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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:58:41 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:58:41 -0700 |
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diff --git a/33002-h/33002-h.htm b/33002-h/33002-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a28e35 --- /dev/null +++ b/33002-h/33002-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8109 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Shoemaker's Apron, by Parker Fillmore. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray; +} + +.tnote {border: dashed 1px; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + + + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Shoemaker's Apron, by Parker Fillmore + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + + +Title: The Shoemaker's Apron + A Second Book of Czechoslovak Fairy Tales and Folk Tales + +Author: Parker Fillmore + +Illustrator: Jan Matulka + +Release Date: June 27, 2010 [EBook #33002] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SHOEMAKER'S APRON *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Dianne Nolan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 406px;"> +<img src="images/dustjacket01.jpg" width="406" height="600" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> + + + + +<h1>THE SHOEMAKER'S +APRON</h1> + +<h3>CZECHOSLOVAK FOLK +<i>and</i> FAIRY TALES</h3> + +<h2>PARKER FILLMORE</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p style="text-align:right">$3.50</p> + +<div class='center'>THE SHOEMAKER'S +APRON<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='center'><i>A Book of Czechoslovak Fairy Tales and +Folk Tales</i><br /><br /></div> + +<div class='center'>Retold in English by <span class="smcap">Parker Fillmore.</span> + +With illustrations and decorations by +<span class="smcap">Jan Matulka.</span></div> + +<p>A collection of twenty stories, drawn +from original sources, and chosen for their +variety of subject and range of interest. +Here are fairy tales conceived with all the +gorgeousness of the Slavic imagination; +charming little nursery tales that might be +told in nurseries the world over; folk tales +illustrative of the wit of a canny people; +and rollicking devil tales as surprising to +the Anglo-Saxon imagination as they are +entertaining.</p> + +<p>They are not in any sense academic +translations, but vivid renditions by a man +who, besides being a student of folklore, +was an accomplished story-teller in his own +right.</p> + +<div class='center'><i>Harcourt, Brace and Company</i><br /></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[ii]</a></span></p><div class='center'>383 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK 17, N.Y.</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span></p> + + +<h1>THE SHOEMAKER'S +APRON +<br /></h1> +<h3><i>A Second Book of Czechoslovak<br /> +Fairy Tales and Folk Tales</i><br /> +<br /></h3> +<h2>RETOLD BY<br /> +<br /> +PARKER FILLMORE<br /> +<br /></h2> +<h2>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS<br /> +AND DECORATIONS BY<br /> +<br /> +JAN MATULKA<br /> +<br /></h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/titlepg.png" width="250" height="195" alt="Title page" title="Title page" /><br /><br /> +</div> +<div class='center'>NEW YORK<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='center'>HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY<br /><br /></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'>COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY<br /></div> +<div class='center'>PARKER FILLMORE<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='center'>PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA<br /></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/img01.png" width="312" height="284" alt="image of bird" title="image of bird" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="NOTE" id="NOTE"></a>NOTE</h2> + + +<p>The stories in this volume are all of Czech, +Moravian, and Slovak origin, and are to be +found in many versions in the books of folk tales +collected by Erben, Nemcova, Kulda, Dobsinsky, +Rimavsky, Benes-Trebizsky, Miksicek. I got them first +by word of mouth and afterwards hunted them out in +the old books. My work has been that of retelling rather +than translating since in most cases I have put myself +in the place of a storyteller who knows several forms of +the same story, equally authentic, and from them all +fashions a version of his own. It is of course always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span> +the same story although told in one form to a group +of children and in another form to a group of soldiers. +The audience that I hope particularly to interest is the +English-speaking child.</p> + +<p>Some few of the stories—such as Nemcova's very +beautiful <i>Twelve Months</i> and Erben's spirited <i>Zlatovlaska</i> +and to a less degree Nemcova's hero tale, <i>Vitazko</i>—are +already in such definitive form that it would be +profanation to "edit" them. They—especially the +first two—have been told once and for all. But the +same cannot be said of most of the other stories. +Nemcova's renderings are too often diffuse and inconsequential, +Kulda's dry, pedantic, and homiletic. +Erben, the scholarly old archivist of Prague, seems to +me the greatest literary artist of them all. His chief +interest in folklore was philological, but he was a poet +as well as a scholar and he carried his versions of the +old stories from the realm of crude folklore to the +realm of art.</p> + +<p>A small number of the present tales have appeared +in earlier English collections coming, nearly always, +by way of German or French translations. In the +one case they have been squeezed dry of their Slavic +exuberance and in the other somewhat dandified. So +I make no apology for offering them afresh.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> + +<p>Variants of most of the tales are, of course, to be +found in other countries. Grimm's <i>The White Snake</i>, +for instance, is a variant of <i>Zlatovlaska</i>. My rule of +selection has been to take stories that do not have well-known +variants in other languages. I have to confess +that <i>The White Snake</i> is very well known, but here +I break my own rule on account of the greater beauty +of the Slavic version.</p> + +<p>In Grimm there are also to be found variants of A +<i>Gullible World (The Shrewd Farmer)</i>, <i>The Devil's +Little Brother-in-Law (Bearskin)</i>, <i>Clever Manka +(The Peasant's Clever Daughter)</i>, <i>The Devil's Gifts +(The Magic Gifts)</i>, <i>The Candles of Life (The +Strange Godfather and Godfather Death)</i>, <i>The Shoemaker's +Apron (Brother Jolly)</i>. In all these tales the +same incidents are presented but with a difference in +spirit and in background that instantly marks one +variant Teutonic and its fellow Slavic. Moreover, as +stories, the German versions of these particular tales +are neither as interesting nor as important as the Slavic +versions.</p> + +<p>Both German and Slavic versions go back, in most +cases, to some early common source. Take <i>Clever +Manka</i>, for instance, and its German variant, <i>The +Farmer's Shrewd Daughter</i>. <i>Clever Manka</i> is very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span> +popular among the Czechs and Slovaks and is considered +by them especially typical of their own folk +wisdom and folk humor. And they are right: it is. +But it would be rash to say just how early or how +late this story began to be told among the peoples of +the earth. The catch at the end appears in a story +in the Talmud and at that time it has all the marks of +a long and honorable career. The story of the devil +marrying a scold, another great favorite with the Slavs, +also has its Talmudic parallel in the story of Azrael, +the Angel of Death, marrying a woman. The Azrael +story contains many of the incidents which are used in +different combinations in some half-dozen of the folk +tales in the present collection. And yet when comparative +folklore has said all that it has to say about +variants and versions the fact remains that every +people puts its own mark upon the stories that it +retells. The story that, in the Talmud, is told of +Azrael is Hebrew. The same story passed on down the +centuries from people to people appears finally as +<i>Gentle Dora</i> or <i>Katcha and the Devil</i> or <i>The +Candles of Life</i> and then it is essentially Slavic in +background, humor, and imagination.</p> + +<p>Besides its fairy tales and folk tales the present +volume contains a cluster of charming little nursery<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span> +tales and a group of rollicking devil tales. It is +intended as a companion volume to my earlier collection, +<i>Czechoslovak Fairy Tales</i>. Together these two +books present in English a selection of tales that are +fairly representative of the folk genius of a small but +highly gifted branch of the great Slav people.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 80%">P. F.</span><br /> +<br /> +<i>May, 1920.</i><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/img02.png" width="312" height="335" alt="seated woman" title="seated woman" /> +</div> + + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Twelve Months</span>: The Story of Marushka and the Wicked Holena</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Zlatovlaska the Golden-haired</span>: The Story of Yirik and the Snake</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Shepherd's Nosegay</span>: The Story of the Princess Who Learned</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> to say "Please"</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Vitazko the Victorious</span>: The Story of a Hero Whose Mother Loved</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> a Dragon</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Five Nursery Tales</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> I <span class="smcap">Kuratko the Terrible</span>: The Story of an Ungrateful Chick</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> II <span class="smcap">Smolicheck</span>: The Story of a Little Boy Who Opened the</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Door</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> III <span class="smcap">Budulinek</span>: The Story of Another Little Boy Who Opened</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> the Door</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> IV <span class="smcap">The Dear Little Hen</span>: The Story of a Rooster that Cheated</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> V <span class="smcap">The Disobedient Rooster</span>: The Story of Another Little Hen</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_133">133</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Nickerman's Wife</span>: The Story of Lidushka and the Imprisoned</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Doves</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Batcha and the Dragon</span>: The Story of a Shepherd Who Slept all</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Winter</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Clever Manka</span>: The Story of a Girl Who Knew What to Say</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Blacksmith's Stool</span>: The Story of a Man Who Found that</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Death was Necessary</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Gullible World</span>: The Story of a Man Who Didn't Beat His Wife</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Candles of Life</span>: The Story of a Child for Whom Death Stood</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Godmother</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Devil's Gifts</span>: The Story of a Man Whom the Devil Befriended</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Gentle Dora</span>: The Story of a Devil Who Married a Scold</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_225">225</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Devil's Match</span>: The Story of a Farmer Who Remembered What</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> His Grandmother Told Him</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Devil's Little Brother-in-law</span>: The Story of a Youth Who</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Couldn't Find Work</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Shoemaker's Apron</span>: The Story of the Man Who Sits Near the</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Golden Gate</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_271">271</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_TWELVE_MONTHS" id="THE_TWELVE_MONTHS"></a>THE TWELVE MONTHS</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF MARUSHKA AND THE WICKED HOLENA</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/img03.png" width="312" height="247" alt="cauldron on tripod" title="cauldron on tripod" /> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE TWELVE MONTHS</h3> + + +<p>There was once a woman who had two girls. +One was her own daughter, the other a stepchild. +Holena, her own daughter, she loved dearly, +but she couldn't bear even the sight of Marushka, the +stepchild. This was because Marushka was so much +prettier than Holena. Marushka, the dear child, +didn't know how pretty she was and so she never +understood why, whenever she stood beside Holena, +the stepmother frowned so crossly.</p> + +<p>Mother and daughter made Marushka do all the +housework alone. She had to cook and wash and sew +and spin and take care of the garden and look after +the cow. Holena, on the contrary, spent all her time +decking herself out and sitting around like a grand +lady.</p> + +<p>Marushka never complained. She did all she was +told to do and bore patiently their everlasting fault-finding. +In spite of all the hard work she did she grew +prettier from day to day, and in spite of her lazy life +Holena grew uglier.</p> + +<p>"This will never do," the stepmother thought to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +herself. "Soon the boys will come courting and once +they see how pretty Marushka is, they'll pay no attention +at all to my Holena. We had just better +do all we can to get rid of that Marushka as soon +as possible."</p> + +<p>So they both nagged Marushka all day long. They +made her work harder, they beat her, they didn't give +her enough to eat, they did everything they could +think of to make her ugly and nasty. But all to no +avail. Marushka was so good and sweet that, in +spite of all their harsh treatment, she kept on growing +prettier.</p> + +<p>One day in the middle of January Holena took the +notion that nothing would do but she must have a +bunch of fragrant violets to put in her bodice.</p> + +<p>"Marushka!" she ordered sharply. "I want some +violets. Go out to the forest and get me some."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, my dear sister!" cried poor +Marushka. "What can you be thinking of? Whoever +heard of violets growing under the snow in +January?"</p> + +<p>"What, you lazy little slattern!" Holena shouted. +"You dare to argue with me! You go this minute +and if you come back without violets I'll kill you!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 496px;"> +<img src="images/img04.png" width="496" height="600" alt="Marushka and Holena" title="Marushka and Holena" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Marushka and Holena</i></span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + +<p>The stepmother sided with Holena and, taking +Marushka roughly by the shoulder, she pushed her +out of the house and slammed the door.</p> + +<p>The poor child climbed slowly up the mountain side +weeping bitterly. All around the snow lay deep with +no track of man or beast in any direction. Marushka +wandered on and on, weak with hunger and shaking +with cold.</p> + +<p>"Dear God in heaven," she prayed, "take me to +yourself away from all this suffering."</p> + +<p>Suddenly ahead of her she saw a glowing light. +She struggled towards it and found at last that it +came from a great fire that was burning on the top +of the mountain. Around the fire there were twelve +stones, one of them much bigger and higher than the +rest. Twelve men were seated on the stones. Three +of them were very old and white; three were not so +old; three were middle-aged; and three were beautiful +youths. They did not talk. They sat silent gazing +at the fire. They were the Twelve Months.</p> + +<p>For a moment Marushka was frightened and hesitated. +Then she stepped forward and said, politely:</p> + +<p>"Kind sirs, may I warm myself at your fire? I +am shaking with cold."</p> + +<p>Great January nodded his head and Marushka +reached her stiff fingers towards the flames.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This is no place for you, my child," Great January +said. "Why are you here?"</p> + +<p>"I'm hunting for violets," Marushka answered.</p> + +<p>"Violets? This is no time to look for violets with +snow on the ground!"</p> + +<p>"I know that, sir, but my sister, Holena, says I +must bring her violets from the forest or she'll kill +me and my mother says so, too. Please, sir, won't you +tell me where I can find some?"</p> + +<p>Great January slowly stood up and walked over +to the youngest Month. He handed him a long staff +and said:</p> + +<p>"Here, March, you take the high seat."</p> + +<p>So March took the high seat and began waving the +staff over the fire. The fire blazed up and instantly +the snow all about began to melt. The trees burst +into bud; the grass revived; the little pink buds of the +daisies appeared; and, lo, it was spring!</p> + +<p>While Marushka looked, violets began to peep out +from among the leaves and soon it was as if a great +blue quilt had been spread on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Now, Marushka," March cried, "there are your +violets! Pick them quickly!"</p> + +<p>Marushka was overjoyed. She stooped down and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +gathered a great bunch. Then she thanked the Months +politely, bade them good-day, and hurried away.</p> + +<p>Just imagine Holena and the stepmother's surprise +when they saw Marushka coming home through the +snow with her hands full of violets. They opened the +door and instantly the fragrance of the flowers filled +the cottage.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get them?" Holena demanded +rudely.</p> + +<p>"High up in the mountain," Marushka said. "The +ground up there is covered with them."</p> + +<p>Holena snatched the violets and fastened them in +her waist. She kept smelling them herself all afternoon +and she let her mother smell them, but she never +once said to Marushka:</p> + +<p>"Dear sister, won't you take a smell?"</p> + +<p>The next day as she was sitting idle in the chimney +corner she took the notion that she must have some +strawberries to eat. So she called Marushka and +said:</p> + +<p>"Here you, Marushka, go out to the forest and get +me some strawberries."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, my dear sister," Marushka said, +"where can I find strawberries this time of year?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +Whoever heard of strawberries growing under the +snow?"</p> + +<p>"What, you lazy little slattern!" Holena shouted. +"You dare to argue with me! You go this minute +and if you come back without strawberries, I'll kill +you!"</p> + +<p>Again the stepmother sided with Holena and, +taking Marushka roughly by the shoulder, she pushed +her out of the house and slammed the door.</p> + +<p>Again the poor child climbed slowly up the mountain +side weeping bitterly. All around the snow lay +deep with no track of man or beast in any direction. +Marushka wandered on and on, weak with hunger +and shaking with cold. At last she saw ahead of her +the glow of the same fire that she had seen the day +before. With happy heart she hastened to it. The +Twelve Months were seated as before with Great January +on the high seat.</p> + +<p>Marushka bowed politely and said:</p> + +<p>"Kind sirs, may I warm myself at your fire? I +am shaking with cold."</p> + +<p>Great January nodded and Marushka reached her +stiff fingers towards the flames.</p> + +<p>"But Marushka," Great January said, "why are +you here again? What are you hunting now?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm hunting for strawberries," Marushka answered.</p> + +<p>"Strawberries? But, Marushka, my child, it is +winter and strawberries do not grow in the snow."</p> + +<p>Marushka shook her head sadly.</p> + +<p>"I know that, sir, but my sister, Holena, says I +must bring her strawberries from the forest or she will +kill me and my mother says so, too. Please, sir, won't +you tell me where I can find some?"</p> + +<p>Great January slowly stood up and walked over +to the Month who sat opposite him. He handed him +the long staff and said:</p> + +<p>"Here, June, you take the high seat."</p> + +<p>So June took the high seat and began waving the +staff over the fire. The flames blazed high and with +the heat the snow all about melted instantly. The +earth grew green; the trees decked themselves in +leaves; the birds began to sing; flowers bloomed and, +lo, it was summer! Presently little starry white +blossoms covered the ground under the beech trees. +Soon these turned to fruit, first green, then pink, then +red, and, with a gasp of delight, Marushka saw that +they were ripe strawberries.</p> + +<p>"Now, Marushka," June cried, "there are your +strawberries! Pick them quickly!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>Marushka picked an apronful of berries. Then she +thanked the Months politely, bade them good-bye, and +hurried home.</p> + +<p>Just imagine again Holena and the stepmother's +surprise as they saw Marushka coming through the +snow with an apronful of strawberries!</p> + +<p>They opened the door and instantly the fragrance of +the berries filled the house.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get them?" Holena demanded +rudely.</p> + +<p>"High up in the mountain," Marushka answered, +"under the beech trees."</p> + +<p>Holena took the strawberries and gobbled and +gobbled and gobbled. Then the stepmother ate all +she wanted. But it never occurred to either of them +to say:</p> + +<p>"Here, Marushka, you take one."</p> + +<p>The next day when Holena was sitting idle, as +usual, in the chimney corner, the notion took her that +she must have some red apples. So she called +Marushka and said:</p> + +<p>"Here you, Marushka, go out to the forest and get +me some red apples."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear sister," Marushka gasped, "where +can I find red apples in winter?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img05.png" width="340" height="600" alt="Marushka reached up and picked one apple" title="Maruska reached up and picked one apple" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Marushka reached up and picked one apple</i></span><br /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p>"What, you lazy little slattern, you dare to argue +with me! You go this minute and if you come back +without red apples I'll kill you!"</p> + +<p>For the third time the stepmother sided with +Holena and, taking Marushka roughly by the shoulder, +pushed her out of the house and slammed the +door.</p> + +<p>So again the poor child went out to the forest. All +around the snow lay deep with no track of man or +beast in any direction. This time Marushka hurried +straight to the mountain top. She found the Months +still seated about their fire with Great January still +on the high stone.</p> + +<p>Marushka bowed politely and said:</p> + +<p>"Kind sirs, may I warm myself at your fire? I +am shaking with cold."</p> + +<p>Great January nodded and Marushka reached her +stiff fingers towards the flames.</p> + +<p>"Why are you here again, Marushka?" Great January +asked. "What are you looking for now?"</p> + +<p>"Red apples," Marushka answered. "My sister, +Holena, says I must bring her some red apples from +the forest or she will kill me, and my mother says so, +too. Please, sir, won't you tell me where I can find +some?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>Great January slowly stood up and walked over to +one of the older Months. He handed him the long +staff and said:</p> + +<p>"Here, September, you take the high seat."</p> + +<p>So September took the high seat and began waving +the staff over the fire. The fire burned and glowed. +Instantly the snow disappeared. The fields about +looked brown and yellow and dry. From the trees +the leaves dropped one by one and a cool breeze scattered +them over the stubble. There were not many +flowers, only wild asters on the hillside, and meadow +saffron in the valleys, and under the beeches, ferns +and ivy. Presently Marushka spied an apple-tree +weighted down with ripe fruit.</p> + +<p>"There, Marushka," September called, "there are +your apples. Gather them quickly."</p> + +<p>Marushka reached up and picked one apple. Then +she picked another.</p> + +<p>"That's enough, Marushka!" September shouted. +"Don't pick any more!"</p> + +<p>Marushka obeyed at once. Then she thanked the +Months politely, bade them good-bye, and hurried +home.</p> + +<p>Holena and her stepmother were more surprised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +than ever to see Marushka coming through the snow +with red apples in her hands. They let her in and +grabbed the apples from her.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get them?" Holena demanded.</p> + +<p>"High up on the mountain," Marushka answered. +"There are plenty of them growing there."</p> + +<p>"Plenty of them! And you only brought us two!" +Holena cried angrily. "Or did you pick more and +eat them yourself on the way home?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, my dear sister," Marushka said. "I +haven't eaten any, truly I haven't. They wouldn't +let me pick any more than two. They shouted to +me not to pick any more."</p> + +<p>"I wish the lightning had struck you dead!" +Holena sneered. "I've a good mind to beat you!"</p> + +<p>After a time the greedy Holena left off her scolding +to eat one of the apples. It had so delicious a +flavor that she declared she had never in all her life +tasted anything so good. Her mother said the same. +When they had finished both apples they began to +wish for more.</p> + +<p>"Mother," Holena said, "go get me my fur cloak. +I'm going up the mountain myself. No use sending +that lazy little slattern again, for she would only eat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +up all the apples on the way home. I'll find that tree +and when I pick the apples I'd like to see anybody +stop me!"</p> + +<p>The mother begged Holena not to go out in such +weather, but Holena was headstrong and would go. +She threw her fur cloak over her shoulders and put a +shawl on her head and off she went up the mountain +side.</p> + +<p>All around the snow lay deep with no track of man +or beast in any direction. Holena wandered on and on +determined to find those wonderful apples. At last +she saw a light in the distance and when she reached it +she found it was the great fire about which the Twelve +Months were seated.</p> + +<p>At first she was frightened but, soon growing bold, +she elbowed her way through the circle of men and +without so much as saying: "By your leave," she put +out her hands to the fire. She hadn't even the courtesy +to say: "Good-day."</p> + +<p>Great January frowned.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he asked in a deep voice. "And +what do you want?"</p> + +<p>Holena looked at him rudely.</p> + +<p>"You old fool, what business is it of yours who I +am or what I want!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>She tossed her head airily and walked off into the +forest.</p> + +<p>The frown deepened on Great January's brow. +Slowly he stood up and waved the staff over his head. +The fire died down. Then the sky grew dark; an icy +wind blew over the mountain; and the snow began to +fall so thickly that it looked as if some one in the +sky were emptying a huge feather-bed.</p> + +<p>Holena could not see a step before her. She +struggled on and on. Now she ran into a tree, now +she fell into a snowdrift. In spite of her warm cloak +her limbs began to weaken and grow numb. The +snow kept on falling, the icy wind kept on blowing.</p> + +<p>Did Holena at last begin to feel sorry that she had +been so wicked and cruel to Marushka? No, she did +not. Instead, the colder she grew, the more bitterly +she reviled Marushka in her heart, the more bitterly +she reviled even the good God Himself.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile at home her mother waited for her and +waited. She stood at the window as long as she +could, then she opened the door and tried to peer +through the storm. She waited and waited, but no +Holena came.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, oh dear, what can be keeping her?" she +thought to herself. "Does she like those apples so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +much that she can't leave them, or what is it? I think +I'll have to go out myself and find her."</p> + +<p>So the stepmother put her fur cloak about her +shoulders, threw a shawl over her head, and started +out.</p> + +<p>She called: "Holena! Holena!" but no one answered.</p> + +<p>She struggled on and on up the mountain side. All +around the snow lay deep with no track of man or +beast in any direction.</p> + +<p>"Holena! Holena!"</p> + +<p>Still no answer.</p> + +<p>The snow fell fast. The icy wind moaned on.</p> + +<p>At home Marushka prepared the dinner and looked +after the cow. Still neither Holena nor the stepmother +returned.</p> + +<p>"What can they be doing all this time?" Marushka +thought.</p> + +<p>She ate her dinner alone and then sat down to +work at the distaff.</p> + +<p>The spindle filled and daylight faded and still no +sign of Holena and her mother.</p> + +<p>"Dear God in heaven, what can be keeping them!" +Marushka cried anxiously. She peered out the window +to see if they were coming.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>The storm had spent itself. The wind had died +down. The fields gleamed white in the snow and up +in the sky the frosty stars were twinkling brightly. +But not a living creature was in sight. Marushka +knelt down and prayed for her sister and mother.</p> + +<p>The next morning she prepared breakfast for them.</p> + +<p>"They'll be very cold and hungry," she said to +herself.</p> + +<p>She waited for them but they didn't come. She +cooked dinner for them but still they didn't come. In +fact they never came, for they both froze to death on +the mountain.</p> + +<p>So our good little Marushka inherited the cottage +and the garden and the cow. After a time she married +a farmer. He made her a good husband and they +lived together very happily.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ZLATOVLASKA_THE_GOLDEN-HAIRED" id="ZLATOVLASKA_THE_GOLDEN-HAIRED"></a>ZLATOVLASKA THE GOLDEN-HAIRED</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF YIRIK AND THE SNAKE</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img06.png" width="340" height="273" alt="image of snake" title="image of snake" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>ZLATOVLASKA THE GOLDEN-HAIRED</h3> + + +<p>There was once an old king who was so wise +that he was able to understand the speech of +all the animals in the world. This is how it happened. +An old woman came to him one day bringing him a +snake in a basket.</p> + +<p>"If you have this snake cooked," she told him, "and +eat it as you would a fish, then you will be able to +understand the birds of the air, the beasts of the +earth, and the fishes of the sea."</p> + +<p>The king was delighted. He made the old wise +woman a handsome present and at once ordered his +cook, a youth named Yirik, to prepare the "fish" +for dinner.</p> + +<p>"But understand, Yirik," he said severely, "you're +to cook this 'fish,' not eat it! You're not to taste +one morsel of it! If you do, you forfeit your head!"</p> + +<p>Yirik thought this a strange order.</p> + +<p>"What kind of a cook am I," he said to himself, +"that I'm not to sample my own cooking?"</p> + +<p>When he opened the basket and saw the "fish," he +was further mystified.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Um," he murmured, "it looks like a snake to +me."</p> + +<p>He put it on the fire and, when it was broiled to a +turn, he ate a morsel. It had a fine flavor. He was +about to take a second bite when suddenly he heard +a little voice that buzzed in his ear these words:</p> + +<p>"Give us some, too! Give us some, too!"</p> + +<p>He looked around to see who was speaking but +there was no one in the kitchen. Only some flies were +buzzing about.</p> + +<p>Just then outside a hissing voice called out:</p> + +<p>"Where shall we go? Where shall we go?"</p> + +<p>A higher voice answered:</p> + +<p>"To the miller's barley field! To the miller's barley +field!"</p> + +<p>Yirik looked out the window and saw a gander with +a flock of geese.</p> + +<p>"Oho!" he said to himself, shaking his head. "Now +I understand! Now I know what kind of 'fish' this +is! Now I know why the poor cook was not to take +a bite!"</p> + +<p>He slipped another morsel into his mouth, garnished +the "fish" carefully on a platter, and carried +it to the king.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 534px;"> +<img src="images/img07.png" width="534" height="600" alt="Yirik's horse began to prance and neigh" title="horses" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Yirik's horse began to prance and neigh</i></span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p>After dinner the king ordered his horse and told +Yirik to come with him for a ride. The king rode on +ahead and Yirik followed.</p> + +<p>As they cantered across a green meadow, Yirik's +horse began to prance and neigh.</p> + +<p>"Ho! Ho!" he said. "I feel so light that I could +jump over a mountain!"</p> + +<p>"So could I," the king's horse said, "but I have to +remember the old bag of bones that is perched on my +back. If I were to jump he'd tumble off and break +his neck."</p> + +<p>"And a good thing, too!" said Yirik's horse. +"Why not? Then instead of such an old bag of +bones you'd get a young man to ride you like +Yirik."</p> + +<p>Yirik almost burst out laughing as he listened to +the horses' talk, but he suppressed his merriment lest +the king should know that he had eaten some of the +magic snake.</p> + +<p>Now of course the king, too, understood what the +horses were saying. He glanced apprehensively at +Yirik and it seemed to him that Yirik was grinning.</p> + +<p>"What are you laughing at, Yirik?"</p> + +<p>"Me?" Yirik said. "I'm not laughing. I was +just thinking of something funny."</p> + +<p>"Um," said the king.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>His suspicions against Yirik were aroused. Moreover +he was afraid to trust himself to his horse any +longer. So he turned back to the palace at once.</p> + +<p>There he ordered Yirik to pour him out a goblet +of wine.</p> + +<p>"And I warn you," he said, "that you forfeit your +head if you pour a drop too much or too little."</p> + +<p>Yirik carefully tilted a great tankard and began +filling a goblet. As he poured a bird suddenly flew +into the window pursued by another bird. The first +bird had in its beak three golden hairs.</p> + +<p>"Give them to me! Give them to me! They're +mine!" screamed the second bird.</p> + +<p>"I won't! I won't! They're mine!" the first bird +answered. "I picked them up!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I saw them first!" the other cried. "I +saw them fall as the maiden sat and combed her golden +tresses. Give me two of them and I'll let you keep +the third."</p> + +<p>"No! No! No! I won't let you have one of +them!"</p> + +<p>The second bird darted angrily at the first and +after a struggle succeeded in capturing one of the +golden hairs. One hair dropped to the marble floor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +making as it struck a musical tinkle, and the first bird +escaped still holding in its bill a single hair.</p> + +<p>In his excitement over the struggle, Yirik overflowed +the goblet.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha!" said the king. "See what you've +done! You forfeit your head! However, I'll suspend +sentence on condition that you find this golden-haired +maiden and bring her to me for a wife."</p> + +<p>Poor Yirik didn't know who the maiden was nor +where she lived. But what could he say? If he +wanted to keep his head, he must undertake the quest. +So he saddled his horse and started off at random.</p> + +<p>His road led him through a forest. Here he came +upon a bush under which some shepherds had kindled +a fire. Sparks were falling on an anthill nearby and +the ants in great excitement were running hither and +thither with their eggs.</p> + +<p>"Yirik!" they cried. "Help! Help, or we shall +all be burned to death, we and our young ones in the +eggs!"</p> + +<p>Yirik instantly dismounted, cut down the burning +bush, and put out the fire.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Yirik, thank you!" the ants said. +"Your kindness to us this day will not go unrewarded.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +If ever you are in trouble, think of us and we will +help you."</p> + +<p>As Yirik rode on through the forest, he came upon +two fledgling ravens lying by the path.</p> + +<p>"Help us, Yirik, help us!" they cawed. "Our +father and mother have thrown us out of the nest in +yonder tall fir tree to fend for ourselves. We are +young and helpless and not yet able to fly. Give +us some meat to eat or we shall perish with +hunger."</p> + +<p>The sight of the helpless fledglings touched Yirik +to pity. He dismounted instantly, drew his sword, and +killed his horse. Then he fed the starving birds the +meat they needed.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Yirik, thank you!" the little ravens +croaked. "You have saved our lives this day. Your +kindness will not go unrewarded. If ever you are in +trouble, think of us and we will help you."</p> + +<p>Yirik left the young ravens and pushed on afoot. +The path through the forest was long and wearisome. +It led out finally on the seashore.</p> + +<p>On the beach two fishermen were quarreling over a +big fish with golden scales that lay gasping on the +sand.</p> + +<p>"It's mine, I tell you!" one of the men was shouting.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +"It was caught in my net, so of course it's +mine!"</p> + +<p>To this the other one shouted back:</p> + +<p>"But your net would never have caught a fish if +you hadn't been out in my boat and if I hadn't helped +you!"</p> + +<p>"Give me this one," the first man said, "and I'll +let you have the next one."</p> + +<p>"No! You take the next one!" the other said. +"This one's mine!"</p> + +<p>So they kept on arguing to no purpose until Yirik +went up to them and said:</p> + +<p>"Let me decide this for you. Suppose you sell me +the fish and then divide the money."</p> + +<p>He offered them all the money the king had given +him for his journey. The fishermen, delighted at the +offer, at once agreed. Yirik handed them over the +money and then, taking the gasping fish in his hand, +he threw it back into the sea.</p> + +<p>When the fish had caught its breath, it rose on a +wave and called out to Yirik:</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Yirik, thank you. You have saved +my life this day. Your kindness will not go unrewarded. +If ever you are in trouble, think of me and +I will help you."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>With that the golden fish flicked its tail and disappeared +in the water.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, Yirik?" the fishermen +asked.</p> + +<p>"I'm going in quest of a golden-haired maiden +whom my master, the king, wished to make his wife."</p> + +<p>"He must mean the Princess Zlatovlaska," the +fishermen said to each other.</p> + +<p>"The Princess Zlatovlaska?" Yirik repeated. +"Who is she?"</p> + +<p>"She's the golden-haired daughter of the King of +the Crystal Palace. Do you see the faint outlines of +an island over yonder? That's where she lives. The +king has twelve daughters but Zlatovlaska alone has +golden hair. Each morning at dawn a wonderful glow +spreads over land and sea. That's Zlatovlaska combing +her golden hair."</p> + +<p>The fishermen conferred apart for a moment and +then said:</p> + +<p>"Yirik, you settled our dispute for us and now in +return we'll row you over to the island."</p> + +<p>So they rowed Yirik over to the Island of the +Crystal Palace and left him there with the warning +that the king would probably try to palm off on him +one of the dark-haired princesses.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>Yirik at once presented himself at the palace, got +an audience with the king, and declared his mission.</p> + +<p>"H'm," the king said. "So your master desires the +hand of my daughter, the Princess Zlatovlaska, eh? +H'm, h'm. Well, I see no objection to your master +as a son-in-law, but of course before I entrust the +princess into your hands you must prove yourself +worthy. I tell you what I'll do: I'll give you three +tasks to perform. Be ready for the first one tomorrow."</p> + +<p>Early the next day the king said to Yirik:</p> + +<p>"My daughter, Zlatovlaska, had a precious necklace +of pearls. She was walking in the meadow over +yonder when the string broke and the pearls rolled +away in the tall grasses. Now your first task is to +gather up every last one of those pearls and hand +them to me before sundown."</p> + +<p>Yirik went to the meadow and when he saw how +broad it was and how thickly covered with tall grasses +his heart sank for he realized that he could never +search over the whole of it in one day. However, he +got down on his hands and knees and began to +hunt.</p> + +<p>Midday came and he had not yet found a single +pearl.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh dear," he thought to himself in despair, "if +only my ants were here, they could help me!"</p> + +<p>He had no sooner spoken than a million little voices +answered:</p> + +<p>"We are here and we're here to help you!"</p> + +<p>And sure enough there they were, the very ants that +he supposed were far away!</p> + +<p>"What do you want us to do?" they asked.</p> + +<p>"Find me all the pearls that are scattered in this +meadow. I can't find one of them."</p> + +<p>Instantly the ants scurried hither and thither and +soon they began bringing him the pearls one by one. +Yirik strung them together until the necklace seemed +complete.</p> + +<p>"Are there any more?" he asked.</p> + +<p>He was about to tie the string together when a +lame ant, whose foot had been burned in the fire, +hobbled up, crying:</p> + +<p>"Wait, Yirik, don't tie the string yet! Here's the +last pearl!"</p> + +<p>Yirik thanked the ants for their help and at sundown +carried the string of pearls to the king. The +king counted the pearls and, to his surprise, found +that not one was missing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You've done this well," he said. "Tomorrow I'll +give you your second task."</p> + +<p>The next day when Yirik presented himself, the +king said:</p> + +<p>"While my daughter, Zlatovlaska, was bathing in the +sea, a golden ring slipped from her finger and disappeared. +Your task is to find me this ring before +sundown."</p> + +<p>Yirik went down to the seashore and as he walked +along the beach his heart grew heavy as he realized the +difficulty of the task before him. The sea was clear +but so deep that he couldn't even see the bottom. +How then could he find the ring?</p> + +<p>"Oh dear," he said aloud, "if only the golden fish +were here! It could help me."</p> + +<p>"I am here," a voice said, "and I'm here to help +you."</p> + +<p>And there was the golden fish on the crest of a +wave, gleaming like a flash of fire!</p> + +<p>"What do you want me to do?" it said.</p> + +<p>"Find me a golden ring that lies somewhere on the +bottom of the sea."</p> + +<p>"Ah, a golden ring? A moment ago I met a pike," +the fish said, "that had just such a golden ring. Wait +for me here and I'll go find the pike."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>In a few moments the golden fish returned with the +pike and sure enough it was Zlatovlaska's ring that the +pike was carrying.</p> + +<p>That evening at sundown the king acknowledged +that Yirik had accomplished his second task.</p> + +<p>The next day the king said:</p> + +<p>"I could never allow my daughter, Zlatovlaska, the +Golden-Haired, to go to the kingdom of your master +unless she carried with her two flasks, one filled with +the Water of Life, the other with the Water of Death. +So today for a third task I set you this: to bring the +princess a flask of the Water of Life and a flask of +the Water of Death."</p> + +<p>Yirik had no idea which way to turn. He had +heard of the Waters of Life and Death, but all he +knew about them was that their springs were far away +beyond the Red Sea. He left the Crystal Palace and +walked off aimlessly until his feet had carried him of +themselves into a dark forest.</p> + +<p>"If only those young ravens were here," he said +aloud, "they could help me!"</p> + +<p>Instantly he heard a loud, "Caw! Caw!" and two +ravens flew down to him, saying:</p> + +<p>"We are here! We are here to help you! What +do you want us to do?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have to bring the king a flask of the Water of +Life and a flask of the Water of Death and I don't +know where the springs are. Do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we know," the ravens said. "Wait here and +we'll soon fetch you water from both springs."</p> + +<p>They flew off and in a short time returned, each +bearing a gourd of the precious water.</p> + +<p>Yirik thanked the ravens and carefully filled his two +flasks.</p> + +<p>As he was leaving the forest, he came upon a great +spider web. An ugly spider sat in the middle of it +sucking a fly. Yirik took a drop of the Water of +Death and flicked it on the spider. The spider doubled +up dead and fell to the ground like a ripe cherry.</p> + +<p>Then Yirik sprinkled a drop of Living Water on +the fly. The fly instantly revived, pulled itself out of +the web, and flew about happy and free once again.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Yirik," it buzzed, "thank you for +bringing me back to life. You won't be sorry. Just +wait and you'll soon see that I'll reward you!"</p> + +<p>When Yirik returned to the palace and presented +the two flasks, the king said:</p> + +<p>"But one thing yet remains. You may take Zlatovlaska, +the Golden-Haired, but you must yourself pick +her out from among the twelve sisters."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>The king led Yirik into a great hall. The twelve +princesses were seated about a table, beautiful maidens +all and each looking much like the others. Yirik could +not tell which was Zlatovlaska, the Golden-Haired, for +each princess wore a long heavy white veil so draped +over her head and shoulders that it completely covered +her hair.</p> + +<p>"Here are my twelve daughters," the king said. +"One of them is Zlatovlaska, the Golden-Haired. +Pick her out and you may lead her at once to your +master. If you fail to pick her out, then you must +depart without her."</p> + +<p>In dismay Yirik looked from sister to sister. There +was nothing to show him which was Zlatovlaska, the +Golden-Haired. How was he to find out?</p> + +<p>Suddenly he heard a buzzing in his ear and a little +voice whispered:</p> + +<p>"Courage, Yirik, courage! I'll help you!"</p> + +<p>He turned his head quickly and there was the fly +he had rescued from the spider.</p> + +<p>"Walk slowly by each princess," the fly said, "and +I'll tell you when you come to Zlatovlaska, the Golden-Haired."</p> + +<p>Yirik did as the fly ordered. He stopped a moment +before the first princess until the fly buzzed:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not that one! Not that one!"</p> + +<p>He went on to the next princess and again the fly +buzzed:</p> + +<p>"Not that one! Not that one!"</p> + +<p>So he went on from princess to princess until at +last the fly buzzed out:</p> + +<p>"Yes, that one! That one!"</p> + +<p>So Yirik remained standing where he was and said +to the king:</p> + +<p>"This, I think, is Zlatovlaska, the Golden-Haired."</p> + +<p>"You have guessed right," the king said.</p> + +<p>At that Zlatovlaska removed the white veil from +her head and her lovely hair tumbled down to her feet +like a golden cascade. It shimmered and glowed like +the sun in the early morning when he peeps over the +mountain top. Yirik stared until the brightness +dimmed his sight.</p> + +<p>The king immediately prepared Zlatovlaska, the +Golden-Haired, for her journey. He gave her the +two precious flasks of water; he arranged a fitting +escort; and then with his blessing he sent her forth +under Yirik's care.</p> + +<p>Yirik conducted her safely to his master.</p> + +<p>When the old king saw the lovely princess that +Yirik had found for him, his eyes blinked with satisfaction,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +he capered about like a spring lamb, and he +ordered that immediate preparations be made for the +wedding. He was most grateful to Yirik and thanked +him again and again.</p> + +<p>"My dear boy," he said, "I had expected to have +you hanged for your disobedience and let the ravens +pick your bones. But now, to show you how grateful +I am for the beautiful bride you have found me, +I'm not going to have you hanged at all. Instead, I +shall have you beheaded and then given a decent +burial."</p> + +<p>The execution took place at once in order to be out +of the way before the wedding.</p> + +<p>"It's a great pity he had to die," the king said as +the executioner cut off Yirik's head. "He has certainly +been a faithful servant."</p> + +<p>Zlatovlaska, the Golden-Haired, asked if she might +have his severed head and body. The king who was +too madly in love to refuse her anything said: "Yes."</p> + +<p>So Zlatovlaska took the body and the head and put +them together. Then she sprinkled them with the +Water of Death. Instantly the wound closed and +soon it healed so completely that there wasn't even +a scar left.</p> + +<p>Yirik lay there lifeless but looking merely as if he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +were asleep. Zlatovlaska sprinkled him with the +Water of Life and immediately his dead limbs stirred. +Then he opened his eyes and sat up. Life poured +through his veins and he sprang to his feet younger, +fresher, handsomer than before.</p> + +<p>The old king was filled with envy.</p> + +<p>"I, too," he cried, "wish to be made young and +handsome!"</p> + +<p>He commanded the executioner to cut off his head +and he told Zlatovlaska to sprinkle him afterwards +with the Water of Life.</p> + +<p>The executioner did as he was told. Then Zlatovlaska +sprinkled the old king's head and body with the +Water of Life. Nothing happened. Zlatovlaska kept +on sprinkling the Water of Life until there was no +more left.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," the princess said to Yirik, "I believe +I should have used the Water of Death first."</p> + +<p>So now she sprinkled the body and head with the +Water of Death and, sure enough, they grew together +at once. But of course there was no life in them. +And of course there was no possible way of putting +life into them because the Water of Life was all gone. +So the old king remained dead.</p> + +<p>"This will never do," the people said. "We must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +have a king. And with the wedding feast and everything +prepared we simply must have a wedding, too. +If Zlatovlaska, the Golden-Haired, cannot marry the +old king, she'll have to marry some one else. Now +who shall it be?"</p> + +<p>Some one suggested Yirik because he was young +and handsome and because, like the old king, he could +understand the birds and the beasts.</p> + +<p>"Yirik!" the people cried. "Let Yirik be our +king!"</p> + +<p>And Zlatovlaska, the Golden-Haired, who had long +since fallen in love with handsome Yirik, consented to +have the wedding at once in order that the feast +already prepared might not be wasted.</p> + +<p>So Yirik and Zlatovlaska, the Golden-Haired, were +married and they ruled so well and they lived so +happily that to this day when people say of some +one: "He's as happy as a king," they are thinking +of King Yirik, and when they say of some one: +"She's as beautiful as a queen," they are thinking of +Zlatovlaska, the Golden-Haired.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SHEPHERDS_NOSEGAY" id="THE_SHEPHERDS_NOSEGAY"></a>THE SHEPHERD'S NOSEGAY</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A PRINCESS WHO LEARNED +TO SAY "PLEASE"</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/img08.png" width="312" height="243" alt="Castle" title="Castle" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE SHEPHERD'S NOSEGAY</h3> + + +<p>There was once a king who had a beautiful +daughter. When it was time for her to get +a husband, the king set a day and invited all the +neighboring princes to come and see her.</p> + +<p>One of these princes decided that he would like to +have a look at the princess before the others. So he +dressed himself in a shepherd's costume: a broad-brimmed hat, +a blue smock, a green vest, tight +breeches to the knees, thick woolen stockings, and +sandals. Thus disguised he set out for the kingdom +where the princess lived. All he took with him were +four loaves of bread to eat on the way.</p> + +<p>He hadn't gone far before he met a beggar who +begged him, in God's name, for a piece of bread. +The prince at once gave him one of the four loaves. +A little farther on a second beggar held out his hand +and begged for a piece of bread. To him the prince +gave the second loaf. To a third beggar he gave +the third loaf, and to a fourth beggar the last loaf.</p> + +<p>The fourth beggar said to him:</p> + +<p>"Prince in shepherd's guise, your charity will not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +go unrewarded. Here are four gifts for you, one for +each of the loaves of bread that you have given away +this day. Take this whip which has the power of +killing any one it strikes however gentle the blow. +Take this beggar's wallet. It has in it some bread and +cheese, but not common bread and cheese for, no +matter how much of it you eat, there will always be +some left. Take this shepherd's ax. If ever you have +to leave your sheep alone, plant it in the earth and +the sheep, instead of straying, will graze around it. +Last, here is a shepherd's pipe. When you blow upon +it your sheep will dance and play. Farewell and good +luck go with you."</p> + +<p>The prince thanked the beggar for his gifts and +then trudged on to the kingdom where the beautiful +princess lived. He presented himself at the palace +as a shepherd in quest of work and he told them his +name was Yan. The king liked his appearance and +so the next day he was put in charge of a flock of +sheep which he drove up the mountain side to pasture.</p> + +<p>He planted his shepherd's ax in the midst of a +meadow and, leaving his sheep to graze about it, he +went off into the forest hunting adventures. There +he came upon a castle where a giant was busy cooking +his dinner in a big saucepan.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good-day to you," Yan said politely.</p> + +<p>The giant, who was a rude, unmannerly fellow, +bellowed out:</p> + +<p>"It won't take me long to finish you, you young +whippersnapper!"</p> + +<p>He raised a great iron club to strike Yan but Yan, +quick as thought, flicked the giant with his whip and +the huge fellow toppled over dead.</p> + +<p>The next day he returned to the castle and found +another giant in possession.</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho!" he roared on sight of Yan. "What, you +young whippersnapper, back again! You killed my +brother yesterday and now I'll kill you!"</p> + +<p>He raised his great iron club to strike Yan, but Yan +skipped nimbly aside. Then he flicked the giant with +his whip and the huge fellow toppled over dead.</p> + +<p>When Yan returned to the castle the third day +there were no more giants about. So he wandered +from room to room to see what treasures were there.</p> + +<p>In one room he found a big chest. He struck it +smartly and immediately two burly men jumped out +and, bowing low before him, said:</p> + +<p>"What does the master of the castle desire?"</p> + +<p>"Show me everything there is to be seen," Yan +ordered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>So the two servants of the chest showed him everything—jewels +and treasures and gold. Then they led +him out into the gardens where the most wonderful +flowers in the world were blooming. Yan plucked +some of these and made them into a nosegay.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, as he drove home his sheep, he +played on his magic pipe and the sheep, pairing off +two by two, began to dance and frisk about him. All +the people in the village ran out to see the strange +sight and laughed and clapped their hands for joy.</p> + +<p>The princess ran to the palace window and when she +saw the sheep dancing two by two she, too, laughed +and clapped her hands. Then the wind whiffed her a +smell of the wonderful nosegay that Yan was carrying +and she said to her serving maid:</p> + +<p>"Run down to the shepherd and tell him the princess +desires his nosegay."</p> + +<p>The serving maid delivered the message to Yan, +but he shook his head and said:</p> + +<p>"Tell your mistress that whoever wants this nosegay +must come herself and say: 'Yanitchko, give me +that nosegay.'"</p> + +<p>When the princess heard this, she laughed and +said:</p> + +<p>"What an odd shepherd! I see I must go myself."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>So the princess herself came out to Yan and +said:</p> + +<p>"Yanitchko, give me that nosegay."</p> + +<p>But Yan smiled and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Whoever wants this nosegay must say: 'Yanitchko, +please give me that nosegay.'"</p> + +<p>The Princess was a merry girl, so she laughed and +said:</p> + +<p>"Yanitchko, please give me that nosegay."</p> + +<p>Yan gave it to her at once and she thanked him +sweetly.</p> + +<p>The next day Yan went again to the castle garden +and plucked another nosegay. Then in the afternoon +he drove his sheep through the village as before, playing +his pipe. The princess was standing at the palace +window waiting to see him. When the wind brought +her a whiff of the fresh nosegay that was even more +fragrant than the first one, she ran out to Yan and +said:</p> + +<p>"Yanitchko, please give me that nosegay."</p> + +<p>But Yan smiled and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Whoever wants this nosegay must say: 'My dear +Yanitchko, I beg you most politely please to give +me that nosegay.'"</p> + +<p>"My dear Yanitchko," the princess repeated demurely,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +"I beg you most politely please to give me +that nosegay."</p> + +<p>So Yan gave her the second nosegay. The princess +put it in her window and the fragrance filled the +village until people from far and near came to see it.</p> + +<p>After that every day Yan gathered a nosegay for +the princess and every day the princess stood at the +palace window waiting to see the handsome shepherd. +And always when she asked for the nosegay, she said: +"Please."</p> + +<p>In this way a month went by and the day arrived +when the neighboring princes were to come to meet the +princess. They were to come in fine array, the people +said, and the princess had ready a kerchief and a ring +for the one who would please her most.</p> + +<p>Yan planted the ax in the meadow and, leaving the +sheep to graze about it, went to the castle where he +ordered the servants of the chest to dress him as befitted +his rank. They put a white suit upon him and +gave him a white horse with trappings of silver.</p> + +<p>So he rode to the palace and took his place with +the other princes but behind them so that the princess +had to crane her neck to see him.</p> + +<p>One by one the various princes rode by the princess +but to none of them did the princess give her kerchief<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +and ring. Yan was the last to salute her, and instantly +she handed him her favors.</p> + +<p>Then before the king or the other suitors could +speak to him, Yan put spurs to his horse and rode +off.</p> + +<p>That evening as usual when he was driving home +his sheep, the princess ran out to him and said:</p> + +<p>"Yan, it was you!"</p> + +<p>But Yan laughed and put her off.</p> + +<p>"How can a poor shepherd be a prince?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The princess was not convinced and she said in +another month, when the princes were to come again, +she would find out.</p> + +<p>So for another month Yan tended sheep and plucked +nosegays for the merry little princess and the princess +waited for him at the palace window every afternoon +and when she saw him she always spoke to him +politely and said: "Please."</p> + +<p>When the day for the second meeting of the princes +came, the servants of the chest arrayed Yan in a suit +of red and gave him a sorrel horse with trappings of +gold. Yan again rode to the palace and took his place +with the other princes but behind them so that the +princess had to crane her neck to see him.</p> + +<p>Again the suitors rode by the princess one by one,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +but at each of them she shook her head impatiently and +kept her kerchief and ring until Yan saluted her.</p> + +<p>Instantly the ceremony was over, Yan put spurs to +his horse and rode off and, although the king sent +after him to bring him back, Yan was able to +escape.</p> + +<p>That evening when he was driving home his sheep +the princess ran out to him and said:</p> + +<p>"Yanitchko, it was you! I know it was!"</p> + +<p>But again Yan laughed and put her off and asked +her how she could think such a thing of a poor shepherd.</p> + +<p>Again the princess was not convinced and she said +in another month, when the princes were to come for +the third and last time, she would make sure.</p> + +<p>So for another month Yan tended his sheep and +plucked nosegays for the merry little princess and the +princess waited for him at the palace window every +afternoon and, when she saw him, she always said +politely: "Please."</p> + +<p>For the third meeting of the princes the servants +of the chest arrayed Yan in a gorgeous suit of black +and gave him a black horse with golden trappings +studded in diamonds. He rode to the palace and took +his place behind the other suitors. Things went as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +before and again the princess saved her kerchief and +ring for him.</p> + +<p>This time when he tried to ride off the other suitors +surrounded him and, before he escaped, one of them +wounded him on the foot.</p> + +<p>He galloped back to the castle in the forest, +dressed once again in his shepherd's clothes, and returned +to the meadow where his sheep were grazing. +There he sat down and bound up his wounded foot +in the kerchief which the princess had given him. +Then, when he had eaten some bread and cheese from +his magic wallet, he stretched himself out in the +sun and fell asleep.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the princess, who was sorely vexed that +her mysterious suitor had again escaped, slipped out +of the palace and ran up the mountain path to see +for herself whether the shepherd were really with his +sheep. She found Yan asleep and, when she saw her +kerchief bound about his foot, she knew that he was +the prince.</p> + +<p>She woke him up and cried:</p> + +<p>"You are he! You know you are!"</p> + +<p>Yan looked at her and laughed and he asked:</p> + +<p>"How can I be a prince?"</p> + +<p>"But I know you are!" the princess said. "Oh,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +Yanitchko, dear Yanitchko, I beg you please to tell +me!"</p> + +<p>So then Yan, because he always did anything the +princess asked him when she said: "Please," told her +his true name and his rank.</p> + +<p>The princess, overjoyed to hear that her dear shepherd +was really a prince, carried him off to her father, +the king.</p> + +<p>"This is the man I shall marry," she said, "this +and none other."</p> + +<p>So Yan and the merry little princess were married +and lived very happily. And the people of the +country when they speak of the princess always say:</p> + +<p>"That's a princess for you! Why, even if she is a +princess, she always says 'Please' to her own husband!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VITAZKO_THE_VICTORIOUS" id="VITAZKO_THE_VICTORIOUS"></a>VITAZKO THE VICTORIOUS</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A HERO WHOSE MOTHER +LOVED A DRAGON</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/img09.png" width="312" height="243" alt="birds and flowers" title="birds and flowers" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>VITAZKO THE VICTORIOUS</h3> + + +<p>There was once a mother who had an only son. +"He shall be a hero," she said, "and his name +shall be Vitazko, the Victorious."</p> + +<p>She suckled him for twice seven years and then, to +try his strength, she led him out to the forest and +bade him pull up a fir-tree by the roots.</p> + +<p>When the boy was not strong enough to do this, +she took him home and suckled him for another seven +years. Then when she had suckled him for thrice +seven years, she led him out to the forest again and +ordered him to pull up a beech-tree by its roots.</p> + +<p>The youth laid hold on the tree and with one mighty +pull uprooted it.</p> + +<p>"Now, my son, you are strong enough," the mother +said. "Now you are worthy of your name Vitazko. +Forget not the mother who has suckled you for thrice +seven years but, now that you are grown, take care of +her."</p> + +<p>"I will, my mother," Vitazko promised. "Only tell +me what you want me to do."</p> + +<p>"First," the mother said, "go out into the world<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +and find me a splendid dwelling where I may live in +peace and plenty."</p> + +<p>Taking in his hand the uprooted beech-tree as a club +and armed only with it, Vitazko set forth. He followed +the wind here and there and the other place +and it led him at last to a fine castle.</p> + +<p>This castle was inhabited by dragons. Vitazko +pounded on the castle gates but the dragons refused +to admit him. Thereupon the young hero battered +down the gates, pursued the dragons from room to +room of the castle, and slaughtered them all.</p> + +<p>When he had thrown the last of them over the wall, +he took possession of the castle. He found nine +spacious chambers and a tenth one the door of which +was closed.</p> + +<p>Vitazko opened the door and in the room he found +a dragon. This dragon was a prisoner. Three iron +hoops were fastened about his body and these were +chained to the wall.</p> + +<p>"Oho!" Vitazko cried. "Another dragon! What +are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"Me?" the dragon said. "I'm not doing anything +but just sitting here. My brothers imprisoned me. +Unchain me, Vitazko! If you do, I will reward you +richly."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will not!" Vitazko said. "A fine scamp you +must be if your own brothers had to chain you up! +No! You stay where you are!"</p> + +<p>"With that Vitazko slammed the door in the +dragon's face and left him.</p> + +<p>Then he went for his mother and brought her to the +castle.</p> + +<p>"Here, my mother," he said, "is the dwelling I +have won for you."</p> + +<p>He took her through the nine spacious chambers +and showed her everything. At the tenth door he +said:</p> + +<p>"This door is not to be opened. All the castle +belongs to you except this room only. See to it that +this door is never opened. If it is opened, an evil fate +will overtake you."</p> + +<p>Then Vitazko took his beechen club and went out +hunting.</p> + +<p>He was hardly gone before his mother sat down +before the tenth door and said to herself over and +over:</p> + +<p>"I wonder what can be in that room that Vitazko +doesn't want me to open the door."</p> + +<p>At last when she could restrain her curiosity no +longer, she opened the door.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mercy on us!" she said when she saw the dragon. +"Who are you? And what are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"Me?" the dragon said. "I'm only a poor harmless +dragon. They call me Sharkan. My brothers +chained me here. They would have freed me long ago +but Vitazko killed them. Unchain me, dear lady, and +I will reward you richly."</p> + +<p>He begged her and cajoled her until she was half +minded to do as he asked.</p> + +<p>"You are very beautiful," Sharkan said. "If only +I were free I would make you my wife."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but what would Vitazko say to that?" the +woman asked.</p> + +<p>"Vitazko?" repeated Sharkan. "Do you fear your +own son? A dutiful son he is, to give you the castle +and then forbid you to enter this room! If you were +to marry me, we should soon get rid of this Vitazko +and then live here together in peace and merriment."</p> + +<p>The woman listened to these cajoling words until she +was completely won over.</p> + +<p>"But how, dear Sharkan, shall I unchain you?"</p> + +<p>He told her to go to the cellar and from a certain +cask to draw him a goblet of wine. Instantly he +drank the wine, bang! the first iron hoop burst asunder. +He drank a second goblet, and the second iron hoop<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +fell from him. He drank a third goblet and, lo! he +was free.</p> + +<p>Then in dismay at what she had done, the woman +cried:</p> + +<p>"Ah me, what will Vitazko say when he comes +home!"</p> + +<p>"I have thought out a plan," Sharkan said. +"Listen: when he comes home pretend you're sick +and refuse to eat. When he begs you to eat something, +tell him that nothing can tempt you but a suckling from +the Earth Sow. He will at once go out and hunt the +Earth Sow and when he touches one of her sucklings, +the Sow will tear him to pieces."</p> + +<p>Sharkan remained in hiding in the tenth chamber +and presently Vitazko returned from the hunt with +a young buck across his shoulders. He found his +mother on the bed, moaning and groaning as if in great +pain.</p> + +<p>"What is it, dear mother?" he asked. "Are you +sick?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, my son, I'm sick. Leave me and I'll die +alone!"</p> + +<p>Vitazko in alarm rubbed her hands and begged her +to eat of the venison he had brought home.</p> + +<p>"Nay, my son," she said, "venison tempts me not.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +Nothing can tempt my waning appetite but a suckling +from the Earth Sow."</p> + +<p>"Then, my mother, you shall have a suckling from +the Earth Sow!" Vitazko cried, and instantly he +rushed out in quest of the Earth Sow and her +litter.</p> + +<p>With his beech-tree in his hand he ranged back and +forth through the forest hunting the Earth Sow. He +came at last to a tower in which an old wise woman +lived. Her name was Nedyelka and because she was +good as well as wise people called her St. Nedyelka.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, Vitazko?" she said, when +she saw the young hero.</p> + +<p>"I'm hunting for the Earth Sow," he told her. +"My mother is sick and nothing will tempt her but +a suckling from the Earth Sow's litter."</p> + +<p>Nedyelka looked at the young man kindly.</p> + +<p>"That, my son, is a difficult task you have set +yourself. However, I will help you provided you +do exactly as I say."</p> + +<p>Vitazko promised and the old woman gave him a +long pointed spit.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 559px;"> +<img src="images/img10.png" width="559" height="600" alt="Nedyelka tells Vitazko what to do" title="Nedyelka tells Vitazko what to do" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Nedyelka tells Vitazko what to do</i></span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a><br /></span></p> + +<p>"Take this," she said. "Now go to my stable. +There you will find my horse, Tatosh. Mount him +and he will carry you on the wind to where the Earth +Sow lies half buried in her wallow and surrounded by +her litter. Reach over and prick one of the sucklings +with this spit and then sit very still without moving. +The suckling will squeal and instantly the Sow will +spring up and in a fury race madly around the world +and back in a moment of time. Sit perfectly still and +she won't see either you or Tatosh. Then she'll tell +the litter that if one of them squeals again and disturbs +her, she will tear it to pieces. With that she'll +settle back in the wallow and go to sleep. Then do +you pick up the same little suckling on your spit and +carry it off. This time it will be afraid to squeal. +The Sow will not be disturbed and Tatosh, my horse, +will bear you safely away."</p> + +<p>Vitazko did exactly as Nedyelka ordered. He +mounted Tatosh and the magic steed carried him +swiftly on the wind to where the Earth Sow lay sleeping +in her wallow.</p> + +<p>With his spit, Vitazko pricked one of the sucklings +until it squealed in terror. The Earth Sow jumped +up and in fury raced madly around the world and back +in a moment of time. Tatosh stood where he was and +Vitazko sat on his back without moving. The Earth +Sow saw neither of them.</p> + +<p>"If one of you squeals again and disturbs me," the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +Earth Sow said to the litter, "I'll wake up and tear +you to pieces!"</p> + +<p>With that she settled back in the mud and fell +asleep.</p> + +<p>Vitazko again reached over and now he picked up +the same little suckling on the end of his spit. This +time it made no sound. Instantly Tatosh, the magic +steed, rose on the wind and flew straight home to +Nedyelka.</p> + +<p>"How did things go?" the old woman asked.</p> + +<p>"Just as you said they would," Vitazko told her. +"See, here is the suckling."</p> + +<p>"Good, my son. Take it home to your mother."</p> + +<p>So Vitazko returned the spit and led Tatosh back +to his stall. Then he threw the suckling over his beech-tree, +thanked old St. Nedyelka, bade her good-day, +and with a happy heart went home.</p> + +<p>At the castle the mother was making merry with the +dragon. Suddenly in the distance they saw Vitazko +coming.</p> + +<p>"Here he comes!" the mother cried. "Oh dear, +what shall I do?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid," Sharkan advised. "We'll send +him off on another quest and this time he'll surely not +come back. Pretend you're sick again and tell him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +you're so weak that even the suckling of the Earth +Sow doesn't tempt your appetite. Tell him nothing +will help you but the Water of Life and the Water +of Death and if he really loves you he must get you +some of both. Then he'll go off hunting the Water +of Life and the Water of Death and that will be the +end of him."</p> + +<p>Sharkan hid himself in the tenth chamber and +Vitazko, when he entered the castle, found his mother +alone.</p> + +<p>"It's no use, my son," she moaned. "I can't eat +the suckling. Nothing will help me now but the +Water of Life and the Water of Death. Of course +you don't love me well enough to get me some of +both."</p> + +<p>"I do! I do!" poor Vitazko cried. "There's +nothing I won't get for you to make you well!"</p> + +<p>He snatched up his beech-tree again and hurried +back to St. Nedyelka.</p> + +<p>"What is it now?" the old woman asked.</p> + +<p>"Can you tell me, dear St. Nedyelka, where I can +find the Water of Life and the Water of Death? My +poor mother is still sick and she says that nothing else +will cure her."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> +<p>"The Waters of Life and of Death are difficult to +get," Nedyelka said. "However, dear boy, I will +help you. Take these two pitchers and again mount +the faithful Tatosh. He will carry you to the two +shores under which flow the springs of the Water of +Life and the Water of Death. The right shore opens +for a moment on the instant of noon and under it the +Water of Life bubbles up. The left shore opens for +a moment at midnight and under it lies the still pool of +the Water of Death. Wait at each shore until the +moment it opens. Then reach in and scoop up a +pitcher of water. Be swift or the shores will close +upon you and kill you."</p> + +<p>Vitazko took the two pitchers and mounted Tatosh. +The horse rose on the wind and carried Vitazko far, +far away beyond the Red Sea to the two shores of +which old Nedyelka had told him.</p> + +<p>At the moment of noon the right shore opened for an +instant and Vitazko scooped up a pitcher of the Water +of Life. He had scarcely time to draw back before +the opening closed with a crash.</p> + +<p>He waited at the left shore until midnight. At the +moment of midnight the left shore opened for an +instant. Vitazko scooped up a pitcher of water from +the still pool of the Water of Death and pulled swiftly +back as the opening closed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>With the two pitchers safe in his hands, Vitazko +mounted Tatosh and the magic steed rising on the +wind carried him home to St. Nedyelka.</p> + +<p>"And how did things go?" the old woman asked.</p> + +<p>"Very well," Vitazko said. "See, here are the +Waters."</p> + +<p>St. Nedyelka took the two pitchers and when +Vitazko wasn't looking changed them for two pitchers +of ordinary water which she told him to carry at once +to his mother.</p> + +<p>At the castle the mother and Sharkan were again +making merry when from afar they saw Vitazko with +two pitchers in his hands. The mother fell into a +great fright and wept and tore her hair, but the +dragon again reassured her.</p> + +<p>"He's come back this time," he said, "but we'll +send him off again and he'll never return. Refuse +the Waters and tell him you're so sick that nothing +will help you now but a sight of the bird, Pelikan. +Tell him if he loves you he will go after the bird, +Pelikan, and once he goes we need never fear him +again."</p> + +<p>Vitazko when he reached the castle hurried into +his mother's chamber and offered her the Waters.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> +<p>"Here, dear mother, is a pitcher of the Water of +Life and a pitcher of the Water of Death. Now you +will get well!"</p> + +<p>But his mother pushed both pitchers away and, +moaning and groaning as if she were in great pain, +she said:</p> + +<p>"Nay, you are too late with your Water of Life +and your Water of Death! I am so far gone that +nothing will cure me now but a sight of the bird, +Pelikan. If you really loved me you would get it +for me."</p> + +<p>Vitazko, still trusting his mother, cried out:</p> + +<p>"Of course I love you! Of course I'll get you the +bird, Pelikan, if that is what will cure you!"</p> + +<p>So once more he snatched up his beech-tree and hurried +off to St. Nedyelka.</p> + +<p>"What is it now?" the old woman asked him.</p> + +<p>"It's my poor mother," Vitazko said. "She's too far +gone for the Water of Life and the Water of Death. +Nothing will help her now but a sight of the bird, +Pelikan. Tell me, kind Nedyelka, how can I get the +bird, Pelikan?"</p> + +<p>"The bird, Pelikan, my son? Ah, that is a task to +capture Pelikan! However, I will help you. Pelikan +is a giant bird with a long, long neck. When he shakes +his wings he raises such a wind that he blows down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +the forest trees. Here is a gun. Take it and mount +my faithful Tatosh. He will carry you far away to +the vast wilderness where Pelikan lives. When you +get there, note carefully from what direction the wind +blows. Shoot in that direction. Then quickly push +the ramrod into the barrel of the gun and leave it there +and come back to me as fast as you can."</p> + +<p>Vitazko took the gun and mounted Tatosh. The +magic steed rose on the wind and carried him far off +to the distant wilderness which was the home of the +bird, Pelikan. There Tatosh sank to earth and +Vitazko dismounted. Immediately he felt a strong +wind against his right cheek. He took aim in that +direction and pulled the trigger. The hammer fell and +instantly Vitazko pushed the ramrod into the gun +barrel. He threw the gun over his shoulder and +mounted Tatosh. Tatosh rose on the wind and in a +twinkling had carried him back to St. Nedyelka.</p> + +<p>"Well, son, how did things go?" the old woman +asked as usual.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Vitazko said. "I did as you told +me. Here is the gun."</p> + +<p>"Let me see," Nedyelka said, squinting into the gun +barrel. "Ah, son, things went very well indeed! Here +is Pelikan inside the barrel."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>She drew something out of the gun barrel and sure +enough it was the bird, Pelikan.</p> + +<p>She gave Vitazko another gun and told him to go +out and shoot an eagle. Then she told him to carry +Pelikan home to his mother, but instead of giving him +Pelikan she gave him the eagle.</p> + +<p>When Sharkan and his mother saw Vitazko coming, +they decided that this time they would send him after +the Golden Apples. These grew in the garden of the +most powerful dragon in the world.</p> + +<p>"If Vitazko goes near him," Sharkan said, "the +dragon will tear him to pieces for he knows that it +was Vitazko who killed all his brother dragons."</p> + +<p>So the mother again feigned sickness and, when +Vitazko rushed in to her and offered her what he supposed +was Pelikan, she moaned and groaned and +pushed the bird aside.</p> + +<p>"Too late! Too late! I'm dying!"</p> + +<p>"Don't say that!" poor Vitazko begged. "Will +nothing save you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the Golden Apples that grow in the garden +of Mightiest Dragon could still save me. If you really +loved me you'd get them for me."</p> + +<p>"I do love you, mother," Vitazko cried, "and I'll +get you the Golden Apples wherever they are!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>So without a moment's rest he hurried back to +St. Nedyelka.</p> + +<p>"Well, son, what is it now?" the old woman asked.</p> + +<p>Vitazko wept.</p> + +<p>"It's my poor mother. She's still sick. Pelikan +hasn't cured her. She says now that only the Golden +Apples from the garden of Mightiest Dragon can cure +her. Dear, kind Nedyelka, tell me, what shall I do?"</p> + +<p>"The Golden Apples from the garden of Mightiest +Dragon! Ah, my son, that will be a task for you! +For this you will need every ounce of your strength +and more! But never fear! I will again befriend +you. Here is a ring. Put it on a finger of your +right hand and when you are sore pressed twist the +ring around your finger and think of me. Instantly +you will have the strength of a hundred fighting men. +Now take this sword, mount the faithful Tatosh, and +good luck go with you."</p> + +<p>Vitazko thanked the dear old woman, mounted +Tatosh, and was soon carried far away to the garden +of the dragon. A high wall surrounded the garden, +so high that Vitazko could never have scaled it alone. +But it is as easy for a horse like Tatosh to take a high +wall as it is for a bird.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> +<p>Inside the garden Vitazko dismounted and began to +look for the tree that bore the Golden Apples. Presently +he met a beautiful young girl who asked him +what he was doing in the dragon's garden.</p> + +<p>"I'm looking for the Golden Apples," he told her. +"I want some of them for my sick mother. Do you +know where they are?"</p> + +<p>"I do indeed know where they are," the girl said, +"for it is my duty to guard them. If I were to give +you one the wicked dragon would tear me to pieces. +I am a royal princess but I am in the dragon's power +and must do as he says. Dear youth, take my advice +and escape while you can. If the dragon sees you he +will kill you as he would a fly."</p> + +<p>But Vitazko was not to be dissuaded from his quest.</p> + +<p>"Nay, sweet princess, I must get the apples."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," she said, "I will help you all I can. +Here is a precious ring. Put it on a finger of your +left hand. When you are sore pressed, think of me +and twist the ring and you will have the strength of +a hundred men. To conquer this horrible monster you +will need the strength of more than a hundred."</p> + +<p>Vitazko put on the ring, thanked the princess, and +marched boldly on. In the center of the garden he +found the tree that bore the Golden Apples. Under it +lay the dragon himself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>On sight of Vitazko he raised his head and bellowed +out:</p> + +<p>"Ho, you murderer of dragons, what do you want +here?"</p> + +<p>Nothing daunted, Vitazko replied:</p> + +<p>"I am come to shake down some of the Golden +Apples."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" the dragon roared. "Then you will +have to shake them down over my dead body!"</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad to do that!" Vitazko said, springing +at the dragon and at the same time twisting around +the ring on his right hand and thinking of kind old +St. Nedyelka.</p> + +<p>The dragon grappled with him and for a +moment almost took him off his feet. Then Vitazko +plunged the dragon into the earth up to his +ankles.</p> + +<p>Just then there was the rustling of wings overhead +and a black raven cawed out:</p> + +<p>"Which of you wants my help, you, oh Mightiest +Dragon, or you, Vitazko, the Victorious?"</p> + +<p>"Help me!" the dragon roared.</p> + +<p>"Then what will you give me?"</p> + +<p>"As much gold as you want."</p> + +<p>"Nay, raven," Vitazko shouted, "help me and I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +will give you all the dragon's horses that are grazing +over yonder in the meadow."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Vitazko," the raven croaked. "I'll +help you. What shall I do?"</p> + +<p>"Cool me when I'm hot," Vitazko said, "when the +dragon breathes on me his fiery breath."</p> + +<p>They grappled again and the dragon plunged +Vitazko into the ground up to his ankles. Twisting +the ring on his right hand and thinking of St. Nedyelka, +Vitazko gripped the dragon around the +waist and plunged him into the earth up to his +knees.</p> + +<p>Then they paused for breath and the raven which +had dipped its wings in a fountain sat on Vitazko's +head and shook down drops of cool water on his heated +face.</p> + +<p>Then Vitazko twisted the ring on his left hand, +thought of the beautiful princess, and closed with the +dragon again. This time with a mighty effort he +gripped the dragon as if he were a stake of wood and +drove him into the ground up to his very shoulders. +Then quickly drawing Nedyelka's sword, he cut off the +dragon's head.</p> + +<p>At once the lovely princess came running and herself +plucked two of the Golden Apples and gave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +them to Vitazko. She thanked him prettily for rescuing +her and she said to him:</p> + +<p>"You have saved me, Vitazko, from this fierce +monster and now I am yours if you want me."</p> + +<p>"I do want you, dear princess," Vitazko said, "and, +if I could, I'd go with you at once to your father to +ask you in marriage. But I cannot. I must hurry +home to my sick mother. If you love me, wait for me +a year and a day and I'll surely return."</p> + +<p>The princess made him this promise and they +parted.</p> + +<p>Remembering the raven, Vitazko rode over to the +meadow and slaughtered the dragon's horses. Then +rising on Tatosh he flew home on the wind to St. +Nedyelka.</p> + +<p>"Well, son, how did things go?" the old woman +asked.</p> + +<p>"Gloriously!" Vitazko answered, showing her the +Golden Apples. "But if the princess hadn't given me +a second ring I might have been vanquished."</p> + +<p>"Take home the Golden Apples to your mother," +Nedyelka said, "and this time ride Tatosh to the +castle."</p> + +<p>So Vitazko mounted Tatosh again and flew to the +castle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sharkan and his mother were making merry together +when they saw him coming.</p> + +<p>"Here he comes again!" the mother cried. "What +shall I do? What shall I do?"</p> + +<p>But Sharkan could think of nothing further to +suggest. So without a word he hurried to the tenth +chamber where he hid himself and the woman had +to meet Vitazko as best she could.</p> + +<p>She laid herself on the bed feigning still to be sick +and when Vitazko appeared she greeted him most +affectionately.</p> + +<p>"My dear son, back again? And safe and sound? +Thank God!"</p> + +<p>Then when he gave her the Golden Apples she +jumped up from the bed, pretending that the mere +sight of them had cured her.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my dear son!" she cried, petting him and +caressing him as she used to when he was a child. +"What a hero you are!"</p> + +<p>She prepared food and feasted him royally and +Vitazko ate and was very happy that his mother was +herself again.</p> + +<p>When he could eat no more she took a strong +woolen cord and, as if in play, she said to him:</p> + +<p>"Lie down, my son, and let me bind you with this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +cord as once I bound your father. Let me see if you +are as strong as he was and able to break the cord."</p> + +<p>Vitazko smiled and lay down and allowed his mother +to bind him with the woolen cord. Then he stretched +his muscles and burst the cord asunder.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you are strong!" his mother said. "But come, +let me try again with a thin silken cord."</p> + +<p>Suspecting nothing, Vitazko allowed his mother to +bind him hand and foot with a thin silken cord. Then +when he stretched his muscles, the cord cut into his +flesh. So he lay there, helpless as an infant.</p> + +<p>"Sharkan! Sharkan!" the mother called.</p> + +<p>The dragon rushed in with a sword, cut off Vitazko's +head, and hacked his body into small pieces. He +picked out Vitazko's heart and hung it by a string +from a beam in the ceiling.</p> + +<p>Then the woman gathered together the pieces of +her son's body, tied them in a bundle, and fastened +the bundle on Tatosh who was still waiting below in +the courtyard.</p> + +<p>"You carried him when he was alive," she said. +"Take him now that he's dead—I don't care where."</p> + +<p>Tatosh rose on the wind and flew home to St. +Nedyelka.</p> + +<p>The old wise woman who knew already what had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +happened was waiting for him. She took the pieces +of the body from the bundle and washed them in the +Water of Death. Then she arranged them piece by +piece as they should be and they grew together until +the wounds disappeared and there were not even any +scars left. After that she sprinkled the body with the +Water of Life and, lo, life returned to Vitazko and +he stood up, well and healthy.</p> + +<p>"Ah," he said, rubbing his eyes, "I've been asleep, +haven't I?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Nedyelka said, "and but for me you +would never have wakened. How do you feel, my +son?"</p> + +<p>"All right," Vitazko said, "except a little strange +as if I had no heart."</p> + +<p>"You have none," Nedyelka told him. "Your heart +hangs by a string from a crossbeam in the castle."</p> + +<p>She told him what had befallen him, how his mother +had betrayed him and how Sharkan had cut him to +pieces.</p> + +<p>Vitazko listened but he could feel neither surprise +nor grief nor anger nor anything, for how could he +feel since he had no heart?</p> + +<p>"You need your heart, my son," Nedyelka said. +"You must go after it."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span><br /><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 427px;"> +<img src="images/img11.png" width="427" height="600" alt="Vitazko disguised as an old village piper" title="Vitazko disguised as an old village piper" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Vitazko disguised as an old village piper</i></span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>She disguised him as an old village piper and give +him a pair of bagpipes.</p> + +<p>"Go to the castle," she told him, "and play +on these pipes. When they offer to reward you, +ask for the heart that hangs by a string from the +ceiling."</p> + +<p>So Vitazko took the bagpipes and went to the castle. +He played under the castle windows and his mother +looked out and beckoned him in.</p> + +<p>He went inside and played and Sharkan and his +mother danced to his music. They danced and danced +until they could dance no longer.</p> + +<p>Then they gave the old piper food and drink and +offered him golden money.</p> + +<p>But Vitazko said:</p> + +<p>"Nay, what use has an old man for gold?"</p> + +<p>"What then can I give you?" the woman asked.</p> + +<p>Vitazko looked slowly about the chamber as an old +man would.</p> + +<p>"Give me that heart," he said, "that hangs from the +ceiling. That's all I want."</p> + +<p>So they gave him the heart and Vitazko thanked +them and departed.</p> + +<p>He carried the heart to Nedyelka who washed it +at once in the Water of Death and the Water of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +Life. Then she placed it in the bill of the bird, +Pelikan, and Pelikan, reaching its long thin neck down +Vitazko's throat, put the heart in its proper place. +The heart began to beat and instantly Vitazko +could again feel joy and pain and grief and happiness.</p> + +<p>"Now can you feel?" Nedyelka asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Vitazko said. "Now, thank God, I can feel +again!"</p> + +<p>"Pelikan," Nedyelka said, "for this service you +shall be freed.... As for you, my son, you must go +back to the castle once more and inflict a just punishment. +I shall change you into a pigeon. Fly to the +castle and there, when you wish to be yourself again, +think of me."</p> + +<p>So Vitazko took the form of a pigeon and flying +to the castle alighted on the window-sill.</p> + +<p>Inside the castle chamber he saw his mother fondling +Sharkan.</p> + +<p>"See!" she cried. "A pigeon is on the window-sill. +Quick! Get your crossbow and shoot it!"</p> + +<p>But before the dragon could move, Vitazko stood in +the chamber.</p> + +<p>He seized a sword and with one mighty blow cut +off the dragon's head.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And you—you wicked, faithless mother!" he cried. +"What am I to do to you!"</p> + +<p>His mother fell on her knees and begged for mercy.</p> + +<p>"Never fear," Vitazko said. "I won't harm you. +Let God judge between us."</p> + +<p>He took his mother by the hand and led her down +into the courtyard. Then he lifted the sword and +said:</p> + +<p>"Now, mother, I shall throw this sword in the air +and may God judge between us which of us has been +faithless to the other."</p> + +<p>The sword flashed in the air and fell, striking +straight to the heart of the guilty mother and killing +her.</p> + +<p>Vitazko buried her in the courtyard and then returned +to St. Nedyelka. He thanked the old woman +for all she had done for him and then, picking up +his beech-tree club, he started out to find his beautiful +princess.</p> + +<p>She had long since returned to her father and many +princes and heroes had come seeking her in marriage. +She had put them all off, saying she would wed no +one for a year and a day.</p> + +<p>Then before the year was up Vitazko appeared and +she led him at once to her father and said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This man will I marry, this and none other, for +he it was that rescued me from the dragon."</p> + +<p>A great wedding feast was spread and all the +country rejoiced that their lovely princess was getting +for a husband Vitazko, the Victorious.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="FIVE_NURSERY_TALES" id="FIVE_NURSERY_TALES"></a>FIVE NURSERY TALES</h2> + +<h3> +I. KURATKO THE TERRIBLE<br /> +II. SMOLICHECK<br /> +III. BUDULINEK<br /> +IV. THE DEAR LITTLE HEN<br /> +V. THE DISOBEDIENT ROOSTER<br /> +</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img12.png" width="340" height="237" alt="decorative triangle" title="decorative triangle" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="KURATKO_THE_TERRIBLE" id="KURATKO_THE_TERRIBLE"></a>KURATKO THE TERRIBLE</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF AN UNGRATEFUL CHICK</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img13.png" width="340" height="289" alt="chicken" title="chicken" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>KURATKO THE TERRIBLE</h3> + + +<p>There was once an old couple who had no +children.</p> + +<p>"If only we had a chick or a child of our own!" +Grandmother used to say. "Think how we could pet +it and take care of it!"</p> + +<p>But Grandfather always answered:</p> + +<p>"Not at all! We are very well off as we are."</p> + +<p>At last the old black hen in the barnyard hatched +out a chick. Grandmother was delighted.</p> + +<p>"See, Grandpa," she said, "now we have a chick +of our own!"</p> + +<p>But Grandfather shook his head doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"I don't like the looks of that chick. There's +something strange about it."</p> + +<p>But Grandmother wouldn't listen. To her the chick +seemed everything it should be. She called it Kuratko +and petted it and pampered it as though it were an +only child.</p> + +<p>Kuratko grew apace and soon he developed an awful +appetite.</p> + +<p>"Cockadoodledoo!" he shouted at all hours of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +day. "I'm hungry! Give me something to eat!"</p> + +<p>"You mustn't feed that chick so much!" Grandfather +grumbled. "He's eating us out of house and +home."</p> + +<p>But Grandmother wouldn't listen. She fed Kuratko +and fed him until sure enough there came a day when +there was nothing left for herself and the old +man.</p> + +<p>That was a nice how-do-you-do! Grandmother sat +working at her spinning-wheel trying to forget that +she was hungry, and Grandfather sat on his stool +nearby too cross to speak to her.</p> + +<p>And then, quite as though nothing were the matter, +Kuratko strutted into the room, flapped his wings, and +crowed:</p> + +<p>"Cockadoodledo! I'm hungry! Give me something +to eat!"</p> + +<p>"Not another blessed thing will I ever feed you, +you greedy chick!" Grandfather shouted.</p> + +<p>"Cockadoodledo!" Kuratko answered. "Then I'll +just eat you!"</p> + +<p>With that he made one peck at Grandfather and +swallowed him down, stool and all!</p> + +<p>"Oh, Kuratko!" Grandmother cried. "Where's +Grandpa?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Cockadoodledo!" Kuratko remarked. "I'm still +hungry. I think I'll eat you!"</p> + +<p>And with that he made one peck at Grandmother +and swallowed her down, spinning-wheel and all!</p> + +<p>Then that terrible chick went strutting down the +road, crowing merrily!</p> + +<p>He met a washerwoman at work over her wash-tub.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, Kuratko!" the woman cried. +"What a great big crop you've got!"</p> + +<p>"Cockadoodledo!" Kuratko said. "I should think +my crop was big for haven't I just eaten Grandmother, +spinning-wheel and all, and Grandfather, stool and all? +But I'm still hungry, so now I'm going to eat you!"</p> + +<p>Before the poor woman knew what was happening, +Kuratko made one peck at her and swallowed her +down, wash-tub and all!</p> + +<p>Then he strutted on down the road, crowing merrily.</p> + +<p>Presently he came to a company of soldiers.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, Kuratko!" the soldiers cried. +"What a great big crop you've got!"</p> + +<p>"Cockadoodledo!" Kuratko replied. "I should +think my crop was big, for haven't I just eaten a +washerwoman, tub and all, Grandmother, spinning-wheel +and all, and Grandfather, stool and all? But +I'm still hungry, so now I'm going to eat you!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>Before the soldiers knew what was happening, +Kuratko pecked at them and swallowed them down, +bayonets and all, one after another, like so many grains +of wheat!</p> + +<p>Then that terrible chick went on strutting down +the road, crowing merrily.</p> + +<p>Soon he met Kotsor, the cat. Kotsor, the cat, +blinked his eyes and worked his whiskers in +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, Kuratko, what a great big crop +you've got!"</p> + +<p>"Cockadoodledo!" Kuratko said. "I should think +my crop was big, for haven't I just eaten a company +of soldiers, bayonets and all; a washerwoman, tub and +all; Grandmother, spinning-wheel and all; and Grandfather, +stool and all? But I'm still hungry, so now +I'm going to eat you!"</p> + +<p>Before Kotsor, the cat, knew what was happening, +Kuratko made one peck at him and swallowed him +down.</p> + +<p>But Kotsor, the cat, was not a person to submit +tamely to such an indignity. The moment he found +himself inside Kuratko he unsheathed his claws and +began to scratch and to tear. He worked until he had +torn a great hole in Kuratko's crop. At that Kuratko,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +the Terrible Chick, when he tried again to crow, +toppled over dead!</p> + +<p>Then Kotsor, the cat, jumped out of Kuratko's +crop; after him the company of soldiers marched out; +and after them the washerwoman with her tub, Grandmother +with her spinning-wheel, and Grandfather with +his stool. And they all went about their business.</p> + +<p>Kotsor, the cat, followed Grandmother and Grandfather +home and begged them to give him Kuratko for +his dinner.</p> + +<p>"You may have him for all of me," Grandfather +said. "But ask Grandmother. He was her little pet, +not mine."</p> + +<p>"Indeed you may have him," Grandmother said. +"I see now Grandfather was right. Kuratko was +certainly an ungrateful chick and I never want to hear +his name again."</p> + +<p>So Kotsor, the cat, had a wonderful dinner and to +this day when he remembers it he licks his chops and +combs his whiskers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SMOLICHECK" id="SMOLICHECK"></a>SMOLICHECK</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A LITTLE BOY +WHO OPENED THE DOOR</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 329px;"> +<img src="images/img14.png" width="329" height="340" alt="a deer" title="a deer" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>SMOLICHECK</h3> + + +<p>Once upon a time there was a little boy named +Smolicheck. He lived in a little house in the +woods with a deer whose name was Golden Antlers.</p> + +<p>Every day when Golden Antlers went out he told +Smolicheck to lock the door after him and on no account +to open it no matter who knocked.</p> + +<p>"If you disobey me," Golden Antlers said, "something +awful may happen."</p> + +<p>"I won't open the door," Smolicheck always promised. +"I won't open it until you come home."</p> + +<p>Now one day there was a knock on the door.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Smolicheck thought to himself, "I wonder +who that is!" and he called out:</p> + +<p>"Who's there?"</p> + +<p>From the outside sweet voices answered:</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>"Smolicheck, Smolicheck, please open the door</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Just a wee little crack of two fingers—no more!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>We'll reach in our cold little hands to get warm</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Then leave without doing you the least bit of harm!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>So open, Smolicheck, please open the door!"</i><br /></span> +</div></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Smolicheck didn't think he ought to open the +door because he remembered what Golden Antlers had +told him. Golden Antlers was very kind but he +spanked Smolicheck when Smolicheck was disobedient. +And Smolicheck didn't want to get a spanking. So +he put his hands over his ears to shut out the sound of +the sweet voices and that time he didn't open the door.</p> + +<p>"You're a good boy," Golden Antlers said in the +evening when he came home. "Those must have been +the wicked little wood maidens. If you had opened +the door they would have carried you off to their cave +and then what would you have done!"</p> + +<p>So Smolicheck was very happy to think he had +obeyed Golden Antlers and he said he would never +open the door to strangers, no, never!</p> + +<p>The next day after Golden Antlers had gone out +and Smolicheck was left alone, again there came a +knocking on the door, and when Smolicheck called +out: "Who's there?" voices sweeter than before answered:</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>"Smolicheck, Smolicheck, please open the door</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Just a wee little crack of two fingers—no more!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>We'll reach in our cold little hands to get warm,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Then leave without doing you the least bit of harm!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>So open, Smolicheck, please open the door!"</i><br /></span> +</div></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>Smolicheck said, no, he couldn't open the door. He +thought to himself that he would like to have one peep +at the wood maidens just to see what they looked +like. But he mustn't open the door even a crack, no, +he mustn't!</p> + +<p>The little wood maidens kept on begging him and +shivering and shaking and telling him how cold they +were, until Smolicheck felt very sorry for them.</p> + +<p>"I don't think it would matter," he said to himself, +"if I opened the door just a weeny teeny bit."</p> + +<p>So he opened the door just a tiny crack. Instantly +two little white fingers popped in, and then two more +and two more and two more, and then little white +hands, and then little white arms, and then, before +Smolicheck knew what <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'as'">was</ins> happening, a whole bevy of +little wood maidens were in the room! They danced +around Smolicheck and they howled and they yelled +and they took hold of him and dragged him out of the +house and away towards the woods!</p> + +<p>Smolicheck was dreadfully frightened and he +screamed out with all his might:</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>"Oh, dear Golden Antlers, wherever you are</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>In valley or mountain or pasture afar,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Come quick! Don't delay!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>The wicked wood maidens are dragging away</i><br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Your little Smolicheck!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Come quick! Don't delay!"</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>This time by good luck the deer was not far away. +When he heard Smolicheck's cry, he bounded up, +drove the little wood maidens off, and carried Smolicheck +home on his antlers.</p> + +<p>When they got home he put Smolicheck across his +knee and gave him something—you know what!—to +make him remember not to disobey next time. Smolicheck +cried and he said he never, never, never would +open the door again no matter how sweetly the wood +maidens begged.</p> + +<p>For some days no one came to the door. Then +again one afternoon there was a knocking and sweet +voices called out:</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>"Smolicheck, Smolicheck, please open the door</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Just a wee little crack of two fingers—no more!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>We'll reach in our cold little hands to get warm,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Then leave without doing you the least bit of harm!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>So open, Smolicheck, please open the door!"</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>But Smolicheck pretended he didn't hear. Then +when the little wood maidens began to shake and to +shiver and to cry with the cold and to beg him to +open the door just a little crack so that they could +warm their hands, he said to them:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, I won't open the door, not even a teeny +weeny crack, because if I do you'll push in as you did +before and catch me and drag me off!"</p> + +<p>The wicked little wood maidens said:</p> + +<p>"Oh no, Smolicheck, we wouldn't do that! We'd +never think of such a thing! And besides, if we did +take you with us, you'd have a much better time with +us than you have here, shut up in a little house all +alone, while Golden Antlers is off having a good time +by himself. We'd give you pretty toys and we'd play +with you and you'd be very happy."</p> + +<p>Just think: Smolicheck listened to them until he +believed what they said! Then he opened the door a +little crack and instantly all those naughty little wood +maidens pushed into the room, seized Smolicheck, and +dragged him off.</p> + +<p>They told him they would kill him if he cried for +help, but nevertheless Smolicheck called out with all +his might:</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>"Oh, dear Golden Antlers, wherever you are</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>In valley or mountain or pasture afar,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Come quick! Don't delay!</i><br /><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>The wicked wood maidens are dragging away</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Your little Smolicheck!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Come quick! Don't delay!"</i><br /></span> +</div></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + +<p>But this time Golden Antlers was far away and +didn't hear him. So no one came to help Smolicheck +and the wood maidens carried him off to their cave.</p> + +<p>There, instead of playing with him, they tormented +him and teased him and made faces at him. But they +did give him all he wanted to eat. In fact they stuffed +him with food, especially sweets. Then every day +they would pinch him and say to each other:</p> + +<p>"Sister, do you think he's fat enough yet to roast?"</p> + +<p>Imagine poor Smolicheck's feelings when he found +they were fattening him on sweets because they expected +to roast him and eat him!</p> + +<p>Finally one day after they had been stuffing him +for a long time they cut his little finger with a knife +to see how fat it was.</p> + +<p>"Yum, yum!" the wicked little wood maidens cried. +"He's fat enough! Today we can roast him!"</p> + +<p>So they took off his clothes and laid him in a kneading +trough and prepared him for the oven.</p> + +<p>Smolicheck was so frightened that he just screamed +and screamed, but the louder he screamed the more +the little wood maidens laughed and clapped their +hands.</p> + +<p>Just as they were pushing him into the oven, Smolicheck +roared out:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><i>"Oh, dear Golden Antlers, wherever you are</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>In valley or mountain or pasture afar,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Come quick! Don't delay!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>The wicked wood maidens are roasting today</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Your little Smolicheck!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>Come quick! Don't delay!"</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Suddenly there was the sound of crashing branches +and, before the wood maidens knew what was happening, +Golden Antlers came bounding into the cave. He +tossed Smolicheck upon his antlers and off he sped as +swift as the wind.</p> + +<p>When they got home, he laid Smolicheck across his +knee and gave him something—you know what! And +Smolicheck cried and said he was sorry he had been +disobedient. And he said he would never, never, never +again open the door.</p> + +<p>And this time he never did!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BUDULINEK" id="BUDULINEK"></a>BUDULINEK</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF ANOTHER LITTLE BOY +WHO OPENED THE DOOR</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img15.png" width="340" height="219" alt="a fox" title="a fox" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>BUDULINEK</h3> + + +<p>There was once a little boy named Budulinek. +He lived with his old Granny in a cottage near +a forest.</p> + +<p>Granny went out to work every day. In the morning +when she went away she always said:</p> + +<p>"There, Budulinek, there's your dinner on the table +and mind, you mustn't open the door no matter who +knocks!"</p> + +<p>One morning Granny said:</p> + +<p>"Now, Budulinek, today I'm leaving you some soup +for your dinner. Eat it when dinner time comes. And +remember what I always say: don't open the door no +matter who knocks."</p> + +<p>She went away and pretty soon Lishka, the sly old +mother fox, came and knocked on the door.</p> + +<p>"Budulinek!" she called. "You know me! Open +the door! Please!"</p> + +<p>Budulinek called back:</p> + +<p>"No, I mustn't open the door."</p> + +<p>But Lishka, the sly old mother fox, kept on +knocking.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Listen, Budulinek," she said: "if you open the +door, do you know what I'll do? I'll give you a ride +on my tail!"</p> + +<p>Now Budulinek thought to himself:</p> + +<p>"Oh, that would be fun to ride on the tail of Lishka, +the fox!"</p> + +<p>So Budulinek forgot all about what Granny said to +him every day and opened the door.</p> + +<p>Lishka, the sly old thing, came into the room and +what do you think she did? Do you think she gave +Budulinek a ride on her tail? Well, she didn't. She +just went over to the table and gobbled up the bowl +of soup that Granny had put there for Budulinek's +dinner and then she ran away.</p> + +<p>When dinner time came Budulinek hadn't anything +to eat.</p> + +<p>In the evening when Granny came home, she said:</p> + +<p>"Budulinek, did you open the door and let any +one in?"</p> + +<p>Budulinek was crying because he was so hungry, +and he said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, I let in Lishka, the old mother fox, and she +ate up all my dinner, too!"</p> + +<p>Granny said:</p> + +<p>"Now, Budulinek, you see what happens when you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +open the door and let some one in. Another time +remember what Granny says and don't open the +door. "</p> + +<p>The next morning Granny cooked some porridge for +Budulinek's dinner and said:</p> + +<p>"Now, Budulinek, here's some porridge for your +dinner. Remember: while I'm gone you must not +open the door no matter who knocks."</p> + +<p>Granny was no sooner out of sight than Lishka came +again and knocked on the door.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Budulinek!" she called. "Open the door and +let me in!"</p> + +<p>But Budulinek said:</p> + +<p>"No, I won't open the door!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, now, Budulinek, please open the door!" +Lishka begged. "You know me! Do you know what +I'll do if you open the door? I'll give you a ride on +my tail! Truly I will!"</p> + +<p>Budulinek thought to himself:</p> + +<p>"This time maybe she will give me a ride on her +tail."</p> + +<p>So he opened the door.</p> + +<p>Lishka came into the room, gobbled up Budulinek's +porridge, and ran away without giving him any ride +at all.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>When dinner time came Budulinek hadn't anything +to eat.</p> + +<p>In the evening when Granny came home she said:</p> + +<p>"Budulinek, did you open the door and let any +one in?"</p> + +<p>Budulinek was crying again because he was so +hungry, and he said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, I let in Lishka, the old mother fox, and she +ate up all my porridge, too!"</p> + +<p>"Budulinek, you're a bad boy!" Granny said. "If +you open the door again, I'll have to spank you! Do +you hear?"</p> + +<p>The next morning before she went to work, Granny +cooked some peas for Budulinek's dinner.</p> + +<p>As soon as Granny was gone he began eating the +peas, they were so good.</p> + +<p>Presently Lishka, the fox, came and knocked on the +door.</p> + +<p>"Budulinek!" she called. "Open the door! I want +to come in!"</p> + +<p>But Budulinek wouldn't open the door. He took +his bowl of peas and went to the window and ate them +there where Lishka could see him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 423px;"> +<img src="images/img16.png" width="423" height="640" alt="An organ-grinder began playing in front of Granny's cottage" title="An organ-grinder" /> +<span class="caption"><i>An organ-grinder began playing in front of Granny's cottage</i></span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a><br /></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Budulinek!" Lishka begged. "You know +me! Please open the door! This time I promise you +I'll give you a ride on my tail! Truly I will!"</p> + +<p>She just begged and begged until at last <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Budlinek'">Budulinek</ins> +opened the door. Then Lishka jumped into the room +and do you know what she did? She put her nose +right into the bowl of peas and gobbled them all up!</p> + +<p>Then she said to Budulinek:</p> + +<p>"Now get on my tail and I'll give you a ride!"</p> + +<p>So Budulinek climbed on Lishka's tail and Lishka +went running around the room faster and faster until +Budulinek was dizzy and just had to hold on with all +his might.</p> + +<p>Then, before Budulinek knew what was happening, +Lishka slipped out of the house and ran swiftly off +into the forest, home to her hole, with Budulinek still +on her tail! She hid Budulinek down in her hole with +her own three children and she wouldn't let him out. +He had to stay there with the three little foxes and +they all teased him and bit him. And then wasn't he +sorry he had disobeyed his Granny! And, oh, how +he cried!</p> + +<p>When Granny came home she found the door open +and no little Budulinek anywhere. She looked high +and low, but no, there was no little Budulinek. She +asked every one she met had they seen her little Budulinek,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +but nobody had. So poor Granny just cried and +cried, she was so lonely and sad.</p> + +<p>One day an organ-grinder with a wooden leg began +playing in front of Granny's cottage. The music made +her think of Budulinek.</p> + +<p>"Organ-grinder," Granny said, "here's a penny for +you. But, please, don't play any more. Your music +makes me cry."</p> + +<p>"Why does it make you cry?" the organ-grinder +asked.</p> + +<p>"Because it reminds me of Budulinek," Granny said, +and she told the organ-grinder all about Budulinek +and how somebody had stolen him away.</p> + +<p>The organ-grinder said:</p> + +<p>"Poor Granny! I tell you what I'll do: as I go +around and play my organ I'll keep my eyes open for +Budulinek. If I find him I'll bring him back to you."</p> + +<p>"Will you?" Granny cried. "If you bring me back +my little Budulinek I'll give you a measure of rye and +a measure of millet and a measure of poppy seed and a +measure of everything in the house!"</p> + +<p>So the organ-grinder went off and everywhere he +played his organ he looked for Budulinek. But he +couldn't find him.</p> + + +<p>At last one day while he was walking through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +forest he thought he heard a little boy crying. He +looked around everywhere until he found a fox's +hole.</p> + +<p>"Oho!" he said to himself. "I believe that wicked +old Lishka must have stolen Budulinek! She's probably +keeping him here with her own three children! +I'll soon find out."</p> + +<p>So he put down his organ and began to play. And +as he played he sang softly:</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">"<i>One old fox</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>And two, three, four,</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>And Budulinek</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He makes one more!</i>"</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>Old Lishka heard the music playing and she said +to her oldest child:</p> + +<p>"Here, son, give the old man a penny and tell him +to go away because my head aches."</p> + +<p>So the oldest little fox climbed out of the hole and +gave the organ-grinder a penny and said:</p> + +<p>"My mother says, please will you go away because +her head aches."</p> + +<p>As the organ-grinder reached over to take the +penny, he caught the oldest little fox and stuffed him +into a sack. Then he went on playing and singing:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"One old fox</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>And two and three</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>And Budulinek</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Makes four for me!"</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>Presently Lishka sent out her second child with a +penny and the organ-grinder caught the second little +fox in the same way and stuffed it also into the sack. +Then he went on grinding his organ and softly singing:</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"One old fox</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>And another for me,</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>And Budulinek</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He makes the three."</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>"I wonder why that old man still plays his organ," +Lishka said and sent out her third child with a penny.</p> + +<p>So the organ-grinder caught the third little fox and +stuffed it also into the sack. Then he kept on playing +and singing softly:</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"One old fox—</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>I'll soon get you!—</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>And Budulinek</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He makes just two."</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>At last Lishka herself came out. So he caught her, +too, and stuffed her in with her children. Then he +sang:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"Four naughty foxes</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Caught alive!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>And Budulinek</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He makes the five!"</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>The organ-grinder went to the hole and called +down:</p> + +<p>"Budulinek! Budulinek! Come out!"</p> + +<p>As there were no foxes left to hold him back, Budulinek +was able to crawl out.</p> + +<p>When he saw the organ-grinder he cried and said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, please, Mr. Organ-Grinder, I want to go +home to my Granny!"</p> + +<p>"I'll take you home to your Granny," the organ-grinder +said, "but first I must punish these naughty +foxes."</p> + +<p>The organ-grinder cut a strong switch and gave the +four foxes in the sack a terrible beating until they +begged him to stop and promised that they would +never again do anything to Budulinek.</p> + +<p>Then the organ-grinder let them go and he took +Budulinek home to Granny.</p> + +<p>Granny was delighted to see her little Budulinek +and she gave the organ-grinder a measure of rye and +a measure of millet and a measure of poppy seed and +a measure of everything else in the house.</p> + +<p>And Budulinek never again opened the door!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_DEAR_LITTLE_HEN" id="THE_DEAR_LITTLE_HEN"></a>THE DEAR LITTLE HEN</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A ROOSTER THAT CHEATED</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/img17.png" width="312" height="229" alt="a rooster" title="a rooster" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE DEAR LITTLE HEN</h3> + + +<p>Once upon a time a big Rooster and a dear +little Hen became close friends.</p> + +<p>"Let us go to the garden," the Rooster said, "and +scratch up some seeds and worms. I tell you what +we'll do: everything you scratch up you divide +with me, and everything I scratch up I'll divide with +you."</p> + +<p>The dear little Hen agreed to this and off they went +together to the garden.</p> + +<p>The dear little Hen scratched and scratched and +scratched and every time she scratched up a nice fat +worm or a tasty seed she divided with the Rooster.</p> + +<p>And the Rooster scratched and scratched and +scratched and whenever the Hen saw him scratch up +something good he divided with her. But once, when +she wasn't looking, he scratched up a big grain of corn +and without dividing it he tried to gobble it all himself. +He gobbled it so fast that it stuck in his throat and +choked him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear little Hen!" he gasped. "I'm choking! +Run quick and get me some water or I'll die!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<p>And with that he fell over on his back and his feet +stuck straight up in the air.</p> + +<p>The dear little Hen ran to the Well as fast as she +could and all out of breath she gasped:</p> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"Oh Well!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Give me</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Some Water</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Rooster!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Choking!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>In garden!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>On back!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Feet up!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Oh dear!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He'll die!"</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>The Well said:</p> + +<p>"If you want me to give you some Water, you +must go to the Dressmaker and get me a Kerchief."</p> + +<p>So the dear little Hen ran to the Dressmaker as fast +as she could and all out of breath she gasped:</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"Dressmaker!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Give me</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Kerchief</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Well</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Water</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Rooster!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Choking!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>In garden!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>On back!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Feet up!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Oh dear!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He'll die!"</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>The Dressmaker said:</p> + +<p>"If you want me to give you a Kerchief, you must +go to the Shoemaker and get me a pair of Slippers."</p> + +<p>So the dear little Hen ran to the Shoemaker as fast +as she could and all out of breath she gasped:</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"Shoemaker!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Give me</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Slippers</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Dressmaker</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Kerchief</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Well</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Water</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Rooster!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Choking!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>In garden!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>On back!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Feet up!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Oh dear!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He'll die!"</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>The Shoemaker said:</p> + +<p>"If you want me to give you a pair of Slippers, you +must go to the Sow and get me some Bristles."</p> + +<p>So the dear little Hen ran to the Sow as fast as she +could and all out of breath she gasped:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"Oh Sow!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Give me</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Some Bristles</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Shoemaker</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Slippers</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Dressmaker</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Kerchief</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Well</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Water</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Rooster!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Choking!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>In garden!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>On back!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Feet up!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Oh dear!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He'll die!"</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>The Sow said:</p> + +<p>"If you want me to give you some Bristles, you +must go to the Brewer and get me some Malt."</p> + +<p>So the dear little Hen ran to the Brewer as fast as +she could and all out of breath she gasped:</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"Oh Brewer!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Give me</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Some Malt</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Sow</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Bristles</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Shoemaker</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Slippers</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Dressmaker</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Kerchief</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Well</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Water</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Rooster!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Choking!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>In garden!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>On back!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Feet up!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Oh dear!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He'll die!"</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>The Brewer said:</p> + +<p>"If you want me to give you some Malt, you must +go to the Cow and get me some Cream."</p> + +<p>So the dear little Hen ran to the Cow as fast as she +could and all out of breath she gasped:</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"Oh Cow!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Give me</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Some Cream</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Brewer</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Malt</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Sow</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Bristles</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Shoemaker</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Slippers</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Dressmaker</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Kerchief</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Well</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Water</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Rooster!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Choking!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>In garden!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>On back!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Feet up!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Oh dear!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He'll die!</i>"</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>The Cow said:</p> + +<p>"If you want me to give you some Cream, you must +go to the Meadow and get me some Grass."</p> + +<p>So the dear little Hen ran to the Meadow as fast as +she could and all out of breath she gasped:</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"Oh Meadow!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Give me</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Some Grass</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Cow</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Cream</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Brewer</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Malt</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Sow</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Bristles</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Shoemaker</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Slippers</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Dressmaker</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Kerchief</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Well</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Water</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Rooster!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Choking!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>In garden!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>On back!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Feet up!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Oh dear!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He'll die!</i>"</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Meadow said:</p> + +<p>"If you want me to give you some Grass, you must +get me some Dew from the Sky."</p> + +<p>So the dear little Hen looked up to the Sky and +said:</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><i>"Oh Sky!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Dear Sky!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Give me</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Some Dew</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Meadow</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Grass</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Cow</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Cream</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Brewer</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Malt</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Sow</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Bristles</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Shoemaker</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Slippers</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Dressmaker</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Kerchief</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Well</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Water</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>For Rooster!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Choking!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>In garden!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>On back!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Feet up!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Oh Dear!</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>He'll die!"</i></td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Sky pitied the dear little Hen and at once gave +her some Dew.</p> + +<p>So the Hen gave the Meadow the Dew, and the +Meadow gave the Hen some Grass.</p> + +<p>The Hen gave the Cow the Grass, and the Cow gave +the Hen some Cream.</p> + +<p>The Hen gave the Brewer the Cream, and the +Brewer gave the Hen some Malt.</p> + +<p>The Hen gave the Sow the Malt, and the Sow gave +the Hen some Bristles.</p> + +<p>The Hen gave the Shoemaker the Bristles, and the +Shoemaker gave the Hen a pair of Slippers.</p> + +<p>The Hen gave the Dressmaker the Slippers, and the +Dressmaker gave the Hen a Kerchief.</p> + +<p>The Hen gave the Well the Kerchief, and the Well +gave the Hen some Water.</p> + +<p>The Hen gave the Rooster the Water, the Water +washed down the grain of corn, and thereupon the +Rooster jumped up, flapped his wings, and merrily +crowed:</p> + +<p>"Cockadoodledoo!"</p> + +<p>And after that he never again tried to cheat the +dear little Hen but always whenever he scratched up a +nice fat worm or a tasty seed he divided with her.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_DISOBEDIENT_ROOSTER" id="THE_DISOBEDIENT_ROOSTER"></a>THE DISOBEDIENT ROOSTER</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF ANOTHER LITTLE HEN</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img18.png" width="340" height="352" alt="another rooster" title="another rooster" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE DISOBEDIENT ROOSTER</h3> + + +<p>There were once a Rooster and a Hen who +were very good friends. They always went +about together like brother and sister.</p> + +<p>The Rooster was headstrong and thoughtless and +often did foolish things. The little Hen was very sensible +and always looked after the Rooster as well as +she could.</p> + +<p>Whenever he began doing something foolish, she +always said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear, you mustn't do that!"</p> + +<p>If the Rooster had always obeyed the little Hen +he would be alive to this day. But, as I have told you, +he was careless and headstrong and often he refused +to take the little Hen's advice.</p> + +<p>One day in the spring he ran into the garden and +just gorged and gorged on green gooseberries.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear!" the little Hen cried. "You +mustn't eat green gooseberries! Don't you know +they'll give you a pain in your stomach!"</p> + +<p>But the Rooster wouldn't listen. He just kept +on eating gooseberry after gooseberry until at last he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +got a terrible pain in his stomach and then he had to +stop.</p> + +<p>"Little Hen," he cried, "help me! Oh, my stomach! +Oh! Oh!"</p> + +<p>He was so sick that the little Hen had to give him +some hot peppermint and put a mustard plaster on his +stomach.</p> + +<p>After that shouldn't you suppose he would do what +she told him? But he didn't. As soon as he +was well he was just as careless and disobedient as +before.</p> + +<p>One day he went out to the meadow and he just +ran and ran and ran until he got all overheated and +perspired. Then he went down to the brook and began +drinking cold water.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear," the little Hen cried, "you mustn't +drink cold water while you're overheated! Wait and +cool off!"</p> + +<p>But would the Rooster wait and cool off? No! He +just drank that cold water and drank it until he could +drink no more.</p> + +<p>Then he got a chill and the poor little Hen had to +drag him home and put him to bed and run for the +Doctor.</p> + +<p>The Doctor gave him bitter medicine and he didn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +get well for a long time. In fact it was winter before +he got out of the house again.</p> + +<p>Now shouldn't you suppose that after all this the +Rooster would never again disobey the little Hen? +If only he had he would be alive to this day. Listen, +now, to what happened:</p> + +<p>One morning when he got up, he saw that ice was +beginning to form on the river.</p> + +<p>"Goody! Goody!" he cried. "Now I can go sliding +on the ice!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear," the little Hen said, "you mustn't +go sliding on the ice yet! It's dangerous! Wait a +few days until it's frozen harder and then go sliding."</p> + +<p>But would the Rooster listen to the little Hen? No! +He just insisted on running out that very moment and +sliding on the thin ice.</p> + +<p>And do you know what happened?</p> + +<p>The ice broke and he fell in the river and, before the +little Hen could get help, he was drowned!</p> + +<p>And it was all his own fault, too, for the little Hen +had begged him to wait until the ice was safer.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_NICKERMANS_WIFE" id="THE_NICKERMANS_WIFE"></a>THE NICKERMAN'S WIFE</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF LIDUSHKA AND THE IMPRISONED DOVES</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img19.png" width="340" height="279" alt="an ugly frog" title="an ugly frog" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE NICKERMAN'S WIFE</h3> + + +<p>There was once a young housewife named +Lidushka. One day while she was washing +clothes in the river a great frog, all bloated and ugly, +swam up to her. Lidushka jumped back in fright. +The frog spread itself out on the water, just where +Lidushka had been rinsing her clothes, and sat there +working its jaws as if it wanted to say something.</p> + +<p>"Shoo!" Lidushka cried, but the frog stayed where +it was and kept on working its jaws.</p> + +<p>"You ugly old bloated thing! What do you want +and why do you sit there gaping at me?"</p> + +<p>Lidushka struck at the frog with a piece of linen +to drive it off so that she could go on with her work. +The frog dived, came up at another place, and at once +swam back to Lidushka.</p> + +<p>Lidushka tried again and again to drive it away. +Each time she struck at it, the frog dived, came up at +another place, and then swam back. At last Lidushka +lost all patience.</p> + +<p>"Go away, you old fat thing!" she screamed. "I +have to finish my wash! Go away, I tell you, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +when your babies come I'll be their godmother! Do +you hear?"</p> + +<p>As if it accepted this as a promise, the frog croaked: +"All right! All right! All right!" and swam off.</p> + +<p>Some time after this, when Lidushka was again +doing her washing at the river, the same old frog +appeared not looking now so fat and bloated.</p> + +<p>"Come! Come, my dear!" it croaked. "You remember +your promise! You said you'd be godmother +to my babies. You must come with me now for we're +having the christening today."</p> + +<p>Lidushka, of course, had spoken jokingly, but even +so a promise is a promise and must not be broken.</p> + +<p>"But, you foolish frog," she said, "how can I be +godmother to your babies? I can't go down in the +water."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can!" the old frog croaked. "Come on! +Come on! Come with me!"</p> + +<p>It began swimming upstream and Lidushka followed, +walking along the shore and feeling every moment +more frightened.</p> + +<p>The old frog swam on until it reached the mill-dam. +Then it said to Lidushka:</p> + +<p>"Now, my dear, don't be afraid! Don't be afraid! +Just lift that stone in front of you. Under it you'll<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +find a flight of stairs that lead straight down to my +house. I'll go on ahead. Do as I say and you can't +miss the way."</p> + +<p>The frog disappeared in the water and Lidushka +lifted the stone. Sure enough there was a flight of +stairs going down under the mill-dam. And what kind +of stairs do you suppose they were? They were not +made of wood or stone but of great solid blocks of +water, laid one on another, transparent and clear as +crystal.</p> + +<p>Lidushka timidly went down one step, then another, +and another, until halfway down she was met by the +old frog who welcomed her with many noisy croaks.</p> + +<p>"This way, dear godmother! This way! Don't be +afraid! Don't be afraid!"</p> + +<p>Lidushka picked up courage and took the remaining +stairs more bravely. The frog then led her to its house +which, like the stairs, was built of beautiful crystal +water, sparkling and transparent.</p> + +<p>Inside everything was in readiness for the christening. +Lidushka at once took the baby frogs in her arms +and held them during the ceremony.</p> + +<p>After the christening came a mighty feast to which +many frogs from near and far had been invited. The +old frog presented them all to Lidushka and they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +made much ado over her, hopping about her and croaking +out noisy compliments.</p> + +<p>Fish course after fish course was served—nothing +but fish, prepared in every possible manner: boiled and +broiled and fried and pickled. And there was every +possible kind of fish: the finest carp and pike and +mullet and trout and whiting and perch and many +more of which Lidushka didn't even know the names.</p> + +<p>When she had eaten all she could, Lidushka slipped +away from the other guests and wandered off alone +through the house.</p> + +<p>She opened by chance a door that led into a sort of +pantry. It was lined with long shelves and on the +shelves were rows and rows of little earthenware pots +all turned upside down. It seemed strange to +Lidushka that they should all be upside down and +she wondered why.</p> + +<p>She lifted one pot up and under it she found a lovely +white dove. The dove, happy at being released, shook +out its plumage, spread its wings, and flew away.</p> + +<p>Lidushka lifted a second pot and under it there was +another lovely dove which at once spread its fluttering +wings and flew off as happy as its fellow.</p> + +<p>Lidushka lifted up a third pot and there was a third +dove.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There must be doves under all these pots!" she +told herself. "What cruel creature has imprisoned +them, I wonder? As the dear God has given man a +soul to live forever, so He has given the birds wings +to fly, and He never intended them to be imprisoned +under dark pots. Wait, dear doves, and I'll set you +all free!"</p> + +<p>So Lidushka lifted pot after pot and from under +every one of them an imprisoned dove escaped and +flew joyously away.</p> + +<p>Just as she had lifted the last pot, the old frog came +hopping in to her in great excitement.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear, my dear!" she croaked. "What +have you done setting free all those souls! Quick and +get you a lump of dry earth or a piece of toasted bread +or my husband will catch you and take your soul! +Here he comes now!"</p> + +<p>Lidushka looked up through the crystal walls of the +house but could see no one coming. Then in the distance +she saw some beautiful bright red streamers +floating towards her on the top of the water. They +came nearer and nearer.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she thought to herself in sudden fright. +"Those must be the red streamers of a nickerman!"</p> + +<p>Instantly she remembered the stories her grandmother<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +used to tell her when she was a child, how the +wicked nickerman lured people to their death with +bright red streamers. Many an innocent maid, haying +along the river, has seen the lovely streamers in the +water and reached after them with her rake. That is +what the nickerman wants her to do for then he can +catch her and drag her down, down, down, under the +water where he drowns her and takes her soul. The +nickerman is so powerful that, if once he gets you, +he can drown you in a teaspoon of water! But if you +clutch in your hand a clod of dry earth or a piece of +toasted bread, then he is powerless to harm you.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Lidushka cried. "Now I understand! +Those white doves were the souls of poor innocents +whom this wicked nickerman has drowned! God help +me to escape him!"</p> + +<p>"Hurry, my dear, hurry!" the old frog croaked. +"Run up the crystal stairs and replace the stone!"</p> + +<p>Lidushka flew up the stairs and as she reached the +top she clutched a handful of dry earth. Then she +replaced the stone and the water flowed over the stairs.</p> + +<p>The nickerman spread out his red streamers close +to the shore and tried to catch her, but she was not to +be tempted.</p> + +<p>"I know who you are!" she cried, holding tight her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +handful of dry earth. "You'll never get my soul! +And you'll never again imprison under your black pots +all the poor innocent souls I liberated!"</p> + +<p>Years afterwards when Lidushka had children of +her own, she used to tell them this story and say to +them:</p> + +<p>"And now, my dears, you know why it is dangerous +to reach out in the water for a red streamer or a pretty +water lily. The wicked nickerman may be there just +waiting to catch you."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BATCHA_AND_THE_DRAGON" id="BATCHA_AND_THE_DRAGON"></a>BATCHA AND THE DRAGON</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A SHEPHERD WHO SLEPT ALL WINTER</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img20.png" width="340" height="285" alt="a dragon" title="a dragon" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>BATCHA AND THE DRAGON</h3> + + +<p>Once upon a time there was a shepherd who was +called Batcha. During the summer he pastured +his flocks high up on the mountain where he had a +little hut and a sheepfold.</p> + +<p>One day in autumn while he was lying on the +ground, idly blowing his pipes, he chanced to look +down the mountain slope. There he saw a most +amazing sight. A great army of snakes, hundreds +and hundreds in number, was slowly crawling to a +rocky cliff not far from where he was lying.</p> + +<p>When they reached the cliff, every serpent bit off +a leaf from a plant that was growing there. They +then touched the cliff with the leaves and the rock +opened. One by one they crawled inside. When the +last one had disappeared, the rock closed.</p> + +<p>Batcha blinked his eyes in bewilderment.</p> + +<p>"What can this mean?" he asked himself. "Where +are they gone? I think I'll have to climb up there +myself and see what that plant is. I wonder will the +rock open for me?"</p> + +<p>He whistled to Dunay, his dog, and left him in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +charge of the sheep. Then he made his way over to +the cliff and examined the mysterious plant. It was +something he had never seen before.</p> + +<p>He picked a leaf and touched the cliff in the same +place where the serpents had touched it. Instantly +the rock opened.</p> + +<p>Batcha stepped inside. He found himself in a huge +cavern the walls of which glittered with gold and +silver and precious stones. A golden table stood in the +center and upon it a monster serpent, a very king of +serpents, lay coiled up fast asleep. The other serpents, +hundreds and hundreds of them, lay on the +ground around the table. They also were fast asleep. +As Batcha walked about, not one of them stirred.</p> + +<p>Batcha sauntered here and there examining the walls +and the golden table and the sleeping serpents. When +he had seen everything he thought to himself:</p> + +<p>"It's very strange and interesting and all that, +but now it's time for me to get back to my sheep."</p> + +<p>It's easy to say: "Now I'm going," but when +Batcha tried to go he found he couldn't, for the rock +had closed. So there he was locked in with the +serpents.</p> + +<p>He was a philosophical fellow and so, after puzzling +a moment, he shrugged his shoulders and said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, if I can't get out I suppose I'll have to +stay here for the night."</p> + +<p>With that he drew his cape about him, lay down, +and was soon fast asleep.</p> + +<p>He was awakened by a rustling murmur. Thinking +that he was in his own hut, he sat up and rubbed his +eyes. Then he saw the glittering walls of the cavern +and remembered his adventure.</p> + +<p>The old king serpent still lay on the golden table +but no longer asleep. A movement like a slow wave +was rippling his great coils. All the other serpents +on the ground were facing the golden table and with +darting tongues were hissing:</p> + +<p>"Is it time? Is it time?"</p> + +<p>The old king serpent slowly lifted his head and +with a deep murmurous hiss said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is time."</p> + +<p>He stretched out his long body, slipped off the +golden table, and glided away to the wall of the cavern. +All the smaller serpents wriggled after him.</p> + +<p>Batcha followed them, thinking to himself:</p> + +<p>"I'll go out the way they go."</p> + +<p>The old king serpent touched the wall with his +tongue and the rock opened. Then he glided aside +and the serpents crawled out, one by one. When the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +last one was out, Batcha tried to follow, but the rock +swung shut in his face, again locking him in.</p> + +<p>The old king serpent hissed at him in a deep +breathy voice:</p> + +<p>"Hah, you miserable man creature, you can't get +out! You're here and here you stay!"</p> + +<p>"But I can't stay here," Batcha said. "What can +I do in here? I can't sleep forever! You must let +me out! I have sheep at pasture and a scolding wife +at home in the valley. She'll have a thing or two to +say if I'm late in getting back!"</p> + +<p>Batcha pleaded and argued until at last the old +serpent said:</p> + +<p>"Very well, I'll let you out, but not until you have +made me a triple oath that you won't tell any one how +you came in."</p> + +<p>Batcha agreed to this. Three times he swore a +mighty oath not to tell any one how he had entered +the cavern.</p> + +<p>"I warn you," the old serpent said, as he opened +the wall, "if you break this oath a terrible fate will +overtake you!"</p> + +<p>Without another word Batcha hurried through the +opening.</p> + +<p>Once outside he looked about him in surprise.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +Everything seemed changed. It was autumn when he +had followed the serpents into the cavern. Now +it was spring!</p> + +<p>"What has happened?" he cried in fright. "Oh, +what an unfortunate fellow I am! Have I slept +through the winter? Where are my sheep? And my +wife—what will she say?"</p> + +<p>With trembling knees he made his way to his hut. +His wife was busy inside. He could see her through +the open door. He didn't know what to say to +her at first, so he slipped into the sheepfold and +hid himself while he tried to think out some likely +story.</p> + +<p>While he was crouching there, he saw a finely +dressed gentleman come to the door of the hut and ask +his wife where her husband was.</p> + +<p>The woman burst into tears and explained to the +stranger that one day in the previous autumn her +husband had taken out his sheep as usual and had +never come back.</p> + +<p>"Dunay, the dog," she said, "drove home the sheep +and from that day to this nothing has ever been +heard of my poor husband. I suppose a wolf devoured +him, or the witches caught him and tore him to pieces +and scattered him over the mountain. And here I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +left, a poor forsaken widow! Oh dear, oh dear, oh +dear!"</p> + +<p>Her grief was so great that Batcha leaped out +of the sheepfold to comfort her.</p> + +<p>"There, there, dear wife, don't cry! Here I am, +alive and well! No wolf ate me, no witches caught +me. I've been asleep in the sheepfold—that's all. I +must have slept all winter long!"</p> + +<p>At sight and sound of her husband, the woman +stopped crying. Her grief changed to surprise, then +to fury.</p> + +<p>"You wretch!" she cried. "You lazy, good-for-nothing +loafer! A nice kind of shepherd you are to +desert your sheep and yourself to idle away the winter +sleeping like a serpent! That's a fine story, isn't it, +and I suppose you think me fool enough to believe +it! Oh, you—you sheep's tick, where have you been +and what have you been doing?"</p> + +<p>She flew at Batcha with both hands and there's +no telling what she would have done to him if the +stranger hadn't interfered.</p> + +<p>"There, there," he said, "no use getting excited! +Of course he hasn't been sleeping here in the sheepfold +all winter. The question is, where has he been? Here +is some money for you. Take it and go along home<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +to your cottage in the valley. Leave Batcha to me and +I promise you I'll get the truth out of him."</p> + +<p>The woman abused her husband some more and then, +pocketing the money, went off.</p> + +<p>As soon as she was gone, the stranger changed +into a horrible looking creature with a third eye in +the middle of his forehead.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" Batcha gasped in fright. "He's +the wizard of the mountain! Now what's going to +happen to me!"</p> + +<p>Batcha had often heard terrifying stories of the +wizard, how he could himself take any form he wished +and how he could turn a man into a ram.</p> + +<p>"Aha!" the wizard laughed. "I see you know +me! Now then, no more lies! Tell me: where have +you been all winter long?"</p> + +<p>At first Batcha remembered his triple oath to the +old king serpent and he feared to break it. But when +the wizard thundered out the same question a second +time and a third time, and grew bigger and more +horrible looking each time he spoke, Batcha forgot +his oath and confessed everything.</p> + +<p>"Now come with me," the wizard said. "Show me +the cliff. Show me the magic plant."</p> + +<p>What could Batcha do but obey? He led the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +wizard to the cliff and picked a leaf of the magic +plant.</p> + +<p>"Open the rock," the wizard commanded.</p> + +<p>Batcha laid the leaf against the cliff and instantly +the rock opened.</p> + +<p>"Go inside!" the wizard ordered.</p> + +<p>But Batcha's trembling legs refused to move.</p> + +<p>The wizard took out a book and began mumbling +an incantation. Suddenly the earth trembled, the sky +thundered, and with a great hissing whistling sound +a monster dragon flew out of the cavern. It was the +old king serpent whose seven years were up and who +was now become a flying dragon. From his huge +mouth he breathed out fire and smoke. With his long +tail he swished right and left among the forest trees +and these snapped and broke like little twigs.</p> + +<p>The wizard, still mumbling from his book, handed +Batcha a bridle.</p> + +<p>"Throw this around his neck!" he commanded.</p> + +<p>Batcha took the bridle but was too terrified to act. +The wizard spoke again and Batcha made one uncertain +step in the dragon's direction. He lifted his +arm to throw the bridle over the dragon's head, when +the dragon suddenly turned on him, swooped under +him, and before Batcha knew what was happening he +found himself on the dragon's back and he felt himself +being lifted up, up, up, above the tops of the +forest trees, above the very mountains themselves.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 526px;"> +<img src="images/img21.png" width="526" height="640" alt="On, on, they went, whizzing through the stars of heaven" title="flying on the dragons back" /> +<span class="caption"><i>On, on, they went, whizzing through the stars of heaven</i></span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span><br /></p> + + +<p>For a moment the sky was so dark that only the fire, +spurting from the dragon's eyes and mouth, lighted +them on their way.</p> + +<p>The dragon lashed this way and that in fury, he +belched forth great floods of boiling water, he hissed, +he roared, until Batcha, clinging to his back, was half +dead with fright.</p> + +<p>Then gradually his anger cooled. He ceased belching +forth boiling water, he stopped breathing fire, +his hisses grew less terrifying.</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" Batcha gasped. "Perhaps now +he'll sink to earth and let me go."</p> + +<p>But the dragon was not yet finished with punishing +Batcha for breaking his oath. He rose still higher +until the mountains of the earth looked like tiny ant-hills, +still up until even these had disappeared. On, on +they went, whizzing through the stars of heaven.</p> + +<p>At last the dragon stopped flying and hung motionless +in the firmament. To Batcha this was even more +terrifying than moving.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do? What shall I do?" he wept +in agony. "If I jump down to earth I'll kill myself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +and I can't fly on up to heaven! Oh, dragon, have +mercy on me! Fly back to earth and let me go and +I swear before God that never again until death will +I offend you!"</p> + +<p>Batcha's pleading would have moved a stone to pity +but the dragon, with an angry shake of his tail, only +hardened his heart.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Batcha heard the sweet voice of the skylark +that was mounting to heaven.</p> + +<p>"Skylark!" he called. "Dear skylark, bird that +God loves, help me, for I am in great trouble! Fly +up to heaven and tell God Almighty that Batcha, the +shepherd, is hung in midair on a dragon's back. Tell +Him that Batcha praises Him forever and begs Him +to deliver him."</p> + +<p>The skylark carried this message to heaven and +God Almighty, pitying the poor shepherd, took some +birch leaves and wrote on them in letters of gold. +He put them in the skylark's bill and told the skylark +to drop them on the dragon's head.</p> + +<p>So the skylark returned from heaven and, hovering +over Batcha, dropped the birch leaves on the dragon's +head.</p> + +<p>The dragon instantly sank to earth, so fast that +Batcha lost consciousness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>When he came to himself he was sitting before his +own hut. He looked about him. The dragon's cliff +had disappeared. Otherwise everything was the same.</p> + +<p>It was late afternoon and Dunay, the dog, was driving +home the sheep. There was a woman coming up +the mountain path.</p> + +<p>Batcha heaved a great sigh.</p> + +<p>"Thank God I'm back!" he said to himself. "How +fine it is to hear Dunay's bark! And here comes +my wife, God bless her! She'll scold me, I know, but +even if she does, how glad I am to see her!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CLEVER_MANKA" id="CLEVER_MANKA"></a>CLEVER MANKA</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A GIRL WHO KNEW WHAT TO SAY</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img22.png" width="340" height="272" alt="a house" title="a house" /> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>CLEVER MANKA</h3> + + +<p>There was once a rich farmer who was as +grasping and unscrupulous as he was rich. He +was always driving a hard bargain and always getting +the better of his poor neighbors. One of these neighbors +was a humble shepherd who in return for service +was to receive from the farmer a heifer. When the +time of payment came the farmer refused to give the +shepherd the heifer and the shepherd was forced to +lay the matter before the burgomaster.</p> + +<p>The burgomaster, who was a young man and as yet +not very experienced, listened to both sides and when +he had deliberated he said:</p> + +<p>"Instead of deciding this case, I will put a riddle +to you both and the man who makes the best answer +shall have the heifer. Are you agreed?"</p> + +<p>The farmer and the shepherd accepted this proposal +and the burgomaster said:</p> + +<p>"Well then, here is my riddle: What is the swiftest +thing in the world? What is the sweetest thing? +What is the richest? Think out your answers and +bring them to me at this same hour tomorrow."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>The farmer went home in a temper.</p> + +<p>"What kind of a burgomaster is this young fellow!" +he growled. "If he had let me keep the heifer I'd +have sent him a bushel of pears. But now I'm in a +fair way of losing the heifer for I can't think of any +answer to his foolish riddle."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, husband?" his wife asked.</p> + +<p>"It's that new burgomaster. The old one would +have given me the heifer without any argument, but +this young man thinks to decide the case by asking us +riddles."</p> + +<p>When he told his wife what the riddle was, she +cheered him greatly by telling him that she knew +the answers at once.</p> + +<p>"Why, husband," said she, "our gray mare must +be the swiftest thing in the world. You know yourself +nothing ever passes us on the road. As for the +sweetest, did you ever taste honey any sweeter than +ours? And I'm sure there's nothing richer than our +chest of golden ducats that we've been laying by these +forty years."</p> + +<p>The farmer was delighted.</p> + +<p>"You're right, wife, you're right! That heifer +remains ours!"</p> + +<p>The shepherd when he got home was downcast and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +sad. He had a daughter, a clever girl named Manka, +who met him at the door of his cottage and +asked:</p> + +<p>"What is it, father? What did the burgomaster +say?"</p> + +<p>The shepherd sighed.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I've lost the heifer. The burgomaster +set us a riddle and I know I shall never guess it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I can help you," Manka said. "What is +it?"</p> + +<p>So the shepherd gave her the riddle and the next +day as he was setting out for the burgomaster's, Manka +told him what answers to make.</p> + +<p>When he reached the burgomaster's house, the +farmer was already there rubbing his hands and beaming +with self-importance.</p> + +<p>The burgomaster again propounded the riddle and +then asked the farmer his answers.</p> + +<p>The farmer cleared his throat and with a pompous +air began:</p> + +<p>"The swiftest thing in the world? Why, my dear +sir, that's my gray mare, of course, for no other horse +ever passes us on the road. The sweetest? Honey +from my beehives, to be sure. The richest? What can +be richer than my chest of golden ducats!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> + +<p>And the farmer squared his shoulders and smiled +triumphantly.</p> + +<p>"H'm," said the young burgomaster, dryly. Then +he asked:</p> + +<p>"What answers does the shepherd make?"</p> + +<p>The shepherd bowed politely and said:</p> + +<p>"The swiftest thing in the world is thought for +thought can run any distance in the twinkling of an +eye. The sweetest thing of all is sleep for when a +man is tired and sad what can be sweeter? The richest +thing is the earth for out of the earth come all the +riches of the world."</p> + +<p>"Good!" the burgomaster cried. "Good! The +heifer goes to the shepherd!"</p> + +<p>Later the burgomaster said to the shepherd:</p> + +<p>"Tell me, now, who gave you those answers? I'm +sure they never came out of your own head."</p> + +<p>At first the shepherd tried not to tell, but when +the burgomaster pressed him he confessed that they +came from his daughter, Manka. The burgomaster, +who thought he would like to make another test of +Manka's cleverness, sent for ten eggs. He gave them +to the shepherd and said:</p> + +<p>"Take these eggs to Manka and tell her to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +them hatched out by tomorrow and to bring me the +chicks."</p> + +<p>When the shepherd reached home and gave Manka +the burgomaster's message, Manka laughed and said: +"Take a handful of millet and go right back to the +burgomaster. Say to him: 'My daughter sends you +this millet. She says that if you plant it, grow it, and +have it harvested by tomorrow, she'll bring you the +ten chicks and you can feed them the ripe grain.'"</p> + +<p>When the burgomaster heard this, he laughed +heartily.</p> + +<p>"That's a clever girl of yours," he told the shepherd. +"If she's as comely as she is clever, I think +I'd like to marry her. Tell her to come to see me, +but she must come neither by day nor by night, neither +riding nor walking, neither dressed nor undressed."</p> + +<p>When Manka received this message she waited +until the next dawn when night was gone and day not +yet arrived. Then she wrapped herself in a fishnet +and, throwing one leg over a goat's back and keeping +one foot on the ground, she went to the burgomaster's +house.</p> + +<p>Now I ask you: did she go dressed? No, she +wasn't dressed. A fishnet isn't clothing. Did she +go undressed? Of course not, for wasn't she covered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +with a fishnet? Did she walk to the burgomaster's? +No, she didn't walk for she went with one leg thrown +over a goat. Then did she ride? Of course she didn't +ride for wasn't she walking on one foot?</p> + +<p>When she reached the burgomaster's house she called +out:</p> + +<p>"Here I am, Mr. Burgomaster, and I've come +neither by day nor by night, neither riding nor walking, +neither dressed nor undressed."</p> + +<p>The young burgomaster was so delighted with +Manka's cleverness and so pleased with her comely +looks that he proposed to her at once and in a short +time married her.</p> + +<p>"But understand, my dear Manka," he said, "you +are not to use that cleverness of yours at my expense. +I won't have you interfering in any of my cases. In +fact if ever you give advice to any one who comes to +me for judgment, I'll turn you out of my house at +once and send you home to your father."</p> + +<p>All went well for a time. Manka busied herself in +her house-keeping and was careful not to interfere +in any of the burgomaster's cases.</p> + +<p>Then one day two farmers came to the burgomaster +to have a dispute settled. One of the farmers owned +a mare which had foaled in the marketplace. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +colt had run under the wagon of the other farmer +and thereupon the owner of the wagon claimed the +colt as his property.</p> + +<p>The burgomaster, who was thinking of something +else while the case was being presented, said carelessly:</p> + +<p>"The man who found the colt under his wagon is, +of course, the owner of the colt."</p> + +<p>As the owner of the mare was leaving the burgomaster's +house, he met Manka and stopped to tell her +about the case. Manka was ashamed of her husband +for making so foolish a decision and she said to the +farmer:</p> + +<p>"Come back this afternoon with a fishing net and +stretch it across the dusty road. When the burgomaster +sees you he will come out and ask you what you +are doing. Say to him that you're catching fish. When +he asks you how you can expect to catch fish in a +dusty road, tell him it's just as easy for you to catch +fish in a dusty road as it is for a wagon to foal. Then +he'll see the injustice of his decision and have the colt +returned to you. But remember one thing: you +mustn't let him find out that it was I who told you +to do this."</p> + +<p>That afternoon when the burgomaster chanced to +look out the window he saw a man stretching a fishnet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +across the dusty road. He went out to him and +asked:</p> + +<p>"What are you doing?"</p> + +<p>"Fishing."</p> + +<p>"Fishing in a dusty road? Are you daft?"</p> + +<p>"Well," the man said, "it's just as easy for me to +catch fish in a dusty road as it is for a wagon to +foal."</p> + +<p>Then the burgomaster recognized the man as the +owner of the mare and he had to confess that what +he said was true.</p> + +<p>"Of course the colt belongs to your mare and must +be returned to you. But tell me," he said, "who put +you up to this? You didn't think of it yourself."</p> + +<p>The farmer tried not to tell but the burgomaster +questioned him until he found out that Manka was at +the bottom of it. This made him very angry. He +went into the house and called his wife.</p> + +<p>"Manka," he said, "do you forget what I told you +would happen if you went interfering in any of my +cases? Home you go this very day. I don't care to +hear any excuses. The matter is settled. You may +take with you the one thing you like best in my house +for I won't have people saying that I treated you +shabbily."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>Manka made no outcry.</p> + +<p>"Very well, my dear husband, I shall do as you +say: I shall go home to my father's cottage and take +with me the one thing I like best in your house. But +don't make me go until after supper. We have been +very happy together and I should like to eat one last +meal with you. Let us have no more words but be +kind to each other as we've always been and then part +as friends."</p> + +<p>The burgomaster agreed to this and Manka prepared +a fine supper of all the dishes of which her +husband was particularly fond. The burgomaster +opened his choicest wine and pledged Manka's health. +Then he set to, and the supper was so good that he +ate and ate and ate. And the more he ate, the more +he drank until at last he grew drowsy and fell sound +asleep in his chair. Then without awakening him +Manka had him carried out to the wagon that was +waiting to take her home to her father.</p> + +<p>The next morning when the burgomaster opened +his eyes, he found himself lying in the shepherd's cottage.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" he roared out.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, dear husband, nothing!" Manka said. +"You know you told me I might take with me the one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +thing I liked best in your house, so of course I took +you! That's all."</p> + +<p>For a moment the burgomaster rubbed his eyes in +amazement. Then he laughed loud and heartily to +think how Manka had outwitted him.</p> + +<p>"Manka," he said, "you're too clever for me. +Come on, my dear, let's go home."</p> + +<p>So they climbed back into the wagon and drove +home.</p> + +<p>The burgomaster never again scolded his wife but +thereafter whenever a very difficult case came up he +always said:</p> + +<p>"I think we had better consult my wife. You know +she's a very clever woman."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_BLACKSMITHS_STOOL" id="THE_BLACKSMITHS_STOOL"></a>THE BLACKSMITH'S STOOL</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A MAN WHO FOUND +THAT DEATH WAS NECESSARY</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img23.png" width="340" height="255" alt="birds eating seeds" title="birds eating seeds" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE BLACKSMITH'S STOOL</h3> + + +<p>A long time ago when Lord Jesus and the +blessed St. Peter walked about together on +earth, it happened one evening that they stopped at +a blacksmith's cottage and asked for a night's lodging.</p> + +<p>"You are welcome," the blacksmith said. "I am +a poor man but whatever I have I will gladly share +with you."</p> + +<p>He threw down his hammer and led his guests into +the kitchen. There he entertained them with a good +supper and after they had eaten he said to them:</p> + +<p>"I see that you are tired from your day's journey. +There is my bed. Lie down on it and sleep until morning."</p> + +<p>"And where will you sleep?" St. Peter asked.</p> + +<p>"I? Don't think of me," the blacksmith said. "I'll +go out to the barn and sleep on the straw."</p> + +<p>The next morning he gave his guests a fine breakfast, +and then sent them on their way with good wishes +for their journey.</p> + +<p>As they were leaving, St. Peter plucked Lord +Jesus by the sleeve and whispered:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Master, aren't you going to reward this man? He +is poor but yet has treated us most hospitably."</p> + +<p>Lord Jesus answered Peter:</p> + +<p>"The reward of this world is an empty reward. I +was thinking to prepare him a place in heaven. However, +I will grant him something now."</p> + +<p>Then he turned to the blacksmith and said:</p> + +<p>"Ask what you will. Make three wishes and they +will be fulfilled."</p> + +<p>The blacksmith was overjoyed. For his first wish +he said:</p> + +<p>"I should like to live for a hundred years and always +be as strong and healthy as I am this moment."</p> + +<p>Lord Jesus said:</p> + +<p>"Very well, that will be granted you. What is your +second wish?"</p> + +<p>The blacksmith thought for a moment. Then he +said:</p> + +<p>"I wish that I may prosper in this world and always +have as much as I need. May work in my shop +always be as plentiful as it is today."</p> + +<p>"This, too, will be granted you," Lord Jesus said. +"Now for your third wish."</p> + +<p>Our blacksmith thought and thought, unable at +first to decide on a third wish. At last he said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Grant that whoever sits on the stool where you +sat last night at supper may be unable to get up +until I release him."</p> + +<p>St. Peter laughed at this, but Lord Jesus nodded +and said:</p> + +<p>"This wish, too, will be fulfilled."</p> + +<p>So they parted, Lord Jesus and blessed St. Peter +going on their way, and the blacksmith returning home +to his forge.</p> + +<p>Things came to pass as Lord Jesus had promised +they should. Work in plenty flowed into the blacksmith's +shop. The years went by but they made no impression +on the blacksmith. He was as young as ever +and as vigorous. His friends grew old and one by one +died. His children grew up, married, and had children +of their own. These in turn grew up. The years +brought youth and maturity and old age to them all. +The blacksmith alone remained unchanged.</p> + +<p>A hundred years is a long time but at last even it +runs out.</p> + +<p>One night as the blacksmith was putting away his +tools, there came a knock at the door. The blacksmith +stopped his singing to call out:</p> + +<p>"Who's there?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is I, Death," a voice answered. "Open the +door, blacksmith. Your time has come."</p> + +<p>The blacksmith threw open the door.</p> + +<p>"Welcome," he said to the woman standing there. +"I'll be ready in a moment when I put away my +tools." He smiled a little to himself. "Won't you +sit down on this stool, dear lady, and rest you for a +moment? You must be weary going to and fro over +the earth."</p> + +<p>Death, suspecting nothing, seated herself on the +stool.</p> + +<p>The blacksmith burst into a loud laugh.</p> + +<p>"Now I have you, my lady! Stay where you are +until I release you!"</p> + +<p>Death tried to stand up but could not. She +squirmed this way and that. She rattled her hollow +bones. She gnashed her teeth. But do what she would +she could not arise from the stool.</p> + +<p>Chuckling and singing, the blacksmith left her there +and went about his business.</p> + +<p>But soon he found that chaining up Death had unexpected +results. To begin with, he wanted at once +to celebrate his escape with a feast. He had a hog +which had been fattening for some time. He would +slaughter this hog and chop it up into fine spicy sausages<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +which his neighbors and friends would help +him eat. The hams he would hang in the chimney +to smoke.</p> + +<p>But when he tried to slaughter the animal, the blow +of his axe had no effect. He struck the hog on the +head and, to be sure, it rolled over on the ground. +But when he stopped to cut the throat, the creature +jumped up and with a grunt went scampering off. +Before the blacksmith could recover from his surprise, +the hog had disappeared.</p> + +<p>Next he tried to kill a goose. He had a fat +one which he had been stuffing for the village fair.</p> + +<p>"Since those sausages have escaped me," he said. +"I'll have to be satisfied with roast goose."</p> + +<p>But when he tried to cut the goose's throat, the +knife drew no blood. In his surprise he loosened his +hold and the goose slipped from his hands and went +cackling off after the hog.</p> + +<p>"What's come over things today?" the blacksmith +asked himself. "It seems I'm not to have +sausage or roast goose. I suppose I'll have to be +satisfied with a pair of pigeons."</p> + +<p>He went out to the pigeon-house and caught two +pigeons. He put them on the chopping-block and with +one mighty blow of his ax cut off both their heads.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There!" he cried in triumph. "I've got you!"</p> + +<p>But even as he spoke the little severed heads returned +to their bodies, the heads and bodies grew together as +if nothing had happened, and cooing happily the two +pigeons flew away.</p> + +<p>Then at last the truth flashed upon the blacksmith's +mind. So long as he kept Death fastened to that stool, +nothing could die! Of course not! So no more spicy +sausages, no more smoked hams, no more roast goose—not +even a broiled pigeon! The prospect was not a +pleasing one, for the blacksmith loved good things to +eat. But what could he do? Release Death? Never +that! He would be her first victim! Well then, if +he could have no fresh meat, he would have to be content +to live on peas and porridge and wheaten cakes.</p> + +<p>This actually was what he had to do and what every +one else had to do when their old provisions were exhausted.</p> + +<p>Summer passed and winter followed. Then spring +came bringing new and unforeseen miseries. With the +first breath of warm weather all the pests and insects +of the summer before revived, for not one of them had +been killed by the winter cold. And the eggs they had +laid all hatched out until the earth and the air and the +water swarmed with living creatures. Birds and rats<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +and grasshoppers, insects and bugs and vermin of +every kind, covered the fields and ate up every green +thing. The meadows looked as if a fire had swept them +clean. The orchards were stripped bare of every leaf +and blossom.</p> + +<p>Such <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'hords'">hordes</ins> of fish and frogs and water creatures +filled the lakes and the rivers that the water was +polluted and it was impossible for man to drink it.</p> + +<p>Water and land alike were swarming with living +creatures not one of which could be killed. Even the +air was thick with clouds of mosquitoes and gnats and +flies.</p> + +<p>Men and women walked about looking like tormented +ghosts. They had no desire to live on but they +had to live on for they could not die.</p> + +<p>The blacksmith came at last to a realization of all +the misery which his foolish wish was bringing upon +the world.</p> + +<p>"I see now," he said, "that God Almighty did well +when He sent Death to the world. She has her work +to do and I am wrong to hold her prisoner."</p> + +<p>So he released Death from the stool and made no outcry +when she put her bony fingers to his throat.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_GULLIBLE_WORLD" id="A_GULLIBLE_WORLD"></a>A GULLIBLE WORLD</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A MAN WHO DIDN'T BEAT HIS WIFE</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img24.png" width="340" height="259" alt="a castle" title="a castle" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span><br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>A GULLIBLE WORLD</h3> + + +<p>There was once a poor farm laborer, so poor +that all he owned in the world was a hen. He +told his wife to take this hen to market and sell it.</p> + +<p>"How much shall I ask for it?" the woman wanted +to know.</p> + +<p>"Ask as much as they'll pay, of course," the +laborer said.</p> + +<p>So the woman took the hen by the feet and set out. +Near the village she met a farmer.</p> + +<p>"Good day," the farmer said. "Where are you +going with that hen?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to market to sell it for as much +as they'll pay me."</p> + +<p>The farmer weighed the hen in his hand, pursed his +lips, thought a moment, and said:</p> + +<p>"You better sell it to me. I'll pay you three +pennies for it."</p> + +<p>"Three pennies? Are you sure that's as much as +you'll pay?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," the farmer said, "three pennies is as much +as I'll pay."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>So the laborer's wife sold the hen for three pennies. +She went on to the village and there she bought a pretty +little paper bag with one of the pennies and a piece +of ribbon with another penny. She put the third +penny into the bag, tied the bag with the ribbon, slipped +the ribbon on a stick, put the stick over her shoulder, +and then, feeling that she had done a very good day's +work, she tramped home to her husband.</p> + +<p>When the laborer heard how stupidly his wife had +acted, he flew into a great rage and at first threatened +to give her a sound beating.</p> + +<p>"Was there ever such a foolish woman in the +world?" he shouted angrily.</p> + +<p>The poor woman, who by this time was snuffling +and weeping, whimpered out:</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you find so much fault with me! +I'm sure I'm not the only gullible person in the +world."</p> + +<p>"Well," the laborer said, "I don't know. Perhaps +there are people in the world as gullible as you. I +tell you what I'll do: I'll go out and see if I can +find them. If I do, I won't beat you."</p> + +<p>So the laborer went out into the world to see if he +could find any one as gullible as his wife. He +traveled several days until he reached a countryside<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +where he was unknown. Here he came to a fine +castle at the window of which stood the lady of the +castle looking out.</p> + +<p>"Now then, my lady," the laborer said to himself, +"we'll see how gullible you are."</p> + +<p>He stood in the middle of the road, looked intently +up at the sky, and then reaching out his arms as if he +were trying to catch hold of something he began jumping +up and down.</p> + +<p>The lady of the castle watched him for a few +moments and then dispatched one of her servants +to ask him what he was doing. The servant hurried +out and questioned him and this is the story the clever +rascal made up:</p> + +<p>"I'm trying to jump back into heaven. You see I +live up there. I was wrestling up there with one of +my comrades and he pitched me out and now I can't +find the hole I fell through."</p> + +<p>With his eyes popping out of his head, the servant +hurried back to his mistress and repeated the laborer's +story word for word.</p> + +<p>The lady of the castle instantly sent for the laborer.</p> + +<p>"You say you were in heaven?" she asked him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my lady, that's where I live and I'm going +back at once."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have a dear son in heaven," the lady said. "Do +you know him?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I know him. The last time I saw +him he was sitting far back in the chimney corner +looking very sad and lonely."</p> + +<p>"What! My son sitting far back in the chimney +corner! Poor boy, he must be in need of money! My +good man, will you take him something from me? I'd +like to send him three hundred golden ducats and +material for six fine shirts. And tell him not to be +lonely as I'll come to him soon."</p> + +<p>The laborer was delighted at the success of his yarn +and he told the lady of the castle he'd gladly take with +him the ducats and the fine shirting and he asked her +to give them to him at once as he had to get back to +heaven without delay.</p> + +<p>The foolish woman wrapped up the shirting and +counted out the money and the laborer hurried off.</p> + +<p>Once out of sight of the castle he sat down by the +roadside, stuffed the fine shirting into the legs of his +trousers, and hid the ducats in his pockets. Then he +stretched himself out to rest.</p> + +<p>Meantime the lord of the castle got home and his +wife at once told him the whole story and asked him +if he didn't think she was fortunate to find a man who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +had consented to deliver to their son in heaven three +hundred golden ducats and material for six fine shirts.</p> + +<p>"What!" cried the husband. "Oh, what a gullible +creature you are! Who ever heard of a man falling +out of heaven! And if he were to fall, how could he +climb back? The rogue has swindled you! Which way +did he go?"</p> + +<p>And without waiting to hear the poor lady's lamentations, +the nobleman mounted his horse and galloped +off in the direction the laborer had taken.</p> + +<p>The laborer, who was still resting by the wayside, +saw him coming and guessed who he was.</p> + +<p>"Now, my lord, we'll try you," he said to himself.</p> + +<p>He took off his broad-trimmed hat and put it on +the ground beside him over a clod of earth.</p> + +<p>"My good fellow," said the nobleman, "I am looking +for a man with a bundle over his shoulder. Have +you seen him pass this way?"</p> + +<p>The laborer scratched his head and pretended to +think.</p> + +<p>"Yes, master," he said, "seems to me I did see a +man with a bundle. He was running over there +towards the woods and looking back all the time. He +was a stranger to these parts. I remember now thinking +to myself that he looked like one of those rogues<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +that come from big cities to swindle honest country +folk. Yes, master, that's the way he went, over there."</p> + +<p>The laborer seemed such an honest simple fellow +that at once the nobleman told him how the stranger +had swindled his wife.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the rogue!" the laborer cried. "To think of +his swindling such a fine lady, too! Master, I wish +I could help you. I'd take that horse of yours and +go after him myself if I could. But I can't. I'm +carrying a bird of great value to a gentleman who lives +in the next <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'down'">town</ins>. I have the bird here under my hat +and I daren't leave it."</p> + +<p>The nobleman thought that as the laborer had seen +the swindler he might be able to catch him. So he said:</p> + +<p>"My good man, if I sat here and guarded your hat, +would you be willing to mount my horse and follow +that rascal?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I would, my lord, in a minute, for I can't +bear to think of that rogue swindling such a fine lady +as your wife. But I must beg you to be very careful +of this bird. Don't put your hand under my hat or +it might escape and then I should have to bear the loss +of it."</p> + +<p>The nobleman promised to be most careful of the +bird and, dismounting, he handed his bridle to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +laborer. That one mounted the nobleman's horse and +galloped off.</p> + +<p>It is needless to say the nobleman never saw either +man or horse again. He waited and waited. At +last when he could wait no longer he decided that he +would have to take the bird home with him and let the +laborer follow. So he lifted the edge of the hat very +carefully, slipped in his hand, and clutched—the +dry clod of earth!</p> + +<p>Deeply chagrined he went home and had to bear the +smiles of his people as they whispered among themselves +that my lord as well as my lady had been +swindled.</p> + +<p>The laborer as he neared his cottage called out to +his wife:</p> + +<p>"It's all right, wife! You won't get that beating! +I find that the world is full of people even more +gullible than you!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_CANDLES_OF_LIFE" id="THE_CANDLES_OF_LIFE"></a>THE CANDLES OF LIFE</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A CHILD FOR WHOM +DEATH STOOD GODMOTHER</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img25.png" width="340" height="305" alt="bird on a flower" title="bird on a flower" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE CANDLES OF LIFE</h3> + + +<p>There was once a poor man named Martin. +He was so very poor that when his wife gave +birth to a little boy, he could find no one who would +stand godmother to the child.</p> + +<p>"No," he told his wife, "there's no one that I've +asked who is willing to hold this infant at the christening."</p> + +<p>The poor mother wept and moaned and he tried +to comfort her as best he could.</p> + +<p>"Don't be discouraged, my dear wife. I promise +you your son will be christened. I'll carry him to +church myself and if I can find a godmother no other +way I'll ask some woman I meet on the road."</p> + +<p>So Martin bundled up the baby and carried him to +church. On the way he met a woman whom he asked +to be godmother. She took the baby in her arms at +once and held it during the christening.</p> + +<p>Now Martin supposed that she was just an ordinary +woman like any other. But she wasn't. She was +Death who walks about among men and takes them +when their time has come.</p> + +<p>After the christening she invited Martin home with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +her. She showed him through the various rooms of +her house and down into great cellars. They went +a long way underground through cellar after cellar to +a place where thousands upon thousands of candles +were burning. There were tall candles just lighted, +candles burned halfway down, and little short ones +nearly burned out. At one end of the place there was +a heap of fresh candles that had not yet been lighted.</p> + +<p>"These," Death said, "are the candles of all the +people in the world. When a man's candle burns out, +then it is time for me to go for him."</p> + +<p>"Godmother," Martin said, pointing to a candle that +was burning low, "whose may that be?"</p> + +<p>"That, my friend, is your candle."</p> + +<p>Martin was frightened and begged Death to lengthen +his candle, but Death shook her head.</p> + +<p>"No, my friend," she said, "I can't do that."</p> + +<p>She reached for a fresh candle to light it for the +baby just christened. While her back was turned, +Martin snatched a tall candle, lighted it, and then +pressed it on the stub of his own candle that was +nearly burned out.</p> + +<p>When Death turned and saw what he had done, she +frowned reprovingly.</p> + +<p>"That, my friend, was an unworthy trick. However,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +it has lengthened your life, for what is done is done +and can't be undone."</p> + +<p>Then she handed Martin some golden ducats as a +christening present, took the baby again in her arms, +and said:</p> + +<p>"Now let us go home and give this young man back +to his mother."</p> + +<p>At the cottage she made the sick woman comfortable +and talked to her about her son. Martin went out to +the tavern and bought a jug of ale. Then he spread +the table with food, the best he could afford, and Godmother +Death sat down on the bench and they ate +and drank together.</p> + +<p>"Martin," she said to him at last, "you are very +poor and I must do something for you. I tell you +what I'll do: I'll make you into a great physician. I +will spread sickness in the world and you will cure it. +Your fame will go abroad and people will send for +you and pay you handsomely. This is how we'll work +together: when you hear of a person taken sick, go +to his house and offer to cure him. I will be there +invisible to every one but you. If I stand at the +foot of the sick man's bed, you will know that he's going +to get well. So then you can prescribe salves and +medicines, and when he recovers he'll think you have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +cured him. But if I stand at the head of the sick +man's bed, you will know that he has to die. In that +case you must look grave and say that he is beyond +help. When he dies people will say how wise you were +to know beforehand."</p> + +<p>She gave him further instructions and then, after +bidding her godchild and its mother a kind farewell, +she left.</p> + +<p>Time went by and Martin's fame as a great physician +spread far and wide. Wherever Godmother Death +caused sickness, there Martin went and made marvelous +cures. Dukes and princes heard of him and +sent for him. When he rubbed them with salve or +gave them a dose or two of bitter medicine and they +recovered, they felt so grateful to him that they gave +him anything he asked and often more than he asked.</p> + +<p>He always remembered Death's warning not to treat +a sick man if she stood at his head. Once, however, +he disobeyed. He was called to prescribe to a duke of +enormous wealth. When he entered the room he saw +Death standing at the duke's head.</p> + +<p>"Can you cure him?" they asked Martin.</p> + +<p>"I can't promise," Martin said, "but I'll do what +I can."</p> + +<p>He had the servants turn the duke's bed around<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +until the foot instead of the head was in front of +Death. The duke recovered and rewarded Martin +richly.</p> + +<p>But Death when next she met Martin reproved him:</p> + +<p>"My friend, don't try that trick on me again. Besides, +it is not a real cure. The duke's time has come; +he must go to his appointed place; and it is my duty +to conduct him thither. You think you have saved +him from me and he thinks so, but you are both +mistaken. All you have given him is a moment's +respite."</p> + +<p>The years went by and Martin grew old. His hair +whitened and his muscles stiffened. The infirmities +of age came upon him and life was no longer a joy.</p> + +<p>"Dear Godmother Death," he cried, "I am old and +tired! Take me!"</p> + +<p>But Death shook her head.</p> + +<p>"No, my friend, I can't take you yet. You +lengthened the candle of your life and now you must +wait until it burns down."</p> + +<p>At last one day as he was riding home after visiting +a sick man, Death climbed into the carriage with him. +She talked with him of old times and they laughed +together. Then jokingly she brushed his chin with a +green branch. Instantly Martin's eyes grew heavy.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +His head slipped lower and lower and soon he fell +asleep on Death's lap.</p> + +<p>"He's dead," the people said, when they looked in +the carriage. "The famous Doctor Martin is dead! +Oh, what a great and good man he was! Alas, who +can take his place!"</p> + +<p>He was buried with great pomp and all the world +mourned his death.</p> + +<p>His son, whose name was Josef, was a stupid fellow. +One day as he was going to church, his godmother +met him.</p> + +<p>"Well, Josef," she asked, "how are you getting +on?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, pretty well, thank you. I can live along for +a while on what my father saved. When that's gone, +I don't know what I'll do."</p> + +<p>"Tut! Tut!" said Death. "That's no way to talk. +If you only knew it, I'm your godmother who held +you at your christening. I helped your father to +wealth and fame and now I'll help you. I tell you +what I'll do: I'll apprentice you to a successful doctor +and I'll see to it that soon you'll know more than +he knows."</p> + +<p>Death rubbed some salve over Josef's ears and led +him to a doctor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wish you to take this youth as an apprentice," +she said. "He's a likely lad and will do you credit. +Teach him all you know."</p> + +<p>The doctor accepted Josef as an apprentice and +when he went out into the fields to gather herbs and +simples, he took the youth with him.</p> + +<p>Now the magic salve with which Godmother Death +had anointed Josef enabled him to hear and understand +the whisperings of the herbs. Each one as he picked +it, whispered to him its secret properties.</p> + +<p>"I cure a fever," one whispered.</p> + +<p>"And I a rash."</p> + +<p>"And I a boil."</p> + +<p>The doctor was amazed at his apprentice's knowledge +of herbs.</p> + +<p>"You know them better than I do," he said. "You +never make a mistake. It is I should be apprentice, +not you. Let us go into partnership. I will work +under you and together we will make wonderful cures."</p> + +<p>And so, owing to his godmother's gift, Josef became +a great physician of whom it was said that there was +no illness for which he could not find a remedial herb.</p> + +<p>He lived long and happily until at last his candle +burned down and Death, his kind godmother, took him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_DEVILS_GIFTS" id="THE_DEVILS_GIFTS"></a>THE DEVIL'S GIFTS</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A MAN WHOM THE DEVIL BEFRIENDED</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 419px;"> +<img src="images/img26.png" width="419" height="340" alt="The devil" title="the devil" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE DEVIL'S GIFTS</h3> + + +<p>There were once two men, a shoemaker and +a farmer, who had been close friends in youth. +The shoemaker married and had many children to +whom the farmer stood godfather. For this reason +the two men called each other "Godfather." When +they met it was "Godfather, this," and "Godfather, +that." The shoemaker was an industrious little man +and yet with so many mouths to fill he remained poor. +The farmer on the other hand soon grew rich for he +had no children to eat into his savings.</p> + +<p>Years went by and money and possessions began to +change the farmer's disposition. The more he accumulated, +the more he wanted, until people were whispering +behind his back that he was miserly and avaricious. +His wife was like him. She, too, saved and skimped +although, as I have told you, they had neither chick +nor child to provide for.</p> + +<p>The richer the farmer grew, the less he cared for +his poor friend and his poor friend's children. Now +when they called him "Godfather," he frowned impatiently, +and whenever he saw any of them he pretended<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +to be very busy for fear they should ask him +a favor.</p> + +<p>One day when he had slaughtered beef, the poor shoemaker +came to him and said:</p> + +<p>"My dear Godfather, you have just made a +killing. Won't you please give me a little piece of +meat? My wife and children are hungry."</p> + +<p>"No!" roared the rich man. "Why should I feed +your family? You ought to save as I do and then +you wouldn't have to ask favors of any one."</p> + +<p>Humiliated by the refusal, the shoemaker went home +and told his wife what his friend had said.</p> + +<p>"Go back to him," his wife insisted, "and tell him +again that his godchildren are hungry. I don't think +he understood you."</p> + +<p>So the poor little shoemaker returned to the rich +man. He cleared his throat apologetically and +stammered:</p> + +<p>"Dear Godfather, you—you don't want your poor +godchildren to go hungry, do you? Give me just one +small piece of meat—that's all I ask."</p> + +<p>In a rage, the rich man picked up a hunk of meat +and threw it at his poor friend.</p> + +<p>"There!" he shouted. "And now go to hell, you +and the meat with you, and tell the Devil I sent you."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>The shoemaker picked up the piece of meat. It was +all fat and gristle.</p> + +<p>"No use carrying this home," he thought to himself. +"I think I better do as Godfather says. Yes, +I'll go to hell and give it to the Devil."</p> + +<p>So he tramped down to hell and presented himself +at the gate. The little devil who stood on +guard greeted him merrily.</p> + +<p>"Hello, shoemaker! What do you want here?"</p> + +<p>"I have a present for the Devil, a piece of meat +that Godfather gave me."</p> + +<p>The little devil of a guard nodded his head understandingly.</p> + +<p>"I see, I see. Very well then, come with me and +I'll lead you to Prince Lucifer. But I'll give you a +bit of advice first. When the Prince asks you what +present you'd like in return, tell him you'd like the +tablecloth off his own table."</p> + +<p>The little devil of a guard then conducted the +shoemaker into Prince Lucifer's presence and the +Prince received him with every mark of consideration. +The shoemaker told him what Godfather had said and +presented him the hunk of meat. Lucifer received it +most graciously. Then he said:</p> + +<p>"Now, my dear shoemaker, let me make you a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +little present in return. Do you see anything here +that you'd like?"</p> + +<p>"If it pleases your Highness," the shoemaker said, +"give me that cloth that is spread over your table."</p> + +<p>Lucifer at once handed him the cloth and dismissed +him with many wishes for a pleasant journey back to +earth.</p> + +<p>As the shoemaker was leaving the friendly little +devil of a guard said to him:</p> + +<p>"I just want to tell you that's no ordinary tablecloth +that the Prince has given you. No, indeed! +Whenever you're hungry, all you've got to do is +spread out that cloth and say: 'Meat and drink for +one!' or, for as many as you want, and instantly +you will have what you ask."</p> + +<p>Overjoyed at his good fortune the little shoemaker +hurried back to earth. As night came on he +stopped at a tavern. He thought this was a good place +to try the tablecloth. So he took it out of his bag, +spread it over the table, and said:</p> + +<p>"Meat and drink for one!"</p> + +<p>Instantly a fine supper appeared and the shoemaker +ate and drank his fill.</p> + +<p>Now the landlord of the tavern was an evil, covetous +fellow and when he saw how the tablecloth worked his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +fingers itched to own it. He called his wife aside and +told her in guarded whispers what he had seen.</p> + +<p>Her eyes, too, filled with greed.</p> + +<p>"Husband," she whispered back, "we've got to get +possession of that tablecloth! Think what a help it +would be to us in our business! I tell you what +we'll do: tonight when the shoemaker is asleep we'll +steal his tablecloth and slip in one of our own in +its place. He's a simple fellow and will never know +the difference."</p> + +<p>So that night while the shoemaker was asleep, +they tip-toed in, stole the magic tablecloth out of the +bag, and substituted one of their own.</p> + +<p>The next morning when the shoemaker awoke and +spread out the cloth which he found in his bag and +said: "Meat and drink for one!" of course nothing +happened.</p> + +<p>"That's strange," he thought to himself. "I'll +have to take this back to the Devil and ask him to +give me something else."</p> + +<p>So instead of going home he went back to hell and +knocked at the gate.</p> + +<p>"Hello, shoemaker!" the little devil of a guard +said. "What do you want now?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you see it's this way," the shoemaker explained:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +"this tablecloth of the Devil's worked all right +last night but it doesn't work this morning."</p> + +<p>The little devil grinned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see. And you want Prince Lucifer to take +it back and give you something else, eh? Well, I'm +sure he will. If you want my advice, I should say to +ask him for that red rooster that sits in the chimney +corner."</p> + +<p>The Prince received the shoemaker as kindly as +before and was perfectly willing to exchange the +tablecloth for the red rooster.</p> + +<p>When the shoemaker got back to the gate, the +little devil of a guard said:</p> + +<p>"I see you've got the red rooster. Now I just +want to tell you that's no ordinary rooster. Whenever +you need money, all you have to do is put that rooster +on the table and say: 'Crow, rooster, crow!' He'll +crow and as he crows a golden ducat will drop from +his bill!"</p> + +<p>"What a lucky fellow I am!" the little shoemaker +thought to himself as he hurried back to earth.</p> + +<p>As night came on he stopped again at the same +tavern and, when it was time to pay for his supper, +he put the red rooster on the table and said:</p> + +<p>"Crow, rooster, crow!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> + +<p>The rooster crowed and sure enough a golden ducat +dropped from his bill.</p> + +<p>The covetous landlord licked his greedy lips and +hurried off to his wife.</p> + +<p>"We've got a red rooster," the wife said. "I'll +tell you what we'll do: when the shoemaker's asleep +we'll trade roosters. He's a simple fellow and will +never know the difference."</p> + +<p>So the next morning after breakfast, when the +shoemaker put what he thought was his own rooster +on the table and said: "Crow, rooster, crow!" of +course nothing happened.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what's the matter with you," he said to +the rooster. "I'll have to take you back to the Devil."</p> + +<p>So again he tramped down to hell and explained to +the little devil of a guard that the rooster no longer +dropped golden ducats from his bill.</p> + +<p>The little devil listened and grinned.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you want Prince Lucifer to give you +something else, eh?"</p> + +<p>The shoemaker nodded.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure he will," the little devil said. "He +seems to have taken quite a fancy to you. Now take +my advice and ask him for the pair of clubs that +are lying under the oven."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + +<p>So the shoemaker when he was led again into +Lucifer's presence explained to the Prince that the +red rooster no longer worked and please would His +Highness give him something else instead.</p> + +<p>The Prince was most affable.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," he said.</p> + +<p>"Well then, Your Highness, I'd like that pair of +clubs I see under the oven."</p> + +<p>Lucifer gave him the clubs and wished him a +pleasant journey home.</p> + +<p>When the shoemaker got back to the gate, the little +devil of a guard wagged his head and blinked his +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Shoemaker," he said, "those are fine clubs! You +don't know how fine they are! Why, they'll do anything +you tell them! If you point to a man and say to +them: 'Tickle that fellow!' they'll jump about and +tickle him under the ribs. If you say: 'Strike that +fellow!' they'll hit him. And if you say: 'Beat him!' +they'll give him a terrible drubbing. Now I want you +to try these clubs on that landlord and his wife for +they have been playing tricks on you. They stole your +tablecloth and your rooster. When you reach the +tavern tonight, they'll be entertaining a wedding +party and they'll say they haven't any room for +you. Don't argue but quietly take out your clubs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +and order them to knock about among the wedding +guests. Then order them to beat the landlord and his +wife and those two will soon cry for mercy and be +more than willing to return you your property."</p> + +<p>The shoemaker thanked the little devil of a guard +for his good advice and, putting the clubs in his bag, +climbed back to earth. When he reached the tavern, +sure enough he found a wedding party feasting and +dancing.</p> + +<p>"Get out of here!" the landlord cried. "There's +no room for you!"</p> + +<p>Without a word the shoemaker took out his clubs and +said:</p> + +<p>"Clubs, knock around among the wedding guests!"</p> + +<p>Instantly the two clubs went knocking about among +the wedding guests, tickling some and throwing down +others, until the place was in an uproar.</p> + +<p>"Now beat the landlord and his wife!" the shoemaker +cried.</p> + +<p>At that the clubs hopped over to the landlord and +his wife and began beating them over the head and +shoulders until they both dropped on their knees before +the shoemaker and begged for mercy.</p> + +<p>"Are you ready to give me back my tablecloth and +rooster?" the shoemaker asked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" they cried. "Only call off your clubs +and we'll give you back your tablecloth and rooster—we +swear we will!"</p> + +<p>When he thought he had punished them enough, the +shoemaker ordered the clubs to stop and the landlord +and his wife tottered off as fast as their trembling +legs could carry them. Presently they returned with +the tablecloth and the rooster.</p> + +<p>So the shoemaker, when he got home, had all three +of the Devil's presents tucked safely away in his bag.</p> + +<p>"Now, wife!" he cried. "Now, children! Now +we are going to have a feast!"</p> + +<p>He spread out the tablecloth and said:</p> + +<p>"Meat and drink for ten!"</p> + +<p>Instantly such a feast appeared that for a moment +the poor wife and the hungry children couldn't believe +their eyes. Then they set to, and, oh! I can't begin to +tell you all they ate!</p> + +<p>When they could eat no more, the shoemaker said:</p> + +<p>"That isn't all. I've got something else in my bag."</p> + +<p>He took out the clubs and said:</p> + +<p>"Clubs, tickle the children!"</p> + +<p>Instantly the clubs hopped around among the +children and tickled them under the ribs until they +were all roaring with laughter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And that isn't all!" the shoemaker said. "I've +got something else in my bag."</p> + +<p>He pulled out the red rooster, put him on the +table, and said:</p> + +<p>"Crow, rooster, crow!"</p> + +<p>The rooster crowed and a golden ducat dropped +from his bill.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" the children cried, and the youngest one +begged: "Make him do it again! Make him do it +again!"</p> + +<p>So again the shoemaker said: "Crow, rooster, +crow!" and again a golden ducat dropped from the +rooster's bill.</p> + +<p>The children were so amused that the shoemaker +kept the rooster crowing all night long until the room +was overflowing with a great heap of shining ducats.</p> + +<p>The next day the shoemaker said to his wife:</p> + +<p>"We must measure our money and see how much +we have. Send one of the children over to Godfather +to borrow a bushel measure."</p> + +<p>So the youngest child ran over to the rich man's +house and said:</p> + +<p>"Godfather, my father says will you please lend +us a bushel measure to measure our money."</p> + +<p>"Measure your money!" the rich man growled.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +"Pooh, pooh, what nonsense! Wife, where's that old +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'wornout'">worn-out</ins> measure that we're going to throw away? +It's the very thing to lend these beggars."</p> + +<p>The woman who was just as disagreeable as the +man handed the child an old broken measure and +said, severely:</p> + +<p>"See you bring it back at once!"</p> + +<p>In a short time the little girl returned the measure.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Godfather," she said. "We've got a +hundred bushels."</p> + +<p>"A hundred bushels!" the farmer repeated scornfully +after the child was gone. "A hundred bushels +of what? Look inside the measure, wife, and see if you +find a trace of anything."</p> + +<p>The woman peered inside the measure and found a +golden ducat lodged in a slit. She took it out and +the mere sight of it made her face and her husband's +face turn sick and pale with envy.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose those beggars really have got +some money?" he said. "We better go over at once +and see."</p> + +<p>So they hurried over to the shoemaker's cottage and +they shook hands with him and his wife most effusively +and they rubbed their hands together and they smiled +and they smiled and the rich man said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 458px;"> +<img src="images/img27.png" width="458" height="640" alt="He led them to Prince Lucifer" title="Prince Lucifer" /> +<span class="caption"><i>He led them to Prince Lucifer</i></span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dear Godfather, how are you? And how are all +my dear godchildren? And what is this good fortune +that has come to you?"</p> + +<p>"I owe it all to you," the shoemaker said.</p> + +<p>"To me?" the farmer repeated and, although he +began to feel sick inside to think that any one had +benefited through him, he kept on smiling and rubbing +his hands. "Tell me about it, dear Godfather."</p> + +<p>"You know that piece of meat you gave me," the +shoemaker said. "You told me to give it to the Devil. +I took your advice and made the Devil a present of it +and he gave me all these wonderful things in +return."</p> + +<p>The shoemaker made the tablecloth spread itself, he +made the rooster crow and drop a golden ducat, and +he made the clubs dance merrily around the room and +tickle the children under the ribs.</p> + +<p>The farmer and his wife grew sicker and sicker with +envy but they kept on smiling and rubbing their +hands and asking questions.</p> + +<p>"Tell us, dear Godfather," they said, "what road +do you take to go to hell? Of course we're not expecting +to go ourselves but we'd just like to know."</p> + +<p>The shoemaker told them the way and they hurried +home. They slaughtered their finest cattle and then,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +packing on their backs all the choicest cuts of the +meat, they staggered down to hell.</p> + +<p>When the little devil of a guard saw them coming, +he grinned and chuckled.</p> + +<p>"Welcome!" he cried. "We've been waiting for +you a long time! Come right in!"</p> + +<p>He led them to Prince Lucifer and the Prince +recognized them instantly.</p> + +<p>"It's very good of you coming before you had +to," he said. "This saves me a trip to earth. I was +thinking just the other day it was time to go after +you. And see all that fine meat you've brought with +you! I certainly am glad to see you! It isn't often +I have the pleasure of meeting people as avaricious, +as greedy, as mean, as you two have been. In fact, +both of you are such ornaments to hell that I think +I'll just have to keep you here forever!"</p> + +<p>So the rich farmer and his wife were never again seen +on earth.</p> + +<p>As for the shoemaker—he and his family lived +long and merrily. They shared their good fortune with +others, never forgetting the time when they, too, +suffered from poverty. And because they were good +and kind, the Devil's gifts brought them only happiness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="GENTLE_DORA" id="GENTLE_DORA"></a>GENTLE DORA</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A DEVIL WHO MARRIED A SCOLD</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img28.png" width="340" height="283" alt="a village" title="a village" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>GENTLE DORA</h3> + + +<p>There was once a young devil who, as he +wandered over the earth, found a book. He +slipped it carelessly into his pocket and carried it down +to hell. Now this book contained a list of the good +deeds of a rich man, and the account of a good deed +is of course never allowed to enter hell.</p> + +<p>The devils in hell when they opened the book were +greatly incensed over their comrade's stupidity and +at once they dragged him off to Prince Lucifer for +punishment.</p> + +<p>Lucifer when he heard the case shook his head +gravely.</p> + +<p>"This is a serious offense," he said to the culprit. +"To atone you must do one of two things: every day +for seven years you must bring a soul to hell, or you +must remain on earth for seven years and take service +among men. Which will you do?"</p> + +<p>The young devil was a stupid fellow and he knew +he would never be able to seduce a soul every day for +seven years. So he said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If I must choose, Your Majesty, let it be exile +on earth for seven years."</p> + +<p>So Lucifer pronounced sentence and the young devil +was driven out of hell and warned not to return until +the seven years were up.</p> + +<p>Sad and forlorn he wandered up and down the +world looking for work. People everywhere were +suspicious of his black face and turned him away.</p> + +<p>One day he met a man to whom he told his story.</p> + +<p>"And just because I'm a devil," he said in conclusion, +"no one will hire me."</p> + +<p>"I know where you can get work," the man told +him. "Just beyond the next village there is a big +farm which is owned by a woman. She's always in +need of laborers for she has such a sharp tongue +and such a mean disposition that no one can stay +with her longer than a month. Her name is Dora +and in mockery the people hereabouts call her Gentle +Dora. Why don't you take service with her? As +you're a devil, you may be able to get the best of her."</p> + +<p>The devil thanked the man for this suggestion and +at once presented himself to Gentle Dora. Gentle +Dora, as usual, was in need of laborers and so she +employed the devil instantly in spite of his black +face.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> + +<p>From the start she worked him like a slave from +morning till night, scolded him incessantly, and didn't +give him half enough to eat. The poor fellow grew +thin and almost pale. The months went by and each +new month was harder to live through than the one +before.</p> + +<p>"I can do a day's work with the best of them," +the devil thought to himself, "but there is no one, +either man or devil, who can stand this woman's +everlasting nagging. Oh dear, oh dear, what shall +I do?"</p> + +<p>Now Gentle Dora was looking for a husband. She +had already had five husbands all of whom she had +nagged to death. On account of this record every +bachelor and widower in the village was a little shy +of proposing himself as a sixth husband.</p> + +<p>The devil, who as I have told you was a simple +fellow, finally decided that it would be a mighty clever +thing for him to marry Gentle Dora. He felt sure +that once he was her husband she would give him less +work and more food. So he proposed to her.</p> + +<p>The rich widow didn't much fancy his black face, +but on the other hand she wanted a husband and so, +as there was no other prospect in sight, she accepted +him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> + +<p>"At least," she thought to herself, "by making +him my husband, I'll save his wages."</p> + +<p>It wasn't long before the devil found out that life +as a husband was even harder than life as a laborer. +Now without wages he had ten times more to do +while Gentle Dora did nothing but spend her time +hunting work for him.</p> + +<p>"Why do you think I've married," she would cry, +"if it isn't to have some one take care of +me!"</p> + +<p>So she would stand over him and scold and scold +and scold while he, poor devil, toiled and sweated, +doing the work of six men.</p> + +<p>Time went by and the devil grew thinner and thinner +and paler and paler. Gentle Dora begrudged him +every mouthful he ate and was forever harping on his +enormous appetite.</p> + +<p>At last one day she said to him:</p> + +<p>"You're simply eating me out of house and home. +From now on you will have to board yourself. As +I'm an honest woman I'll treat you justly. This +year we'll divide the harvest half and half. Which +will you have: that which grows above the ground, or +that which grows below the ground?"</p> + +<p>This sounded fair enough and the devil said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Give me the part that grows above the ground."</p> + +<p>Thereupon Gentle Dora had the whole farm planted +in potatoes and beets and carrots. When the harvest +came she gave the devil the tops and herself took all +the tubers.</p> + +<p>That winter the poor devil would have starved if +the neighbors hadn't taken pity on him and fed him.</p> + +<p>In the spring Gentle Dora asked him what part of +the new crop he wanted.</p> + +<p>"This time," he said, "give me the part that grows +under the ground."</p> + +<p>Gentle Dora agreed and then planted the entire +farm in millet and rye and poppy seed. At the +harvest she took all the grain as her share and told +the devil that the worthless roots belonged to +him.</p> + +<p>"What chance has a poor devil with such a +woman?" he thought to himself bitterly.</p> + +<p>Discouraged and unhappy he went out to the roadside +where he sat down. The troubles of domestic +life pressed upon him so heavily that soon he began +to cry.</p> + +<p>Presently a journeyman shoemaker came by and said +to him:</p> + +<p>"Comrade, what ails you?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> + +<p>The devil looked at the shoemaker and, when he +saw that the shoemaker was a friendly sort of person, +he told him his story.</p> + +<p>"Why do you stand such treatment?" the shoemaker +asked.</p> + +<p>The devil snuffled.</p> + +<p>"How can I help it? I'm married to her."</p> + +<p>"How can you help it?" the shoemaker repeated. +"Comrade, look at me. At home I have just such a +wife as your Gentle Dora. There was no living with +her in peace, so one morning bright and early I ups +and puts my tool kit on my shoulder and leaves her. +Now I wander about from place to place, mending a +shoe here and a slipper there, and life is much +pleasanter than it used to be. Why don't you leave +your Gentle Dora and come along with me? We'll +make out somehow."</p> + +<p>The devil was overjoyed at the suggestion and without +a moment's hesitation he tramped off with the +shoemaker.</p> + +<p>"You won't regret the kindness you've done me," +the devil said. "I'm so thin and pale that probably +you don't realize I'm a devil. But I am and I can +reward you."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 410px;"> +<img src="images/img29.png" width="410" height="640" alt="Soon he began to cry." title="crying devil" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Soon he began to cry.</i></span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a><br /></span></p> + +<p>They wandered about together for a long time +living on the shoemaker's earnings. At last one day +the devil said:</p> + +<p>"Comrade, you have befriended me long enough. +It is now my turn to do something for you. I've +got a fine idea. You see that big town we're coming +to? Well, I'll hurry on ahead and take possession of +the prince's young daughter. You come along more +slowly and when you hear the proclamation that the +prince will richly reward any one who will cure his +daughter, present yourself at the palace. When they +lead you to the princess, make mysterious passes over +her and mumble some gibberish. Then I will quit +her body and the prince will reward you."</p> + +<p>The devil's scheme worked perfectly. When the +shoemaker reached the town the herald was already +proclaiming the sad news that the princess had been +taken possession of by a devil and that the prince was +in search of a capable exorcist.</p> + +<p>The shoemaker presented himself at the palace, +made mysterious passes over the princess's body, pretended +to mumble magic incantations, and in a short +time had apparently succeeded in exorcising the +devil.</p> + +<p>In his gratitude for the princess's recovery, the +prince paid the shoemaker a hundred golden ducats.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>The devil waited for the shoemaker outside the town +gate.</p> + +<p>"You see," he said when the shoemaker had shown +him the money, "I'm not an ungrateful devil."</p> + +<p>They turned the same trick in several other cities +until the shoemaker had a heavy bag of gold.</p> + +<p>"Now you're a rich man," the devil said, "and we +can part company. My seven years are up and I am +going soon to return to hell. But before I go I'm +going to take possession of one more princess. I +served Gentle Dora so long that it's a pleasant change +to rule some one. This time don't you try to exorcise +me. You're famous now and the princess's father will +probably hunt you out and beg you to cure his +daughter, but you must excuse yourself. This is all +I ask of you. If you allow yourself to be persuaded, +I'll punish you by taking possession of your body. +Don't forget!"</p> + +<p>They bade each other good-bye and parted, the +shoemaker going west and the devil east.</p> + +<p>Soon word began to pass up and down the land that +there was a great king toward the east who needed +the services of the famous exorcist to restore his +daughter. Emissaries of the king found the shoemaker +and against his will dragged him to court. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +declared he was powerless to help the princess but the +king wouldn't listen to him and threatened him with +torture and death if he refused to make the effort.</p> + +<p>"Well then," the shoemaker said, after much +thought, "chain the princess to her bed, order out all +the attendants, and let me see her alone."</p> + +<p>The king had these conditions fulfilled and the +shoemaker went boldly into the princess's chamber.</p> + +<p>"Hist! Devil!" he called softly.</p> + +<p>Instantly the devil jumped out of the princess's +mouth and when he saw the shoemaker he stamped his +foot in anger.</p> + +<p>"What!" he cried. "You've come after my warning! +Don't you remember what I told you?"</p> + +<p>The shoemaker put his finger to his lips and winked.</p> + +<p>"Softly, comrade," he whispered, "softly! I'm not +come to exorcise you but to warn you. You know that +precious wife of yours, Gentle Dora? Well, she's +traced you here and she's down in the courtyard now +waiting for you."</p> + +<p>The devil turned white with fright.</p> + +<p>"Gentle Dora!" he gasped. "Lucifer, help me!"</p> + +<p>Without another word he jumped out the window +and flew straight down to hell as fast as the wind +could carry him. And so great is his fear of Gentle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +Dora that he has never dared to show his face on +earth again.</p> + +<p>The king rewarded the shoemaker royally and to +this day the shoemaker is wandering merrily about +from place to place. Whenever he hears of a woman +who is a scold, he says:</p> + +<p>"Why, she's a regular Gentle Dora, isn't she?"</p> + +<p>And when people ask him: "Who's Gentle Dora?" +he tells them this story.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_DEVILS_MATCH" id="THE_DEVILS_MATCH"></a>THE DEVIL'S MATCH</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A FARMER WHO REMEMBERED WHAT +HIS GRANDMOTHER TOLD HIM</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img30.png" width="340" height="273" alt="a bear" title="a bear" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE DEVIL'S MATCH</h3> + + +<p>Once upon a time there was a poor farmer who +lived in a wretched tumble-down cottage +beyond the village and whose farm consisted of a +miserable little field no bigger than your hand. His +children were ragged and hungry and his wife was +always worried over getting them enough to +eat.</p> + +<p>Yet the farmer was a clever fellow with a quick +shrewd wit and people used to say that he'd be able +to fool the devil if ever he had the chance. One day +the chance came.</p> + +<p>His wife had sent him into the forest to gather a +bundle of faggots. Suddenly without any warning +a young man with black face and shiny eyes stood +before him.</p> + +<p>"It's a devil, of course," the farmer told himself. +"But even so there's no use being frightened."</p> + +<p>So he wished the devil a civil good-day and the +devil, who was really a very simple fellow indeed, +returned his greeting and asked him what he was +doing in the forest.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now the farmer suddenly remembered that his +grandmother had once told him devils were afraid of +lime trees because the bast from lime trees is the one +thing in the world they are unable to break. That's +why, when you catch a devil, you must tie his hands together +with bast.</p> + +<p>So the farmer, recalling what his grandmother had +said, remarked casually:</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm looking for a lime tree. I want to strip off +some bast. Then I'm going after <i>them</i>"—and when +he said <i>them</i> he paused significantly—"and tie them +hand and foot."</p> + +<p>He peeped at the devil out of the corner of his eye +and saw that the devil had turned almost white under +his black skin.</p> + +<p>"He is a foolish one!" he thought to himself.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't do that!" the devil cried. "What have +we ever done to you?"</p> + +<p>The farmer pretended to be firm and repeated that +that was just what he was going to do.</p> + +<p>"Please listen to me," the devil begged. "If you +promise to let us alone I tell you what I'll do: I'll +bring you such a big bag of gold that it will make +you a rich man."</p> + +<p>At first the farmer, being a shrewd fellow, pretended<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +that he cared nothing for money. Then gradually he +let himself <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'he'">be</ins> persuaded and at last said:</p> + +<p>"Very well. If you bring me the gold within an +hour I won't bind you with bast. But don't keep +me waiting or I may change my mind."</p> + +<p>The young devil—oh, you never saw a more stupid +young fellow!—scurried off and, long before the hour +was up, he came panting back with a great big bag of +gold.</p> + +<p>"Is that enough?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The farmer who had really never seen so much +money in all his life hemmed and hawed but finally +said:</p> + +<p>"Well, it isn't as much as I expected but I'll accept +it."</p> + +<p>The young devil, delighted with his bargain, hurried +back to hell and told all his black comrades how +grateful they ought to be to him for saving them +from the farmer who was planning to bind them, +hand and foot, with bast.</p> + +<p>When the other devils heard the whole story, they +laughed at him loud and long.</p> + +<p>"You are certainly the stupidest devil in hell!" +they said. "Why, that man has made a fool of +you!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + +<p>They discussed the matter among themselves and +decided that the devil would have to get back the bag +of gold or the story would leak out and thereafter the +people on earth would have no more respect for +devils.</p> + +<p>"Go back to the farmer," they said, "and dare him +to a wrestling match. Tell him that whoever wins +the match is to keep the gold."</p> + +<p>So the young devil went back to earth and dared +the farmer to a wrestling match. The farmer, who +saw how things were, said:</p> + +<p>"My dear young friend, if I were to wrestle with +you I'm afraid I'd hurt you for I'm awfully strong. +I tell you what I'll do: I'll let you wrestle with my +old grandfather. He's ninety-nine years old but even +so he's more nearly in your class."</p> + +<p>The devil agreed to this and the farmer—oh, but +that farmer was a sly one!—led him out into the forest +to a cave where a big brown bear lay asleep.</p> + +<p>"There's my grandfather," the farmer said. "Go +wake him up and make him wrestle."</p> + +<p>The devil shook the bear and said:</p> + +<p>"Wake up, old man! Wake up! We're going to +wrestle!"</p> + +<p>The bear opened his little eyes, stood up on his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +hind legs, and taking the devil in his arms hugged him +until the devil thought his bones would all be crushed. +It was as much as the devil could do to escape with +his life.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my poor ribs! My poor ribs!" he gasped when +he was safely back in hell. "He's a terrible man—that +farmer! Why, even his old grandfather is so +strong that I thought he'd squeeze me to +death!"</p> + +<p>But when he had told his full story the other devils +laughed at him louder than before and told him that +the farmer had again fooled him.</p> + +<p>"You've got to try another match with him," they +said. "This time dare him to a foot race and mind +you don't let him fool you."</p> + +<p>So in a day or two when the soreness was gone +from his bones the devil went back to earth and +dared the farmer to run a foot race with him.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," the farmer said, "but it's hardly fair +to let you run against me because I go like the wind. +I tell you what I'll do: I'll let you race with my +small son. He's only a year old and perhaps you +can beat him."</p> + +<p>The devil—I never knew a more stupid fellow in +my life!—agreed to this and the farmer took him out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +to a meadow. Under some bushes he showed him a +rabbit's hole.</p> + +<p>"My little boy's asleep in there," he said. "Call +him out."</p> + +<p>"Little boy!" the devil called. "Come out and +run a race with me!"</p> + +<p>Instantly a rabbit jumped out of the hole and went +hoppetylop across the meadow. The devil tried hard +to overtake him but couldn't. He ran on and on. +They came at last to a deep ravine. The rabbit +leaped across but the devil, when he tried to do the +same, slipped and fell and went rolling down over +stones and brambles, down, down, down, into a brook. +When he had dragged himself out of the water, +bruised and scratched, the rabbit had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"I've had enough of that farmer," the devil said +when he got back to hell. "Why, do you know, he +has a small boy just one year old and I tell you there +isn't one of you can beat that boy running!"</p> + +<p>But the devils when they heard the rest of the story +only laughed and jeered and told their comrade that +the farmer had again tricked him.</p> + +<p>"You've got to go back to him another time," they +said. "It will never do for people to get the idea +that devils are such fools."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I tell you I won't dare him to another +wrestling match," the young devil said, "nor to a +foot race, either."</p> + +<p>"Try whistling this time," his comrades told him. +"You ought to be able to beat him whistling. Now +have your wits about you and don't let him fool +you again."</p> + +<p>So the devil went back to earth and said to the +farmer:</p> + +<p>"We've got to have another contest for that bag +of money. This time let's try whistling."</p> + +<p>"Very well," the farmer said. "We'll have a +whistling match."</p> + +<p>They went off into the forest and the farmer told +the devil to whistle first.</p> + +<p>The devil whistled and all the leaves on the trees +shook and trembled. He whistled again and the twigs +began to crackle and break. He whistled a third +time and big branches snapped off and fell to the +ground.</p> + +<p>"There!" the devil exclaimed, "Can you beat that?"</p> + +<p>"My poor boy," the farmer said. (Oh, but that +farmer was a tricky one!) "Is that the best you +can do? Why, when I whistle, if you don't cover up +your ears you'll be deafened! And as likely as not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +a tree will fall on you and kill you! Now shall I +begin? "</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" the devil begged. "Won't you +please tie up my ears before you begin because I don't +want to be deafened."</p> + +<p>This was just what the farmer was hoping the +devil would say. So he took out a big kerchief and +put it over the devil's ears and also over his eyes and +tied it behind in a hard knot.</p> + +<p>"Now then!" he shouted. "Take care!"</p> + +<p>With that he began to whistle and as he whistled +he picked up a big branch off the ground and gave +the devil an awful crack over the head.</p> + +<p>"My head! My head!" the devil cried.</p> + +<p>"My poor fellow!" the farmer said, pretending +to be very sympathetic. "I hope that tree as it fell +down didn't hurt you! Now I'm going to whistle +again and you must be more careful."</p> + +<p>This time when he whistled the farmer struck the +devil over the head harder than before.</p> + +<p>"That's enough!" the devil shouted. "Another +tree has fallen on me! Stop! Stop!"</p> + +<p>"No," the farmer insisted. "You whistled three +times and I'm going to whistle three times. Are you +ready?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> + +<p>The poor devil had to say: "Yes," and thereupon the +farmer began to whistle and at the same time to beat +the devil over his head and shoulders until the devil +supposed that the whole forest was falling on him.</p> + +<p>"Stop whistling!" he shouted. "Stop or I'll be +killed!"</p> + +<p>But the farmer wouldn't stop until he was too +exhausted to beat the devil any longer.</p> + +<p>Then he paused and asked:</p> + +<p>"Shall I whistle some more?"</p> + +<p>"No! No! No!" the devil roared. "Undo the +kerchief and let me go and I swear I'll never come +back!"</p> + +<p>So the farmer undid the kerchief and the devil +fled, too terrified to stop even long enough to look +around for all those fallen trees.</p> + +<p>He never came back and the farmer was left in undisputed +possession of the gold.</p> + +<p>"I owe all my good fortune to my old grandmother," +the farmer used to say, "for she it was who told me +to tie <i>them</i> with bast."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_DEVILS_LITTLE_BROTHER-IN-LAW" id="THE_DEVILS_LITTLE_BROTHER-IN-LAW"></a>THE DEVIL'S LITTLE BROTHER-IN-LAW</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF A YOUTH WHO COULDN'T FIND WORK</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img31.png" width="340" height="254" alt="devil and brother-in-law" title="devil and brother-in-law" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE DEVIL'S LITTLE BROTHER-IN-LAW</h3> + + +<p>Once upon a time there was a youth named +Peter. He was the son of a rich farmer but +on his father's death his stepmother robbed him of +his inheritance and drove him out into the world, +penniless and destitute.</p> + +<p>"Begone with you now!" she shouted. "Never +let me see your face again!"</p> + +<p>"Where shall I go?" Peter asked.</p> + +<p>"Go to the Devil, for all I care!" the stepmother +cried and slammed the door in his face.</p> + +<p>Peter felt very sad at being driven away from +the farm that had always been his home, but he was +an able-bodied lad, industrious and energetic, and he +thought he would have no trouble making his way +in the world.</p> + +<p>He tramped to the next village and stopped at a +big farmhouse. The farmer was standing at the +door, eating a great hunk of buttered bread.</p> + +<p>Peter touched his hat respectfully and said:</p> + +<p>"Let every one praise Lord Jesus!"</p> + +<p>With his mouth stuffed full, the farmer responded:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Until the Day of Judgment!" Then in a +different tone he demanded: "What do you want?"</p> + +<p>"I'm looking for work," Peter said. "Do you +need a laborer?"</p> + +<p>Peter was well dressed for he had on the last +clothes his kind father had given him. The farmer +looked him over and sneered.</p> + +<p>"A fine laborer you would make! You would do +good work at meals—I see that, and spend the rest +of your time at cards and teasing the maids! I +know your kind!"</p> + +<p>Peter tried to tell the farmer that he was industrious +and steady but with an oath the farmer told him to +go to the Devil. Then stepping inside the house he +slammed the door in Peter's face.</p> + +<p>In the next village he applied for work at the +bailiff's house. The bailiff's wife answered his knock.</p> + +<p>"The master is playing cards with two of his +friends," she said. "I'll go in and ask him if he +has anything for you to do."</p> + +<p>Peter heard her speak to some one inside and then +a rough voice bellowed out:</p> + +<p>"No! How often have I told you not to interrupt +me when I'm busy! Tell the fellow to go to the +Devil!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + +<p>Without waiting for the bailiff's wife, Peter turned +away. Tired and discouraged he took a path into +the woods and sat down.</p> + +<p>"There doesn't seem to be any place for me in +all the world," he thought to himself. "They all tell +me to go to the Devil—my stepmother, the farmer, +and now the bailiff. If I knew the way to hell I +think I'd take their advice. I'm sure the Devil would +treat me better than they do!"</p> + +<p>Just then a handsome gentleman, dressed in green, +walked by. Peter touched his hat politely and said:</p> + +<p>"Let every one praise Lord Jesus."</p> + +<p>The man passed him without responding. Then he +looked back and asked Peter why he looked so +discouraged.</p> + +<p>"I have reason to look discouraged," Peter said. +"Everywhere I ask for work they tell me to go to +the Devil. If I knew the way to hell I think I'd +take their advice and go."</p> + +<p>The stranger smiled.</p> + +<p>"But if you saw the Devil, don't you think you'd +be afraid of him?"</p> + +<p>Peter shook his head.</p> + +<p>"He can't be any worse than my stepmother, or +the farmer, or the bailiff."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> + +<p>The man suddenly turned black.</p> + +<p>"Look at me!" he cried. "Here I am, the very +person we've been talking about!"</p> + +<p>With no show of fear Peter looked the Devil up +and down.</p> + +<p>Then the Devil said that if Peter still wished to +enter his service, he would take him. The work +would be light, the Devil said, and the hours good, and +if Peter did as he was told he would have a pleasant +time. The Devil promised to keep him seven years +and at the end of that time to make him a handsome +present and set him free.</p> + +<p>Peter shook hands on the bargain and the Devil, +taking him about the waist, whisked him up into the +air, and, pst! before Peter knew what was happening, +they were in hell.</p> + +<p>The Devil gave Peter a leather apron and led +him into a room where there were three big cauldrons.</p> + +<p>"Now it's your duty," the Devil said, "to keep the +fires under these cauldrons always burning. Keep +four logs under the first cauldron, eight logs under +the second, and twelve under the third. Be careful +never to let the fires go out. And another thing, +Peter: you're never to peep inside the cauldrons. If<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +you do I'll drive you away without a cent of wages. +Don't forget!"</p> + +<p>So Peter began working for the Devil and the +treatment he received was so much better than that +which he had had on earth that, sometimes, it seemed +to him he was in heaven rather than hell. He had +plenty of good food and drink and, as the Devil had +promised him, the work was not heavy.</p> + +<p>For companions he had the young apprentice devils, +a merry black crew, who told droll stories and played +amusing pranks.</p> + +<p>Time passed quickly. Peter was faithful at his work +and never once peeped under the lids of his three +cauldrons.</p> + +<p>At last he began to grow homesick for the world +and one day he asked the Devil how much longer he +had still to serve.</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow," the Devil told him, "your seven years +are up."</p> + +<p>The next day while Peter was piling fresh logs under +the cauldrons, the Devil came to him and said:</p> + +<p>"Today, Peter, you are free. You have served +me faithfully and well and I am going to reward you +handsomely. Money would be too heavy for you to +carry, so I am going to give you this bag which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +is a magic bag. Whenever you open it and say: 'Bag, +I need some ducats,' the bag will always have just as +many as you need. Good luck go with you, Peter. +However, I don't believe you'll have a very good time +at first for people will think you're a devil. You know +you do look pretty black for you haven't washed for +seven years and you haven't cut your hair or nails."</p> + +<p>"That's true," said Peter. "I just remember I +haven't washed ever since I've been down here. I +certainly must take a bath and get my hair cut and +my nails trimmed."</p> + +<p>The Devil shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No, Peter, one bath won't do it. Water won't +wash off the kind of black you get down here. I +know what you must do but I won't tell you just yet. +Go up into the world as you are and, if ever you need +me, call me. If the people up there ask you who +you are, tell them you're the Devil's little brother-in-law. +This isn't a joke. It's true as you'll find +out some day."</p> + +<p>Peter then took leave of all the little black apprentices +and the Devil, lifting him on his back, whisked +him up to earth and set him down in the forest on +exactly the same spot where they had met seven years +before.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Devil disappeared and Peter, stuffing the magic +bag in his pocket, walked to the nearest village.</p> + +<p>His appearance created a panic. On sight of him +the children ran screaming home, crying out:</p> + +<p>"The Devil! The Devil is coming!"</p> + +<p>Mothers and fathers ran out of the houses to see +what was the matter but on sight of Peter they ran +in again, barred all the doors and windows, and making +the sign of the cross prayed God Almighty to protect +them.</p> + +<p>Peter went on to the tavern. The landlord and his +wife were standing in the doorway. As Peter came +toward them, they cried out in fright:</p> + +<p>"O Lord, forgive us our sins! The Devil is +coming!"</p> + +<p>They tried to run away but they tripped over each +other and fell down, and before they could scramble +to their feet Peter stood before them.</p> + +<p>He looked at them for a moment and laughed. +Then he went inside the tavern, sat down, and said:</p> + +<p>"Landlord, bring me a drink!"</p> + +<p>Quaking with fright the landlord went to the cellar +and drew a pitcher of beer. Then he called the little +herd who was working in the stable.</p> + +<p>"Yirik," he said to the boy, "take this beer into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +the house. There's a man in there waiting for it. He's +a little strange looking but you needn't be afraid. He +won't hurt you."</p> + +<p>Yirik took the pitcher of beer and started in. He +opened the door and then, as he caught sight of +Peter, he dropped the pitcher and fled.</p> + +<p>The landlord scolded him angrily.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean," he shouted, "not giving +the gentleman his beer? And breaking the pitcher, +too! The price of it will be deducted from your +wages! Draw another pitcher of beer and place it +at once before the gentleman."</p> + +<p>Yirik feared Peter but he feared the landlord more. +He was an orphan, poor lad, and served the landlord +for his keep and three dollars a year.</p> + +<p>So with trembling fingers he drew a pitcher of beer +and then, breathing a prayer to his patron saint, he +slowly dragged himself into the tavern.</p> + +<p>"There, there, boy," Peter called out kindly. "You +needn't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm +not the Devil. I'm only his little brother-in-law."</p> + +<p>Yirik took heart and placed the beer in front of +Peter. Then he stood still, not daring to raise his eyes.</p> + +<p>Peter began asking him about himself, who he +was, how he came to be working for the landlord, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +what kind of treatment he was receiving. Yirik +stammered out his story and as he talked he forgot his +fear, he forgot that Peter looked like a devil, and +presently he was talking to him freely as one friend +to another.</p> + +<p>Peter was touched by the orphan's story and, pulling +out his magic money bag, he filled Yirik's cap with +golden ducats. The boy danced about the room with +delight. Then he ran outside and showed the landlord +and the people who had gathered the present +which the strange gentleman had made him.</p> + +<p>"And he says he's not the Devil," Yirik reported, +"but only his brother-in-law."</p> + +<p>When the landlord heard that Peter really hadn't +any horns or a flaming tongue, he picked up courage +and going inside he begged Peter to give him, too, +a few golden ducats. But Peter only laughed at him.</p> + +<p>Peter stayed at the tavern overnight. Just as he +fell asleep some one shook his hand and, as he opened +his eyes, he saw his old master standing beside him.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" the Devil whispered. "Get up and hurry +out to the shed! The landlord is about to murder +the orphan for his money."</p> + +<p>Peter jumped out of bed and ran outside to the +shed where Yirik slept. He burst open the door<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +just as the landlord was ready to stab the sleeping +boy with a dagger.</p> + +<p>"You sinner!" Peter cried. "I've caught you at +last! Off to hell you go with me this instant to stew +forever in boiling oil!"</p> + +<p>The landlord fainted with terror. Peter dragged +him senseless into the house. When he came to himself +he fell on his knees before Peter and begged for +mercy. He offered Peter everything he possessed if +only Peter would grant him another chance and he +solemnly vowed that he would repent and give up +his evil ways.</p> + +<p>At last Peter said:</p> + +<p>"Very well. I'll give you another chance provided +that, from this time on, you treat Yirik as your son. +Be kind to him and send him to school. The moment +you forget your promise and treat him cruelly, I'll +come and carry you off to hell! Remember!"</p> + +<p>There was no need to urge the landlord to remember. +From that night he was a changed man. He became +honest in all his dealings and he really did treat Yirik +as though he were his own son.</p> + +<p>Peter stayed on at the tavern and stories about +him and his golden ducats began to spread through +the country-side. The prince of the land heard of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +him and sent word that he would like to see him at +the castle. Peter answered the prince's messenger +that if the prince wished to see him he could come to +the tavern.</p> + +<p>"Who is this prince of yours," Peter asked the +landlord, "and why does he want to see me?"</p> + +<p>"He'd probably like to borrow some money from +you," the landlord said. "He's deep in debt for he +has two of the wickedest, most extravagant daughters +in the world. They're the children of his first +marriage. They are proud and haughty and they +waste the money of the realm as though it were so +much sand. The people are crying out against them +and their wasteful ways but the prince seems unable +to curb them. The prince has a third daughter, the +child of his second wife. Her name is Angelina and +she certainly is as good and beautiful as an angel. +We call her the Princess Linka. There isn't a man in +the country that wouldn't go through fire and water +for her—God bless her! As for the other two—may +the Devil take them!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly remembering himself, the landlord clapped +his hand to his mouth in alarm.</p> + +<p>Peter laughed good-humoredly.</p> + +<p>"That's all right, landlord. Don't mind me. As<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +I've told you before I'm not the Devil. I'm only his +little brother-in-law."</p> + +<p>The landlord shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know, but I must say it seems much the +same to me."</p> + +<p>One afternoon the prince came riding down to +the tavern and asked for Peter. He was horrified +at first by Peter's appearance, but he treated him most +politely, invited him to the castle, and ended by begging +the loan of a large sum of money.</p> + +<p>Peter said to the prince:</p> + +<p>"I'll give you as much money as you want provided +you let me marry one of your daughters."</p> + +<p>The prince wasn't prepared for this but he needed +money so badly that he said:</p> + +<p>"H'm, which one of them?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not particular," Peter answered. "Any of +them will do."</p> + +<p>When he gave the prince some money in advance, +the prince agreed and Peter promised to come to the +castle the next day to meet his bride to be.</p> + +<p>The prince when he got home told his daughters +that he had seen Peter. They questioned him about +Peter's appearance and asked him what sort of a looking +person this brother-in-law of the Devil was.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He isn't so very ugly," the prince said, "really he +isn't. If he washed his face and trimmed his hair and +nails he'd be fairly good-looking. In fact I rather like +him."</p> + +<p>He then talked to them very seriously about the +state of the treasury and he told them that unless he +could raise a large sum of money shortly there was +danger of an uprising among the people.</p> + +<p>"If you, my daughters, wish to see the peace of the +country preserved, if you want to make me happy +in my old age, one of you will have to marry this +young man, for I see no other way to raise the +money."</p> + +<p>At this the two older princesses tossed their heads +scornfully and laughed loud and long.</p> + +<p>"You may rest assured, dear father, that neither of +us will marry such a creature! We are the daughters +of a prince and won't marry beneath us, no, not even +to save the country from ruin!"</p> + +<p>"Then I don't know what I'll do," the prince said.</p> + +<p>"Father," whispered Linka, the youngest. Her +voice quavered and her face turned pale. "Father, +if your happiness and the peace of the country depend +on this marriage, I will sacrifice myself, God help +me!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My child! My dear child!" the prince cried, taking +Linka in his arms and kissing her tenderly.</p> + +<p>The two elder sisters jeered and ha-ha-ed.</p> + +<p>"Little sister-in-law of the Devil!" they said mockingly. +"Now if you were to marry Prince Lucifer +himself that would be something, for at least you would +be a princess! But only to be his sister-in-law—ha! +ha!—what does that amount to?"</p> + +<p>And they laughed with amusement and made nasty +evil jokes until poor little Linka had to put her hands +to her ears not to hear them.</p> + +<p>The next day Peter came to the castle. The older +sisters when they saw how black he was were glad +enough they had refused to marry him. As for Linka, +the moment she looked at him she fainted dead away.</p> + +<p>When she revived the prince led her over to Peter +and gave Peter her hand. She was trembling violently +and her hand was cold as marble.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid, little princess," Peter whispered +to her gently. "I know how awful I look. But +perhaps I won't always be so ugly. I promise you, +if you marry me, I shall always love you dearly."</p> + +<p>Linka was greatly comforted by the sound of his +pleasant voice, but each time she looked at him she +was terrified anew.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span></p> + +<p>Peter saw this and made his visit short. He handed +out to the prince as much money as he needed and then, +after agreeing to return in eight days for the wedding, +he hurried off.</p> + +<p>He went to the place where he had met the Devil +the first time and called him by name with all his +might.</p> + +<p>The Devil instantly appeared.</p> + +<p>"What do you want, little brother-in-law?"</p> + +<p>"I want to look like myself again," Peter said. +"What good will it do me to marry a sweet little +princess and then have the poor girl faint away every +time she looks at me!"</p> + +<p>"Very well, brother-in-law. If that is how you +feel about it, come along with me and I'll soon make +you into a handsome young man."</p> + +<p>Peter leaped on the Devil's back and off they flew +over mountains and forests and distant countries.</p> + +<p>They alighted in a deep forest beside a bubbling +spring.</p> + +<p>"Now, little brother-in-law," the Devil said, "wash +in this water and see how handsome you'll soon be."</p> + +<p>Peter threw off his clothes and jumped into the +water and when he came out his skin was as beautiful +and fresh as a girl's. He looked at his own reflection<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +in the spring and it made him so happy that he +said to the Devil:</p> + +<p>"Brother-in-law, I'm more grateful to you for this +than for all the money you've given me. Now my +dear Linka will love me!"</p> + +<p>He put his arms about the Devil's neck and off +they flew once again. This time they went to a big +city where Peter bought beautiful clothes and jewels +and coaches and horses. He engaged servants in fine +livery and, when he was ready to go to his bride, he +had a following that was worthy of any prince.</p> + +<p>At the castle the Princess Linka paced her +chamber pale and trembling. The two older sisters +were with her, laughing heartlessly and making evil +jokes, and running every moment to the window to +see if the groom were coming.</p> + +<p>At last they saw in the distance a long line of +shining coaches with outriders in rich livery. The +coaches drew up at the castle gate and from the first +one a handsome youth, arrayed like a prince, alighted. +He hurried into the castle and ran straight upstairs +to Linka's chamber.</p> + +<p>At first Linka was afraid to look at him for she +supposed he was still black. But when he took her +hand and whispered: "Dear Linka, look at me now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +and you won't be frightened," she looked and it +seemed to her that Peter was the very handsomest +young man in all the world. She fell in love with +him on sight and I might as well tell you she's been +in love with him ever since.</p> + +<p>The two older sisters stood at the window frozen +stiff with envy and surprise. Suddenly they felt some +one clutch them from behind. They turned in fright +and who did they see standing there but the Devil +himself!</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid, my dear brides," he said. "I'm +not a common fellow. I'm Prince Lucifer himself. +So, in becoming my brides you are not losing +rank!"</p> + +<p>Then he turned to Peter and chuckled.</p> + +<p>"You see now, Peter, why you are my brother-in-law. +You're marrying one sister and I'm taking the +other two!"</p> + +<p>With that he picked up the two wicked sisters +under his arm and <i>puff!</i> with a whiff of sulphur they +all three disappeared through the ceiling.</p> + +<p>The Princess Linka as she clung to her young +husband asked a little fearfully:</p> + +<p>"Peter, do you suppose we'll have to see our brother-in-law +often?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not if you make me a good wife," Peter said.</p> + +<p>And you can understand what a good wife Linka +became when I tell you that never again all her life +long did she see the Devil.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE SHOEMAKER'S APRON</h2> + +<h3>THE STORY OF THE MAN WHO SITS NEAR THE +GOLDEN GATE</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 340px;"> +<img src="images/img32.png" width="340" height="264" alt="St. Peter" title="St. Peter" /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SHOEMAKERS_APRON" id="THE_SHOEMAKERS_APRON"></a>THE SHOEMAKER'S APRON</h2> + + +<p>There was once a shoemaker who made so +little at his trade that his wife suffered and +his children went hungry. In desperation he offered to +sell his soul to a devil.</p> + +<p>"How much do you want for your soul?" the +devil asked him.</p> + +<p>"I want work enough to give me a good livelihood," +the shoemaker said, "so that my wife won't suffer +nor my children starve."</p> + +<p>The devil agreed to this and the shoemaker put his +mark on the contract. After that trade improved and +soon the little shoemaker was happy and prosperous.</p> + +<p>Now one night it happened that Christ and the +blessed St. Peter, who were walking about on earth, +stopped at the little shoemaker's cottage and asked +for a night's lodging. The shoemaker received them +most hospitably. He had his wife cook them a fine +supper and after supper he gave them his own bed to +sleep on while he and his wife went to the garret and +slept on straw.</p> + +<p>In the morning he had his wife prepare them a good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +breakfast and after breakfast he took them on their +way for a mile or two.</p> + +<p>As he was leaving them, St. Peter whispered to +Christ:</p> + +<p>"Master, this poor man has given us of his best. +Don't you think you ought to reward him?"</p> + +<p>Christ nodded and, turning to the little shoemaker, +he said:</p> + +<p>"For your kindness to us this day I will reward +you. Make three wishes and they will be granted."</p> + +<p>The shoemaker thanked Christ and said:</p> + +<p>"Well then, these are my wishes: first, may whoever +sits down on my cobbler's stool be unable to get +up until I permit him; second, may whoever looks into +the window of my cottage have to stand there until I +let him go; and third, may whoever shakes the pear-tree +in my garden stick to the tree until I set him free."</p> + +<p>"Your wishes will be granted," Christ promised. +Then he and St. Peter went on their way and the +shoemaker returned to his cottage.</p> + +<p>The years went by and at last one afternoon the +devil stood before the shoemaker and said:</p> + +<p>"Ho, shoemaker, your time has come! Are you +ready?"</p> + +<p>"Just let me have a bite of supper first," the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +shoemaker said. "In the meantime you sit down here +on my stool and rest yourself."</p> + +<p>The devil who had been walking up and down the +earth since sunrise was tired and so was glad enough +to sit down.</p> + +<p>After supper the little shoemaker said:</p> + +<p>"Now then, I'm ready. Come on."</p> + +<p>The devil tried to stand up but of course he +couldn't. He pulled this way and that. He stretched, +he rolled from side to side until his bones ached, but +all to no avail. He could not get up from the +stool.</p> + +<p>"Brother!" he cried in terror, "help me off +this cursed stool and I'll give you seven more years—I +swear I will!"</p> + +<p>At that promise the shoemaker allowed the devil +to stand up, and the devil scurried off as fast as he +could.</p> + +<p>He was true to his word. He didn't come back +for seven years. When he did come he was too clever +to risk sitting down again on the cobbler's stool. He +didn't even venture inside the cottage door. Instead, +he stood at the window and called out:</p> + +<p>"Ho, shoemaker, here I am again! Your time has +come! Are you ready?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll be ready in a moment," the shoemaker said, +"Just let me put a last stitch in these shoes."</p> + +<p>When the shoemaker had finished sewing the shoes, +he put aside his work, bade his wife <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'good-by', changed for consistency">good-bye</ins>, and said +to the devil:</p> + +<p>"Now then, I'm ready. Let us go."</p> + +<p>But the devil when he tried to move away from the +window found that he was held fast. It was as if +his feet had been soldered to the earth. In great +fright he cried out:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear little shoemaker, help me! I can't +move!"</p> + +<p>"What's this trick you're playing on me?" the +shoemaker said. "Now I'm ready to go and you +aren't! What do you mean by making a fool of +me this way?"</p> + +<p>"Just help me to get free," the devil cried, "and +I'll do anything in the world for you! I'll give you +seven more years! I swear I will!"</p> + +<p>"Very well," the shoemaker said, "then I'll help +you this time. But never again! Now remember: I +won't let you make a fool of me a third time!"</p> + +<p>So the shoemaker freed the devil from the window +and the devil without another word scurried off.</p> + +<p>At the end of another seven years he appeared again.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +But this time he was too clever to look in the window. +He didn't even come near the cottage. Instead he +stood off in the garden under the pear-tree and called +out:</p> + +<p>"Ho, there, shoemaker! Your time has come and +I am here to get you! Are you ready?"</p> + +<p>"I'll be ready in a moment," the shoemaker said. +"Just wait until I put away my tools. If you feel +like it, shake yourself down a nice ripe pear."</p> + +<p>The devil shook the pear-tree and of course when +he tried to stop he couldn't. He shook until all the +pears had fallen. He kept on and presently he had +shaken off all the leaves.</p> + +<p>When the shoemaker came out and saw the tree +stripped and bare and the devil still shaking it, he +pretended to fall into a fearful rage.</p> + +<p>"Hi, there, you! What do you mean shaking +down all my pears! Stop it! Do you hear me? +Stop it!"</p> + +<p>"But I can't stop it!" the poor devil cried.</p> + +<p>"We'll see about that!" the shoemaker said.</p> + +<p>He ran back into the cottage and got a long leather +strap. Then he began beating the devil unmercifully +over his head and shoulders.</p> + +<p>The devil made such an outcry that all the village<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +heard him and came running to see what was the +matter.</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!" the devil cried. "Make the +shoemaker stop beating me!"</p> + +<p>But all the people thought the shoemaker was doing +just right to punish the black fellow for shaking +down all his pears and they urged the shoemaker to +beat him harder.</p> + +<p>"My poor head! My poor shoulders!" the devil +moaned. "If ever I get loose from this cursed +pear-tree I'll never come back here! I swear I +won't!"</p> + +<p>The shoemaker, when he heard this, laughed in his +sleeve and let the devil go.</p> + +<p>The devil was true to his word. He never again +returned. So the shoemaker lived, untroubled, to a +ripe old age.</p> + +<p>Just before he died he asked that his cobbler's apron +be buried with him and his sons carried out his wish.</p> + +<p>As soon as he died the little shoemaker trudged up +to heaven and knocked timidly at the golden gate. St. +Peter opened the gate a little crack and peeped out. +When he saw the shoemaker he shook his head and +said:</p> + +<p>"Little shoemaker, heaven is no place for you.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +While you were alive you sold your soul to the ruler of +the other place and now you must go there."</p> + +<p>With that St. Peter shut the golden gate and +locked it.</p> + +<p>The little shoemaker sighed and said to himself:</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose I must go where St. Peter says."</p> + +<p>So he put on a bold front and tramped down to +hell. When the devil who knew him saw him coming, +he shouted out to his fellow devils:</p> + +<p>"Brothers, on guard! Here comes that terrible +little shoemaker! Lock every gate! Don't let him in +or he'll drive us all out of hell!"</p> + +<p>The devils in great fright scurried about and locked +and barred all the gates, and the little shoemaker when +he arrived could not get in.</p> + +<p>He knocked and knocked but no one would answer.</p> + +<p>"They don't seem to want me here," he said to himself. +"I suppose I'll have to try heaven again."</p> + +<p>So he trudged back to St. Peter and explained to +him that hell was locked up tight.</p> + +<p>"No matter," St. Peter said. "As I told you before +heaven is no place for you."</p> + +<p>The little shoemaker, tired and dejected, went back +to hell but again the devils, when they saw him coming, +locked every gate and kept him out.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span></p> + +<p>In desperation the little shoemaker returned to +heaven and pounded loudly on the golden gate. +Thinking from the noise that some very important +saint had arrived, St. Peter flung open the gate. Quick +as a flash the little shoemaker threw his leather apron +inside, then hopped in himself under St. Peter's elbow +and squatted down on the apron.</p> + +<p>In great excitement St. Peter tried to turn him out +of heaven, but the little shoemaker shouted:</p> + +<p>"You can't touch me! You can't touch me! I'm +sitting on my own property! Let me alone!"</p> + +<p>He raised such a hubbub that all the angels and +the blessed saints came running to see what was happening. +Presently Lord Jesus himself came and the +little shoemaker explained to him how he just had to +stay in heaven as the devils wouldn't let him into +hell.</p> + +<p>"Now, Master," St. Peter said, "what am I to do? +You know yourself we can't keep this fellow in +heaven."</p> + +<p>But Lord Jesus, looking with pity on the poor little +shoemaker, said to St. Peter:</p> + +<p>"Just let him stay where he is. He won't bother +any one sitting here near the gate."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="STORIES_TO_TELL" id="STORIES_TO_TELL"></a>STORIES TO TELL</h2> + +<blockquote><p>IT'S PERFECTLY TRUE AND OTHER STORIES. By <span class="smcap">Hans +Christian Andersen</span>. A new translation made from the Danish +by Paul Leyssac.</p> + +<p>THE TREASURE OF LI-PO. By <span class="smcap">Alice Ritchie</span>. Six original fairy +tales of old China told with quiet beauty and real distinction.</p> + +<p>A BAKER'S DOZEN. Selected by <span class="smcap">Mary Gould Davis</span>. Thirteen +stories which are especially successful in story-telling.</p> + +<p>13 DANISH TALES. By <span class="smcap">Mary C. Hatch</span>. Robust, humorous folk +tales retold from J. C. Bay's famous translation.</p> + +<p>MORE DANISH TALES. By <span class="smcap">Mary C. Hatch</span>. Fifteen lively and +amusing traditional stories.</p> + +<p>CZECHOSLOVAK FAIRY TALES. By <span class="smcap">Parker Fillmore</span>.</p> + +<p>THE WHITE RING. By <span class="smcap">Enys Tregarthen</span>. Edited by Elizabeth +Yates. This fairy tale from Cornwall may well turn out to be a +classic ... enhanced by enchanting illustrations."—<i>New York +Times.</i></p> + +<p>THE LAUGHING PRINCE. By <span class="smcap">Parker Fillmore</span>. Jugoslav +stories.</p> + +<p>THE DANCING KETTLE, AND OTHER JAPANESE FOLK +TALES. By <span class="smcap">Yoshiko Uchida</span>. A delightful collection of Japanese +folk tales.</p> + +<p>TWENTY-FOUR UNUSUAL STORIES. By <span class="smcap">Anna Cogswell +Tyler</span>. Mystery tales, legends, and folklore.</p> + +<p>ROOTABAGA STORIES. By <span class="smcap">Carl Sandburg</span>. An omnibus volume +including all the stories originally published in the two books +<i>Rootabaga Stories</i> and <i>Rootabaga Pigeons</i>.</p></blockquote> + + +<div class='center'>HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='center'>383 Madison Avenue - - - New York 17, N. Y.</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p> + +Punctuation errors corrected without note. +Country-side and countryside both used, story-teller and storyteller both used.<br /> +The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the +corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.<br /> +Page 103, "as" changed to "was" (Smolicheck knew what was happening).<br /> +Page 117 Budlinek corrected to Budulinek.<br /> +Page 185, "hords" changed to "hordes" (hordes of fish and frogs).<br /> +Page 194 down corrected to town (lives in the next town.)<br /> +Page 220 wornout corrected to worn-out (old worn-out measure).<br /> +Page 276, "good-by" changed to "good-bye" for consistency (bade +his wife good-bye).</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Shoemaker's Apron, by Parker Fillmore + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SHOEMAKER'S APRON *** + +***** This file should be named 33002-h.htm or 33002-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/0/0/33002/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Dianne Nolan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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