"Thanks, thanks, my brave fellows, faithful peasants, tillers of the
+soil!" exclaimed the Tsar Archidei gayly. "I see now plainly that all
+of you are men of trade and I wish to reward you. But now go to your
+dinner and rest awhile." The six Simeons bowed to the Tsar very low,
+prayed to the holy icons and went. They were already seated, had time
+to swallow each one a tumbler of the strong, green wine, took up
+the round wooden spoons in order to attack the "stchi," the Russian
+cabbage soup, when lo! the Tsar's fool came running and shaking his
+striped cap with the round bells and shouted:
+
+"You ignorant simpletons, unlearned peasants, moujiks! Is it a
+suitable moment for dinner when the Tsar wants you? Go in haste!"
+
+All the six started running toward the palace, thinking within
+themselves: "What can have happened?" In front of the palace stood the
+guards with their iron staves; in the halls all the wise and learned
+people were gathered together, and the Tsar himself was sitting on his
+high throne looking very grim and thoughtful.
+
+"Listen to me," he said when the peasants approached, "you, my brave
+fellows, my clever brothers Simeon. I like your trades and I think, as
+do my wise advisers, that if thou, the second Simeon, art able to
+see everything going on under the sun, thou shouldst climb quickly
+on yonder column and glance around to see if there is, as they say,
+beyond the great sea an island, Buzan by name. And see if on that
+island, as men assert, there is a mighty kingdom, and in that kingdom
+a mighty king, and if that king, as the story goes, has a daughter,
+the most beautiful princess Helena."
+
+The second Simeon bowed and ran quickly, even forgetting to put on his
+cap. He went straight to the column, climbed it, looked around, came
+down, and this was his report:
+
+"Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, I have accomplished thy sovereign wish. I
+looked far beyond the sea and have seen the island Buzan. Mighty is
+the king there, and he is proud and merciless. He sits within his
+palace and his speech is always the same:
+
+'I am a great king and I have a most beautiful daughter, the princess
+Helena. There is no one in the universe more beautiful and more wise
+than she; there is no bridegroom worthy of her in any place under the
+bright sun, no tsar, no king, no tsarevitch, no korolevitch. To no one
+will I ever give my daughter, the princess Helena, and whoever
+shall dare to court her, on such an one will I declare war, ruin his
+country, and capture himself.'"
+
+"And how great is the army of that king?" asked the Tsar Archidei;
+"and also how far is his kingdom from my tsarstvo?"
+
+"Well, according to the measure of my eyes," answered Simeon, "I fancy
+it would take a ship ten years less two days; or, if it happened to be
+stormy, I am afraid even a little longer than ten years. And that
+king has not a small army. I have seen altogether a hundred thousand
+spearmen, a hundred thousand armed men, and a hundred thousand or more
+could be gathered from the Tsar's court, from his servants and all
+kinds of underlings. Besides, there is no small armament of guards
+held in reserve for a special occasion, fed and petted by the king."
+
+The Tsar Archidei remained for a long time in thoughtful silence and
+finally addressed his court people:
+
+"My warriors and advisers: I have but one wish; I want the princess
+Helena for my wife. But tell me, how can I reach her?"
+
+The wise advisers remained silent, hiding themselves behind each
+other. The third Simeon looked around, bowed to the Tsar, and said:
+
+"Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, forgive my simple words. How to reach the
+island of Buzan there is no need to worry about. Sit down on my ship;
+she is simply built, and equipped without any wise tricks. Where
+others require a year she takes but a day, and where other ships
+take ten years mine will take, let us say, a week. Only order thine
+advisers to decide whether we ought to fight for or peacefully court
+the beautiful princess."
+
+"Now, my warriors brave, my advisers sage," spoke the Tsar Archidei to
+his men, "How will you decide upon this matter? Who among you will go
+to fight for the princess, or who will be shrewd enough to bring her
+peacefully here? I will pour gold and silver over that one. I will
+give to him the first rank among the very first."
+
+And again the brave warriors and the sage advisers remained silent.
+The Tsar grew angry; he seemed to be ready for a terrible word. Then,
+as if somebody had asked the fool, out he jumped from behind the wise
+people with his foolish talk, shook his striped fool's cap, rang his
+many bells, and shouted:
+
+"Why so silent, wise men? why so deep in thought? You have big heads
+and long beards; it would seem that there is plenty of wisdom, so why
+not show it? To go to the island of Buzan to obtain the bride does
+not mean to lose gold or army. Have you already forgotten the seventh
+Simeon? Why, it will be simple enough for him to steal the princess
+Helena. Afterwards let the king of Buzan come here to fight us, and we
+will welcome him as an honored guest. But do not forget that he must
+take ten years' time to reach us, and in ten years--ah me! I have
+heard that some wise man somewhere undertook to teach a horse to talk
+in ten years!"
+
+"Good! Good!" exclaimed the Tsar Archidei, forgetting even his anger.
+"I thank thee, striped fool. I certainly shall reward thee. Thou must
+have a new cap with noisy bells, and each one of thy children a
+ginger pancake. You, faithful servants, run quickly and bring here the
+seventh Simeon."
+
+According to the Tsar's bidding the heavy iron gates of the dark
+prison were thrown open, the heavy chains were taken off and the
+seventh Simeon appeared before the eager eyes of the Tsar Archidei,
+who thus addressed him:
+
+"Listen to me attentively, thou seventh Simeon, for I had almost
+decided to grant thee a high honor; to keep thee thy life long in my
+prison. But if thou shouldst prove useful to me, then will I give thee
+freedom; and besides, thou shalt have a share out of my treasures. Art
+thou able to steal the beautiful princess Helena from her father, the
+mighty king of the island of Buzan?"
+
+"And why not?" cheerfully laughed the seventh Simeon. "There is
+nothing difficult about it. She is not a pearl, and I presume she is
+not under too many locks. Only order the ship which my brother had
+built for thee to be loaded with velvets and brocades, with Persian
+rugs, beautiful pearls and precious stones, and bid my four brothers
+come along with me. But the two eldest keep thou as hostages."
+
+Once said, quickly done. The Tsar Archidei gave orders while all were
+running hither and thither, and everything was finished so promptly
+that a short-haired girl would scarcely have had time to plait her
+hair. The ship, laden with velvets, brocades, with Persian rugs and
+pearls, and costly precious stones, was ready; the five brothers, the
+brave Simeons, were ready; they bowed to the Tsar, spread sail, and
+disappeared.
+
+The ship floated swiftly over the blue waters; she flew like a hawk
+in comparison with the slow merchant vessels, and in a week after the
+five Simeons had left their native land they sighted the island of
+Buzan.
+
+The island appeared to be surrounded with cannon as thick as peas;
+the gigantic guards walked up and down the shores tugging fiercely at
+their big mustaches. As soon as the ship became visible from a tower
+somebody shouted through a Dutch trumpet:
+
+"Stop! Answer! What kind of people are ye? Why come ye here?"
+
+The seventh Simeon answered from the ship: "We are a peaceful people,
+not enemies but friends, merchants everywhere welcomed as guests. We
+bring foreign merchandise. We want to sell, to buy, and to exchange.
+We also have gifts for your king and for the korolevna."
+
+The five brothers, our brave Simeons, lowered the boat, loaded it with
+choice Venetian velvets, brocades, pearls, and precious stones, and
+covered all with Persian rugs. They rowed to the wharf, and landing
+near the king's palace, at once carried their gifts to the king.
+
+The beautiful korolevna Helena was sitting in her terem. She was a
+fair maiden with eyes like stars and eyebrows like precious sable.
+When she looked at one it was like receiving a gift, and when she
+walked it was like the graceful swimming of a swan. The korolevna was
+quick to notice the brave, handsome brothers and at once called her
+nurses and maidens.
+
+"Hasten, my dear nurses, and you, swift maidens, find out what kind of
+strangers are these coming to our royal palace."
+
+All of the nurses, all of the maidens, ran out with questions ready.
+The seventh Simeon answered them thus:
+
+"We are merchant guests, peaceful people. Our native land is the
+country of the Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, a great Tsar indeed. We came
+to sell, to buy, to exchange; moreover, we have gifts for the king and
+his princess. We do hope the king will favor us and will accept these
+trifles; if not for himself, at least for the adornment of his court's
+lovely maidens."
+
+When Helena heard these words she at once let the merchants in. And
+the merchants appeared, bowed low to the beautiful korolevna, unfolded
+the showy velvets and golden brocades, strewed around the pearls and
+precious stones, such stones and pearls as had never been seen before
+in Buzan. The nurses and the maidens opened their mouths in amazement,
+and the korolevna herself seemed to be greatly pleased. The seventh
+Simeon, quick to understand, smiled and said:
+
+"We all know thee to be as wise as beautiful, but now thou art
+evidently joking about us or mocking us. These simple wares are
+altogether too plain for thine own use. Accept them for thy nurses and
+maidens for their everyday attire, and these stones send away to the
+kitchen boys to play with. But if thou wilt listen to me, let me say
+that on our ship we have very different velvets and brocades; we have
+also precious stones, far more precious than any one has ever seen;
+yet we dared not bring them at once lest we might not suit thy temper
+and thy hearty wish. If thou shouldst decide to come in person and
+choose anything from among our possessions, they all are thine and we
+bow to thee gratefully for the bright glance of thy beautiful eyes."
+
+The royal maid liked well enough these polite words of the handsome
+Simeon, and to her father she went:
+
+"Father and king, there have come to visit us some foreign merchants
+and they have brought some goods never before seen in Buzan. Give
+me thy permission to go on board their wonderful ship to choose what
+things I like. They also have rich gifts for thee."
+
+The king hesitated before answering her, frowning and scratching
+behind his ear.
+
+"Well," he said at last, "be it according to thy wish, my daughter, my
+beautiful korolevna. And you, my counselors, order my royal vessel
+to be ready, the cannons loaded, and a hundred of my bravest warriors
+detailed to escort the vessel. Send besides a thousand heavy armed
+warriors to guard the korolevna on her way to the merchants' vessel."
+
+Then the king's vessel started from the island of Buzan. Numbers
+of cannon and warriors protected the princess, and the royal father
+remained quiet at home.
+
+When they reached the merchants' ship the korolevna Helena came down,
+and at once the crystal bridge was placed and the korolevna with all
+her nurses and maidens went on board the foreign ship, such a ship
+as they had never seen before, never even dreamed of. Meanwhile the
+guards kept watch.
+
+The seventh Simeon showed the lovely guests everywhere. He was talking
+smoothly while leisurely unfolding his precious goods. The korolevna
+listened attentively, looked around curiously, and seemed well
+pleased.
+
+At the same moment the fourth Simeon, watching the proper moment,
+snapped the prow and down to mysterious depths went the ship where no
+one could see her. The people on the king's vessel screamed in terror,
+the warriors looked like drunken fools, and the guards only opened
+their eyes wider than before. What should they do? They directed the
+vessel back to the island and appeared before the king with their
+terrible tale.
+
+"Oh, my daughter, my darling princess Helena! It is God who punishes
+me for my pride. I never wanted thee to marry. No king, no prince,
+would I consider worthy of thee; and now--oh! now I know that thou art
+wedded to the deep sea! As for me, I am left alone for the rest of my
+sorrowful days."
+
+Then all at once he looked around and shouted to his men:
+
+"You fools! what were you thinking about? You shall all lose your
+heads! Guards, throw them into dungeons! The most cruel death shall
+be theirs, such a death that the children of their great-grandchildren
+shall shiver to hear the tale!"
+
+Now, while the king of Buzan raved and grieved, the ship of the
+brothers Simeon, like a golden fish, swam under the blue waters, and
+when the island was lost from sight the fourth Simeon brought her to
+the surface and she rose upon the waters like a white-winged gull. By
+this time the princess was becoming anxious about the long time they
+were away from home, and she exclaimed:
+
+"Nurses and maidens, we are leisurely looking around, but I fancy my
+father the king finds the time sadly long." She hastily walked to the
+deck of the ship, and behold!--only the wide sea was around her like a
+mirror! Where was her native island, where the royal vessel? There was
+nothing visible but the blue sea. The princess screamed, struck her
+white bosom with both hands, transformed herself into a white swan and
+flew high into the sky. But the fifth Simeon, watching closely,
+lost no time, snapped his lucky gun and the white swan was shot. His
+brother, the sixth Simeon, caught the white swan, but lo! instead of
+the white swan there was a silvery fish, which slipped away from him.
+Simeon caught the fish, but the pretty, silvery fish turned into a
+small mouse running around the ship. Simeon did not let it reach
+a hole, but swifter than a cat caught the mouse,--and the princess
+Helena, as beautiful and natural as before, appeared before them,
+fair-faced, bright-eyed.
+
+On a lovely morning a week later the Tsar Archidei was sitting by the
+window of his palace lost in thought. His eyes were turned toward the
+sea, the wide, blue sea. He was sad at heart and could not eat; feasts
+had no interest for him, the costly dishes had no taste, the honey
+drink seemed weak. All his thoughts and longings were for the princess
+Helena, the beautiful one, the only one.
+
+What is that far away upon the waters? Is it a white gull? Or are
+those white wings not wings, but sails? No, it is not a gull, but the
+ship of the brothers Simeon, and she approaches as rapidly as the wind
+which blows her sails. The cannon boom, native melodies are played on
+the cords of the masts. Soon the ship is anchored, the crystal bridge
+prepared, and the korolevna Helena, the beautiful princess, appears
+like a never-setting sun, her eyes like bright stars, and oh! how
+happy is the Tsar Archidei!
+
+"Run quick, my faithful servants, you brave officers of state, and
+you, too, my bodyguard, and all you useful and ornamental fellows of
+my palace, run and prepare, shoot off rockets and ring the bells in
+order to give a joyful welcome to korolevna Helena, the beautiful."
+
+All hastened to their tasks, to shoot, to ring the bells, to open the
+gates, to honorably receive the korolevna. The Tsar himself came out
+to meet the beautiful princess, took her white hands and helped her
+into the palace.
+
+"Welcome! welcome!" said the Tsar Archidei. "Thy fame, korolevna
+Helena, reached me, but never could I imagine such beauty as is thine.
+Yet, though I admire thee, I do not want to separate thee from thy
+father. Say the word and my faithful servants will take thee back
+to him. If thou choosest, however, to remain in my tzarstvo, be the
+tsaritza over my country and rule over me, the Tsar Archidei, also."
+
+At these words of the Tsar the korolevna Helena threw such a glance at
+the Tsar that it seemed to him the sun was laughing, the moon singing,
+and the stars dancing all around.
+
+Well, what more is there to be said? You certainly can imagine the
+rest. The courtship was not long and the wedding feast was soon
+ready, for you know kings always have everything at their command. The
+brothers Simeon were at once dispatched to the king of Buzan with a
+message from the korolevna, his daughter, and this is what she wrote:
+
+"Dear father, mighty king and sovereign: I have found a husband
+according to my heart's wish and I am asking thy fatherly blessing.
+My bridegroom, the Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, sends his counselors to
+thee, begging thee to come to our wedding."
+
+At the very moment when the merchant ship was to land at the island of
+Buzan, crowds of people had gathered to witness the execution of the
+unfortunate guards and brave warriors whose ill-luck it was to have
+allowed the princess to disappear.
+
+"Stop!" Simeon the seventh shouted aloud from the deck. "We bring a
+missive from the korolevna Helena. Holla!"
+
+Very glad indeed was the king of the island of Buzan, and glad
+were all his subjects. The missive was read and the condemned were
+pardoned.
+
+"Evidently," the king said, "it is fated that the handsome and witty
+Tsar Archidei and my beautiful daughter are to become husband and
+wife."
+
+Then the king treated the envoys and the brothers Simeon very well and
+sent his blessings with them, as he himself did not wish to go, being
+very old. The ship soon returned and the Tsar Archidei rejoiced over
+it with his beautiful bride, and at once summoned the seven Simeons,
+the seven brave peasants.
+
+He said to them: "Thanks! thanks! my peasants, my brave tillers of
+the soil. Take as much gold as you wish. Take silver also and ask for
+whatever is your heart's desire. Everything shall be given you with
+my mighty hand. Would you like to become boyars, you shall be the
+greatest among the very great. Do you choose to become governors, each
+one shall have a town."
+
+The first Simeon bowed to the Tsar and cheerfully answered:
+
+"Thanks also to thee, Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch. We are but simple
+people and simple are our ways. It would not do for us to become
+boyars or governors. We do not care for thy treasures either. We have
+our own father's field, which shall always give us bread for hunger
+and money for need. Let us go home, taking with us thy gracious word
+as our reward. If thou choosest to be so kind, give us thine order
+which shall save us from the judges and tax-gatherers; and if we
+should be guilty of some offense, let thyself alone be our judge. And
+do, we pray thee, pardon the seventh Simeon, our youngest brother. His
+trade is surely bad, but he is not the first and not the last one to
+have such a gift."
+
+"Let it be as you wish," said the Tsar; and every desire was granted
+to the seven Simeons, and each one of them received a big tumbler of
+strong green wine out of the hands of the Tsar himself. Soon after
+this the wedding was celebrated.
+
+Now, honorable dames and gentlemen, do not judge this story of mine
+too severely. If you like it, praise it; if not, let it be forgotten.
+The story is told and a word is like a sparrow--once out it is out for
+good.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+THE LANGUAGE OF THE BIRDS
+
+
+[Illustration] Somewhere in a town in holy Russia, there lived a rich
+merchant with his wife. He had an only son, a dear, bright, and brave
+boy called Ivan. One lovely day Ivan sat at the dinner table with
+his parents. Near the window in the same room hung a cage, and a
+nightingale, a sweet-voiced, gray bird, was imprisoned within. The
+sweet nightingale began to sing its wonderful song with trills and
+high silvery tones. The merchant listened and listened to the song and
+said:
+
+"How I wish I could understand the meaning of the different songs of
+all the birds! I would give half my wealth to the man, if only there
+were such a man, who could make plain to me all the different songs of
+the different birds."
+
+Ivan took notice of these words and no matter where he went, no matter
+where he was, no matter what he did, he always thought of how he could
+learn the language of the birds.
+
+[Illustration: _Ivan learns the language of the birds_]
+
+Some time after this the merchant's son happened to be hunting in a
+forest. The winds rose, the sky became clouded, the lightning flashed,
+the thunder roared loudly, and the rain fell in torrents. Ivan soon
+came near a large tree and saw a big nest in the branches. Four small
+birds were in the nest; they were quite alone, and neither father nor
+mother was there to protect them from the cold and wet. The good Ivan
+pitied them, climbed the tree and covered the little ones with his
+"kaftan," a long-skirted coat which the Russian peasants and merchants
+usually wear. The thunderstorm passed by and a big bird came flying
+and sat down on a branch near the nest and spoke very kindly to Ivan.
+
+"Ivan, I thank thee; thou hast protected my little children from the
+cold and rain and I wish to do something for thee. Tell me what thou
+dost wish."
+
+Ivan answered; "I am not in need; I have everything for my comfort.
+But teach me the birds' language."
+
+"Stay with me three days and thou shalt know all about it."
+
+Ivan remained in the forest three days. He understood well the
+teaching of the big bird and returned home more clever than before.
+One beautiful day soon after this Ivan sat with his parents when the
+nightingale was singing in his cage. His song was so sad, however, so
+very sad, that the merchant and his wife also became sad, and their
+son, their good Ivan, who listened very attentively, was even more
+affected, and the tears came running down his cheeks.
+
+"What is the matter?" asked his parents; "what art thou weeping about,
+dear son?"
+
+"Dear parents," answered the son, "it is because I understand the
+meaning of the nightingale's song, and because this meaning is so sad
+for all of us."
+
+"What then is the meaning? Tell us the whole truth; do not hide it
+from us," said the father and mother.
+
+"Oh, how sad it sounds!" replied the son. "How much better would it be
+never to have been born!"
+
+"Do not frighten us," said the parents, alarmed. "If thou dost really
+understand the meaning of the song, tell us at once."
+
+"Do you not hear for yourselves? The nightingale says: 'The time will
+come when Ivan, the merchant's son, shall become Ivan, the king's son,
+and his own father shall serve him as a simple servant.'"
+
+The merchant and his wife felt troubled and began to distrust their
+son, their good Ivan. So one night they gave him a drowsy drink, and
+when he had fallen asleep they took him to a boat on the wide sea,
+spread the white sails, and pushed the boat from the shore.
+
+For a long time the boat danced on the waves and finally it came near
+a large merchant vessel, which struck against it with such a shock
+that Ivan awoke. The crew on the large vessel saw Ivan and pitied him.
+So they decided to take him along with them and did so. High, very
+high, above in the sky they perceived cranes. Ivan said to the
+sailors:
+
+"Be careful; I hear the birds predicting a storm. Let us enter a
+harbor or we shall suffer great danger and damage. All the sails will
+be torn and all the masts will be broken."
+
+But no one paid any attention and they went farther on. In a short
+time the storm arose, the wind tore the vessel almost to pieces, and
+they had a very hard time to repair all the damage. When they were
+through with their work they heard many wild swans flying above them
+and talking very loud among themselves.
+
+"What are they talking about?" inquired the men, this time with
+interest.
+
+"Be careful," advised Ivan. "I hear and distinctly understand them to
+say that the pirates, the terrible sea robbers, are near. If we do not
+enter a harbor at once they will imprison and kill us."
+
+The crew quickly obeyed this advice and as soon as the vessel entered
+the harbor the pirate boats passed by and the merchants saw them
+capture several unprepared vessels. When the danger was over, the
+sailors with Ivan went farther, still farther. Finally the vessel
+anchored near a town, large and unknown to the merchants. A king ruled
+in that town who was very much annoyed by three black crows. These
+three crows were all the time perching near the window of the king's
+chamber. No one knew how to get rid of them and no one could kill
+them. The king ordered notices to be placed at all crossings and on
+all prominent buildings, saying that whoever was able to relieve the
+king from the noisy birds would be rewarded by obtaining the youngest
+korolevna, the king's daughter, for a wife; but the one who should
+have the daring to undertake but not succeed in delivering the palace
+from the crows would have his head cut off. Ivan attentively read the
+announcement, once, twice, and once more. Finally he made the sign of
+the cross and went to the palace. He said to the servants:
+
+"Open the window and let me listen to the birds."
+
+The servants obeyed and Ivan listened for a while. Then he said:
+
+"Show me to your sovereign king."
+
+When he reached the room where the king sat on a high, rich chair, he
+bowed and said:
+
+"There are three crows, a father crow, a mother crow, and a son crow.
+The trouble is that they desire to obtain thy royal decision as to
+whether the son crow must follow his father crow or his mother crow."
+
+The king answered: "The son crow must follow the father crow."
+
+As soon as the king announced his royal decision the crow father with
+the crow son went one way and the crow mother disappeared the other
+way, and no one has heard the noisy birds since. The king gave
+one-half of his kingdom and his youngest korolevna to Ivan, and a
+happy life began for him.
+
+In the meantime his father, the rich merchant, lost his wife and by
+and by his fortune also. There was no one left to take care of him,
+and the old man went begging under the windows of charitable people.
+He went from one window to another, from one village to another, from
+one town to another, and one bright day he came to the palace where
+Ivan lived, begging humbly for charity. Ivan saw him and recognized
+him, ordered him to come inside, and gave him food to eat and also
+supplied him with good clothes, asking questions:
+
+[Illustration: "_The old man went begging from town to town_"]
+
+"Dear old man, what can I do for thee?" he said.
+
+"If thou art so very good," answered the poor father, without knowing
+that he was speaking to his own son, "let me remain here and serve
+thee among thy faithful servants."
+
+"Dear, dear father!" exclaimed Ivan, "thou didst doubt the true song
+of the nightingale, and now thou seest that our fate was to meet
+according to the predictions of long ago."
+
+The old man was frightened and knelt before his son, but his Ivan
+remained the same good son as before, took his father lovingly into
+his arms, and together they wept over their sorrow.
+
+Several days passed by and the old father felt courage to ask his son,
+the korolevitch:
+
+"Tell me, my son, how was it that thou didst not perish in the boat?"
+
+Ivan Korolevitch laughed gayly.
+
+"I presume," he answered, "that it was not my fate to perish at the
+bottom of the wide sea, but my fate was to marry the korolevna, my
+beautiful wife, and to sweeten the old age of my dear father."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+IVANOUSHKA THE SIMPLETON
+
+
+[Illustration] In a kingdom far away from our country, there was a
+town over which ruled the Tsar Pea with his Tsaritza Carrot. He had
+many wise statesmen, wealthy princes, strong, powerful warriors, and
+also simple soldiers, a hundred thousand, less one man. In that
+town lived all kinds of people: honest, bearded merchants, keen
+and open-handed rascals, German tradesmen, lovely maidens, Russian
+drunkards; and in the suburbs all around, the peasants tilled the
+soil, sowed the wheat, ground the flour, traded in the markets, and
+spent the money in drink.
+
+In one of the suburbs there was a poor hut where an old man lived with
+his three sons, Thomas, Pakhom, and Ivan. The old man was not only
+clever, he was wise. He had happened once to have a chat with the
+devil. They talked together while the old man treated him to a tumbler
+of wine and got out of the devil many great secrets. Soon after this
+the peasant began to perform such marvelous acts that the neighbors
+called him a sorcerer, a magician, and even supposed that the devil
+was his kin.
+
+Yes, it is true that the old man performed great marvels. Were you
+longing for love, go to him, bow to the old man, and he would give you
+some strange root, and the sweetheart would be yours. If there is
+a theft, again to him with the tale. The old man conjures over some
+water, takes an officer along straight to the thief, and your lost is
+found; only take care that the officer steals it not.
+
+Indeed the old man was very wise; but his children were not his
+equals. Two of them were almost as clever. They were married and had
+children, but Ivan, the youngest, was single. No one cared much for
+him because he was rather a fool, could not count one, two, three,
+and only drank, or ate, or slept, or lay around. Why care for such a
+person? Every one knows life for some is brighter than for others.
+But Ivan was good-hearted and quiet. Ask of him a belt, he will give
+a kaftan also; take his mittens, he certainly would want to have you
+take his cap with them. And that is why all liked Ivan, and usually
+called him Ivanoushka the Simpleton; though the name means fool, at
+the same time it carries the idea of a kind heart.
+
+Our old man lived on with his sons until finally his hour came to die.
+He called his three sons and said to them:
+
+"Dear children of mine, my dying hour is at hand and ye must fulfill
+my will. Every one of you come to my grave and spend one night with
+me; thou, Tom, the first night; thou, Pakhom, the second night; and
+thou, Ivanoushka the Simpleton, the third."
+
+Two of the brothers, as clever people, promised their father to do
+according to his bidding, but the Simpleton did not even promise; he
+only scratched his head.
+
+The old man died and was buried. During the celebration the family and
+guests had plenty of pancakes to eat and plenty of whisky to wash them
+down.
+
+Now you remember that on the first night Thomas was to go to the
+grave; but he was too lazy, or possibly afraid, so he said to the
+Simpleton:
+
+"I must be up very early to-morrow morning; I have to thresh; go thou
+for me to our father's grave."
+
+"All right," answered Ivanoushka the Simpleton. He took a slice of
+black rye bread, went to the grave, stretched himself out, and soon
+began to snore.
+
+The church clock struck midnight; the wind roared, the owl cried in
+the trees, the grave opened and the old man came out and asked:
+
+"Who is there?"
+
+"I," answered Ivanoushka.
+
+"Well, my dear son, I will reward thee for thine obedience," said the
+father.
+
+Lo! the cocks crowed and the old man dropped into the grave. The
+Simpleton arrived home and went to the warm stove.
+
+"What happened?" asked the brothers.
+
+"Nothing," he answered. "I slept the whole night and am hungry now."
+
+The second night it was Pakhom's turn to go to his father's grave. He
+thought it over and said to the Simpleton:
+
+"To-morrow is a busy day with me. Go in my place to our father's
+grave."
+
+"All right," answered Ivanoushka. He took along with him a piece of
+fish pie, went to the grave and slept. Midnight approached, the wind
+roared, crows came flying, the grave opened and the old man came out.
+
+"Who is there?" he asked.
+
+"I," answered his son the Simpleton.
+
+"Well, my beloved son, I will not forget thine obedience," said the
+old man.
+
+The cocks crowed and the old man dropped into his grave. Ivanoushka
+the Simpleton came home, went to sleep on the warm stove, and in the
+morning his brothers asked:
+
+"What happened?"
+
+"Nothing," answered Ivanoushka.
+
+On the third night the brothers said to Ivan the Simpleton:
+
+"It is thy turn to go to the grave of our father. The father's will
+should be done."
+
+"All right," answered Ivanoushka. He took some cookies, put on his
+sheepskin, and arrived at the grave.
+
+At midnight his father came out.
+
+"Who is there?" he asked.
+
+"I," answered Ivanoushka.
+
+"Well," said the old father, "my obedient son, thou shalt be
+rewarded;" and the old man shouted with a mighty voice:
+
+  "Arise, bay horse--thou wind-swift steed,
+  Appear before me in my need;
+  Stand up as in the storm the weed!"
+
+And lo!--Ivanoushka the Simpleton beheld a horse running, the earth
+trembling under his hoofs, his eyes like stars, and out of his mouth
+and ears smoke coming in a cloud. The horse approached and stood
+before the old man.
+
+"What is thy wish?" he asked with a man's voice.
+
+The old man crawled into his left ear, washed and adorned himself,
+and jumped out of his right ear as a young, brave fellow never seen
+before.
+
+"Now listen attentively," he said. "To thee, my son, I give this
+horse. And thou, my faithful horse and friend, serve my son as thou
+hast served me."
+
+Hardly had the old man pronounced these words when the first cock crew
+and the sorcerer dropped into his grave. Our Simpleton went quietly
+back home, stretched himself under the icons, and his snoring was
+heard far around.
+
+"What happened?" the brothers again asked.
+
+But the Simpleton did not even answer; he only waved his hand. The
+three brothers continued to live their usual life, the two with
+cleverness and the younger with foolishness. They lived a day in and
+an equal day out. But one morning there came quite a different day
+from all others. They learned that big men were going all over the
+country with trumpets and players; that those men announced everywhere
+the will of the Tsar, and the Tsar's will was this: The Tsar Pea and
+the Tsaritza Carrot had an only daughter, the Tsarevna Baktriana,
+heiress to the throne. She was such a beautiful maiden that the sun
+blushed when she looked at it, and the moon, altogether too bashful,
+covered itself from her eyes. Tsar and Tsaritza had a hard time to
+decide to whom they should give their daughter for a wife. It must be
+a man who could be a proper ruler over the country, a brave warrior on
+the battlefield, a wise judge in the council, an adviser to the Tsar,
+and a suitable heir after his death. They also wanted a bridegroom who
+was young, brave, and handsome, and they wanted him to be in love with
+their Tsarevna. That would have been easy enough, but the trouble was
+that the beautiful Tsarevna loved no one. Sometimes the Tsar mentioned
+to her this or that one. Always the same answer, "I do not love him."
+The Tsaritza tried, too, with no better result; "I do not like him."
+
+A day came when the Tsar Pea and his Tsaritza Carrot seriously
+addressed their daughter on the subject of marriage and said:
+
+"Our beloved child, our very beautiful Tsarevna Baktriana, it is time
+for thee to choose a bridegroom. Envoys of all descriptions, from
+kings and tzars and princes, have worn our threshold, drunk dry all
+the cellars, and thou hast not yet found any one according to thy
+heart's wish."
+
+The Tsarevna answered: "Sovereign, and thou, Tsaritza, my dear mother,
+I feel sorry for you, and my wish is to obey your desire. So let fate
+decide who is destined to become my husband. I ask you to build a
+hall, a high hall with thirty-two circles, and above those circles
+a window. I will sit at that window and do you order all kinds of
+people, tsars, kings, tsarovitchi, korolevitchi, brave warriors,
+and handsome fellows, to come. The one who will jump through the
+thirty-two circles, reach my window and exchange with me golden rings,
+he it will be who is destined to become my husband, son and heir to
+you."
+
+The Tsar and Tsaritza listened attentively to the words of their
+bright Tsarevna, and finally they said: "According to thy wish shall
+it be done."
+
+In no time the hall was ready, a very high hall adorned with Venetian
+velvets, with pearls for tassels, with golden designs, and thirty-two
+circles on both sides of the window high above. Envoys went to the
+different kings and sovereigns, pigeons flew with orders to the
+subjects to gather the proud and the humble into the town of the Tsar
+Pea and his Tsaritza Carrot. It was announced everywhere that the
+one who could jump through the circles, reach the window and exchange
+golden rings with the Tsarevna Baktriana, that man would be the lucky
+one, notwithstanding his rank--tsar or free kosack, king or warrior,
+tsarevitch, korolevitch, or fellow without any kinfolk or country.
+
+The great day arrived. Crowds pressed to the field where stood the
+newly built hall, brilliant as a star. Up high at the window the
+tsarevna was sitting, adorned with precious stones, clad in velvet and
+pearls. The people below were roaring like an ocean. The Tzar with his
+Tzaritza was sitting upon a throne. Around them were boyars, warriors,
+and counselors.
+
+The suitors on horseback, proud, handsome, and brave, whistle and ride
+round about, but looking at the high window their hearts drop. There
+were already several fellows who had tried. Each would take a long
+start, balance himself, spring, and fall back like a stone, a laughing
+stock for the witnesses.
+
+The brothers of Ivanoushka the Simpleton were preparing themselves to
+go to the field also.
+
+The Simpleton said to them: "Take me along with you."
+
+"Thou fool," laughed the brothers; "stay at home and watch the
+chickens."
+
+"All right," he answered, went to the chicken yard and lay down. But
+as soon as the brothers were away, our Ivanoushka the Simpleton walked
+to the wide fields and shouted with a mighty voice:
+
+  "Arise, bay horse--thou wind-swift steed,
+  Appear before me in my need;
+  Stand up as in the storm the weed!"
+
+The glorious horse came running. Flames shone out of his eyes; out
+of his nostrils smoke came in clouds, and the horse asked with a man's
+voice:
+
+"What is thy wish?"
+
+Ivanoushka the Simpleton crawled into the horse's left ear,
+transformed himself and reappeared at the right ear, such a handsome
+fellow that in no book is there written any description of him; no one
+has ever seen such a fellow. He jumped onto the horse and touched
+his iron sides with a silk whip. The horse became impatient, lifted
+himself above the ground, higher and higher above the dark woods below
+the traveling clouds. He swam over the large rivers, jumped over
+the small ones, as well as over hills and mountains. Ivanoushka the
+Simpleton arrived at the hall of the Tsarevna Baktriana, flew up like
+a hawk, passed through thirty circles, could not reach the last two,
+and went away like a whirlwind.
+
+The people were shouting: "Take hold of him! take hold of him!" The
+Tsar jumped to his feet, the Tsaritza screamed. Every one was roaring
+in amazement.
+
+The brothers of Ivanoushka came home and there was but one subject of
+conversation--what a splendid fellow they had seen! What a wonderful
+start to pass through the thirty circles!
+
+"Brothers, that fellow was I," said Ivanoushka the Simpleton, who had
+long since arrived.
+
+"Keep still and do not fool us," answered the brothers.
+
+The next day the two brothers were going again to the tsarski show and
+Ivanoushka the Simpleton said again: "Take me along with you."
+
+"For thee, fool, this is thy place. Be quiet at home and scare
+sparrows from the pea field instead of the scarecrow."
+
+"All right," answered the Simpleton, and he went to the field and
+began to scare the sparrows. But as soon as the brothers left home,
+Ivanoushka started to the wide field and shouted out loud with a
+mighty voice:
+
+  "Arise, bay horse--thou wind-swift steed,
+  Appear before me in my need;
+  Stand up as in the storm the weed!"
+
+--and here came the horse, the earth trembling under his hoofs, the
+sparks flying around, his eyes like flames, and out of his nostrils
+smoke curling up.
+
+"For what dost thou wish me?"
+
+Ivanoushka the Simpleton crawled into the left ear of the horse, and
+when he appeared out of the right ear, oh, my! what a fellow he was!
+Even in fairy tales there are never such handsome fellows, to say
+nothing of everyday life.
+
+Ivanoushka lifted himself on the iron back of his horse and touched
+him with a strong whip. The noble horse grew angry, made a jump, and
+went higher than the dark woods, a little below the traveling clouds.
+One jump, one mile is behind; a second jump, a river is behind; and a
+third jump and they were at the hall. Then the horse, with Ivanoushka
+on his back, flew like an eagle, high up into the air, passed the
+thirty-first circle, failed to reach the last one, and swept away like
+the wind.
+
+The people shouted: "Take hold of him! take hold of him!" The Tsar
+jumped to his feet, the Tsaritza screamed, the princes and boyars
+opened their mouths.
+
+The brothers of Ivanoushka the Simpleton came home. They were
+wondering at the fellow. Yes, an amazing fellow indeed! one circle
+only was unreached.
+
+"Brothers, that fellow over there was I," said Ivanoushka to them.
+
+"Keep still in thy own place, thou fool," was their sneering answer.
+
+The third day the brothers were going again to the strange
+entertainment of the Tsar, and again Ivanoushka the Simpleton said to
+them: "Take me along with you."
+
+"Fool," they laughed, "there is food to be given to the hogs; better
+go to them."
+
+"All right," the younger brother answered, and quietly went to the
+back yard and gave food to the hogs. But as soon as his brothers had
+left home our Ivanoushka the Simpleton hurried to the wide field and
+shouted out loud:
+
+  "Arise, bay horse--them wind-swift steed,
+  Appear before me in my need;
+  Stand up as in the storm the weed!"
+
+At once the horse came running, the earth trembled; where he stepped
+there appeared ponds, where his hoofs touched there were lakes, out of
+his eyes shone flames, out of his ears smoke came like a cloud.
+
+"For what dost thou wish me?" the horse asked with a man's voice.
+
+Ivanoushka the Simpleton crawled into his right ear and jumped out
+of his left one, and a handsome fellow he was. A young girl could not
+even imagine such a one.
+
+Ivanoushka struck his horse, pulled the bridle tight, and lo! he flew
+high up in the air. The wind was left behind and even the swallow, the
+sweet, winged passenger, must not aspire to do the same. Our hero flew
+like a cloud high up into the sky, his silver-chained mail rattling,
+his fair curls floating in the wind. He arrived at the Tsarevna's high
+hall, struck his horse once more, and oh! how the wild horse did jump!
+
+Look there! the fellow reaches all the circles; he is near the window;
+he presses the beautiful Tsarevna with his strong arms, kisses her
+on the sugar lips, exchanges golden rings, and like a storm sweeps
+through the fields. There, there, he is crushing every one on his
+way! And the Tsarevna? Well, she did not object. She even adorned his
+forehead with a diamond star.
+
+The people roared: "Take hold of him!" But the fellow had already
+disappeared and no traces were left behind.
+
+The Tsar Pea lost his royal dignity. The Tsaritza Carrot screamed
+louder than ever and the wise counselors only shook their wise heads
+and remained silent.
+
+The brothers came home talking and discussing the wonderful matter.
+
+"Indeed," they shook their heads; "only think of it! The fellow
+succeeded and our Tsarevna has a bridegroom. But who is he? Where is
+he?"
+
+"Brothers, the fellow is I," said Ivanoushka the Simpleton, smiling.
+
+"Keep still, I and I--," and the brothers almost slapped him.
+
+The matter proved to be quite serious this time, and the Tsar and
+Tsaritza issued an order to surround the town with armed men whose
+duty it was to let every one enter, but not a soul go out. Every one
+had to appear at the royal palace and show his forehead. From early in
+the morning the crowds were gathering around the palace. Each
+forehead was inspected, but there was no star on any. Dinner time was
+approaching and in the palace they even forgot to cover the oak tables
+with white spreads. The brothers of Ivanoushka had also to show their
+foreheads and the Simpleton said to them:
+
+"Take me along with you."
+
+"Thy place is right here," they answered, jokingly. "But say, what is
+the matter with thy head that thou hast covered it with cloths? Did
+somebody strike thee?"
+
+"No, nobody struck me. I, myself, struck the door with my forehead.
+The door remained all right, but on my forehead there is a knob."
+
+The brothers laughed and went. Soon after them Ivanoushka left home
+and went straight to the window of the Tsarevna, where she sat leaning
+on the window sill and looking for her betrothed.
+
+"There is our man," shouted the guards, when the Simpleton appeared
+among them. "Show thy forehead. Hast thou the star?" and they laughed.
+
+Ivanoushka the Simpleton gave no heed to their bidding, but refused.
+The guards were shouting at him and the Tsarevna heard the noise and
+ordered the fellow to her presence. There was nothing to be done but
+to take off the cloths.
+
+Behold! the star was shining in the middle of his forehead. The
+Tsarevna took Ivanoushka by the hand, brought him before Tsar Pea, and
+said:
+
+"He it is, my Tsar and father, who is destined to become my groom, thy
+son-in-law and heir."
+
+It was too late to object. The Tsar ordered preparations for the
+bridal festivities, and our Ivanoushka the Simpleton was wedded to the
+Tsarevna Baktriana. The Tsar, the Tsaritza, the young bride and
+groom, and their guests, feasted three days. There was fine eating
+and generous drinking. There were all kinds of amusements also. The
+brothers of Ivanoushka were created governors and each one received a
+village and a house.
+
+The story is told in no time, but to live a life requires time and
+patience. The brothers of Ivanoushka the Simpleton were clever men, we
+know, and as soon as they became rich every one understood it at once,
+and they themselves became quite sure about it and began to pride
+themselves, to boast, and to brag. The humble ones did not dare look
+toward their homes, and even the boyars had to take off their fur caps
+on their porches.
+
+Once several boyars came to Tsar Pea and said: "Great Tsar, the
+brothers of thy son-in-law are bragging around that they know the
+place where grows an apple tree with silver leaves and golden apples,
+and they want to bring this apple tree to thee."
+
+The Tsar immediately called the brothers before him and bade them
+bring at once the wonderful tree, the apple tree with silver leaves
+and golden apples. The brothers had ever so many excuses, but the
+Tsar would have his way. They were given fine horses out of the
+royal stables and went on their errand. Our friend, Ivanoushka the
+Simpleton, found somewhere a lame old horse, jumped on his back facing
+the tail, and also went. He went to the wide field, grasped the lame
+horse by the tail, threw him off roughly, and shouted:
+
+"You crows and magpies, come, come! There is lunch prepared for you."
+
+This done he ordered his horse, his spirited courser, to appear, and
+as usual he crawled into one ear, jumped out the other ear and they
+went--where? Toward the east where grew the wonderful apple tree
+with silver leaves and golden apples. It grew near silver waters upon
+golden sand. When Ivanoushka reached the place he uprooted the tree
+and turned toward home. His ride was long and he felt tired. Before
+he arrived at his town Ivanoushka pitched his tent and lay down for
+a rest. Along the same road came his brothers. The two were proud no
+more, but rather depressed, not knowing what answer to give the Tsar.
+They perceived the tent with silver top and near by the wonderful
+apple tree. They came nearer and--"There is our Simpleton!" exclaimed
+the brothers. Then they awakened Ivanoushka and wanted to buy the
+apple tree. They were rich and offered three carts filled with silver.
+
+"Well, brothers, this tree, this wonderful apple tree, is not for
+sale," answered Ivanoushka, "but if you wish to obtain it you may. The
+price will not be too high, a toe from each right foot."
+
+The brothers thought the matter over and finally decided to give the
+desired price. Ivanoushka cut the toes off, gave them the apple tree,
+and the happy brothers brought it to the Tsar and there was no end to
+their bragging.
+
+"Here, all-powerful Tsar," they said. "We went far, and had many a
+trouble on our way, but thy wish is fulfilled."
+
+The Tsar Pea seemed pleased, ordered a feast, commanded tunes to be
+played and drums beaten, rewarded the two brothers of Ivanoushka the
+Simpleton, each one with a town, and praised them.
+
+The boyars and warriors became furious.
+
+"Why," they said to the Tsar, "there is nothing wonderful in such an
+apple tree with golden apples and silver leaves. The brothers of thy
+son-in-law are bragging around that they will get thee a pig with
+golden bristles and silver tusks, and not alone the pig, but also her
+twelve little ones!"
+
+The Tsar called the brothers before him and ordered them to bring
+the very pig with her golden bristles and silver tusks and her twelve
+little ones. The brothers' excuses were not listened to and so they
+went. Once more the brothers were traveling on a difficult errand,
+looking for a golden-bristled pig with silver tusks and twelve little
+pigs.
+
+At that time Ivanoushka the Simpleton made up his mind to take a trip
+somewhere. He put a saddle on a cow, jumped up on her back facing the
+tail, and left the town. He came to a field, grasped the cow by the
+horns, threw her far on the prairie and shouted:
+
+"Come, come, you gray wolves and red foxes! there is a dinner for
+you!"
+
+Then he ordered his faithful horse, crawled into one ear, and jumped
+out of the other. Master and courser went on an errand, this time
+toward the south. One, two, three, and they were in dark woods. In
+these woods the wished-for pig was walking around, a golden-bristled
+pig with silver tusks. She was eating roots, and after her followed
+twelve little pigs.
+
+Ivanoushka the Simpleton threw over the pig a silk rope with a running
+noose, gathered the little pigs into a basket and went home, but
+before he reached the town of the Tsar Pea he pitched a tent with a
+golden top and lay down for a rest. On the same road the brothers came
+along with gloomy faces, not knowing what to say to the Tsar. They
+saw the tent, and near by the very pig they were searching for, with
+golden bristles and silver tusks, was fastened with a silk rope; and
+in a basket were the twelve little pigs. The brothers looked into the
+tent. Ivanoushka again! They awakened him and wanted to trade for
+the pig; they were ready to give in exchange three carts loaded with
+precious stones.
+
+"Brothers, my pig is not for trade," said Ivanoushka, "but if you want
+her so much, well, one finger from each right hand will pay for her."
+
+The brothers thought over the case for a long while; they reasoned
+thus: "People live happily without brains, why not without fingers?"
+
+So they allowed Ivanoushka to cut off their fingers, then took the pig
+to the Tsar, and their bragging had no end.
+
+"Tsar Sovereign," they said, "we went everywhere, beyond the blue
+sea, beyond the dark woods; we passed through deep sands, we suffered
+hunger and thirst; but thy wish is accomplished."
+
+The Tsar was glad to have such faithful servants. He gave a feast
+great among feasts, rewarded the brothers of Ivanoushka the Simpleton,
+created them big boyars and praised them.
+
+The other boyars and different court people said to the Tsar:
+
+"There is nothing wonderful in such a pig. Golden bristles, silver
+tusks,--yes, it is fine. But a pig remains a pig forever. The brothers
+of thy son-in-law are bragging now that they will steal for thee out
+of the stables of the fiery dragon a mare with golden mane and diamond
+hoofs."
+
+The Tsar at once called the brothers of Ivanoushka the Simpleton, and
+ordered the golden-maned mare with the diamond hoofs. The brothers
+swore that they never said such words, but the Tsar did not listen to
+their protests.
+
+"Take as much gold as you want, take warriors as many as you wish, but
+bring me the beautiful mare with golden mane and diamond hoofs. If you
+do it my reward will be great; if not, your fate is to become peasants
+as before."
+
+The brothers went, two sad heroes. Their march was slow; where to
+go they did not know. Ivanoushka also jumped upon a stick and went
+leaping toward the field. Once in the wide, open field, he ordered his
+horse, crawled into one ear, came out of the other, and both started
+for a far-away country, for an island, a big island. On that island in
+an iron stable the fiery dragon was watchfully guarding his glory--the
+golden-maned mare with diamond hoofs, which was locked under seven
+locks behind seven heavy doors.
+
+Our Ivanoushka journeyed and journeyed, how long we do not know,
+until at last he arrived at that island, struggled three days with the
+dragon and killed him on the fourth day. Then he began to tear down
+the locks. That took three days more. When he had done this he brought
+out the wonderful mare by the golden mane and turned homeward.
+
+The road was long, and before he reached his town Ivanoushka,
+according to his habit, pitched his tent with a diamond top, and laid
+him down for rest. The brothers came along--gloomy they were, fearing
+the Tsar's anger. Lo! they heard neighing; the earth trembled--it was
+the golden-maned mare! Though in the dusk of evening the brothers saw
+her golden mane shining like fire. They stopped, awakened Ivanoushka
+the Simpleton, and wanted to trade for the wonderful mare. They were
+willing to give him a bushel of precious stones each and promised even
+more.
+
+Ivanoushka said: "Though my mare is not for trade, yet if you want her
+I'll give her to you. And you, do you each give me your right ears."
+
+The brothers did not even argue, but let Ivanoushka cut off their
+ears, took hold of the bridle and went directly to the Tsar. They
+presented to him the golden-maned mare with diamond hoofs, and there
+was no end of bragging.
+
+"We went beyond seas, beyond mountains," the brothers said to the
+Tsar; "we fought the fiery dragon who bit off our ears and fingers;
+we had no fear, but one desire to serve thee faithfully; we shed our
+blood and lost our wealth."
+
+The Tsar Pea poured gold over them, created them the very highest
+men after himself, and planned such a feast that the royal cooks were
+tired out with cooking to feed all the people, and the cellars were
+fairly emptied.
+
+The Tsar Pea was sitting on his throne, one brother on his right hand,
+the other brother on his left hand. The feast was going on; all seemed
+jolly, all were drinking, all were noisy as bees in a beehive. In the
+midst of it a young, brave fellow, Ivanoushka the Simpleton, entered
+the hall--the very fellow who had passed the thirty-two circles and
+reached the window of the beautiful Tsarevna Baktriana.
+
+When the brothers noticed him, one almost choked himself with wine,
+the other was suffocating over a piece of swan. They looked at him,
+opened wide their eyes, and remained silent.
+
+Ivanoushka the Simpleton bowed to his father-in-law and told the story
+as the story was. He told about the apple tree, the wonderful apple
+tree with silver leaves and golden apples; he told about the pig, the
+golden-bristled pig with silver tusks and her twelve little ones;
+and finally he told about the marvelous mare with a golden mane and
+diamond hoofs. He finished and laid out ears, fingers, and toes.
+
+[Illustration: "_One brother was sent to watch the turkeys_"]
+
+"It is the exchange I got," said Ivanoushka.
+
+Tsar Pea became furious, stamped his feet, ordered the two brothers to
+be driven away with brooms. One was sent to feed the pigs, another to
+watch the turkeys. The Tsar seated Ivanoushka beside himself, creating
+him the highest among the very high.
+
+The feast lasted a very long time until all were tired of feasting.
+
+Ivanoushka took control of the tsarstvo, ruling wisely and severely.
+After his father-in-law's death he occupied his place. His subjects
+liked him; he had many children, and his beautiful Tsaritza Baktriana
+remained beautiful forever.
+
+
+
+
+
+WOE BOGOTIR
+
+
+[Illustration] In a small village--do not ask me where; in Russia,
+anyway--there lived two brothers; one of them was rich, the other
+poor. The rich brother had good luck in everything he undertook,
+was always successful, and had profit out of every venture. The
+poor brother, in spite of all his trouble and all his work, had none
+whatever.
+
+The rich brother became still richer, moved into a large town, bought
+a big house, and was a merchant among merchants. The poor brother
+became very poor, so poor that very often there was no crust even in
+the "izba," the peasant's log cabin, and the children--all forlorn,
+miserable little things--cried for food.
+
+The poor man lost patience and complained bitterly of his ill luck.
+He had no more courage and his head dropped heavily on his breast. One
+day he decided to call upon his wealthy brother for aid. He went and
+said to him:
+
+"Be good, help me, for I am almost without strength."
+
+"Why not?" answered the rich man. "We can do such things as that.
+There is wealth enough; but look here, there is also plenty of work to
+be done. Stay around the house for a while and work for me."
+
+"All right," consented the poor fellow, and at once began to work. Now
+he was cleaning the big yard, now grooming horses, now bringing water
+from the well or splitting wood. One week passed, two weeks passed.
+The rich brother gave him twenty and five copecks, which means only
+thirteen cents. He also gave him a loaf of black rye bread.
+
+"Many thanks," said the poor brother, humbly, and was ready to leave
+for his miserable home. Evidently the conscience of the rich brother
+smote him, so he called his brother back.
+
+"Why so prompt?" he said; "to-morrow is my birthday; stay to the
+banquet with us."
+
+[Illustration: _The rich brother_]
+
+The poor fellow remained. But even on such a pleasant occasion the
+unlucky one had no luck. His rich brother was too busy receiving his
+numerous friends and admirers, all of whom came to tell him how they
+loved him and what a good man he was. The rich merchant thanked his
+guests for their love, and bowing low begged his dear guests to eat,
+drink, and enjoy themselves. There was no time left for the poor
+brother, and he was overlooked entirely while he sat timidly in a
+corner, quite forgotten and unnoticed. He had nothing to eat, nothing
+to drink. But when the crowd was ready to say good-by, before going
+away, the bright, light-hearted guests bowed to their host and told
+him many lovely things, and the poor brother did exactly like them.
+He bowed even lower than they did and expressed more thanks than they.
+The guests went home singing in their new "telegi," the peasants'
+carts. The poor brother, hungry and very sad, walked along in silence,
+and the idea came to his mind:
+
+"What if I also tried to sing a cheerful song? The people would
+believe that I, too, have had a pleasant time at my brother's house
+and that I am going home happy like them."
+
+The good fellow began his song, began--and almost fainted away, for he
+heard quite distinctly some one behind his back, keeping tune with him
+in a shrill voice. He stopped. The voice stopped, too. He sang, and
+the voice continued again.
+
+"Who is there? Come out at once!" shouted the poor man, beside
+himself. Ha! the monster appeared, lank and yellow, almost a skeleton,
+covered with rags. The poor fellow was afraid, but had the courage to
+make the sign of the cross and ask: "Who art thou?"
+
+"I? I am Bitter Woe. I am one of the Russian heroes, Woe Bogotir. I
+pity all weak people. I pity thee, too, and want to help thee along."
+
+"All right, Bitter Woe; let us walk together arm in arm. I presume
+there are no other friends for me in this world."
+
+"Let us ride, good man," laughed the monster. "I will be thy faithful
+companion."
+
+"Thanks, but on what shall we ride?"
+
+"I do not know on what thou shalt ride, but I, I shall ride on thee,"
+and Woe jumped on the shoulders of the unlucky man. The poor fellow
+had no strength to throw him off, so he crawled along his way, the
+long, hard way, with Woe on his shoulders. He could hardly walk, yet
+Woe was singing, whistling, and switching him all the time.
+
+"Why so sad, master?" Woe would ask, when the poor man sighed. "Listen
+to me, I want to teach thee a song, my beloved little song:
+
+  "I am Woe, the brave,
+  I am Woe, the bold;
+  He who lives with me
+  Has his griefs controlled,
+  And when money is lacking
+  I'll find him gold.
+
+Attention, master, thou hast twenty-five copecks; let us go and buy
+some wine; let us have a jolly good time."
+
+The poor man obeyed. They went and spent all in drink. After this the
+unlucky fellow, with the faithful Woe on his shoulders, came home. His
+wife was sad, his little children were hungry and in tears, but he,
+under the influence of Woe and wine, danced and sang.
+
+On the next day Woe began to sigh and said:
+
+"I have a drunken headache. Let us drink more."
+
+"I have no money," answered the poor man.
+
+"Hast thou forgotten my little song? Let us trade the harrow, the
+plow, the sledge, the telega for money, and let us have a good time."
+
+"All right."
+
+The poor, weak man had no courage to refuse, and Woe Bogotir became
+his master and ruler. They went to a kabak and spent everything;
+drank, sang, and had a good time.
+
+On the next day Woe sighed again and said to the peasant:
+
+"Let us drink; let us have a jolly time; let us sell or trade
+everything left, even ourselves."
+
+Then the fellow understood that his ruin was near and decided to
+deceive the sorrowful Woe, so he said:
+
+"I once heard the old people say that behind the village, near the
+dark forest, there is buried a treasure, yes, a great treasure, but it
+is buried under a large, heavy stone, too heavy a stone for one man
+to move. If we could only remove that stone, thou and I, Woe Bogotir,
+could have a good time and plenty to drink."
+
+"Let us hasten!" screamed Woe; "the Bitter Woe is strong enough to do
+harder things than to move stones."
+
+They went a roundabout way behind the village and saw the great big
+stone, such a heavy stone that five or six strong peasants could never
+begin to move it. But our poor fellow with his faithful Woe Bogotir
+removed it at once. They looked inside. Under the stone there was
+a pit, a dark, deep pit. At the bottom of that pit something was
+twinkling. The peasant said to Woe:
+
+"Thou bold Woe, jump in, throw the gold out to me and I will hold the
+stone."
+
+Woe jumped in and laughed out loud.
+
+"I declare, master," he screamed, "there is no end of gold! There are
+twenty and more pots filled with it," and Woe handed one pot to the
+poor man, who took the pot, hastily hid it under his blouse, and
+slipped the heavy stone into its place. So Bitter Woe remained in the
+deep pit and the peasant thought to himself, "Now there is the right
+place for my comrade, for with such a friend, even gold would taste
+bitter."
+
+The crafty fellow made the sign of the cross and hurried home. He
+became quite a new man, courageous, sober, and industrious; bought a
+grove and some cattle; remodeled the izba, and even started a trade.
+And very successful he was, too. Within a year he earned much money,
+and in place of the old hut built a fine, new log cabin.
+
+One bright day he went into town to ask his rich brother, with his
+wife and children, to do him the favor of coming to a feast which was
+to be given in the new home.
+
+"That's a joke!" exclaimed the rich brother. "Without a ruble in
+thy pockets, stupid fellow! Thou evidently desirest to imitate rich
+people," and then the rich brother laughed and laughed at him. But
+at the same time he got very anxious to know how it was with his poor
+brother, so he went without delay to the new place. When he arrived
+there he could not believe his eyes. His poor brother seemed to be
+quite rich, perhaps richer than himself. Everything bespoke wealth
+and care. The host treated his brother and the brother's family most
+kindly and was very hospitable. They had good things to eat and plenty
+of honey to drink, and all became talkative. The brother who had been
+poor related everything about Woe, how he decided to deceive him and
+how, free from such a burden, he was getting to be a very happy man.
+
+The rich man grew eager and thought:
+
+"Is he a fool? Out of so many pots, to take only one! Fool and nothing
+but fool! If one has money, even the Bitter Woe is not too bad."
+
+So at once he decided to go in search of the stone, to remove it, to
+take the treasure, the whole treasure, and to send Woe Bogotir back to
+his brother.
+
+No sooner thought than done. The rich brother said good-by and went
+away, but did not go to his wealthy home. No, he hurried to the stone.
+He had to toil hard with the heavy stone, but finally moved it just
+a little, and had not time to look inside when the hidden Bogotir had
+jumped out and onto his shoulders.
+
+The rich man felt a burden, oh, what a heavy burden! looked around and
+perceived the hideous monster. He heard this monster whisper in his
+ear:
+
+"Thou art bright! Thou didst want to let me perish in that pit?
+Now, dearest, thou wilt not get rid of me; now we shall always be
+together."
+
+"Stupid Woe," began the rich man; "it was not I who hid thee under the
+stone; it was my brother; go to him."
+
+But no, Woe would not go. The monster laughed and laughed.
+
+"All the same, all the same," he answered to the rich man. "Let us
+remain dear companions."
+
+The rich man went home under the heavy burden of the misery-giving
+Woe. His wealth was soon lost, but his brother, who knew how to get
+rid of Woe, was prosperous and is prosperous to this day.
+
+
+
+
+
+BABA YAGA
+
+
+[Illustration] Somewhere, I cannot tell you exactly where, but
+certainly in vast Russia, there lived a peasant with his wife and they
+had twins--son and daughter. One day the wife died and the husband
+mourned over her very sincerely for a long time. One year passed, and
+two years, and even longer. But there is no order in a house without a
+woman, and a day came when the man thought, "If I marry again possibly
+it would turn out all right." And so he did, and had children by his
+second wife.
+
+The stepmother was envious of the stepson and daughter and began to
+use them hardly. She scolded them without any reason, sent them away
+from home as often as she wished, and gave them scarcely enough to
+eat. Finally she wanted to get rid of them altogether. Do you know
+what it means to allow a wicked thought to enter one's heart?
+
+The wicked thought grows all the time like a poisonous plant and
+slowly kills the good thoughts. A wicked feeling was growing in the
+stepmother's heart, and she determined to send the children to the
+witch, thinking sure enough that they would never return.
+
+"Dear children," she said to the orphans, "go to my grandmother who
+lives in the forest in a hut on hen's feet. You will do everything she
+wants you to, and she will give you sweet things to eat and you will
+be happy."
+
+The orphans started out. But instead of going to the witch, the
+sister, a bright little girl, took her brother by the hand and ran to
+their own old, old grandmother and told her all about their going to
+the forest.
+
+"Oh, my poor darlings!" said the good old grandmother, pitying the
+children, "my heart aches for you, but it is not in my power to help
+you. You have to go not to a loving grandmother, but to a wicked
+witch. Now listen to me, my darlings," she continued; "I will give you
+a hint: Be kind and good to everyone; do not speak ill words to any
+one; do not despise helping the weakest, and always hope that for you,
+too, there will be the needed help."
+
+The good old grandmother gave the children some delicious fresh milk
+to drink and to each a big slice of ham. She also gave them some
+cookies--there are cookies everywhere--and when the children departed
+she stood looking after them a long, long time.
+
+The obedient children arrived at the forest and, oh, wonder! there
+stood a hut, and what a curious one! It stood on tiny hen's feet, and
+at the top was a rooster's head. With their shrill, childish voices
+they called out loud:
+
+"Izboushka, Izboushka! turn thy back to the forest and thy front to
+us!"
+
+The hut did as they commanded. The two orphans looked inside and saw
+the witch resting there, her head near the threshold, one foot in one
+corner, the other foot in another corner, and her knees quite close to
+the ridge pole.
+
+"Fou, Fou, Fou!" exclaimed the witch; "I feel the Russian spirit."
+
+The children were afraid, and stood close, very close together, but in
+spite of their fear they said very politely:
+
+"Ho, grandmother, our stepmother sent us to thee to serve thee."
+
+"All right; I am not opposed to keeping you, children. If you satisfy
+all my wishes I shall reward you; if not, I shall eat you up."
+
+Without any delay the witch ordered the girl to spin the thread, and
+the boy, her brother, to carry water in a sieve to fill a big tub. The
+poor orphan girl wept at her spinning-wheel and wiped away her bitter
+tears. At once all around her appeared small mice squeaking and
+saying:
+
+"Sweet girl, do not cry. Give us cookies and we will help thee."
+
+The little girl willingly did so.
+
+"Now," gratefully squeaked the mice, "go and find the black cat. He is
+very hungry; give him a slice of ham and he will help thee."
+
+The girl speedily went in search of the cat and saw her brother in
+great distress about the tub, so many times he had filled the sieve,
+yet the tub was still dry. The little birds passed, flying near by,
+and chirped to the children:
+
+"Kind-hearted little children, give us some crumbs and we will advise
+you."
+
+The orphans gave the birds some crumbs and the grateful birds chirped
+again:
+
+"Some clay and water, children dear!"
+
+Then away they flew through the air.
+
+The children understood the hint, spat in the sieve, plastered it
+up with clay and filled the tub in a very short time. Then they both
+returned to the hut and on the threshold met the black cat. They
+generously gave him some of the good ham which their good grandmother
+had given them, petted him and asked:
+
+"Dear Kitty-cat, black and pretty, tell us what to do in order to get
+away from thy mistress, the witch?"
+
+"Well," very seriously answered the cat, "I will give you a towel and
+a comb and then you must run away. When you hear the witch running
+after you, drop the towel behind your back and a large river will
+appear in place of the towel. If you hear her once more, throw down
+the comb and in place of the comb there will appear a dark wood. This
+wood will protect you from the wicked witch, my mistress."
+
+Baba Yaga came home just then.
+
+"Is it not wonderful?" she thought; "everything is exactly right."
+
+"Well," she said to the children, "today you were brave and smart; let
+us see to-morrow. Your work will be more difficult and I hope I shall
+eat you up."
+
+The poor orphans went to bed, not to a warm bed prepared by loving
+hands, but on the straw in a cold corner. Nearly scared to death from
+fear, they lay there, afraid to talk, afraid even to breathe. The next
+morning the witch ordered all the linen to be woven and a large supply
+of firewood to be brought from the forest.
+
+The children took the towel and comb and ran away as fast as their
+feet could possibly carry them. The dogs were after them, but
+they threw them the cookies that were left; the gates did not open
+themselves, but the children smoothed them with oil; the birch tree
+near the path almost scratched their eyes out, but the gentle girl
+fastened a pretty ribbon to it. So they went farther and farther and
+ran out of the dark forest into the wide, sunny fields.
+
+The cat sat down by the loom and tore the thread to pieces, doing it
+with delight. Baba Yaga returned.
+
+"Where are the children?" she shouted, and began to beat the cat.
+"Why hast thou let them go, thou treacherous cat? Why hast thou not
+scratched their faces?"
+
+The cat answered: "Well, it was because I have served thee so many
+years and thou hast never given me a bite, while the dear children
+gave me some good ham."
+
+The witch scolded the dogs, the gates, and the birch tree near the
+path.
+
+"Well," barked the dogs, "thou certainly art our mistress, but thou
+hast never done us a favor, and the orphans were kind to us."
+
+The gates replied:
+
+"We were always ready to obey thee, but thou didst neglect us, and the
+dear children smoothed us with oil."
+
+[Illustration: _"The children ran away as fast as their feet could
+possibly carry them"_]
+
+The birch tree lisped with its leaves, "Thou hast never put a simple
+thread over my branches and the little darlings adorned them with a
+pretty ribbon."
+
+Baba Yaga understood that there was no help and started to follow the
+children herself. In her great hurry she forgot to look for the towel
+and the comb, but jumped astride a broom and was off. The children
+heard her coming and threw the towel behind them. At once a river,
+wide and blue, appeared and watered the field. Baba Yaga hopped along
+the shore until she finally found a shallow place and crossed it.
+
+Again the children heard her hurry after them and so they threw down
+the comb. This time a forest appeared, a dark and dusky forest in
+which the roots were interwoven, the branches matted together, and
+the tree-tops touching each other. The witch tried very hard to pass
+through, but in vain, and so, very, very angry, she returned home.
+
+The orphans rushed to their father, told him all about their great
+distress, and thus concluded their pitiful story:
+
+"Ah, father dear, why dost thou love us less than our brothers and
+sisters?"
+
+The father was touched and became angry. He sent the wicked stepmother
+away and lived a new life with his good children. From that time he
+watched over their happiness and never neglected them any more.
+
+How do I know this story is true? Why, one was there who told me about
+it.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+DIMIAN THE PEASANT
+
+
+[Illustration] Not long ago, or perchance very long ago, I do not know
+for sure, there lived in a village, some place in Russia, a peasant--a
+moujik. And this peasant was a stubborn and a quick-tempered fellow,
+and his name was Dimian.
+
+He was harsh by nature, this Dimian, and wanted everything to go his
+own way. If any one talked or acted against him, Dimian's fists were
+soon prepared for answer.
+
+Sometimes, for instance, he would invite one of his neighbors and
+treat his guest with fine things to eat and to drink. And the neighbor
+in order to maintain the old custom would pretend to refuse. Dimian
+would at once begin the dispute:
+
+"Thou must obey thy host!"
+
+Once it happened that a shrewd fellow called on him. Our moujik Dimian
+covered the table with the very best he had and rejoiced over the good
+time he foresaw.
+
+[Illustration: "_Well, I struck a snag_"]
+
+The fellow guest speedily ate everything up. Dimian was rather amazed,
+but brought out his kaftan.
+
+"Take off thy sheepskin," said he to the guest; "put on my new
+kaftan."
+
+In proposing it he thought within himself:
+
+"I will bet that this time he will not dare accept; then I will teach
+him a lesson."
+
+But the fellow quickly put on the new kaftan, tightened it with the
+belt, shook his curly head and answered:
+
+"Have my thanks, uncle, for thy gift. How could I dare not take it?
+Why, one must obey his host's bidding."
+
+Dimian's temper was rising, and he wanted at any rate to have his own
+way. But what to do? He hastened to the stable, brought out his best
+horse, and said to his guest:
+
+"Thou art welcome to all my belongings," and within himself he
+thought, "He certainly will refuse this time, and then my turn will
+come."
+
+But the fellow did not refuse, and smilingly answered:
+
+"In thy house thou art the ruler," and quickly he jumped on the
+horse's back and shouted to Dimian, the peasant:
+
+"Farewell, master! no one pushed thee into the trap but thyself," and
+with these words the fellow was off.
+
+Dimian looked after him and shook his head.
+
+"Well, I struck a snag," said he.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN
+
+
+[Illustration] Once upon a time a merchant's son had too much fun
+spending money, and the day came when he saw himself ruined; he had
+nothing to eat, nothing to drink. He took a shovel and went to the
+market place to see if perchance somebody would hire him as a worker.
+
+A rich, proud merchant, worth many, many thousands, came along in a
+gilded carriage. All the fellows at the market place, as soon as they
+perceived him, rushed away and hid themselves in the corners. Only one
+remained, and this one was our merchant's son.
+
+"Dost thou look for work, good fellow? Let me hire thee," the very
+rich merchant said to him.
+
+"So be it; that's what I came here for."
+
+"And thy price?"
+
+"A hundred rubles a day will be sufficient for me."
+
+"Why so much?"
+
+"If too much, go and look for some one else; plenty of people were
+around and when they saw thee coming, all of them rushed away."
+
+"All right. To-morrow come to the landing place."
+
+The next day, early in the morning, our merchant's son arrived at the
+landing; the very rich merchant was already there waiting.
+
+They boarded a ship and went to sea. For quite a long time they
+journeyed, and finally they perceived an island. Upon that island
+there were high mountains, and near the shore something seemed to be
+in flames.
+
+"Yonder is something like fire," said the merchant's son.
+
+"No, it is my golden palace."
+
+They landed, came ashore, and--look there! the rich merchant's wife
+is hastening to meet him, and along with her their young daughter, a
+lovely girl, prettier than you could think or even dream of.
+
+The family met; they greeted one another and went to the palace. And
+along with them went their new workman. They sat around the oak table
+and ate and drank and were cheerful.
+
+"One day does not count," the rich merchant said; "let us have a good
+time and leave work for to-morrow."
+
+The young workman was a fine, brave fellow, handsome and stately, and
+the merchant's lovely daughter liked him well.
+
+She left the room and made him a sign to follow her. Then she gave him
+a touchstone and a flint.
+
+"Take it," she said; "when thou art in need, it will be useful."
+
+The next day the very rich merchant with his hired workman went to the
+high golden mountain. The young fellow saw at once that there was no
+use trying to climb or even to crawl up.
+
+"Well," said the merchant, "let us have a drink for courage."
+
+And he gave the fellow some drowsy drink. The fellow drank and fell
+asleep.
+
+The rich merchant took out a sharp knife, killed a wretched horse, cut
+it open, put the fellow inside, pushed in the shovel, and sewed the
+horse's skin together, and himself sat down in the bushes.
+
+All at once crows came flying, black crows with iron beaks. They took
+hold of the carcass, lifted it up to the top of the high mountain, and
+began to pick at it.
+
+The crows soon ate up the horse and were about to begin on the
+merchant's son, when he awoke, pushed away the crows, looked around
+and asked out loud:
+
+"Where am I?"
+
+The rich merchant below answered:
+
+"On a golden mountain; take the shovel and dig for gold."
+
+And the young man dug and dug, and all the gold he dug he threw down,
+and the rich merchant loaded it upon the carts.
+
+"Enough!" finally shouted the master. "Thanks for thy help. Farewell!"
+
+"And I--how shall I get down?"
+
+"As thou pleasest; there have already perished nine and ninety of such
+fellows as thou. With thee the count will be rounded and thou wilt be
+the hundredth."
+
+The proud, rich merchant was off.
+
+"What shall I do?" thought the poor merchant's son. "Impossible to go
+down! But to stay here means death, a cruel death from hunger."
+
+And our fellow stood upon the mountain, while above the black crows
+were circling, the black crows with iron beaks, as if feeling already
+the prey.
+
+The fellow tried to think how it all happened, and he remembered the
+lovely girl and what she said to him in giving him the touchstone and
+the flint. He remembered how she said:
+
+"Take it. When thou art in need it will prove useful."
+
+"I fancy she had something in mind; let us try."
+
+The poor merchant's son took out stone and flint, struck it once and
+lo! two brave fellows were standing before him.
+
+"What is thy wish? What are thy commands?" said they.
+
+"Take me from this mountain down to the seashore."
+
+And at once the two took hold of him and carefully brought him down.
+
+Our hero walks along the shore. See there! a vessel comes sailing near
+the island.
+
+"Ahoy! good people! take me along!"
+
+"No time to stop!" And they went sailing by. But the winds arose and
+the tempest was heavy.
+
+"It seems as if this fellow over there is not an ordinary man; we had
+better go back and take him along," decided the sailors.
+
+They turned the prow toward the island, landed, took the merchant's
+son along with them and brought him to his native town.
+
+It was a long time, or perhaps only a short time after--who could
+tell?--that one day the merchant's son took again his shovel and went
+to the market place in search of work.
+
+The same very rich merchant came along in his gilded carriage; and, as
+of old, all the fellows who saw him coming rushed away.
+
+The merchant's son remained alone.
+
+"Will you be my workman?"
+
+"I will at two hundred rubles a day. If so, let us to work."
+
+"A rather expensive fellow."
+
+"If too expensive go to others; get a cheap man. There were plenty
+of people, but when thou didst appear--thou seest thyself--not one is
+left."
+
+"Well, all right. Come to-morrow to the landing place."
+
+They met at the landing place, boarded a ship and sailed toward the
+island.
+
+The first day they spent rather gayly, and on the second, master and
+workman went to work.
+
+When they reached the golden mountain the rich, proud merchant treated
+his hired man to a tumbler.
+
+"Before all, have a drink."
+
+"Wait, master! thou art the head; thou must drink the first. Let me
+treat thee this time."
+
+The young man had already prepared some of the drowsy stuff and he
+quickly mixed it with the wine and presented it to the master.
+
+The proud merchant drank and fell sound asleep.
+
+Our merchant's son killed a miserable old horse, cut it open, pushed
+his master and the shovel inside, sewed it all up and hid himself in
+the bushes.
+
+All at once black crows came flying,--black crows with iron beaks;
+they promptly lifted up the horse with the sleeping merchant inside,
+bore it to the top of the mountain, and began to pick the bones of
+their prey.
+
+When the merchant awoke he looked here and looked there and looked
+everywhere.
+
+"Where am I?"
+
+"Upon the golden mountain. Now if thou art strong after thy rest, do
+not lose time; take the shovel and dig. Dig quickly and I'll teach
+thee how to come down."
+
+The proud, rich merchant had to obey and dug and dug. Twelve big carts
+were loaded.
+
+"Enough!" shouted the merchant's son. "Thank thee, and farewell!"
+
+"And I?"
+
+"And thou mayst do as thou wishest! There are already ninety and nine
+fellows perished before thee; with thyself there will be a hundred."
+
+The merchant's son took along with him the twelve heavy carts with
+gold, arrived at the golden palace and married the lovely girl; the
+rich merchant's daughter became mistress of all her father's wealth,
+and the merchant's son with his family moved to a large town to live.
+
+And the rich merchant, the proud, rich merchant?
+
+He himself, like his many victims, became the prey of the black crows,
+black crows with iron beaks.
+
+Well, sometimes it happens just so.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+FATHER FROST
+
+
+[Illustration] In a far-away country, somewhere in Russia, there lived
+a stepmother who had a stepdaughter and also a daughter of her own.
+Her own daughter was dear to her, and always whatever she did the
+mother was the first to praise her, to pet her; but there was but
+little praise for the stepdaughter; although good and kind, she had
+no other reward than reproach. What on earth could have been done? The
+wind blows, but stops blowing at times; the wicked woman never knows
+how to stop her wickedness. One bright cold day the stepmother said to
+her husband:
+
+"Now, old man, I want thee to take thy daughter away from my eyes,
+away from my ears. Thou shalt not take her to thy people into a warm
+izba. Thou shalt take her into the wide, wide fields to the crackling
+frost."
+
+The old father grew sad, began even to weep, but nevertheless
+helped the young girl into the sleigh. He wished to cover her with a
+sheepskin in order to protect her from the cold; however, he did not
+do it. He was afraid; his wife was watching them out of the window.
+And so he went with his lovely daughter into the wide, wide fields;
+drove her nearly to the woods, left her there alone, and speedily
+drove away--he was a good man and did not care to see his daughter's
+death.
+
+Alone, quite alone, remained the sweet girl. Broken-hearted and
+terror-stricken she repeated fervently all the prayers she knew.
+
+Father Frost, the almighty sovereign at that place, clad in furs,
+with a long, long, white beard and a shining crown on his white head,
+approached nearer and nearer, looked at this beautiful guest of his
+and asked:
+
+"Dost thou know me?--me, the red-nosed Frost?"
+
+"Be welcome, Father Frost," answered gently the young girl. "I hope
+our heavenly Lord sent thee for my sinful soul."
+
+"Art thou comfortable, sweet child?" again asked the Frost. He was
+exceedingly pleased with her looks and mild manners.
+
+"Indeed I am," answered the girl, almost out of breath from cold.
+
+And the Frost, cheerful and bright, kept crackling in the branches
+until the air became icy, but the good-natured girl kept repeating:
+
+"I am very comfortable, dear Father Frost."
+
+But the Frost, however, knew all about the weakness of human beings;
+he knew very well that few of them are really good and kind; but he
+knew no one of them even could struggle too long against the power of
+Frost, the king of winter. The kindness of the gentle girl charmed old
+Frost so much that he made the decision to treat her differently from
+others, and gave her a large heavy trunk filled with many beautiful,
+beautiful things. He gave her a rich "schouba" lined with precious
+furs; he gave her silk quilts--light like feathers and warm as a
+mother's lap. What a rich girl she became and how many magnificent
+garments she received! And besides all, old Frost gave her a blue
+"sarafan" ornamented with silver and pearls.
+
+[Illustration: "_Old Frost gave the gentle girl many beautiful,
+beautiful things_"]
+
+When the young girl put it on she became such a beautiful maiden that
+even the sun smiled at her.
+
+The stepmother was in the kitchen busy baking pancakes for the meal
+which it is the custom to give to the priests and friends after the
+usual service for the dead.
+
+"Now, old man," said the wife to the husband, "go down to the wide
+fields and bring the body of thy daughter; we will bury her."
+
+The old man went off. And the little dog in the corner wagged his tail
+and said:
+
+"Bow-wow! bow-wow! the old man's daughter is on her way home,
+beautiful and happy as never before, and the old woman's daughter is
+wicked as ever before."
+
+"Keep still, stupid beast!" shouted the stepmother, and struck the
+little dog.
+
+"Here, take this pancake, eat it and say, 'The old woman's daughter
+will be married soon and the old man's daughter shall be buried
+soon.'"
+
+The dog ate the pancake and began anew:
+
+"Bow-wow! bow-wow! the old man's daughter is coming home wealthy
+and happy as never before, and the old woman's daughter is somewhere
+around as homely and wicked as ever before."
+
+The old woman was furious at the dog, but in spite of pancakes and
+whipping, the dog repeated the same words over and over again.
+
+Somebody opened the gate, voices were heard laughing and talking
+outside. The old woman looked out and sat down in amazement. The
+stepdaughter was there like a princess, bright and happy in the most
+beautiful garments, and behind her the old father had hardly strength
+enough to carry the heavy, heavy trunk with the rich outfit.
+
+"Old man!" called the stepmother, impatiently; "hitch our best horses
+to our best sleigh, and drive _my_ daughter to the very same
+place in the wide, wide fields."
+
+The old man obeyed as usual and took his stepdaughter to the same
+place and left her alone.
+
+Old Frost was there; he looked at his new guest.
+
+"Art thou comfortable, fair maiden?" asked the red-nosed sovereign.
+
+"Let me alone," harshly answered the girl; "canst thou not see that my
+feet and my hands are about stiff from the cold?"
+
+The Frost kept crackling and asking questions for quite a while, but
+obtaining no polite answer became angry and froze the girl to death.
+
+"Old man, go for my daughter; take the best horses; be careful; do not
+upset the sleigh; do not lose the trunk."
+
+And the little dog in the corner said:
+
+"Bow-wow! bow-wow! the old man's daughter will marry soon; the old
+woman's daughter shall be buried soon."
+
+"Do not lie. Here is a cake; eat it and say, 'The old woman's daughter
+is clad in silver and gold.'"
+
+The gate opened, the old woman ran out and kissed the stiff frozen
+lips of her daughter. She wept and wept, but there was no help, and
+she understood at last that through her own wickedness and envy her
+child had perished.
+
+[Illustration: THE END]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+NOTES
+
+
+The Tsarevna Frog
+
+A _tsarstvo_ is the domain of a _tsar_ (czar), which
+is the title of an absolute monarch in Russia. The word _tsar_,
+derived from the Roman name and title, Caesar, may be translated
+emperor, king, or prince. A number of words are formed from it by
+adding different syllables: Tsarevitch, the tsar's son, prince;
+Tsarevna, the tsar's daughter, princess; Tsaritza, the tsar's wife,
+queen or empress.
+
+_Boyar_ was the word formerly used to mean a
+Russian nobleman; so a _boyar-house_ is a lord's house;
+_boyarishnia_, a lord's daughter. The _terem_ was that part
+of the boyar-house in which the women's rooms were situated.
+
+In Russia there is a fatherly relation existing between the ruler
+and his subjects which is shown in such phrases as "the tsar
+father," "their father sovereign," etc. The Russian language has many
+diminutives, or terms of endearment. For instance, the Tzar is often
+affectionately called "the little father" by his subjects.
+
+"_Once said, quickly done_." This is the Russian idiom.
+Observe how much more lively it is than our own "No sooner said than
+done."
+
+
+Seven Simeons
+
+_The holy icons_ are pictures or mosaics of Christ, or the
+Virgin Mary, or of some saint or martyr of the Russian church. In
+every Russian house there is one or more, hung in a prominent place.
+Every one who enters the house at once bows and utters a prayer before
+the icons before he does anything else. This is an old Russian custom
+which is still kept up by peasants.
+
+_Strong green wine_. This is the phrase still used by Russian
+story-tellers to describe the drink which it was an honor to receive
+from the royal hand. Its strength was magical in that it was not
+acquired by keeping, but was always the same.
+
+_For a cloudy day_ is the Russian idiom very similar to our
+own.
+
+_It is a peasant's trade_ is a Russian saying which means,
+"It doesn't amount to much."
+
+_Moujik_, a peasant: his duties are those of a farm laborer,
+yet this phrase would not be a fair translation. This word, which is
+rendered "tiller of the soil," has no exact equivalent in English.
+
+_Korolevitch_, from _korol_: king. The endings
+_evitch_ and _evna_ show descent, korolevitch meaning son of
+a king; korolevna meaning daughter of a king.
+
+_Dutch trumpet_, i.e., an imported trumpet. Anything foreign
+is "Dutch" to the Russian peasant.
+
+_Honey drink_, a drink made by fermenting honey and water. It
+is quite common in Russia, and is about the same as our mead.
+
+Russian and other Slavonic tales often have queer endings, similar
+to the one here given by the story-teller at the end of the story,
+which is no part of the tale. To the Russian they give a poetic touch,
+a little sense of confusion and mystery which is certainly delightful.
+
+
+The Language of the Birds
+
+_Holy Russia_. To the Russian his country is sacred;
+everything outside is profane by comparison. The phrase suggests the
+_Holy Roman Empire_ of history, or the _Celestial Kingdom_
+of the Chinese.
+
+
+Ivanoushka the Simpleton
+
+In the peasant's house there is often a large stove of brick or
+tile on which the family sleep in cold weather.
+
+_A day in and an equal day out_, the Russian idiom. Observe
+how very like our own.
+
+
+Woe Bogotir
+
+_Kabak_, a drinking saloon.
+
+The _ruble_ is the principal coin of Russia, as the dollar
+is in the United States. It is equal to 100 copecks, and at this time
+(1903) is worth only about 50 cents.
+
+_Honey to drink_, i.e., fermented honey, or mead.
+
+
+Baba Yaga
+
+_Baba_, a peasant woman, or grandmother; granny.
+_Yaga_, witch. _Baba Yaga_, therefore, is the familiar
+"Grandmother Witch."
+
+_Izba_, a hut. _Izboushka_, a tiny hut.
+
+
+Father Frost
+
+_Schouba_, a large fur-lined cloak.
+
+_Sarafan_, the Russian national costume for women.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK TALES FROM THE RUSSIAN ***
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