diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/12851-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/12851-h.htm | 3708 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/001.jpg | bin | 0 -> 149324 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/009.png | bin | 0 -> 60665 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/010.png | bin | 0 -> 146976 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/023.png | bin | 0 -> 12590 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/024.png | bin | 0 -> 12974 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/031.jpg | bin | 0 -> 136176 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/062.png | bin | 0 -> 34341 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/063.png | bin | 0 -> 9666 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/064.jpg | bin | 0 -> 187205 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/071.png | bin | 0 -> 75815 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/073.png | bin | 0 -> 37616 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/074.png | bin | 0 -> 35455 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/102.jpg | bin | 0 -> 134708 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/104.png | bin | 0 -> 33083 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/106.png | bin | 0 -> 144181 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/115.png | bin | 0 -> 33716 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/122.jpg | bin | 0 -> 154935 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/124.png | bin | 0 -> 14312 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/125.png | bin | 0 -> 19064 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/126.jpg | bin | 0 -> 130406 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/128.png | bin | 0 -> 7801 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/129.png | bin | 0 -> 29860 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/137.png | bin | 0 -> 14837 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/138.png | bin | 0 -> 10765 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/141.jpg | bin | 0 -> 145852 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/145.png | bin | 0 -> 18180 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/146.png | bin | 0 -> 19219 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/148.png | bin | 0 -> 25846 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/149.png | bin | 0 -> 27993 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/12851-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 359914 bytes |
31 files changed, 3708 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/12851-h/12851-h.htm b/old/12851-h/12851-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8ad9441 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/12851-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3708 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Folk Tales from the Russian</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.center {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +div.fig { display:block; + margin:0 auto; + text-align:center; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + +span.figleft { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: .8 } + +p.caption {font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> +</head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Folk Tales from the Russian</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Folk Tales from the Russian</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Various</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: July 8, 2004 [eBook #12851]<br /> +[Most recently updated: March 31, 2023]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Bob Jones, Frank van Drogen, Tamiko I. Camacho and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK TALES FROM THE RUSSIAN ***</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:55%;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" style="width:100%;" alt="[Illustration]" /> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus01"></a> +<img src="images/001.jpg" width="262" height="471" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">"<i>She gave him a touchstone and flint</i>"</p> +</div> + +<h1>FOLK TALES<br/> +FROM THE RUSSIAN</h1> + +<p class="center">RETOLD BY</p> + +<p class="center">VERRA XENOPHONTOVNA KALAMATIANO DE BLUMENTHAL</p> + +<p class="center"><b>Core Collection Books, inc</b>.</p> + +<p class="center">GREAT NECK, NEW YORK</p> + +<p class="center"><b>BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY</b></p> + +<p class="center">First Published 1903 Reprinted 1979</p> + +<p class="center">International Standard Book Number +0-8486-0216-1</p> + +<p class="center">Library of Congress Catalog Number 78-74512</p> + +<p class="center">PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><a name="FOREWORD">FOREWORD</a></p> + +<p>In Russia, as elsewhere in the world, folklore is rapidly +scattering before the practical spirit of modern progress. The +traveling peasant bard or story teller, and the devoted "nyanya", +the beloved nurse of many a generation, are rapidly dying out, and +with them the tales and legends, the last echoes of the nation's +early joys and sufferings, hopes and fears, are passing away. The +student of folk-lore knows that the time has come when haste is +needed to catch these vanishing songs of the nation's youth and to +preserve them for the delight of future generations. In sending +forth the stories in the present volume, all of which are here set +down in print for the first time, it is my hope that they may +enable American children to share with the children of Russia the +pleasure of glancing into the magic world of the old Slavic +nation.</p> + +<p>THE AUTHOR.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="center">THE TABLE OF CONTENTS</p> + +<p class="center"><i><a href="#FOREWORD">Foreword</a></i></p> + +<p class="center"><i><a href="#ILLUSTRATIONS">A List of Illustrations</a></i></p> + +<p class="center"><i><a href="#Dedication">Dedication</a></i></p> + +<p class="center"><i><a href="#NOTES">Notes</a></i></p> + +<p class="center">FOLK TALES</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#chap01">The Tsarevna Frog</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#chap02">Seven Simeons</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#chap03">The Language +of the Birds</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#chap04">Ivanoushka the Simpleton</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#chap05">Woe Bogotir</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#chap06">Baba Yaga</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#chap07">Dimian the Peasant</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#chap08">The Golden Mountain</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#chap09">Father Frost</a></p> + +<h2><a name="ILLUSTRATIONS">A LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</a></h2> + +<p class="center"><a href="#illus01">"She gave him a touchstone and flint". <i>Frontispiece</i></a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#illus02">The Tsarevna Frog</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#illus03">"Hunters, grooms, and servants rushed in all directions"</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#illus04">Ivan learns the language of the birds</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#illus05">"The old man went begging from town to town"</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#illus06">"One brother was sent to watch the turkeys"</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#illus07">The rich brother</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#illus08">"The children ran away as fast as their little feet could possibly carry them"</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#illus09">"Well, I struck a snag"</a></p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#illus10">"Old Frost gave the gentle girl many beautiful, beautiful things"</a></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="center"><i><a name="Dedication">TO MY LITTLE FRIEND</a></i></p> + +<p class="center">EDITH EVANS</p> + +<p class="center"><i>AND ALL AMERICAN CHILDREN</i></p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus02"></a> +<img src="images/009.png" width="208" height="459" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">The Tsarevna Frog</p> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chap01">THE TSAREVNA FROG</a></h2> + +<p> +<span class="figleft"> +<a href="images/010.png"><img width="141" src="images/010.png" alt="I" +height="180" /></a></span> +</p> + +<p> +In an old, old Russian <a href="#tsarstvo">tsarstvo</a>, I do not know when, +there lived a sovereign prince with the princess his wife. They had three sons, +all of them young, and such brave fellows that no pen could describe them. The +youngest had the name of Ivan <a href="#Tsarevitch">Tsarevitch</a>. One day +their father said to his sons: +</p> + +<p>"My dear boys, take each of you an arrow, draw your strong bow +and let your arrow fly; in whatever court it falls, in that court +there will be a wife for you."</p> + +<p>The arrow of the oldest Tsarevitch fell on a <a href="#Boyar">boyar-house</a> just in front of the <a href="#terem">terem</a> where women live; the arrow of the second +Tsarevitch flew to the red porch of a rich merchant, and on the +porch there stood a sweet girl, the merchant's daughter. The +youngest, the brave Tsarevitch Ivan, had the ill luck to send his +arrow into the midst of a swamp, where it was caught by a croaking +frog.</p> + +<p>Ivan Tsarevitch came to his father: "How can I marry the frog?" +complained the son. "Is she my equal? Certainly she is not."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," replied his father, "you have to marry the frog, +for such is evidently your destiny."</p> + +<p>Thus the brothers were married: the oldest to a young <a href="#boyarishnia">boyarishnia</a>, a nobleman's child; the second to +the merchant's beautiful daughter, and the youngest, Tsarevitch +Ivan, to a croaking frog.</p> + +<p>After a while the sovereign prince called his three sons and +said to them:</p> + +<p>"Have each of your wives bake a loaf of bread by to-morrow +morning."</p> + +<p>Ivan returned home. There was no smile on his face, and his brow +was clouded.</p> + +<p>"C-R-O-A-K! C-R-O-A-K! Dear husband of mine, Tsarevitch Ivan, +why so sad?" gently asked the frog. "Was there anything +disagreeable in the palace?"</p> + +<p>"Disagreeable indeed," answered Ivan Tsarevitch; "the Tsar, my +father, wants you to bake a loaf of white bread by to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Do not worry, Tsarevitch. Go to bed; the morning hour is a +better adviser than the dark evening."</p> + +<p>The Tsarevitch, taking his wife's advice, went to sleep. Then +the frog threw off her frogskin and turned into a beautiful, sweet +girl, Vassilissa by name. She now stepped out on the porch and +called aloud:</p> + +<p>"Nurses and waitresses, come to me at once and prepare a loaf of +white bread for to-morrow morning, a loaf exactly like those I used +to eat in my royal father's palace."</p> + +<p>In the morning Tsarevitch Ivan awoke with the crowing cocks, and +you know the cocks and chickens are never late. Yet the loaf was +already made, and so fine it was that nobody could even describe +it, for only in fairyland one finds such marvelous loaves. It was +adorned all about with pretty figures, with towns and fortresses on +each side, and within it was white as snow and light as a +feather.</p> + +<p><a href="#thetsarfather">The Tsar father</a> was pleased and the Tsarevitch received his +special thanks.</p> + +<p>"Now there is another task," said the Tsar smilingly. "Have each +of your wives weave a rug by to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Tsarevitch Ivan came back to his home. There was no smile on his +face and his brow was clouded.</p> + +<p>"C-R-O-A-K! C-R-O-A-K! Dear Tsarevitch Ivan, my husband and +master, why so troubled again? Was not father pleased?"</p> + +<p>"How can I be otherwise? The Tsar, my father, has ordered a rug +by to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Do not worry, Tsarevitch. Go to bed; go to sleep. The morning +hour will bring help."</p> + +<p>Again the frog turned into Vassilissa, the wise maiden, and +again she called aloud:</p> + +<p>"Dear nurses and faithful waitresses, come to me for new work. +Weave a silk rug like the one I used to sit upon in the palace of +the king, my father."</p> + +<p><a href="#Oncesaidquicklydone">Once said, quickly done.</a> When the cocks began their early +"cock-a-doodle-doo," Tsarevitch Ivan awoke, and lo! there lay the +most beautiful silk rug before him, a rug that no one could begin +to describe. Threads of silver and gold were interwoven among +bright-colored silken ones, and the rug was too beautiful for +anything but to admire.</p> + +<p>The Tsar father was pleased, thanked his son Ivan, and issued a +new order. He now wished to see the three wives of his handsome +sons, and they were to present their brides on the next day.</p> + +<p>The Tsarevitch Ivan returned home. Cloudy was his brow, more +cloudy than before.</p> + +<p>"C-R-O-A-K!.C-R-O-A-K! Tsarevitch, my dear husband and master, +why so sad? Hast thou heard anything unpleasant at the palace?"</p> + +<p>"Unpleasant enough, indeed! My father, the Tsar, ordered all of +us to present our wives to him. Now tell me, how could I dare go +with thee?"</p> + +<p>"It is not so bad after all, and might be much worse," answered +the frog, gently croaking. "Thou shalt go alone and I will follow +thee. When thou hearest a noise, a great noise, do not be afraid; +simply say: 'There is my miserable froggy coming in her miserable +box.'"</p> + +<p>The two elder brothers arrived first with their wives, +beautiful, bright, and cheerful, and dressed in rich garments. Both +the happy bridegrooms made fun of the Tsarevitch Ivan.</p> + +<p>"Why alone, brother?" they laughingly said to him. "Why didst +thou not bring thy wife along with thee? Was there no rag to cover +her? Where couldst thou have gotten such a beauty? We are ready to +wager that in all the swamps in the dominion of our father it would +be hard to find another one like her." And they laughed and +laughed.</p> + +<p>Lo! what a noise! The palace trembled, the guests were all +frightened. Tsarevitch Ivan alone remained quiet and said:</p> + +<p>"No danger; it is my froggy coming in her box."</p> + +<p>To the red porch came flying a golden carriage drawn by six +splendid white horses, and Vassilissa, beautiful beyond all +description, gently reached her hand to her husband. He led her +with him to the heavy oak tables, which were covered with +snow-white linen and loaded with many wonderful dishes such as are +known and eaten only in the land of fairies and never anywhere +else. The guests were eating and chatting gayly.</p> + +<p>Vassilissa drank some wine, and what was left in the tumbler she +poured into her left sleeve. She ate some of the fried swan, and +the bones she threw into her right sleeve. The wives of the two +elder brothers watched her and did exactly the same.</p> + +<p>When the long, hearty dinner was over, the guests began dancing +and singing. The beautiful Vassilissa came forward, as bright as a +star, bowed to her sovereign, bowed to the honorable guests and +danced with her husband, the happy Tsarevitch Ivan.</p> + +<p>While dancing, Vassilissa waved her left sleeve and a pretty +lake appeared in the midst of the hall and cooled the air. She +waved her right sleeve and white swans swam on the water. The Tsar, +the guests, the servants, even the gray cat sitting in the corner, +all were amazed and wondered at the beautiful Vassilissa. Her two +sisters-in-law alone envied her. When their turn came to dance, +they also waved their left sleeves as Vassilissa had done, and, oh, +wonder! they sprinkled wine all around. They waved their right +sleeves, and instead of swans the bones flew in the face of the +Tsar father. The Tsar grew very angry and bade them leave the +palace. In the meantime Ivan Tsarevitch watched a moment to slip +away unseen. He ran home, found the frogskin, and burned it in the +fire.</p> + +<p>Vassilissa, when she came back, searched for the skin, and when +she could not find it her beautiful face grew sad and her bright +eyes filled with tears. She said to Tsarevitch Ivan, her +husband:</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear Tsarevitch, what hast thou done? There was but a short +time left for me to wear the ugly frogskin. The moment was near +when we could have been happy together forever. Now I must bid thee +good-by. Look for me in a far-away country to which no one knows +the roads, at the palace of Kostshei the Deathless;" and Vassilissa +turned into a white swan and flew away through the window.</p> + +<p>Tsarevitch Ivan wept bitterly. Then he prayed to the almighty +God, and making the sign of the cross northward, southward, +eastward, and westward, he went on a mysterious journey.</p> + +<p>No one knows how long his journey was, but one day he met an +old, old man. He bowed to the old man, who said:</p> + +<p>"Good-day, brave fellow. What art thou searching for, and +whither art thou going?"</p> + +<p>Tsarevitch Ivan answered sincerely, telling all about his +misfortune without hiding anything.</p> + +<p>"And why didst thou burn the frogskin? It was wrong to do so. +Listen now to me. Vassilissa was born wiser than her own father, +and as he envied his daughter's wisdom he condemned her to be a +frog for three long years. But I pity thee and want to help thee. +Here is a magic ball. In whatever direction this ball rolls, follow +without fear."</p> + +<p>Ivan Tsarevitch thanked the good old man, and followed his new +guide, the ball. Long, very long, was his road. One day in a wide, +flowery field he met a bear, a big Russian bear. Ivan Tsarevitch +took his bow and was ready to shoot the bear.</p> + +<p>"Do not kill me, kind Tsarevitch," said the bear. "Who knows but +that I may be useful to thee?" And Ivan did not shoot the bear.</p> + +<p>Above in the sunny air there flew a duck, a lovely white duck. +Again the Tsarevitch drew his bow to shoot it. But the duck said to +him:</p> + +<p>"Do not kill me, good Tsarevitch. I certainly shall be useful to +thee some day."</p> + +<p>And this time he obeyed the command of the duck and passed by. +Continuing his way he saw a blinking hare. The Tsarevitch prepared +an arrow to shoot it, but the gray, blinking hare said:</p> + +<p>"Do not kill me, brave Tsarevitch. I shall prove myself grateful +to thee in a very short time."</p> + +<p>The Tsarevitch did not shoot the hare, but passed by. He walked +farther and farther after the rolling ball, and came to the deep +blue sea. On the sand there lay a fish. I do not remember the name +of the fish, but it was a big fish, almost dying on the dry +sand.</p> + +<p>"O Tsarevitch Ivan!" prayed the fish, "have mercy upon me and +push me back into the cool sea."</p> + +<p>The Tsarevitch did so, and walked along the shore. The ball, +rolling all the time, brought Ivan to a hut, a queer, tiny hut +standing on tiny hen's feet.</p> + +<p>"Izboushka! Izboushka!"—for so in Russia do they name +small huts—"Izboushka, I want thee to turn thy front to me," +cried Ivan, and lo! the tiny hut turned its front at once. Ivan +stepped in and saw a witch, one of the ugliest witches he could +imagine.</p> + +<p>"Ho! Ivan Tsarevitch! What brings thee here?" was his greeting +from the witch.</p> + +<p>"O, thou old mischief!" shouted Ivan with anger. "Is it the way +in holy Russia to ask questions before the tired guest gets +something to eat, something to drink, and some hot water to wash +the dust off?"</p> + +<p>Baba Yaga, the witch, gave the Tsarevitch plenty to eat and +drink, besides hot water to wash the dust off. Tsarevitch Ivan felt +refreshed. Soon he became talkative, and related the wonderful +story of his marriage. He told how he had lost his dear wife, and +that his only desire was to find her.</p> + +<p>"I know all about it," answered the witch. "She is now at the +palace of Kostshei the Deathless, and thou must understand that +Kostshei is terrible. He watches her day and night and no one can +ever conquer him. His death depends on a magic needle. That needle +is within a hare; that hare is within a large trunk; that trunk is +hidden in the branches of an old oak tree; and that oak tree is +watched by Kostshei as closely as Vassilissa herself, which means +closer than any treasure he has."</p> + +<p>Then the witch told Ivan Tsarevitch how and where to find the +oak tree. Ivan hastily went to the place. But when he perceived the +oak tree he was much discouraged, not knowing what to do or how to +begin the work. Lo and behold! that old acquaintance of his, the +Russian bear, came running along, approached the tree, uprooted it, +and the trunk fell and broke. A hare jumped out of the trunk and +began to run fast; but another hare, Ivan's friend, came running +after, caught it and tore it to pieces. Out of the hare there flew +a duck, a gray one which flew very high and was almost invisible, +but the beautiful white duck followed the bird and struck its gray +enemy, which lost an egg. That egg fell into the deep sea. Ivan +meanwhile was anxiously watching his faithful friends helping him. +But when the egg disappeared in the blue waters he could not help +weeping. All of a sudden a big fish came swimming up, the same fish +he had saved, and brought the egg in his mouth. How happy Ivan was +when he took it! He broke it and found the needle inside, the magic +needle upon which everything depended.</p> + +<p>At the same moment Kostshei lost his strength and power forever. +Ivan Tsarevitch entered his vast dominions, killed him with the +magic needle, and in one of the palaces found his own dear wife, +his beautiful Vassilissa. He took her home and they were very happy +ever after.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/023.png" width="135" height="139" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chap02">SEVEN SIMEONS</a></h2> + +<p> +<span class="figleft"> +<a href="images/024.png"><img width="145" src="images/024.png" alt="I" +height="149" /></a></span> +</p> + +<p> +In an empire, in a country beyond many seas and islands, beyond high mountains, +beyond large rivers, upon a level expanse, as if spread upon a table, there +stood a large town, and in that town there lived a Tsar called Archidei, the +son of Aggei; therefore he was called Aggeivitch. +</p> + +<p>A famous Tsar he was, and a clever one. His wealth could not be +counted; his warriors were innumerable. There were forty times +forty towns in his kingdom, and in each one of these towns there +were ten palaces with silver doors and golden ceilings and +magnificent crystal windows.</p> + +<p>For his council twelve wise men were selected, each one of them +having a beard half a yard long and a head full of wisdom. These +advisers offered nothing but truth to their father sovereign; none +ever dared advance a lie.</p> + +<p>How could such a Tsar be anything but happy? But it is true, +indeed, that neither wealth nor wisdom give happiness when the +heart is not at ease, and even in golden palaces the poor heart +often aches.</p> + +<p>So it was with the Tsar Archidei; he was rich and clever, +besides being a handsome fellow; but he could not find a bride to +his taste, a bride with wit and beauty equal to his own. And this +was the cause of the Tsar Archidei's sorrow and distress.</p> + +<p>One day he was sitting in his golden armchair looking out of the +window lost in thought. He had gazed for quite a while before he +noticed foreign sailors landing opposite the imperial palace. The +sailors ran their ship up to the wharf, reefed their white sails, +threw the heavy anchor into the sea and prepared the plank ready to +go ashore. Before them all walked an old merchant; white was his +beard and he had about him the air of a wise man. An idea suddenly +occurred to the Tsar: "Sea merchants generally are well informed on +many subjects. If I ask them, perchance I shall find that they have +met somewhere a princess, beautiful and clever, suitable for me, +the Tsar Archidei."</p> + +<p>Without delay the order was given to call the sea merchants into +the halls of the palace.</p> + +<p>The merchant guests appeared, prayed to <a href="#Theholyicons"> the holy icons</a> hanging +in the corner, bowed to the Tsar, bowed to the wise advisers. The +Tsar ordered his servants to serve them with tumblers of strong +green wine. The guests drank the <a href="#Stronggreenwine."> strong green wine</a> and wiped their +beards with embroidered towels. Then the Tsar Archidei addressed +them:</p> + +<p>"We are aware that you gallant sea merchants cross all the big +waters and see many wonderful things. My desire is to ask you about +something, and you must give a straightforward answer without any +deceit or evasion."</p> + +<p>"So be it, mighty Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch," answered the +merchant guests, bowing.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, can you tell me if somewhere in an empire or +kingdom, or among great princes, there is a maiden as beautiful and +wise as I myself, Tsar Archidei; an illustrious maiden who would be +a proper wife for me, a suitable Tsaritza for my country?"</p> + +<p>The merchant guests seemed to be puzzled, and after a long +silence the eldest among them thus replied:</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I once heard that yonder beyond the great sea, on an +island called Buzan, there is a great country; and the sovereign of +that land has a daughter named Helena, a princess very beautiful, +not less so, I dare say, than thyself. And wise she is, too; a wise +man once tried for three years to guess a riddle that she gave, and +did not succeed."</p> + +<p>"How far is that island, pray tell, and where are the roads that +lead to it?"</p> + +<p>"The island is not near," answered the old merchant. "If one +chooses the wide sea he must journey ten years. Besides, the way to +it is not known to us. Moreover, even suppose we did know the way, +it seems that the Princess Helena is not a bride for thee."</p> + +<p>The Tsar Archidei shouted with anger:</p> + +<p>"How dost thou dare to speak such words, thou, a long-bearded +buck?"</p> + +<p>"Thy will be done, but think for thyself. Suppose thou shouldst +send an envoy to the island of Buzan. He would require ten long +years to go there, ten years equally long to come back, and so his +journey would require fully twenty years. By that time a most +beautiful princess would grow old—a girl's beauty is like the +swallow, a bird of passage; it lasts not long."</p> + +<p>The Tsar Archidei became thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said to the merchant guests, "you have my thanks, +guests of passage, respectable men of trade. Go in God's name, +transact business in my tsarstvo without any taxes whatever. What +to do about the beautiful Princess Helena I will try to think out +by myself."</p> + +<p>The merchants bowed low and left the Tsar's rich palace.</p> + +<p>The Tsar Archidei sat still, wrapped in thought, but he could +find neither beginning nor end to the problem. "Let me ride into +the wide fields," he said; "let me forget my sorrow amid the +excitement of the noble hunt, hoping that the future may bring +advice."</p> + +<p>The falconers appeared, cheerful notes from the golden trumpets +resounded, and falcons and hawks were soon slumbering under their +velvet caps as they sat quietly on the fingers of the hunters.</p> + +<p>The Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch came with his men to a wide, wide +field. All of his men were watching the moment to loose their +falcons in order to let the birds pursue a long-legged heron or a +white-breasted swan.</p> + +<p>Now, you, my listeners, must understand that the fairy tale is +quick, but life is not. The Tsar Archidei was on horseback for a +long while, and finally came to a green valley. Looking around he +saw a well cultivated field where the golden ears of the grain were +already ripe, and oh, how beautiful! The Tsar stopped in +admiration.</p> + +<p>"I presume," he exclaimed, "that good workers are owners of this +place, honest plowmen and diligent sowers. If only all fields in my +tsarstvo were equally cultivated, my people need never know what +hunger means, and there would even be plenty to send beyond the sea +to be exchanged for silver and gold."</p> + +<p>Then the Tsar Archidei gave orders to inquire who the owners of +the field were, and what were their names. Hunters, grooms, and +servants rushed in all directions, and discovered seven brave +fellows, all of them fair, red-cheeked, and very handsome. They +were dining according to the peasant fashion, which means that they +were eating rye bread with onions, and drinking clear water. Their +blouses were red, with a golden galloon around the neck, and they +were so much alike that one could hardly be recognized from +another.</p> + +<p>The royal messengers approached.</p> + +<p>"Whose field is this?" they asked; "this field with golden +wheat?"</p> + +<p>The seven brave peasants answered cheerfully:</p> + +<p>"This is our field; we plowed it, and we also have sown the +golden wheat."</p> + +<p>"And what kind of people are you?"</p> + +<p>"We are the Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch's peasants, farmers, and we +are brothers, sons of one father and mother. The name for all of us +is Simeon, so you understand we are seven Simeons."</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus03"></a> +<img src="images/031.jpg" width="316" height="455" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">"<i>Hunters, grooms, and servants rushed in all directions</i>"</p> +</div> + +<p>This answer was faithfully delivered to the Tsar Archidei by the +envoys, and the Tsar at once desired to see the brave peasants, and +ordered them to be called before him. The seven Simeons presently +appeared and bowed. The Tsar looked at them with his bright eyes +and asked them:</p> + +<p>"What kind of people are you whose field is so well +cultivated?"</p> + +<p>One of the seven brothers, the eldest of them, answered:</p> + +<p>"We are all thy peasants, simpletons, without any wisdom, born +of peasant parents, all of us children of the same father and the +same mother, and all having the same name, Simeon. Our old father +taught us to pray to God, to obey thee, to pay taxes faithfully, +and besides to work and toil without rest. He also taught to each +of us a trade, for the old saying is, 'A trade is no burden, but a +profit.' The old father wished us to keep our trades <a href="#Foracloudyday"> for a cloudy +day</a>, but never to forsake our own fields, and always to be +contented, and plow and harrow diligently.</p> + +<p>"He also used to say, 'If one does not neglect the mother earth, +but thoroughly harrows and sows in due season, then she, our +mother, will reward generously, and will give plenty of bread, +besides preparing a soft place for the everlasting rest when one is +old and tired of life.'"</p> + +<p>The Tsar Archidei liked the simple answer of the peasant, and +said:</p> + +<p>"Take my praise, brave good fellows, my peasants, tillers of the +soil, sowers of wheat, gatherers of gold. And now tell me, what +trades did your father teach you, and what do you know?"</p> + +<p>The first Simeon answered:</p> + +<p>"My trade is not a very wise one. If thou wouldst let me have +materials and working men, then I could build a post, a white stone +column, reaching beyond the clouds, almost to the sky."</p> + +<p>"Good enough!" exclaimed the Tsar Archidei. "And thou, the +second Simeon, what is thy trade?"</p> + +<p>The second Simeon was quick to give answer:</p> + +<p>"My trade is a simple one. If my brother will build a white +stone column, I can climb upon that column high up in the sky, and +I shall see from above all the empires and all the kingdoms under +the sun, and everything which is going on in those foreign +countries."</p> + +<p>"Thy trade is not so bad either," and the Tsar smiled and looked +at the third brother. "And thou, third Simeon, what trade is +thine?"</p> + +<p>The third Simeon also had his answer ready:</p> + +<p>"My trade is simple, too; that is to say, <a href="#Itisapeasantstrade"> a peasant's +trade</a>. If +thou art in need of ships, thy learned men of foreign birth build +them for thee as well as their wisdom teaches them. But if thou +wilt order, I will build them simply—one, two! and the ship +is ready. My ships will be the result of the quick headwork of a +peasant simpleton. But where a foreign ship sails a year, mine will +sail an hour, and where others take ten years, mine will take not +longer than a week."</p> + +<p>"Well, well!" laughed the Tsar. "And thy trade, the fourth +Simeon?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The fourth brother bowed.</p> + +<p>"My trade needs no wisdom either. If my brother will build thee +a ship, I then will sail that ship; and if an enemy gives chase or +a tempest rises, I'll seize the ship by the black prow and plunge +her into the deep waters where there is eternal quiet; and after +the storm is over or the enemy far, I'll again guide her to the +surface of the wide sea."</p> + +<p>"Good!" approved the Tsar. "And thou, fifth Simeon, what dost +thou know? Hast thou also a trade?"</p> + +<p>"My trade, Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, is not a fair one, for I am +a blacksmith. If thou wouldst order a shop built for me, I at once +would forge a self-shooting gun, and no eagle far above in the sky +or wild beast in the wood would be safe from that gun."</p> + +<p>"Not bad either," answered the Tsar Archidei, well pleased. "Thy +turn now, sixth Simeon."</p> + +<p>"My trade is no trade," answered the sixth Simeon, rather +humbly. "If my brother shoots a bird or a beast, never mind what or +where, I can catch it before it falls down, catch it even better +than a hunting dog. If the prey should fall into the blue sea, I'll +find it at the sea's bottom; should it fall into the depth of the +dark woods, I'll find it there in the midst of night; should it get +caught in a cloud, I'll find it even there."</p> + +<p>The Tsar Archidei evidently liked the trade of the sixth Simeon +very well also. These were all simple trades, you see, without any +wisdom whatever, but rather entertaining. The Tsar also liked the +peasants' speech, and he said to them:</p> + +<p>"Thanks, my peasants, tillers of the soil, my faithful workers. +Your father's words are true ones: 'A trade is not a burden, but a +profit.' Now come to my capital for a trial; people like you are +welcome. And when the season for harvest arrives, the time to reap, +to bind in bundles the golden grain, to thresh and carry the wheat +to the market, I will let you go home with my royal grace."</p> + +<p>Then all the seven Simeons bowed very low. "Thine is the will," +said they, "and we are thy obedient subjects."</p> + +<p>Here the Tsar Archidei looked at the youngest Simeon and +remembered that he had not asked him about his trade. So he +said:</p> + +<p>"And thou, seventh Simeon, what is thy trade?"</p> + +<p>"I have none, Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch. I learned many, but not +a single one did me any good, and though I know something very +well, I am not sure your majesty would like it."</p> + +<p>"Let us know thy secret," ordered the Tsar Archidei.</p> + +<p>"No, Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch! Give me, first of all, thy royal +word not to kill me for my inborn talent, but to have mercy upon +me. Then only will I be willing to disclose my secret."</p> + +<p>"Thy wish is granted. I give thee my royal word, true and not to +be broken, that whatever thou shalt disclose to me, I will have +mercy upon thee."</p> + +<p>Hearing these kind words, the seventh Simeon smiled, looked +around, shook his curls and began:</p> + +<p>"My trade is one for which there is no mercy in thy tsarstvo, +and it is the one thing I am able to do. My trade is to steal and +to hide the trace of how and when. There is no treasure, no +fortunate possession, not even a bewitched one, nor a secret place +that could be forbidden me if it be my wish to steal."</p> + +<p>As soon as these bold words of the seventh Simeon reached the +Tsar's ears he became very angry.</p> + +<p>"No!" he exclaimed, "I certainly shall not pardon thee, thief +and burglar! I will give orders for thy cruel death! I will have +thee chained and thrown into my subterranean prison with nothing +but bread and water for food until thou forget thy trade!"</p> + +<p>"Great and merciful Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, postpone thy +orders. Listen to my peasant talk," prayed the seventh Simeon. "Our +old Russian saying is: 'He is no thief who is not caught, and +neither is he who steals, but the one who instigates the theft.' If +my wish had been to steal, I should have done it long ago. I should +have stolen thy treasures and thy judges would not have objected to +take a small share of them, and I could have built a white-walled +stone palace and have been rich. But, mark this: I am a stupid +peasant of low origin. I know well enough how to steal, but will +not. If thy wish were to learn my trade, how could I keep it from +thee? And if thou, for this sincere acknowledgment, wilt have me +put to death, then what is the value of thy royal word?"</p> + +<p>The Tsar thought a moment. "For this time," he said, "I will not +let thee die, for it pleases me to grant thee my grace. But from +this very day, this very hour, thou never shalt see God's light nor +the bright sunshine nor the silvery moon. Thou shalt never walk at +liberty through the wide fields, but thou, my dear guest, shalt +dwell in a palace where no sunny ray ever penetrates. You, my +servants, take him, chain his hands and his feet and lead him to my +chief jailor. And you six Simeons follow me. You have my grace and +reward. To-morrow every one of you will begin to work for me +according to his gifts and capacities."</p> + +<p>The six Simeons followed the Tsar Archidei, and the seventh +brother, the youngest, the beloved one, was fallen upon by the +servants, taken away to the dark prison and heavily chained.</p> + +<p>The Tsar Archidei ordered carpenters to be sent to the first +Simeon, as well as masons and blacksmiths and all sorts of +workingmen. He also ordered a supply of bricks, stones, iron, clay, +and cement. Without any delay, Simeon, the first brother, began to +build a column, and according to his simple peasant's habits his +work progressed rapidly, and not a moment was wasted in clever +combinations. In a short time the white column was ready, and lo, +how high it went! as high as the great planets. The smaller stars +were beneath it, and from above the people seemed to be like +bugs.</p> + +<p>The second Simeon climbed the column, looked around, listened to +all sounds, and came down. The Tsar Archidei, anxious to know about +everything under the sun, ordered him to report, and Simeon did so. +He told the Tsar Archidei all the wonderful doings all over the +world. He told how one king was fighting another, where there was +war and where there was peace, and with other things the second +Simeon even mentioned deep secrets, quite surprising secrets, which +made the Tsar Archidei smile; and the courtiers, encouraged by the +royal smile, roared with laughter.</p> + +<p>Meantime the third Simeon was accomplishing something in his +line. After crossing himself three times the fellow rolled up his +sleeves to the elbow, took a hatchet and—one, +two—without any haste built a vessel. What a curious vessel +it was! The Tsar Archidei watched the wonderful structure from the +shore and as soon as the orders were given for sailing, the new +vessel sailed away like a white-winged hawk. The cannon were +shooting and upon the masts, instead of rigging, were drawn strings +upon which musicians were playing the national tunes.</p> + +<p>As soon as the wonderful vessel sailed into deep water, the +fourth Simeon snatched the prow and no trace of it remained on the +surface; the whole vessel went to the depths like a heavy stone. In +an hour or so Simeon, with his left hand, led the ship to the blue +surface of the sea again, and with his right he presented to the +Tsar a most magnificent sturgeon for his "kulibiaka," the famous +Russian fish pie.</p> + +<p>While the Tsar Archidei enjoyed himself with looking at the +marvelous vessel, the fifth Simeon built a blacksmith shop in the +court back of the palace. There he blew the bellows and heated the +iron. The noise from his hammers was great and the result of his +peasant work was a self-shooting gun. The Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch +went to the wild fields and perceived high above him, very high +under the sky, an eagle flying.</p> + +<p>"Now!" exclaimed the Tsar, "there is an eagle forgetting himself +with watching the sun; shoot it. Perchance thou shalt have the good +luck to hit it. Then I will honor thee."</p> + +<p>Simeon shook his locks, smiled, put into his gun a silver +bullet, aimed, shot, and the eagle fell swiftly to the earth. The +sixth Simeon did not even allow the eagle to fall to the ground, +but, quick as a flash, he ran under it with a plate, caught it on +that big plate and presented his prey to the Tsar Archidei.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, thanks, my brave fellows, faithful peasants, tillers of +the soil!" exclaimed the Tsar Archidei gayly. "I see now plainly +that all of you are men of trade and I wish to reward you. But now +go to your dinner and rest awhile." The six Simeons bowed to the +Tsar very low, prayed to the holy icons and went. They were already +seated, had time to swallow each one a tumbler of the strong, green +wine, took up the round wooden spoons in order to attack the +"stchi," the Russian cabbage soup, when lo! the Tsar's fool came +running and shaking his striped cap with the round bells and +shouted:</p> + +<p>"You ignorant simpletons, unlearned peasants, <a href="#Moujik">moujiks</a>! Is it a +suitable moment for dinner when the Tsar wants you? Go in +haste!"</p> + +<p>All the six started running toward the palace, thinking within +themselves: "What can have happened?" In front of the palace stood +the guards with their iron staves; in the halls all the wise and +learned people were gathered together, and the Tsar himself was +sitting on his high throne looking very grim and thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"Listen to me," he said when the peasants approached, "you, my +brave fellows, my clever brothers Simeon. I like your trades and I +think, as do my wise advisers, that if thou, the second Simeon, art +able to see everything going on under the sun, thou shouldst climb +quickly on yonder column and glance around to see if there is, as +they say, beyond the great sea an island, Buzan by name. And see if +on that island, as men assert, there is a mighty kingdom, and in +that kingdom a mighty king, and if that king, as the story goes, +has a daughter, the most beautiful princess Helena."</p> + +<p>The second Simeon bowed and ran quickly, even forgetting to put +on his cap. He went straight to the column, climbed it, looked +around, came down, and this was his report:</p> + +<p>"Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, I have accomplished thy sovereign +wish. I looked far beyond the sea and have seen the island Buzan. +Mighty is the king there, and he is proud and merciless. He sits +within his palace and his speech is always the same:</p> + +<p>'I am a great king and I have a most beautiful daughter, the +princess Helena. There is no one in the universe more beautiful and +more wise than she; there is no bridegroom worthy of her in any +place under the bright sun, no tsar, no king, no tsarevitch, no <a href="#Korolevitch">korolevitch</a>. To no one will I ever give my daughter, the princess +Helena, and whoever shall dare to court her, on such an one will I +declare war, ruin his country, and capture himself.'"</p> + +<p>"And how great is the army of that king?" asked the Tsar +Archidei; "and also how far is his kingdom from my tsarstvo?"</p> + +<p>"Well, according to the measure of my eyes," answered Simeon, "I +fancy it would take a ship ten years less two days; or, if it +happened to be stormy, I am afraid even a little longer than ten +years. And that king has not a small army. I have seen altogether a +hundred thousand spearmen, a hundred thousand armed men, and a +hundred thousand or more could be gathered from the Tsar's court, +from his servants and all kinds of underlings. Besides, there is no +small armament of guards held in reserve for a special occasion, +fed and petted by the king."</p> + +<p>The Tsar Archidei remained for a long time in thoughtful silence +and finally addressed his court people:</p> + +<p>"My warriors and advisers: I have but one wish; I want the +princess Helena for my wife. But tell me, how can I reach her?"</p> + +<p>The wise advisers remained silent, hiding themselves behind each +other. The third Simeon looked around, bowed to the Tsar, and +said:</p> + +<p>"Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, forgive my simple words. How to reach +the island of Buzan there is no need to worry about. Sit down on my +ship; she is simply built, and equipped without any wise tricks. +Where others require a year she takes but a day, and where other +ships take ten years mine will take, let us say, a week. Only order +thine advisers to decide whether we ought to fight for or +peacefully court the beautiful princess."</p> + +<p>"Now, my warriors brave, my advisers sage," spoke the Tsar +Archidei to his men, "How will you decide upon this matter? Who +among you will go to fight for the princess, or who will be shrewd +enough to bring her peacefully here? I will pour gold and silver +over that one. I will give to him the first rank among the very +first."</p> + +<p>And again the brave warriors and the sage advisers remained +silent. The Tsar grew angry; he seemed to be ready for a terrible +word. Then, as if somebody had asked the fool, out he jumped from +behind the wise people with his foolish talk, shook his striped +fool's cap, rang his many bells, and shouted:</p> + +<p>"Why so silent, wise men? why so deep in thought? You have big +heads and long beards; it would seem that there is plenty of +wisdom, so why not show it? To go to the island of Buzan to obtain +the bride does not mean to lose gold or army. Have you already +forgotten the seventh Simeon? Why, it will be simple enough for him +to steal the princess Helena. Afterwards let the king of Buzan come +here to fight us, and we will welcome him as an honored guest. But +do not forget that he must take ten years' time to reach us, and in +ten years—ah me! I have heard that some wise man somewhere +undertook to teach a horse to talk in ten years!"</p> + +<p>"Good! Good!" exclaimed the Tsar Archidei, forgetting even his +anger. "I thank thee, striped fool. I certainly shall reward thee. +Thou must have a new cap with noisy bells, and each one of thy +children a ginger pancake. You, faithful servants, run quickly and +bring here the seventh Simeon."</p> + +<p>According to the Tsar's bidding the heavy iron gates of the dark +prison were thrown open, the heavy chains were taken off and the +seventh Simeon appeared before the eager eyes of the Tsar Archidei, +who thus addressed him:</p> + +<p>"Listen to me attentively, thou seventh Simeon, for I had almost +decided to grant thee a high honor; to keep thee thy life long in +my prison. But if thou shouldst prove useful to me, then will I +give thee freedom; and besides, thou shalt have a share out of my +treasures. Art thou able to steal the beautiful princess Helena +from her father, the mighty king of the island of Buzan?"</p> + +<p>"And why not?" cheerfully laughed the seventh Simeon. "There is +nothing difficult about it. She is not a pearl, and I presume she +is not under too many locks. Only order the ship which my brother +had built for thee to be loaded with velvets and brocades, with +Persian rugs, beautiful pearls and precious stones, and bid my four +brothers come along with me. But the two eldest keep thou as +hostages."</p> + +<p>Once said, quickly done. The Tsar Archidei gave orders while all +were running hither and thither, and everything was finished so +promptly that a short-haired girl would scarcely have had time to +plait her hair. The ship, laden with velvets, brocades, with +Persian rugs and pearls, and costly precious stones, was ready; the +five brothers, the brave Simeons, were ready; they bowed to the +Tsar, spread sail, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>The ship floated swiftly over the blue waters; she flew like a +hawk in comparison with the slow merchant vessels, and in a week +after the five Simeons had left their native land they sighted the +island of Buzan.</p> + +<p>The island appeared to be surrounded with cannon as thick as +peas; the gigantic guards walked up and down the shores tugging +fiercely at their big mustaches. As soon as the ship became visible +from a tower somebody shouted through a <a href="#Dutchtrumpet"> Dutch trumpet:</a></p> + +<p>"Stop! Answer! What kind of people are ye? Why come ye +here?"</p> + +<p>The seventh Simeon answered from the ship: "We are a peaceful +people, not enemies but friends, merchants everywhere welcomed as +guests. We bring foreign merchandise. We want to sell, to buy, and +to exchange. We also have gifts for your king and for the +korolevna."</p> + +<p>The five brothers, our brave Simeons, lowered the boat, loaded +it with choice Venetian velvets, brocades, pearls, and precious +stones, and covered all with Persian rugs. They rowed to the wharf, +and landing near the king's palace, at once carried their gifts to +the king.</p> + +<p>The beautiful korolevna Helena was sitting in her terem. She was +a fair maiden with eyes like stars and eyebrows like precious +sable. When she looked at one it was like receiving a gift, and +when she walked it was like the graceful swimming of a swan. The +korolevna was quick to notice the brave, handsome brothers and at +once called her nurses and maidens.</p> + +<p>"Hasten, my dear nurses, and you, swift maidens, find out what +kind of strangers are these coming to our royal palace."</p> + +<p>All of the nurses, all of the maidens, ran out with questions +ready. The seventh Simeon answered them thus:</p> + +<p>"We are merchant guests, peaceful people. Our native land is the +country of the Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, a great Tsar indeed. We +came to sell, to buy, to exchange; moreover, we have gifts for the +king and his princess. We do hope the king will favor us and will +accept these trifles; if not for himself, at least for the +adornment of his court's lovely maidens."</p> + +<p>When Helena heard these words she at once let the merchants in. +And the merchants appeared, bowed low to the beautiful korolevna, +unfolded the showy velvets and golden brocades, strewed around the +pearls and precious stones, such stones and pearls as had never +been seen before in Buzan. The nurses and the maidens opened their +mouths in amazement, and the korolevna herself seemed to be greatly +pleased. The seventh Simeon, quick to understand, smiled and +said:</p> + +<p>"We all know thee to be as wise as beautiful, but now thou art +evidently joking about us or mocking us. These simple wares are +altogether too plain for thine own use. Accept them for thy nurses +and maidens for their everyday attire, and these stones send away +to the kitchen boys to play with. But if thou wilt listen to me, +let me say that on our ship we have very different velvets and +brocades; we have also precious stones, far more precious than any +one has ever seen; yet we dared not bring them at once lest we +might not suit thy temper and thy hearty wish. If thou shouldst +decide to come in person and choose anything from among our +possessions, they all are thine and we bow to thee gratefully for +the bright glance of thy beautiful eyes."</p> + +<p>The royal maid liked well enough these polite words of the +handsome Simeon, and to her father she went:</p> + +<p>"Father and king, there have come to visit us some foreign +merchants and they have brought some goods never before seen in +Buzan. Give me thy permission to go on board their wonderful ship +to choose what things I like. They also have rich gifts for +thee."</p> + +<p>The king hesitated before answering her, frowning and scratching +behind his ear.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said at last, "be it according to thy wish, my +daughter, my beautiful korolevna. And you, my counselors, order my +royal vessel to be ready, the cannons loaded, and a hundred of my +bravest warriors detailed to escort the vessel. Send besides a +thousand heavy armed warriors to guard the korolevna on her way to +the merchants' vessel."</p> + +<p>Then the king's vessel started from the island of Buzan. Numbers +of cannon and warriors protected the princess, and the royal father +remained quiet at home.</p> + +<p>When they reached the merchants' ship the korolevna Helena came +down, and at once the crystal bridge was placed and the korolevna +with all her nurses and maidens went on board the foreign ship, +such a ship as they had never seen before, never even dreamed of. +Meanwhile the guards kept watch.</p> + +<p>The seventh Simeon showed the lovely guests everywhere. He was +talking smoothly while leisurely unfolding his precious goods. The +korolevna listened attentively, looked around curiously, and seemed +well pleased.</p> + +<p>At the same moment the fourth Simeon, watching the proper +moment, snapped the prow and down to mysterious depths went the +ship where no one could see her. The people on the king's vessel +screamed in terror, the warriors looked like drunken fools, and the +guards only opened their eyes wider than before. What should they +do? They directed the vessel back to the island and appeared before +the king with their terrible tale.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my daughter, my darling princess Helena! It is God who +punishes me for my pride. I never wanted thee to marry. No king, no +prince, would I consider worthy of thee; and now—oh! now I +know that thou art wedded to the deep sea! As for me, I am left +alone for the rest of my sorrowful days."</p> + +<p>Then all at once he looked around and shouted to his men:</p> + +<p>"You fools! what were you thinking about? You shall all lose +your heads! Guards, throw them into dungeons! The most cruel death +shall be theirs, such a death that the children of their +great-grandchildren shall shiver to hear the tale!"</p> + +<p>Now, while the king of Buzan raved and grieved, the ship of the +brothers Simeon, like a golden fish, swam under the blue waters, +and when the island was lost from sight the fourth Simeon brought +her to the surface and she rose upon the waters like a white-winged +gull. By this time the princess was becoming anxious about the long +time they were away from home, and she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Nurses and maidens, we are leisurely looking around, but I +fancy my father the king finds the time sadly long." She hastily +walked to the deck of the ship, and behold!—only the wide sea +was around her like a mirror! Where was her native island, where +the royal vessel? There was nothing visible but the blue sea. The +princess screamed, struck her white bosom with both hands, +transformed herself into a white swan and flew high into the sky. +But the fifth Simeon, watching closely, lost no time, snapped his +lucky gun and the white swan was shot. His brother, the sixth +Simeon, caught the white swan, but lo! instead of the white swan +there was a silvery fish, which slipped away from him. Simeon +caught the fish, but the pretty, silvery fish turned into a small +mouse running around the ship. Simeon did not let it reach a hole, +but swifter than a cat caught the mouse,—and the princess +Helena, as beautiful and natural as before, appeared before them, +fair-faced, bright-eyed.</p> + +<p>On a lovely morning a week later the Tsar Archidei was sitting +by the window of his palace lost in thought. His eyes were turned +toward the sea, the wide, blue sea. He was sad at heart and could +not eat; feasts had no interest for him, the costly dishes had no +taste, the <a href="#Honeydrink"> honey drink</a> seemed weak. All his thoughts and longings +were for the princess Helena, the beautiful one, the only one.</p> + +<p>What is that far away upon the waters? Is it a white gull? Or +are those white wings not wings, but sails? No, it is not a gull, +but the ship of the brothers Simeon, and she approaches as rapidly +as the wind which blows her sails. The cannon boom, native melodies +are played on the cords of the masts. Soon the ship is anchored, +the crystal bridge prepared, and the korolevna Helena, the +beautiful princess, appears like a never-setting sun, her eyes like +bright stars, and oh! how happy is the Tsar Archidei!</p> + +<p>"Run quick, my faithful servants, you brave officers of state, +and you, too, my bodyguard, and all you useful and ornamental +fellows of my palace, run and prepare, shoot off rockets and ring +the bells in order to give a joyful welcome to korolevna Helena, +the beautiful."</p> + +<p>All hastened to their tasks, to shoot, to ring the bells, to +open the gates, to honorably receive the korolevna. The Tsar +himself came out to meet the beautiful princess, took her white +hands and helped her into the palace.</p> + +<p>"Welcome! welcome!" said the Tsar Archidei. "Thy fame, korolevna +Helena, reached me, but never could I imagine such beauty as is +thine. Yet, though I admire thee, I do not want to separate thee +from thy father. Say the word and my faithful servants will take +thee back to him. If thou choosest, however, to remain in my +tzarstvo, be the tsaritza over my country and rule over me, the +Tzar Archidei, also."</p> + +<p>At these words of the Tsar the korolevna Helena threw such a +glance at the Tsar that it seemed to him the sun was laughing, the +moon singing, and the stars dancing all around.</p> + +<p>Well, what more is there to be said? You certainly can imagine +the rest. The courtship was not long and the wedding feast was soon +ready, for you know kings always have everything at their command. +The brothers Simeon were at once dispatched to the king of Buzan +with a message from the korolevna, his daughter, and this is what +she wrote:</p> + +<p>"Dear father, mighty king and sovereign: I have found a husband +according to my heart's wish and I am asking thy fatherly blessing. +My bridegroom, the Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch, sends his counselors +to thee, begging thee to come to our wedding."</p> + +<p>At the very moment when the merchant ship was to land at the +island of Buzan, crowds of people had gathered to witness the +execution of the unfortunate guards and brave warriors whose +ill-luck it was to have allowed the princess to disappear.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" Simeon the seventh shouted aloud from the deck. "We +bring a missive from the korolevna Helena. Holla!"</p> + +<p>Very glad indeed was the king of the island of Buzan, and glad +were all his subjects. The missive was read and the condemned were +pardoned.</p> + +<p>"Evidently," the king said, "it is fated that the handsome and +witty Tsar Archidei and my beautiful daughter are to become husband +and wife."</p> + +<p>Then the king treated the envoys and the brothers Simeon very +well and sent his blessings with them, as he himself did not wish +to go, being very old. The ship soon returned and the Tsar Archidei +rejoiced over it with his beautiful bride, and at once summoned the +seven Simeons, the seven brave peasants.</p> + +<p>He said to them: "Thanks! thanks! my peasants, my brave tillers +of the soil. Take as much gold as you wish. Take silver also and +ask for whatever is your heart's desire. Everything shall be given +you with my mighty hand. Would you like to become boyars, you shall +be the greatest among the very great. Do you choose to become +governors, each one shall have a town."</p> + +<p>The first Simeon bowed to the Tsar and cheerfully answered:</p> + +<p>"Thanks also to thee, Tsar Archidei Aggeivitch. We are but +simple people and simple are our ways. It would not do for us to +become boyars or governors. We do not care for thy treasures +either. We have our own father's field, which shall always give us +bread for hunger and money for need. Let us go home, taking with us +thy gracious word as our reward. If thou choosest to be so kind, +give us thine order which shall save us from the judges and +tax-gatherers; and if we should be guilty of some offense, let +thyself alone be our judge. And do, we pray thee, pardon the +seventh Simeon, our youngest brother. His trade is surely bad, but +he is not the first and not the last one to have such a gift."</p> + +<p>"Let it be as you wish," said the Tsar; and every desire was +granted to the seven Simeons, and each one of them received a big +tumbler of strong green wine out of the hands of the Tsar himself. +Soon after this the wedding was celebrated.</p> + +<p>Now, honorable dames and gentlemen, do not judge this story of +mine too severely. If you like it, praise it; if not, let it be +forgotten.<a href="#RussianandotherSlavonictales"> The story is told and a word is like a +sparrow—once out it is out for good.</a></p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/062.png" width="366" height="147" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chap03">THE LANGUAGE OF THE BIRDS</a></h2> + +<p> +<span class="figleft"> +<a href="images/063.png"><img width="81" src="images/063.png" alt="S" +height="200" /></a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Somewhere in a town in <a href="#HolyRussia"> holy Russia</a>, there lived a +rich merchant with his wife. He had an only son, a dear, bright, and brave boy +called Ivan. One lovely day Ivan sat at the dinner table with his parents. Near +the window in the same room hung a cage, and a nightingale, a sweet-voiced, +gray bird, was imprisoned within. The sweet nightingale began to sing its +wonderful song with trills and high silvery tones. The merchant listened and +listened to the song and said: +</p> + +<p>"How I wish I could understand the meaning of the different +songs of all the birds! I would give half my wealth to the man, if +only there were such a man, who could make plain to me all the +different songs of the different birds."</p> + +<p>Ivan took notice of these words and no matter where he went, no +matter where he was, no matter what he did, he always thought of +how he could learn the language of the birds.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus04"></a> +<img src="images/064.jpg" width="253" height="561" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption"><i>Ivan learns the language of the birds</i></p> +</div> + +<p>Some time after this the merchant's son happened to be hunting +in a forest. The winds rose, the sky became clouded, the lightning +flashed, the thunder roared loudly, and the rain fell in torrents. +Ivan soon came near a large tree and saw a big nest in the +branches. Four small birds were in the nest; they were quite alone, +and neither father nor mother was there to protect them from the +cold and wet. The good Ivan pitied them, climbed the tree and +covered the little ones with his "kaftan," a long-skirted coat +which the Russian peasants and merchants usually wear. The +thunderstorm passed by and a big bird came flying and sat down on a +branch near the nest and spoke very kindly to Ivan.</p> + +<p>"Ivan, I thank thee; thou hast protected my little children from +the cold and rain and I wish to do something for thee. Tell me what +thou dost wish."</p> + +<p>Ivan answered; "I am not in need; I have everything for my +comfort. But teach me the birds' language."</p> + +<p>"Stay with me three days and thou shalt know all about it."</p> + +<p>Ivan remained in the forest three days. He understood well the +teaching of the big bird and returned home more clever than before. +One beautiful day soon after this Ivan sat with his parents when +the nightingale was singing in his cage. His song was so sad, +however, so very sad, that the merchant and his wife also became +sad, and their son, their good Ivan, who listened very attentively, +was even more affected, and the tears came running down his +cheeks.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" asked his parents; "what art thou weeping +about, dear son?"</p> + +<p>"Dear parents," answered the son, "it is because I understand +the meaning of the nightingale's song, and because this meaning is +so sad for all of us."</p> + +<p>"What then is the meaning? Tell us the whole truth; do not hide +it from us," said the father and mother.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how sad it sounds!" replied the son. "How much better would +it be never to have been born!"</p> + +<p>"Do not frighten us," said the parents, alarmed. "If thou dost +really understand the meaning of the song, tell us at once."</p> + +<p>"Do you not hear for yourselves? The nightingale says: 'The time +will come when Ivan, the merchant's son, shall become Ivan, the +king's son, and his own father shall serve him as a simple +servant.'"</p> + +<p>The merchant and his wife felt troubled and began to distrust +their son, their good Ivan. So one night they gave him a drowsy +drink, and when he had fallen asleep they took him to a boat on the +wide sea, spread the white sails, and pushed the boat from the +shore.</p> + +<p>For a long time the boat danced on the waves and finally it came +near a large merchant vessel, which struck against it with such a +shock that Ivan awoke. The crew on the large vessel saw Ivan and +pitied him. So they decided to take him along with them and did so. +High, very high, above in the sky they perceived cranes. Ivan said +to the sailors:</p> + +<p>"Be careful; I hear the birds predicting a storm. Let us enter a +harbor or we shall suffer great danger and damage. All the sails +will be torn and all the masts will be broken."</p> + +<p>But no one paid any attention and they went farther on. In a +short time the storm arose, the wind tore the vessel almost to +pieces, and they had a very hard time to repair all the damage. +When they were through with their work they heard many wild swans +flying above them and talking very loud among themselves.</p> + +<p>"What are they talking about?" inquired the men, this time with +interest.</p> + +<p>"Be careful," advised Ivan. "I hear and distinctly understand +them to say that the pirates, the terrible sea robbers, are near. +If we do not enter a harbor at once they will imprison and kill +us."</p> + +<p>The crew quickly obeyed this advice and as soon as the vessel +entered the harbor the pirate boats passed by and the merchants saw +them capture several unprepared vessels. When the danger was over, +the sailors with Ivan went farther, still farther. Finally the +vessel anchored near a town, large and unknown to the merchants. A +king ruled in that town who was very much annoyed by three black +crows. These three crows were all the time perching near the window +of the king's chamber. No one knew how to get rid of them and no +one could kill them. The king ordered notices to be placed at all +crossings and on all prominent buildings, saying that whoever was +able to relieve the king from the noisy birds would be rewarded by +obtaining the youngest korolevna, the king's daughter, for a wife; +but the one who should have the daring to undertake but not succeed +in delivering the palace from the crows would have his head cut +off. Ivan attentively read the announcement, once, twice, and once +more. Finally he made the sign of the cross and went to the palace. +He said to the servants:</p> + +<p>"Open the window and let me listen to the birds."</p> + +<p>The servants obeyed and Ivan listened for a while. Then he +said:</p> + +<p>"Show me to your sovereign king."</p> + +<p>When he reached the room where the king sat on a high, rich +chair, he bowed and said:</p> + +<p>"There are three crows, a father crow, a mother crow, and a son +crow. The trouble is that they desire to obtain thy royal decision +as to whether the son crow must follow his father crow or his +mother crow."</p> + +<p>The king answered: "The son crow must follow the father +crow."</p> + +<p>As soon as the king announced his royal decision the crow father +with the crow son went one way and the crow mother disappeared the +other way, and no one has heard the noisy birds since. The king +gave one-half of his kingdom and his youngest korolevna to Ivan, +and a happy life began for him.</p> + +<p>In the meantime his father, the rich merchant, lost his wife and +by and by his fortune also. There was no one left to take care of +him, and the old man went begging under the windows of charitable +people. He went from one window to another, from one village to +another, from one town to another, and one bright day he came to +the palace where Ivan lived, begging humbly for charity. Ivan saw +him and recognized him, ordered him to come inside, and gave him +food to eat and also supplied him with good clothes, asking +questions:</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus05"></a> +<img src="images/071.png" width="279" height="589" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">"<i>The old man went begging from town to town</i>"</p> +</div> + +<p>"Dear old man, what can I do for thee?" he said.</p> + +<p>"If thou art so very good," answered the poor father, without +knowing that he was speaking to his own son, "let me remain here +and serve thee among thy faithful servants."</p> + +<p>"Dear, dear father!" exclaimed Ivan, "thou didst doubt the true +song of the nightingale, and now thou seest that our fate was to +meet according to the predictions of long ago."</p> + +<p>The old man was frightened and knelt before his son, but his +Ivan remained the same good son as before, took his father lovingly +into his arms, and together they wept over their sorrow.</p> + +<p>Several days passed by and the old father felt courage to ask +his son, the korolevitch:</p> + +<p>"Tell me, my son, how was it that thou didst not perish in the +boat?"</p> + +<p>Ivan Korolevitch laughed gayly.</p> + +<p>"I presume," he answered, "that it was not my fate to perish at +the bottom of the wide sea, but my fate was to marry the korolevna, +my beautiful wife, and to sweeten the old age of my dear +father."</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/073.png" width="236" height="158" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chap04">IVANOUSHKA THE SIMPLETON</a></h2> + +<p> +<span class="figleft"> +<a href="images/074.png"><img width="159" src="images/074.png" alt="I" +height="180" /></a></span> +</p> + +<p> +In a kingdom far away from our country, there was a town over which ruled the +Tsar Pea with his Tsaritza Carrot. He had many wise statesmen, wealthy princes, +strong, powerful warriors, and also simple soldiers, a hundred thousand, less +one man. In that town lived all kinds of people: honest, bearded merchants, +keen and open-handed rascals, German tradesmen, lovely maidens, Russian +drunkards; and in the suburbs all around, the peasants tilled the soil, sowed +the wheat, ground the flour, traded in the markets, and spent the money in +drink. +</p> + +<p>In one of the suburbs there was a poor hut where an old man +lived with his three sons, Thomas, Pakhom, and Ivan. The old man +was not only clever, he was wise. He had happened once to have a +chat with the devil. They talked together while the old man treated +him to a tumbler of wine and got out of the devil many great +secrets. Soon after this the peasant began to perform such +marvelous acts that the neighbors called him a sorcerer, a +magician, and even supposed that the devil was his kin.</p> + +<p>Yes, it is true that the old man performed great marvels. Were +you longing for love, go to him, bow to the old man, and he would +give you some strange root, and the sweetheart would be yours. If +there is a theft, again to him with the tale. The old man conjures +over some water, takes an officer along straight to the thief, and +your lost is found; only take care that the officer steals it +not.</p> + +<p>Indeed the old man was very wise; but his children were not his +equals. Two of them were almost as clever. They were married and +had children, but Ivan, the youngest, was single. No one cared much +for him because he was rather a fool, could not count one, two, +three, and only drank, or ate, or slept, or lay around. Why care +for such a person? Every one knows life for some is brighter than +for others. But Ivan was good-hearted and quiet. Ask of him a belt, +he will give a kaftan also; take his mittens, he certainly would +want to have you take his cap with them. And that is why all liked +Ivan, and usually called him Ivanoushka the Simpleton; though the +name means fool, at the same time it carries the idea of a kind +heart.</p> + +<p>Our old man lived on with his sons until finally his hour came +to die. He called his three sons and said to them:</p> + +<p>"Dear children of mine, my dying hour is at hand and ye must +fulfill my will. Every one of you come to my grave and spend one +night with me; thou, Tom, the first night; thou, Pakhom, the second +night; and thou, Ivanoushka the Simpleton, the third."</p> + +<p>Two of the brothers, as clever people, promised their father to +do according to his bidding, but the Simpleton did not even +promise; he only scratched his head.</p> + +<p>The old man died and was buried. During the celebration the +family and guests had plenty of pancakes to eat and plenty of +whisky to wash them down.</p> + +<p>Now you remember that on the first night Thomas was to go to the +grave; but he was too lazy, or possibly afraid, so he said to the +Simpleton:</p> + +<p>"I must be up very early to-morrow morning; I have to thresh; go +thou for me to our father's grave."</p> + +<p>"All right," answered Ivanoushka the Simpleton. He took a slice +of black rye bread, went to the grave, stretched himself out, and +soon began to snore.</p> + +<p>The church clock struck midnight; the wind roared, the owl cried +in the trees, the grave opened and the old man came out and +asked:</p> + +<p>"Who is there?"</p> + +<p>"I," answered Ivanoushka.</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear son, I will reward thee for thine obedience," +said the father.</p> + +<p>Lo! the cocks crowed and the old man dropped into the grave. The +Simpleton arrived home and went to the warm stove.</p> + +<p>"What happened?" asked the brothers.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," he answered. "I slept the whole night and am hungry +now."</p> + +<p>The second night it was Pakhom's turn to go to his father's +grave. He thought it over and said to the Simpleton:</p> + +<p>"To-morrow is a busy day with me. Go in my place to our father's +grave."</p> + +<p>"All right," answered Ivanoushka. He took along with him a piece +of fish pie, went to the grave and slept. Midnight approached, the +wind roared, crows came flying, the grave opened and the old man +came out.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I," answered his son the Simpleton.</p> + +<p>"Well, my beloved son, I will not forget thine obedience," said +the old man.</p> + +<p>The cocks crowed and the old man dropped into his grave. +Ivanoushka the Simpleton came home, went to <a href="#Inthepeasantshouse"> sleep on the warm +stove</a>, and in the morning his brothers asked:</p> + +<p>"What happened?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," answered Ivanoushka.</p> + +<p>On the third night the brothers said to Ivan the Simpleton:</p> + +<p>"It is thy turn to go to the grave of our father. The father's +will should be done."</p> + +<p>"All right," answered Ivanoushka. He took some cookies, put on +his sheepskin, and arrived at the grave.</p> + +<p>At midnight his father came out.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I," answered Ivanoushka.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the old father, "my obedient son, thou shalt be +rewarded;" and the old man shouted with a mighty voice:</p> + +<p class="center">"Arise, bay horse—thou wind-swift steed,</p> + +<p class="center"> Appear before me +in my need; </p> + +<p class="center"> Stand up as in the storm the weed!"</p> + +<p>And lo!—Ivanoushka the Simpleton beheld a horse running, +the earth trembling under his hoofs, his eyes like stars, and out +of his mouth and ears smoke coming in a cloud. The horse approached +and stood before the old man.</p> + +<p>"What is thy wish?" he asked with a man's voice.</p> + +<p>The old man crawled into his left ear, washed and adorned +himself, and jumped out of his right ear as a young, brave fellow +never seen before.</p> + +<p>"Now listen attentively," he said. "To thee, my son, I give this +horse. And thou, my faithful horse and friend, serve my son as thou +hast served me."</p> + +<p>Hardly had the old man pronounced these words when the first +cock crew and the sorcerer dropped into his grave. Our Simpleton +went quietly back home, stretched himself under the icons, and his +snoring was heard far around.</p> + +<p>"What happened?" the brothers again asked.</p> + +<p>But the Simpleton did not even answer; he only waved his hand. +The three brothers continued to live their usual life, the two with +cleverness and the younger with foolishness. They lived <a href="#Adayinandanequaldayout"> a day in +and an equal day out</a>. But one morning there came quite a different +day from all others. They learned that big men were going all over +the country with trumpets and players; that those men announced +everywhere the will of the Tsar, and the Tsar's will was this: The +Tsar Pea and the Tsaritza Carrot had an only daughter, the Tsarevna +Baktriana, heiress to the throne. She was such a beautiful maiden +that the sun blushed when she looked at it, and the moon, +altogether too bashful, covered itself from her eyes. Tsar and +Tsaritza had a hard time to decide to whom they should give their +daughter for a wife. It must be a man who could be a proper ruler +over the country, a brave warrior on the battlefield, a wise judge +in the council, an adviser to the Tsar, and a suitable heir after +his death. They also wanted a bridegroom who was young, brave, and +handsome, and they wanted him to be in love with their Tsarevna. +That would have been easy enough, but the trouble was that the +beautiful Tsarevna loved no one. Sometimes the Tsar mentioned to +her this or that one. Always the same answer, "I do not love him." +The Tsaritza tried, too, with no better result; "I do not like +him."</p> + +<p>A day came when the Tsar Pea and his Tsaritza Carrot seriously +addressed their daughter on the subject of marriage and said:</p> + +<p>"Our beloved child, our very beautiful Tsarevna Baktriana, it is +time for thee to choose a bridegroom. Envoys of all descriptions, +from kings and tzars and princes, have worn our threshold, drunk +dry all the cellars, and thou hast not yet found any one according +to thy heart's wish."</p> + +<p>The Tsarevna answered: "Sovereign, and thou, Tsaritza, my dear +mother, I feel sorry for you, and my wish is to obey your desire. +So let fate decide who is destined to become my husband. I ask you +to build a hall, a high hall with thirty-two circles, and above +those circles a window. I will sit at that window and do you order +all kinds of people, tsars, kings, tsarovitchi, korolevitchi, brave +warriors, and handsome fellows, to come. The one who will jump +through the thirty-two circles, reach my window and exchange with +me golden rings, he it will be who is destined to become my +husband, son and heir to you."</p> + +<p>The Tsar and Tsaritza listened attentively to the words of their +bright Tsarevna, and finally they said: "According to thy wish +shall it be done."</p> + +<p>In no time the hall was ready, a very high hall adorned with +Venetian velvets, with pearls for tassels, with golden designs, and +thirty-two circles on both sides of the window high above. Envoys +went to the different kings and sovereigns, pigeons flew with +orders to the subjects to gather the proud and the humble into the +town of the Tsar Pea and his Tsaritza Carrot. It was announced +everywhere that the one who could jump through the circles, reach +the window and exchange golden rings with the Tsarevna Baktriana, +that man would be the lucky one, notwithstanding his +rank—tsar or free kosack, king or warrior, tsarevitch, +korolevitch, or fellow without any kinfolk or country.</p> + +<p>The great day arrived. Crowds pressed to the field where stood +the newly built hall, brilliant as a star. Up high at the window +the tsarevna was sitting, adorned with precious stones, clad in +velvet and pearls. The people below were roaring like an ocean. The +Tzar with his Tzaritza was sitting upon a throne. Around them were +boyars, warriors, and counselors.</p> + +<p>The suitors on horseback, proud, handsome, and brave, whistle +and ride round about, but looking at the high window their hearts +drop. There were already several fellows who had tried. Each would +take a long start, balance himself, spring, and fall back like a +stone, a laughing stock for the witnesses.</p> + +<p>The brothers of Ivanoushka the Simpleton were preparing +themselves to go to the field also.</p> + +<p>The Simpleton said to them: "Take me along with you."</p> + +<p>"Thou fool," laughed the brothers; "stay at home and watch the +chickens."</p> + +<p>"All right," he answered, went to the chicken yard and lay down. +But as soon as the brothers were away, our Ivanoushka the Simpleton +walked to the wide fields and shouted with a mighty voice:</p> + +<p class="center">"Arise, bay horse—thou wind-swift steed, </p> + +<p class="center"> Appear before me +in my need; </p> + +<p class="center"> Stand up as in the storm the weed!"</p> + +<p>The glorious horse came running. Flames shone out of his eyes; +out of his nostrils smoke came in clouds, and the horse asked with +a man's voice:</p> + +<p>"What is thy wish?"</p> + +<p>Ivanoushka the Simpleton crawled into the horse's left ear, +transformed himself and reappeared at the right ear, such a +handsome fellow that in no book is there written any description of +him; no one has ever seen such a fellow. He jumped onto the horse +and touched his iron sides with a silk whip. The horse became +impatient, lifted himself above the ground, higher and higher above +the dark woods below the traveling clouds. He swam over the large +rivers, jumped over the small ones, as well as over hills and +mountains. Ivanoushka the Simpleton arrived at the hall of the +Tsarevna Baktriana, flew up like a hawk, passed through thirty +circles, could not reach the last two, and went away like a +whirlwind.</p> + +<p>The people were shouting: "Take hold of him! take hold of him!" +The Tsar jumped to his feet, the Tsaritza screamed. Every one was +roaring in amazement.</p> + +<p>The brothers of Ivanoushka came home and there was but one +subject of conversation—what a splendid fellow they had seen! +What a wonderful start to pass through the thirty circles!</p> + +<p>"Brothers, that fellow was I," said Ivanoushka the Simpleton, +who had long since arrived.</p> + +<p>"Keep still and do not fool us," answered the brothers.</p> + +<p>The next day the two brothers were going again to the tsarski +show and Ivanoushka the Simpleton said again: "Take me along with +you."</p> + +<p>"For thee, fool, this is thy place. Be quiet at home and scare +sparrows from the pea field instead of the scarecrow."</p> + +<p>"All right," answered the Simpleton, and he went to the field +and began to scare the sparrows. But as soon as the brothers left +home, Ivanoushka started to the wide field and shouted out loud +with a mighty voice:</p> + +<p class="center">"Arise, bay horse—thou wind-swift steed, </p> + +<p class="center"> Appear before me +in my need; </p> + +<p class="center"> Stand up as in the storm the weed!"</p> + +<p>—and here came the horse, the earth trembling under his +hoofs, the sparks flying around, his eyes like flames, and out of +his nostrils smoke curling up.</p> + +<p>"For what dost thou wish me?"</p> + +<p>Ivanoushka the Simpleton crawled into the left ear of the horse, +and when he appeared out of the right ear, oh, my! what a fellow he +was! Even in fairy tales there are never such handsome fellows, to +say nothing of everyday life.</p> + +<p>Ivanoushka lifted himself on the iron back of his horse and +touched him with a strong whip. The noble horse grew angry, made a +jump, and went higher than the dark woods, a little below the +traveling clouds. One jump, one mile is behind; a second jump, a +river is behind; and a third jump and they were at the hall. Then +the horse, with Ivanoushka on his back, flew like an eagle, high up +into the air, passed the thirty-first circle, failed to reach the +last one, and swept away like the wind.</p> + +<p>The people shouted: "Take hold of him! take hold of him!" The +Tsar jumped to his feet, the Tsaritza screamed, the princes and +boyars opened their mouths.</p> + +<p>The brothers of Ivanoushka the Simpleton came home. They were +wondering at the fellow. Yes, an amazing fellow indeed! one circle +only was unreached.</p> + +<p>"Brothers, that fellow over there was I," said Ivanoushka to +them.</p> + +<p>"Keep still in thy own place, thou fool," was their sneering +answer.</p> + +<p>The third day the brothers were going again to the strange +entertainment of the Tsar, and again Ivanoushka the Simpleton said +to them: "Take me along with you."</p> + +<p>"Fool," they laughed, "there is food to be given to the hogs; +better go to them."</p> + +<p>"All right," the younger brother answered, and quietly went to +the back yard and gave food to the hogs. But as soon as his +brothers had left home our Ivanoushka the Simpleton hurried to the +wide field and shouted out loud:</p> + +<p class="center">"Arise, bay horse—them wind-swift steed, </p> + +<p class="center"> Appear before me +in my need; </p> + +<p class="center"> Stand up as in the storm the weed!"</p> + +<p>At once the horse came running, the earth trembled; where he +stepped there appeared ponds, where his hoofs touched there were +lakes, out of his eyes shone flames, out of his ears smoke came +like a cloud.</p> + +<p>"For what dost thou wish me?" the horse asked with a man's +voice.</p> + +<p>Ivanoushka the Simpleton crawled into his right ear and jumped +out of his left one, and a handsome fellow he was. A young girl +could not even imagine such a one.</p> + +<p>Ivanoushka struck his horse, pulled the bridle tight, and lo! he +flew high up in the air. The wind was left behind and even the +swallow, the sweet, winged passenger, must not aspire to do the +same. Our hero flew like a cloud high up into the sky, his +silver-chained mail rattling, his fair curls floating in the wind. +He arrived at the Tsarevna's high hall, struck his horse once more, +and oh! how the wild horse did jump!</p> + +<p>Look there! the fellow reaches all the circles; he is near the +window; he presses the beautiful Tsarevna with his strong arms, +kisses her on the sugar lips, exchanges golden rings, and like a +storm sweeps through the fields. There, there, he is crushing every +one on his way! And the Tsarevna? Well, she did not object. She +even adorned his forehead with a diamond star.</p> + +<p>The people roared: "Take hold of him!" But the fellow had +already disappeared and no traces were left behind.</p> + +<p>The Tsar Pea lost his royal dignity. The Tsaritza Carrot +screamed louder than ever and the wise counselors only shook their +wise heads and remained silent.</p> + +<p>The brothers came home talking and discussing the wonderful +matter.</p> + +<p>"Indeed," they shook their heads; "only think of it! The fellow +succeeded and our Tsarevna has a bridegroom. But who is he? Where +is he?"</p> + +<p>"Brothers, the fellow is I," said Ivanoushka the Simpleton, +smiling.</p> + +<p>"Keep still, I and I—," and the brothers almost slapped +him.</p> + +<p>The matter proved to be quite serious this time, and the Tsar +and Tsaritza issued an order to surround the town with armed men +whose duty it was to let every one enter, but not a soul go out. +Every one had to appear at the royal palace and show his forehead. +From early in the morning the crowds were gathering around the +palace. Each forehead was inspected, but there was no star on any. +Dinner time was approaching and in the palace they even forgot to +cover the oak tables with white spreads. The brothers of Ivanoushka +had also to show their foreheads and the Simpleton said to +them:</p> + +<p>"Take me along with you."</p> + +<p>"Thy place is right here," they answered, jokingly. "But say, +what is the matter with thy head that thou hast covered it with +cloths? Did somebody strike thee?"</p> + +<p>"No, nobody struck me. I, myself, struck the door with my +forehead. The door remained all right, but on my forehead there is +a knob."</p> + +<p>The brothers laughed and went. Soon after them Ivanoushka left +home and went straight to the window of the Tsarevna, where she sat +leaning on the window sill and looking for her betrothed.</p> + +<p>"There is our man," shouted the guards, when the Simpleton +appeared among them. "Show thy forehead. Hast thou the star?" and +they laughed.</p> + +<p>Ivanoushka the Simpleton gave no heed to their bidding, but +refused. The guards were shouting at him and the Tsarevna heard the +noise and ordered the fellow to her presence. There was nothing to +be done but to take off the cloths.</p> + +<p>Behold! the star was shining in the middle of his forehead. The +Tsarevna took Ivanoushka by the hand, brought him before Tsar Pea, +and said:</p> + +<p>"He it is, my Tsar and father, who is destined to become my +groom, thy son-in-law and heir."</p> + +<p>It was too late to object. The Tsar ordered preparations for the +bridal festivities, and our Ivanoushka the Simpleton was wedded to +the Tsarevna Baktriana. The Tsar, the Tsaritza, the young bride and +groom, and their guests, feasted three days. There was fine eating +and generous drinking. There were all kinds of amusements also. The +brothers of Ivanoushka were created governors and each one received +a village and a house.</p> + +<p>The story is told in no time, but to live a life requires time +and patience. The brothers of Ivanoushka the Simpleton were clever +men, we know, and as soon as they became rich every one understood +it at once, and they themselves became quite sure about it and +began to pride themselves, to boast, and to brag. The humble ones +did not dare look toward their homes, and even the boyars had to +take off their fur caps on their porches.</p> + +<p>Once several boyars came to Tsar Pea and said: "Great Tsar, the +brothers of thy son-in-law are bragging around that they know the +place where grows an apple tree with silver leaves and golden +apples, and they want to bring this apple tree to thee."</p> + +<p>The Tsar immediately called the brothers before him and bade +them bring at once the wonderful tree, the apple tree with silver +leaves and golden apples. The brothers had ever so many excuses, +but the Tsar would have his way. They were given fine horses out of +the royal stables and went on their errand. Our friend, Ivanoushka +the Simpleton, found somewhere a lame old horse, jumped on his back +facing the tail, and also went. He went to the wide field, grasped +the lame horse by the tail, threw him off roughly, and shouted:</p> + +<p>"You crows and magpies, come, come! There is lunch prepared for +you."</p> + +<p>This done he ordered his horse, his spirited courser, to appear, +and as usual he crawled into one ear, jumped out the other ear and +they went—where? Toward the east where grew the wonderful +apple tree with silver leaves and golden apples. It grew near +silver waters upon golden sand. When Ivanoushka reached the place +he uprooted the tree and turned toward home. His ride was long and +he felt tired. Before he arrived at his town Ivanoushka pitched his +tent and lay down for a rest. Along the same road came his +brothers. The two were proud no more, but rather depressed, not +knowing what answer to give the Tsar. They perceived the tent with +silver top and near by the wonderful apple tree. They came nearer +and—"There is our Simpleton!" exclaimed the brothers. Then +they awakened Ivanoushka and wanted to buy the apple tree. They +were rich and offered three carts filled with silver.</p> + +<p>"Well, brothers, this tree, this wonderful apple tree, is not +for sale," answered Ivanoushka, "but if you wish to obtain it you +may. The price will not be too high, a toe from each right +foot."</p> + +<p>The brothers thought the matter over and finally decided to give +the desired price. Ivanoushka cut the toes off, gave them the apple +tree, and the happy brothers brought it to the Tsar and there was +no end to their bragging.</p> + +<p>"Here, all-powerful Tsar," they said. "We went far, and had many +a trouble on our way, but thy wish is fulfilled."</p> + +<p>The Tsar Pea seemed pleased, ordered a feast, commanded tunes to +be played and drums beaten, rewarded the two brothers of Ivanoushka +the Simpleton, each one with a town, and praised them.</p> + +<p>The boyars and warriors became furious.</p> + +<p>"Why," they said to the Tsar, "there is nothing wonderful in +such an apple tree with golden apples and silver leaves. The +brothers of thy son-in-law are bragging around that they will get +thee a pig with golden bristles and silver tusks, and not alone the +pig, but also her twelve little ones!"</p> + +<p>The Tsar called the brothers before him and ordered them to +bring the very pig with her golden bristles and silver tusks and +her twelve little ones. The brothers' excuses were not listened to +and so they went. Once more the brothers were traveling on a +difficult errand, looking for a golden-bristled pig with silver +tusks and twelve little pigs.</p> + +<p>At that time Ivanoushka the Simpleton made up his mind to take a +trip somewhere. He put a saddle on a cow, jumped up on her back +facing the tail, and left the town. He came to a field, grasped the +cow by the horns, threw her far on the prairie and shouted:</p> + +<p>"Come, come, you gray wolves and red foxes! there is a dinner +for you!"</p> + +<p>Then he ordered his faithful horse, crawled into one ear, and +jumped out of the other. Master and courser went on an errand, this +time toward the south. One, two, three, and they were in dark +woods. In these woods the wished-for pig was walking around, a +golden-bristled pig with silver tusks. She was eating roots, and +after her followed twelve little pigs.</p> + +<p>Ivanoushka the Simpleton threw over the pig a silk rope with a +running noose, gathered the little pigs into a basket and went +home, but before he reached the town of the Tsar Pea he pitched a +tent with a golden top and lay down for a rest. On the same road +the brothers came along with gloomy faces, not knowing what to say +to the Tsar. They saw the tent, and near by the very pig they were +searching for, with golden bristles and silver tusks, was fastened +with a silk rope; and in a basket were the twelve little pigs. The +brothers looked into the tent. Ivanoushka again! They awakened him +and wanted to trade for the pig; they were ready to give in +exchange three carts loaded with precious stones.</p> + +<p>"Brothers, my pig is not for trade," said Ivanoushka, "but if +you want her so much, well, one finger from each right hand will +pay for her."</p> + +<p>The brothers thought over the case for a long while; they +reasoned thus: "People live happily without brains, why not without +fingers?"</p> + +<p>So they allowed Ivanoushka to cut off their fingers, then took +the pig to the Tsar, and their bragging had no end.</p> + +<p>"Tsar Sovereign," they said, "we went everywhere, beyond the +blue sea, beyond the dark woods; we passed through deep sands, we +suffered hunger and thirst; but thy wish is accomplished."</p> + +<p>The Tsar was glad to have such faithful servants. He gave a +feast great among feasts, rewarded the brothers of Ivanoushka the +Simpleton, created them big boyars and praised them.</p> + +<p>The other boyars and different court people said to the +Tsar:</p> + +<p>"There is nothing wonderful in such a pig. Golden bristles, +silver tusks,—yes, it is fine. But a pig remains a pig +forever. The brothers of thy son-in-law are bragging now that they +will steal for thee out of the stables of the fiery dragon a mare +with golden mane and diamond hoofs."</p> + +<p>The Tsar at once called the brothers of Ivanoushka the +Simpleton, and ordered the golden-maned mare with the diamond +hoofs. The brothers swore that they never said such words, but the +Tsar did not listen to their protests.</p> + +<p>"Take as much gold as you want, take warriors as many as you +wish, but bring me the beautiful mare with golden mane and diamond +hoofs. If you do it my reward will be great; if not, your fate is +to become peasants as before."</p> + +<p>The brothers went, two sad heroes. Their march was slow; where +to go they did not know. Ivanoushka also jumped upon a stick and +went leaping toward the field. Once in the wide, open field, he +ordered his horse, crawled into one ear, came out of the other, and +both started for a far-away country, for an island, a big island. +On that island in an iron stable the fiery dragon was watchfully +guarding his glory—the golden-maned mare with diamond hoofs, +which was locked under seven locks behind seven heavy doors.</p> + +<p>Our Ivanoushka journeyed and journeyed, how long we do not know, +until at last he arrived at that island, struggled three days with +the dragon and killed him on the fourth day. Then he began to tear +down the locks. That took three days more. When he had done this he +brought out the wonderful mare by the golden mane and turned +homeward.</p> + +<p>The road was long, and before he reached his town Ivanoushka, +according to his habit, pitched his tent with a diamond top, and +laid him down for rest. The brothers came along—gloomy they +were, fearing the Tsar's anger. Lo! they heard neighing; the earth +trembled—it was the golden-maned mare! Though in the dusk of +evening the brothers saw her golden mane shining like fire. They +stopped, awakened Ivanoushka the Simpleton, and wanted to trade for +the wonderful mare. They were willing to give him a bushel of +precious stones each and promised even more.</p> + +<p>Ivanoushka said: "Though my mare is not for trade, yet if you +want her I'll give her to you. And you, do you each give me your +right ears."</p> + +<p>The brothers did not even argue, but let Ivanoushka cut off +their ears, took hold of the bridle and went directly to the Tsar. +They presented to him the golden-maned mare with diamond hoofs, and +there was no end of bragging.</p> + +<p>"We went beyond seas, beyond mountains," the brothers said to +the Tsar; "we fought the fiery dragon who bit off our ears and +fingers; we had no fear, but one desire to serve thee faithfully; +we shed our blood and lost our wealth."</p> + +<p>The Tsar Pea poured gold over them, created them the very +highest men after himself, and planned such a feast that the royal +cooks were tired out with cooking to feed all the people, and the +cellars were fairly emptied.</p> + +<p>The Tsar Pea was sitting on his throne, one brother on his right +hand, the other brother on his left hand. The feast was going on; +all seemed jolly, all were drinking, all were noisy as bees in a +beehive. In the midst of it a young, brave fellow, Ivanoushka the +Simpleton, entered the hall—the very fellow who had passed +the thirty-two circles and reached the window of the beautiful +Tsarevna Baktriana.</p> + +<p>When the brothers noticed him, one almost choked himself with +wine, the other was suffocating over a piece of swan. They looked +at him, opened wide their eyes, and remained silent.</p> + +<p>Ivanoushka the Simpleton bowed to his father-in-law and told the +story as the story was. He told about the apple tree, the wonderful +apple tree with silver leaves and golden apples; he told about the +pig, the golden-bristled pig with silver tusks and her twelve +little ones; and finally he told about the marvelous mare with a +golden mane and diamond hoofs. He finished and laid out ears, +fingers, and toes.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus06"></a> +<img src="images/102.jpg" width="299" height="452" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">"<i>One brother was sent to watch the turkeys</i>"</p> +</div> + +<p>"It is the exchange I got," said Ivanoushka.</p> + +<p>Tsar Pea became furious, stamped his feet, ordered the two +brothers to be driven away with brooms. One was sent to feed the +pigs, another to watch the turkeys. The Tsar seated Ivanoushka +beside himself, creating him the highest among the very high.</p> + +<p>The feast lasted a very long time until all were tired of +feasting.</p> + +<p>Ivanoushka took control of the tsarstvo, ruling wisely and +severely. After his father-in-law's death he occupied his place. +His subjects liked him; he had many children, and his beautiful +Tsaritza Baktriana remained beautiful forever.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<hr /> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a name="chap05">WOE BOGOTIR</a></h2> + +<p> +<span class="figleft"> +<a href="images/104.png"><img width="97" src="images/104.png" alt="I" +height="157" /></a></span> +</p> + +<p> +In a small village—do not ask me where; in Russia, anyway—there +lived two brothers; one of them was rich, the other poor. The rich brother had +good luck in everything he undertook, was always successful, and had profit out +of every venture. The poor brother, in spite of all his trouble and all his +work, had none whatever. +</p> + +<p>The rich brother became still richer, moved into a large town, +bought a big house, and was a merchant among merchants. The poor +brother became very poor, so poor that very often there was no +crust even in the "izba," the peasant's log cabin, and the +children—all forlorn, miserable little things—cried for +food.</p> + +<p>The poor man lost patience and complained bitterly of his ill +luck. He had no more courage and his head dropped heavily on his +breast. One day he decided to call upon his wealthy brother for +aid. He went and said to him:</p> + +<p>"Be good, help me, for I am almost without strength."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" answered the rich man. "We can do such things as +that. There is wealth enough; but look here, there is also plenty +of work to be done. Stay around the house for a while and work for +me."</p> + +<p>"All right," consented the poor fellow, and at once began to +work. Now he was cleaning the big yard, now grooming horses, now +bringing water from the well or splitting wood. One week passed, +two weeks passed. The rich brother gave him twenty and five +copecks, which means only thirteen cents. He also gave him a loaf +of black rye bread.</p> + +<p>"Many thanks," said the poor brother, humbly, and was ready to +leave for his miserable home. Evidently the conscience of the rich +brother smote him, so he called his brother back.</p> + +<p>"Why so prompt?" he said; "to-morrow is my birthday; stay to the +banquet with us."</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus07"></a> +<img src="images/106.png" width="306" height="499" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption"><i>The rich brother</i></p> +</div> + +<p>The poor fellow remained. But even on such a pleasant occasion +the unlucky one had no luck. His rich brother was too busy +receiving his numerous friends and admirers, all of whom came to +tell him how they loved him and what a good man he was. The rich +merchant thanked his guests for their love, and bowing low begged +his dear guests to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. There was no +time left for the poor brother, and he was overlooked entirely +while he sat timidly in a corner, quite forgotten and unnoticed. He +had nothing to eat, nothing to drink. But when the crowd was ready +to say good-by, before going away, the bright, light-hearted guests +bowed to their host and told him many lovely things, and the poor +brother did exactly like them. He bowed even lower than they did +and expressed more thanks than they. The guests went home singing +in their new "telegi," the peasants' carts. The poor brother, +hungry and very sad, walked along in silence, and the idea came to +his mind:</p> + +<p>"What if I also tried to sing a cheerful song? The people would +believe that I, too, have had a pleasant time at my brother's house +and that I am going home happy like them."</p> + +<p>The good fellow began his song, began—and almost fainted +away, for he heard quite distinctly some one behind his back, +keeping tune with him in a shrill voice. He stopped. The voice +stopped, too. He sang, and the voice continued again.</p> + +<p>"Who is there? Come out at once!" shouted the poor man, beside +himself. Ha! the monster appeared, lank and yellow, almost a +skeleton, covered with rags. The poor fellow was afraid, but had +the courage to make the sign of the cross and ask: "Who art +thou?"</p> + +<p>"I? I am Bitter Woe. I am one of the Russian heroes, Woe +Bogotir. I pity all weak people. I pity thee, too, and want to help +thee along."</p> + +<p>"All right, Bitter Woe; let us walk together arm in arm. I +presume there are no other friends for me in this world."</p> + +<p>"Let us ride, good man," laughed the monster. "I will be thy +faithful companion."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, but on what shall we ride?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know on what thou shalt ride, but I, I shall ride on +thee," and Woe jumped on the shoulders of the unlucky man. The poor +fellow had no strength to throw him off, so he crawled along his +way, the long, hard way, with Woe on his shoulders. He could hardly +walk, yet Woe was singing, whistling, and switching him all the +time.</p> + +<p>"Why so sad, master?" Woe would ask, when the poor man sighed. +"Listen to me, I want to teach thee a song, my beloved little +song:</p> + +<p class="center">"I am Woe, the brave,</p> + +<p class="center"> I am Woe, the bold; </p> + +<p class="center"> He who lives with me </p> + +<p class="center"> +Has his griefs controlled, </p> + +<p class="center"> And when money is lacking </p> + +<p class="center"> I'll find him +gold.</p> + +<p>Attention, master, thou hast twenty-five copecks; let us go and +buy some wine; let us have a jolly good time."</p> + +<p>The poor man obeyed. They went and spent all in drink. After +this the unlucky fellow, with the faithful Woe on his shoulders, +came home. His wife was sad, his little children were hungry and in +tears, but he, under the influence of Woe and wine, danced and +sang.</p> + +<p>On the next day Woe began to sigh and said:</p> + +<p>"I have a drunken headache. Let us drink more."</p> + +<p>"I have no money," answered the poor man.</p> + +<p>"Hast thou forgotten my little song? Let us trade the harrow, +the plow, the sledge, the telega for money, and let us have a good +time."</p> + +<p>"All right."</p> + +<p>The poor, weak man had no courage to refuse, and Woe Bogotir +became his master and ruler. They went to a <a href="#Kabak"> kabak</a> and spent +everything; drank, sang, and had a good time.</p> + +<p>On the next day Woe sighed again and said to the peasant:</p> + +<p>"Let us drink; let us have a jolly time; let us sell or trade +everything left, even ourselves."</p> + +<p>Then the fellow understood that his ruin was near and decided to +deceive the sorrowful Woe, so he said:</p> + +<p>"I once heard the old people say that behind the village, near +the dark forest, there is buried a treasure, yes, a great treasure, +but it is buried under a large, heavy stone, too heavy a stone for +one man to move. If we could only remove that stone, thou and I, +Woe Bogotir, could have a good time and plenty to drink."</p> + +<p>"Let us hasten!" screamed Woe; "the Bitter Woe is strong enough +to do harder things than to move stones."</p> + +<p>They went a roundabout way behind the village and saw the great +big stone, such a heavy stone that five or six strong peasants +could never begin to move it. But our poor fellow with his faithful +Woe Bogotir removed it at once. They looked inside. Under the stone +there was a pit, a dark, deep pit. At the bottom of that pit +something was twinkling. The peasant said to Woe:</p> + +<p>"Thou bold Woe, jump in, throw the gold out to me and I will +hold the stone."</p> + +<p>Woe jumped in and laughed out loud.</p> + +<p>"I declare, master," he screamed, "there is no end of gold! +There are twenty and more pots filled with it," and Woe handed one +pot to the poor man, who took the pot, hastily hid it under his +blouse, and slipped the heavy stone into its place. So Bitter Woe +remained in the deep pit and the peasant thought to himself, "Now +there is the right place for my comrade, for with such a friend, +even gold would taste bitter."</p> + +<p>The crafty fellow made the sign of the cross and hurried home. +He became quite a new man, courageous, sober, and industrious; +bought a grove and some cattle; remodeled the izba, and even +started a trade. And very successful he was, too. Within a year he +earned much money, and in place of the old hut built a fine, new +log cabin.</p> + +<p>One bright day he went into town to ask his rich brother, with +his wife and children, to do him the favor of coming to a feast +which was to be given in the new home.</p> + +<p>"That's a joke!" exclaimed the rich brother. "Without a <a href="#ruble"> ruble</a> in +thy pockets, stupid fellow! Thou evidently desirest to imitate rich +people," and then the rich brother laughed and laughed at him. But +at the same time he got very anxious to know how it was with his +poor brother, so he went without delay to the new place. When he +arrived there he could not believe his eyes. His poor brother +seemed to be quite rich, perhaps richer than himself. Everything +bespoke wealth and care. The host treated his brother and the +brother's family most kindly and was very hospitable. They had good +things to eat and plenty of <a href="#Honeytodrink">honey to drink</a>, and all became +talkative. The brother who had been poor related everything about +Woe, how he decided to deceive him and how, free from such a +burden, he was getting to be a very happy man.</p> + +<p>The rich man grew eager and thought:</p> + +<p>"Is he a fool? Out of so many pots, to take only one! Fool and +nothing but fool! If one has money, even the Bitter Woe is not too +bad."</p> + +<p>So at once he decided to go in search of the stone, to remove +it, to take the treasure, the whole treasure, and to send Woe +Bogotir back to his brother.</p> + +<p>No sooner thought than done. The rich brother said good-by and +went away, but did not go to his wealthy home. No, he hurried to +the stone. He had to toil hard with the heavy stone, but finally +moved it just a little, and had not time to look inside when the +hidden Bogotir had jumped out and onto his shoulders.</p> + +<p>The rich man felt a burden, oh, what a heavy burden! looked +around and perceived the hideous monster. He heard this monster +whisper in his ear:</p> + +<p>"Thou art bright! Thou didst want to let me perish in that pit? +Now, dearest, thou wilt not get rid of me; now we shall always be +together."</p> + +<p>"Stupid Woe," began the rich man; "it was not I who hid thee +under the stone; it was my brother; go to him."</p> + +<p>But no, Woe would not go. The monster laughed and laughed.</p> + +<p>"All the same, all the same," he answered to the rich man. "Let +us remain dear companions."</p> + +<p>The rich man went home under the heavy burden of the +misery-giving Woe. His wealth was soon lost, but his brother, who +knew how to get rid of Woe, was prosperous and is prosperous to +this day.</p> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chap06">BABA YAGA</a></h2> + +<p> +<span class="figleft"> +<a href="images/115.png"><img width="123" src="images/115.png" alt="S" +height="134" /></a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Somewhere, I cannot tell you exactly where, but certainly in vast Russia, there +lived a peasant with his wife and they had twins—son and daughter. One +day the wife died and the husband mourned over her very sincerely for a long +time. One year passed, and two years, and even longer. But there is no order in +a house without a woman, and a day came when the man thought, "If I marry again +possibly it would turn out all right." And so he did, and had children by his +second wife. +</p> + +<p>The stepmother was envious of the stepson and daughter and began +to use them hardly. She scolded them without any reason, sent them +away from home as often as she wished, and gave them scarcely +enough to eat. Finally she wanted to get rid of them altogether. Do +you know what it means to allow a wicked thought to enter one's +heart?</p> + +<p>The wicked thought grows all the time like a poisonous plant and +slowly kills the good thoughts. A wicked feeling was growing in the +stepmother's heart, and she determined to send the children to the +witch, thinking sure enough that they would never return.</p> + +<p>"Dear children," she said to the orphans, "go to my grandmother +who lives in the forest in a hut on hen's feet. You will do +everything she wants you to, and she will give you sweet things to +eat and you will be happy."</p> + +<p>The orphans started out. But instead of going to the witch, the +sister, a bright little girl, took her brother by the hand and ran +to their own old, old grandmother and told her all about their +going to the forest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my poor darlings!" said the good old grandmother, pitying +the children, "my heart aches for you, but it is not in my power to +help you. You have to go not to a loving grandmother, but to a +wicked witch. Now listen to me, my darlings," she continued; "I +will give you a hint: Be kind and good to everyone; do not speak +ill words to any one; do not despise helping the weakest, and +always hope that for you, too, there will be the needed help."</p> + +<p>The good old grandmother gave the children some delicious fresh +milk to drink and to each a big slice of ham. She also gave them +some cookies—there are cookies everywhere—and when the +children departed she stood looking after them a long, long +time.</p> + +<p>The obedient children arrived at the forest and, oh, wonder! +there stood a hut, and what a curious one! It stood on tiny hen's +feet, and at the top was a rooster's head. With their shrill, +childish voices they called out loud:</p> + +<p>"Izboushka, Izboushka! turn thy back to the forest and thy front +to us!"</p> + +<p>The hut did as they commanded. The two orphans looked inside and +saw the witch resting there, her head near the threshold, one foot +in one corner, the other foot in another corner, and her knees +quite close to the ridge pole.</p> + +<p>"Fou, Fou, Fou!" exclaimed the witch; "I feel the Russian +spirit."</p> + +<p>The children were afraid, and stood close, very close together, +but in spite of their fear they said very politely:</p> + +<p>"Ho, grandmother, our stepmother sent us to thee to serve +thee."</p> + +<p>"All right; I am not opposed to keeping you, children. If you +satisfy all my wishes I shall reward you; if not, I shall eat you +up."</p> + +<p>Without any delay the witch ordered the girl to spin the thread, +and the boy, her brother, to carry water in a sieve to fill a big +tub. The poor orphan girl wept at her spinning-wheel and wiped away +her bitter tears. At once all around her appeared small mice +squeaking and saying:</p> + +<p>"Sweet girl, do not cry. Give us cookies and we will help +thee."</p> + +<p>The little girl willingly did so.</p> + +<p>"Now," gratefully squeaked the mice, "go and find the black cat. +He is very hungry; give him a slice of ham and he will help +thee."</p> + +<p>The girl speedily went in search of the cat and saw her brother +in great distress about the tub, so many times he had filled the +sieve, yet the tub was still dry. The little birds passed, flying +near by, and chirped to the children:</p> + +<p>"Kind-hearted little children, give us some crumbs and we will +advise you."</p> + +<p>The orphans gave the birds some crumbs and the grateful birds +chirped again:</p> + +<p>"Some clay and water, children dear!"</p> + +<p>Then away they flew through the air.</p> + +<p>The children understood the hint, spat in the sieve, plastered +it up with clay and filled the tub in a very short time. Then they +both returned to the hut and on the threshold met the black cat. +They generously gave him some of the good ham which their good +grandmother had given them, petted him and asked:</p> + +<p>"Dear Kitty-cat, black and pretty, tell us what to do in order +to get away from thy mistress, the witch?"</p> + +<p>"Well," very seriously answered the cat, "I will give you a +towel and a comb and then you must run away. When you hear the +witch running after you, drop the towel behind your back and a +large river will appear in place of the towel. If you hear her once +more, throw down the comb and in place of the comb there will +appear a dark wood. This wood will protect you from the wicked +witch, my mistress."</p> + +<p><a href="#Baba">Baba Yaga</a> came home just then.</p> + +<p>"Is it not wonderful?" she thought; "everything is exactly +right."</p> + +<p>"Well," she said to the children, "today you were brave and +smart; let us see to-morrow. Your work will be more difficult and I +hope I shall eat you up."</p> + +<p>The poor orphans went to bed, not to a warm bed prepared by +loving hands, but on the straw in a cold corner. Nearly scared to +death from fear, they lay there, afraid to talk, afraid even to +breathe. The next morning the witch ordered all the linen to be +woven and a large supply of firewood to be brought from the +forest.</p> + +<p>The children took the towel and comb and ran away as fast as +their feet could possibly carry them. The dogs were after them, but +they threw them the cookies that were left; the gates did not open +themselves, but the children smoothed them with oil; the birch tree +near the path almost scratched their eyes out, but the gentle girl +fastened a pretty ribbon to it. So they went farther and farther +and ran out of the dark forest into the wide, sunny fields.</p> + +<p>The cat sat down by the loom and tore the thread to pieces, +doing it with delight. Baba Yaga returned.</p> + +<p>"Where are the children?" she shouted, and began to beat the +cat. "Why hast thou let them go, thou treacherous cat? Why hast +thou not scratched their faces?"</p> + +<p>The cat answered: "Well, it was because I have served thee so +many years and thou hast never given me a bite, while the dear +children gave me some good ham."</p> + +<p>The witch scolded the dogs, the gates, and the birch tree near +the path.</p> + +<p>"Well," barked the dogs, "thou certainly art our mistress, but +thou hast never done us a favor, and the orphans were kind to +us."</p> + +<p>The gates replied:</p> + +<p>"We were always ready to obey thee, but thou didst neglect us, +and the dear children smoothed us with oil."</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus08"></a> +<img src="images/122.jpg" width="273" height="424" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption"><i>"The children ran away as fast as their feet could possibly carry them"</i></p> +</div> + +<p>The birch tree lisped with its leaves, "Thou hast never put a +simple thread over my branches and the little darlings adorned them +with a pretty ribbon."</p> + +<p>Baba Yaga understood that there was no help and started to +follow the children herself. In her great hurry she forgot to look +for the towel and the comb, but jumped astride a broom and was off. +The children heard her coming and threw the towel behind them. At +once a river, wide and blue, appeared and watered the field. Baba +Yaga hopped along the shore until she finally found a shallow place +and crossed it.</p> + +<p>Again the children heard her hurry after them and so they threw +down the comb. This time a forest appeared, a dark and dusky forest +in which the roots were interwoven, the branches matted together, +and the tree-tops touching each other. The witch tried very hard to +pass through, but in vain, and so, very, very angry, she returned +home.</p> + +<p>The orphans rushed to their father, told him all about their +great distress, and thus concluded their pitiful story:</p> + +<p>"Ah, father dear, why dost thou love us less than our brothers +and sisters?"</p> + +<p>The father was touched and became angry. He sent the wicked +stepmother away and lived a new life with his good children. From +that time he watched over their happiness and never neglected them +any more.</p> + +<p>How do I know this story is true? Why, one was there who told me +about it.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/124.png" width="235" height="102" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chap07">DIMIAN THE PEASANT</a></h2> + +<p> +<span class="figleft"> +<a href="images/125.png"><img width="103" src="images/125.png" alt="N" +height="197" /></a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Not long ago, or perchance very long ago, I do not know for sure, there lived +in a village, some place in Russia, a peasant—a moujik. And this peasant +was a stubborn and a quick-tempered fellow, and his name was Dimian. +</p> + +<p>He was harsh by nature, this Dimian, and wanted everything to go +his own way. If any one talked or acted against him, Dimian's fists +were soon prepared for answer.</p> + +<p>Sometimes, for instance, he would invite one of his neighbors +and treat his guest with fine things to eat and to drink. And the +neighbor in order to maintain the old custom would pretend to +refuse. Dimian would at once begin the dispute:</p> + +<p>"Thou must obey thy host!"</p> + +<p>Once it happened that a shrewd fellow called on him. Our moujik +Dimian covered the table with the very best he had and rejoiced +over the good time he foresaw.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus09"></a> +<img src="images/126.jpg" width="250" height="464" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">"<i>Well, I struck a snag</i>"</p> +</div> + +<p>The fellow guest speedily ate everything up. Dimian was rather +amazed, but brought out his kaftan.</p> + +<p>"Take off thy sheepskin," said he to the guest; "put on my new +kaftan."</p> + +<p>In proposing it he thought within himself:</p> + +<p>"I will bet that this time he will not dare accept; then I will +teach him a lesson."</p> + +<p>But the fellow quickly put on the new kaftan, tightened it with +the belt, shook his curly head and answered:</p> + +<p>"Have my thanks, uncle, for thy gift. How could I dare not take +it? Why, one must obey his host's bidding."</p> + +<p>Dimian's temper was rising, and he wanted at any rate to have +his own way. But what to do? He hastened to the stable, brought out +his best horse, and said to his guest:</p> + +<p>"Thou art welcome to all my belongings," and within himself he +thought, "He certainly will refuse this time, and then my turn will +come."</p> + +<p>But the fellow did not refuse, and smilingly answered:</p> + +<p>"In thy house thou art the ruler," and quickly he jumped on the +horse's back and shouted to Dimian, the peasant:</p> + +<p>"Farewell, master! no one pushed thee into the trap but +thyself," and with these words the fellow was off.</p> + +<p>Dimian looked after him and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Well, I struck a snag," said he.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/128.png" width="240" height="114" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chap08">THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN</a></h2> + +<p> +<span class="figleft"> +<a href="images/129.png"><img width="99" src="images/129.png" alt="O" +height="150" /></a></span> +</p> + +<p> +Once upon a time a merchant's son had too much fun spending money, and the day +came when he saw himself ruined; he had nothing to eat, nothing to drink. He +took a shovel and went to the market place to see if perchance somebody would +hire him as a worker. +</p> + +<p>A rich, proud merchant, worth many, many thousands, came along +in a gilded carriage. All the fellows at the market place, as soon +as they perceived him, rushed away and hid themselves in the +corners. Only one remained, and this one was our merchant's +son.</p> + +<p>"Dost thou look for work, good fellow? Let me hire thee," the +very rich merchant said to him.</p> + +<p>"So be it; that's what I came here for."</p> + +<p>"And thy price?"</p> + +<p>"A hundred rubles a day will be sufficient for me."</p> + +<p>"Why so much?"</p> + +<p>"If too much, go and look for some one else; plenty of people +were around and when they saw thee coming, all of them rushed +away."</p> + +<p>"All right. To-morrow come to the landing place."</p> + +<p>The next day, early in the morning, our merchant's son arrived +at the landing; the very rich merchant was already there +waiting.</p> + +<p>They boarded a ship and went to sea. For quite a long time they +journeyed, and finally they perceived an island. Upon that island +there were high mountains, and near the shore something seemed to +be in flames.</p> + +<p>"Yonder is something like fire," said the merchant's son.</p> + +<p>"No, it is my golden palace."</p> + +<p>They landed, came ashore, and—look there! the rich +merchant's wife is hastening to meet him, and along with her their +young daughter, a lovely girl, prettier than you could think or +even dream of.</p> + +<p>The family met; they greeted one another and went to the palace. +And along with them went their new workman. They sat around the oak +table and ate and drank and were cheerful.</p> + +<p>"One day does not count," the rich merchant said; "let us have a +good time and leave work for to-morrow."</p> + +<p>The young workman was a fine, brave fellow, handsome and +stately, and the merchant's lovely daughter liked him well.</p> + +<p>She left the room and made him a sign to follow her. Then she +gave him a touchstone and a flint.</p> + +<p>"Take it," she said; "when thou art in need, it will be +useful."</p> + +<p>The next day the very rich merchant with his hired workman went +to the high golden mountain. The young fellow saw at once that +there was no use trying to climb or even to crawl up.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the merchant, "let us have a drink for +courage."</p> + +<p>And he gave the fellow some drowsy drink. The fellow drank and +fell asleep.</p> + +<p>The rich merchant took out a sharp knife, killed a wretched +horse, cut it open, put the fellow inside, pushed in the shovel, +and sewed the horse's skin together, and himself sat down in the +bushes.</p> + +<p>All at once crows came flying, black crows with iron beaks. They +took hold of the carcass, lifted it up to the top of the high +mountain, and began to pick at it.</p> + +<p>The crows soon ate up the horse and were about to begin on the +merchant's son, when he awoke, pushed away the crows, looked around +and asked out loud:</p> + +<p>"Where am I?"</p> + +<p>The rich merchant below answered:</p> + +<p>"On a golden mountain; take the shovel and dig for gold."</p> + +<p>And the young man dug and dug, and all the gold he dug he threw +down, and the rich merchant loaded it upon the carts.</p> + +<p>"Enough!" finally shouted the master. "Thanks for thy help. +Farewell!"</p> + +<p>"And I—how shall I get down?"</p> + +<p>"As thou pleasest; there have already perished nine and ninety +of such fellows as thou. With thee the count will be rounded and +thou wilt be the hundredth."</p> + +<p>The proud, rich merchant was off.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do?" thought the poor merchant's son. "Impossible +to go down! But to stay here means death, a cruel death from +hunger."</p> + +<p>And our fellow stood upon the mountain, while above the black +crows were circling, the black crows with iron beaks, as if feeling +already the prey.</p> + +<p>The fellow tried to think how it all happened, and he remembered +the lovely girl and what she said to him in giving him the +touchstone and the flint. He remembered how she said:</p> + +<p>"Take it. When thou art in need it will prove useful."</p> + +<p>"I fancy she had something in mind; let us try."</p> + +<p>The poor merchant's son took out stone and flint, struck it once +and lo! two brave fellows were standing before him.</p> + +<p>"What is thy wish? What are thy commands?" said they.</p> + +<p>"Take me from this mountain down to the seashore."</p> + +<p>And at once the two took hold of him and carefully brought him +down.</p> + +<p>Our hero walks along the shore. See there! a vessel comes +sailing near the island.</p> + +<p>"Ahoy! good people! take me along!"</p> + +<p>"No time to stop!" And they went sailing by. But the winds arose +and the tempest was heavy.</p> + +<p>"It seems as if this fellow over there is not an ordinary man; +we had better go back and take him along," decided the sailors.</p> + +<p>They turned the prow toward the island, landed, took the +merchant's son along with them and brought him to his native +town.</p> + +<p>It was a long time, or perhaps only a short time after—who +could tell?—that one day the merchant's son took again his +shovel and went to the market place in search of work.</p> + +<p>The same very rich merchant came along in his gilded carriage; +and, as of old, all the fellows who saw him coming rushed away.</p> + +<p>The merchant's son remained alone.</p> + +<p>"Will you be my workman?"</p> + +<p>"I will at two hundred rubles a day. If so, let us to work."</p> + +<p>"A rather expensive fellow."</p> + +<p>"If too expensive go to others; get a cheap man. There were +plenty of people, but when thou didst appear—thou seest +thyself—not one is left."</p> + +<p>"Well, all right. Come to-morrow to the landing place."</p> + +<p>They met at the landing place, boarded a ship and sailed toward +the island.</p> + +<p>The first day they spent rather gayly, and on the second, master +and workman went to work.</p> + +<p>When they reached the golden mountain the rich, proud merchant +treated his hired man to a tumbler.</p> + +<p>"Before all, have a drink."</p> + +<p>"Wait, master! thou art the head; thou must drink the first. Let +me treat thee this time."</p> + +<p>The young man had already prepared some of the drowsy stuff and +he quickly mixed it with the wine and presented it to the +master.</p> + +<p>The proud merchant drank and fell sound asleep.</p> + +<p>Our merchant's son killed a miserable old horse, cut it open, +pushed his master and the shovel inside, sewed it all up and hid +himself in the bushes.</p> + +<p>All at once black crows came flying,—black crows with iron +beaks; they promptly lifted up the horse with the sleeping merchant +inside, bore it to the top of the mountain, and began to pick the +bones of their prey.</p> + +<p>When the merchant awoke he looked here and looked there and +looked everywhere.</p> + +<p>"Where am I?"</p> + +<p>"Upon the golden mountain. Now if thou art strong after thy +rest, do not lose time; take the shovel and dig. Dig quickly and +I'll teach thee how to come down."</p> + +<p>The proud, rich merchant had to obey and dug and dug. Twelve big +carts were loaded.</p> + +<p>"Enough!" shouted the merchant's son. "Thank thee, and +farewell!"</p> + +<p>"And I?"</p> + +<p>"And thou mayst do as thou wishest! There are already ninety and +nine fellows perished before thee; with thyself there will be a +hundred."</p> + +<p>The merchant's son took along with him the twelve heavy carts +with gold, arrived at the golden palace and married the lovely +girl; the rich merchant's daughter became mistress of all her +father's wealth, and the merchant's son with his family moved to a +large town to live.</p> + +<p>And the rich merchant, the proud, rich merchant?</p> + +<p>He himself, like his many victims, became the prey of the black +crows, black crows with iron beaks.</p> + +<p>Well, sometimes it happens just so.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/137.png" width="271" height="113" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h2><a name="chap09">FATHER FROST</a></h2> + +<p> +<span class="figleft"> +<a href="images/138.png"><img width="123" src="images/138.png" alt="I" +height="132" /></a></span> +</p> + +<p> +In a far-away country, somewhere in Russia, there lived a stepmother who had a +stepdaughter and also a daughter of her own. Her own daughter was dear to her, +and always whatever she did the mother was the first to praise her, to pet her; +but there was but little praise for the stepdaughter; although good and kind, +she had no other reward than reproach. What on earth could have been done? The +wind blows, but stops blowing at times; the wicked woman never knows how to +stop her wickedness. One bright cold day the stepmother said to her husband: +</p> + +<p>"Now, old man, I want thee to take thy daughter away from my +eyes, away from my ears. Thou shalt not take her to thy people into +a warm <a href="#Izba">izba</a>. Thou shalt take her into the wide, wide fields to the +crackling frost."</p> + +<p>The old father grew sad, began even to weep, but nevertheless +helped the young girl into the sleigh. He wished to cover her with +a sheepskin in order to protect her from the cold; however, he did +not do it. He was afraid; his wife was watching them out of the +window. And so he went with his lovely daughter into the wide, wide +fields; drove her nearly to the woods, left her there alone, and +speedily drove away—he was a good man and did not care to see +his daughter's death.</p> + +<p>Alone, quite alone, remained the sweet girl. Broken-hearted and +terror-stricken she repeated fervently all the prayers she +knew.</p> + +<p>Father Frost, the almighty sovereign at that place, clad in +furs, with a long, long, white beard and a shining crown on his +white head, approached nearer and nearer, looked at this beautiful +guest of his and asked:</p> + +<p>"Dost thou know me?—me, the red-nosed Frost?"</p> + +<p>"Be welcome, Father Frost," answered gently the young girl. "I +hope our heavenly Lord sent thee for my sinful soul."</p> + +<p>"Art thou comfortable, sweet child?" again asked the Frost. He +was exceedingly pleased with her looks and mild manners.</p> + +<p>"Indeed I am," answered the girl, almost out of breath from +cold.</p> + +<p>And the Frost, cheerful and bright, kept crackling in the +branches until the air became icy, but the good-natured girl kept +repeating:</p> + +<p>"I am very comfortable, dear Father Frost."</p> + +<p>But the Frost, however, knew all about the weakness of human +beings; he knew very well that few of them are really good and +kind; but he knew no one of them even could struggle too long +against the power of Frost, the king of winter. The kindness of the +gentle girl charmed old Frost so much that he made the decision to +treat her differently from others, and gave her a large heavy trunk +filled with many beautiful, beautiful things. He gave her a rich <a href="#Schouba">"schouba"</a> lined with precious furs; he gave her silk +quilts—light like feathers and warm as a mother's lap. What a +rich girl she became and how many magnificent garments she +received! And besides all, old Frost gave her a blue <a href="#Sarafan"> "sarafan"</a> +ornamented with silver and pearls.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<a name="illus10"></a> +<img src="images/141.jpg" width="256" height="428" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +<p class="caption">"<i>Old Frost gave the gentle girl many beautiful, beautiful things</i>"</p> +</div> + +<p>When the young girl put it on she became such a beautiful maiden +that even the sun smiled at her.</p> + +<p>The stepmother was in the kitchen busy baking pancakes for the +meal which it is the custom to give to the priests and friends +after the usual service for the dead.</p> + +<p>"Now, old man," said the wife to the husband, "go down to the +wide fields and bring the body of thy daughter; we will bury +her."</p> + +<p>The old man went off. And the little dog in the corner wagged +his tail and said:</p> + +<p>"Bow-wow! bow-wow! the old man's daughter is on her way home, +beautiful and happy as never before, and the old woman's daughter +is wicked as ever before."</p> + +<p>"Keep still, stupid beast!" shouted the stepmother, and struck +the little dog.</p> + +<p>"Here, take this pancake, eat it and say, 'The old woman's +daughter will be married soon and the old man's daughter shall be +buried soon.'"</p> + +<p>The dog ate the pancake and began anew:</p> + +<p>"Bow-wow! bow-wow! the old man's daughter is coming home wealthy +and happy as never before, and the old woman's daughter is +somewhere around as homely and wicked as ever before."</p> + +<p>The old woman was furious at the dog, but in spite of pancakes +and whipping, the dog repeated the same words over and over +again.</p> + +<p>Somebody opened the gate, voices were heard laughing and talking +outside. The old woman looked out and sat down in amazement. The +stepdaughter was there like a princess, bright and happy in the +most beautiful garments, and behind her the old father had hardly +strength enough to carry the heavy, heavy trunk with the rich +outfit.</p> + +<p>"Old man!" called the stepmother, impatiently; "hitch our best +horses to our best sleigh, and drive <i>my</i> daughter to the very +same place in the wide, wide fields."</p> + +<p>The old man obeyed as usual and took his stepdaughter to the +same place and left her alone.</p> + +<p>Old Frost was there; he looked at his new guest.</p> + +<p>"Art thou comfortable, fair maiden?" asked the red-nosed +sovereign.</p> + +<p>"Let me alone," harshly answered the girl; "canst thou not see +that my feet and my hands are about stiff from the cold?"</p> + +<p>The Frost kept crackling and asking questions for quite a while, +but obtaining no polite answer became angry and froze the girl to +death.</p> + +<p>"Old man, go for my daughter; take the best horses; be careful; +do not upset the sleigh; do not lose the trunk."</p> + +<p>And the little dog in the corner said:</p> + +<p>"Bow-wow! bow-wow! the old man's daughter will marry soon; the +old woman's daughter shall be buried soon."</p> + +<p>"Do not lie. Here is a cake; eat it and say, 'The old woman's +daughter is clad in silver and gold.'"</p> + +<p>The gate opened, the old woman ran out and kissed the stiff +frozen lips of her daughter. She wept and wept, but there was no +help, and she understood at last that through her own wickedness +and envy her child had perished.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/145.png" width="188" height="245" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<p class="center">THE END</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/146.png" width="501" height="128" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"><a name="NOTES">NOTES</a></p> + +<p> +1. A <a name="tsarstvo"><i>tsarstvo</i></a> is the domain of a <i>tsar</i> +(czar), which is the title of an absolute monarch in Russia. The word +<i>tsar</i>, derived from the Roman name and title, Caesar, may be translated +emperor, king, or prince. A number of words are formed from it by adding +different syllables: <a name="Tsarevitch">Tsarevitch</a>, the tsar's son, +prince; Tsarevna, the tsar's daughter, princess; Tsaritza, the tsar's wife, +queen or empress. +</p> + +<p> +2. <i><a name="Boyar">Boyar</a></i> was the word formerly used to mean a +Russian nobleman; so a <i>boyar-house</i> is a lord's house;<a +name="boyarishnia"><i>boyarishnia</i></a>, a lord's daughter. The <i><a +name="terem">terem</a></i> was that part of the boyar-house in which the +women's rooms were situated. +</p> + +<p>3. In Russia there is a fatherly relation existing between the +ruler and his subjects which is shown in such phrases as "<a name="thetsarfather">the tsar father</a>," "their father sovereign," +etc. The Russian language has many diminutives, or terms of +endearment. For instance, the Tzar is often affectionately called +"the little father" by his subjects.</p> + +<p>4. "<i><a name="Oncesaidquicklydone">Once said, quickly +done</a></i>." This is the Russian idiom. Observe how much more +lively it is than our own "No sooner said than done."</p> + +<p>5. <i><a name="Theholyicons">The holy icons</a></i> are pictures or mosaics of Christ, or the +Virgin Mary, or of some saint or martyr of the Russian church. In +every Russian house there is one or more, hung in a prominent +place. Every one who enters the house at once bows and utters a +prayer before the icons before he does anything else. This is an +old Russian custom which is still kept up by peasants.</p> + +<p>6. <a name="Stronggreenwine."></a><i>Strong green wine</i>. This is the phrase still used by +Russian story-tellers to describe the drink which it was an honor +to receive from the royal hand. Its strength was magical in that it +was not acquired by keeping, but was always the same.</p> + +<p>6. <i><a name="Foracloudyday">For a cloudy day</a></i> is +the Russian idiom very similar to our own.</p> + +<p>7. <i><a name="Itisapeasantstrade">It is a peasant's +trade</a></i> is a Russian saying which means, "It doesn't amount +to much."</p> + +<p>8. <a name="Moujik"><i>Moujik</i></a>, a peasant: his duties +are those of a farm laborer, yet this phrase would not be a fair +translation. This word, which is rendered "tiller of the soil," has +no exact equivalent in English.</p> + +<p> +9. <i><a name="Korolevitch">Korolevitch</a></i>, from <i>korol</i>: king. The +endings <i>evitch</i> and <i>evna</i> show descent, korolevitch meaning son of +a king; korolevna meaning daughter of a king. +</p> + +<p>10. <i><a name="Dutchtrumpet">Dutch trumpet</a></i>, i.e., an +imported trumpet. Anything foreign is "Dutch" to the Russian +peasant.</p> + +<p>11. <i><a name="Honeydrink">Honey drink</a></i>, a drink made +by fermenting honey and water. It is quite common in Russia, and is +about the same as our mead.</p> + +<p>12. <a name="RussianandotherSlavonictales">Russian and other +Slavonic tales</a> often have queer endings, similar to the one +here given by the story-teller at the end of the story, which is no +part of the tale. To the Russian they give a poetic touch, a little +sense of confusion and mystery which is certainly delightful.</p> + +<p>13. <a name="HolyRussia"><i>Holy Russia</i></a>. To the Russian his country is sacred; +everything outside is profane by comparison. The phrase suggests +the <i>Holy Roman Empire</i> of history, or the <i>Celestial +Kingdom</i> of the Chinese.</p> + +<p>14. <a name="Inthepeasantshouse">In the peasant's house</a> +there is often a large stove of brick or tile on which the family +sleep in cold weather.</p> + +<p>15. <i><a name="Adayinandanequaldayout">A day in and an +equal day out</a></i>, the Russian idiom. Observe how very like our +own.</p> + +<p>16. <i><a name="Kabak">Kabak</a></i> a +drinking saloon.</p> + +<p>17. The <i><a name="ruble">ruble</a></i> is the principal coin +of Russia, as the dollar is in the United States. It is equal to +100 copecks, and at this time (1903) is worth only about 50 +cents.</p> + +<p>18. <i><a name="Honeytodrink">Honey to drink</a></i>, i.e., +fermented honey, or mead. (See note to p. 60.)</p> + +<p>19. <i><a name="Baba">Baba</a></i>, a peasant woman, or +grandmother; granny. <i>Yaga</i>, witch. <i>Baba Yaga</i>, +therefore, is the familiar "Grandmother Witch."</p> + +<p>20. <i><a name="Izba">Izba</a></i>, a hut. <i>Izboushka</i>, a +tiny hut.</p> + +<p>21. <i><a name="Schouba">Schouba</a></i>, a large fur-lined +cloak.</p> + +<p>22. <i><a name="Sarafan">Sarafan</a></i>, the Russian national +costume for women.</p> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/148.png" width="230" height="152" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<div class="fig" style="width:100%;"> +<img src="images/149.png" width="187" height="246" alt="[Illustration: ]" /> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK TALES FROM THE RUSSIAN ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law 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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. +</div> + +<div style='margin-top:1em; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE</div> +<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE</div> +<div style='text-align:center;font-size:0.9em'>PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person +or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the +Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when +you share it without charge with others. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work +on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: +</div> + +<blockquote> + <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most + other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions + whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms + of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online + at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you + are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws + of the country where you are located before using this eBook. + </div> +</blockquote> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg™ License. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format +other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain +Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +provided that: +</div> + +<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation.” + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ + works. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + </div> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state +visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. +</div> + +</div> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/001.jpg b/old/12851-h/images/001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9605429 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/001.jpg diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/009.png b/old/12851-h/images/009.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0158480 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/009.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/010.png b/old/12851-h/images/010.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c62837 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/010.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/023.png b/old/12851-h/images/023.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8bd1af8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/023.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/024.png b/old/12851-h/images/024.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ad6dd08 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/024.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/031.jpg b/old/12851-h/images/031.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8949c88 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/031.jpg diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/062.png b/old/12851-h/images/062.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e0d8dc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/062.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/063.png b/old/12851-h/images/063.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..af767b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/063.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/064.jpg b/old/12851-h/images/064.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cacc6bb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/064.jpg diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/071.png b/old/12851-h/images/071.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce85b6d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/071.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/073.png b/old/12851-h/images/073.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8dc792a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/073.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/074.png b/old/12851-h/images/074.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8e57919 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/074.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/102.jpg b/old/12851-h/images/102.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3eb36d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/102.jpg diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/104.png b/old/12851-h/images/104.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..da204ea --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/104.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/106.png b/old/12851-h/images/106.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..610abcc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/106.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/115.png b/old/12851-h/images/115.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1932eec --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/115.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/122.jpg b/old/12851-h/images/122.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..54c851f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/122.jpg diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/124.png b/old/12851-h/images/124.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0491daf --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/124.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/125.png b/old/12851-h/images/125.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f0ac3f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/125.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/126.jpg b/old/12851-h/images/126.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..01a8ed0 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/126.jpg diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/128.png b/old/12851-h/images/128.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8b393bb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/128.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/129.png b/old/12851-h/images/129.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b8a6a1a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/129.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/137.png b/old/12851-h/images/137.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e9d3ac --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/137.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/138.png b/old/12851-h/images/138.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7d788a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/138.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/141.jpg b/old/12851-h/images/141.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..31267d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/141.jpg diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/145.png b/old/12851-h/images/145.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..898424b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/145.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/146.png b/old/12851-h/images/146.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8d6e46 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/146.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/148.png b/old/12851-h/images/148.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d183090 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/148.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/149.png b/old/12851-h/images/149.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8eb371f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/149.png diff --git a/old/12851-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/12851-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6eef854 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12851-h/images/cover.jpg |
