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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:57:13 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:57:13 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32217-h.zip b/32217-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..89e5186 --- /dev/null +++ b/32217-h.zip diff --git a/32217-h/32217-h.htm b/32217-h/32217-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eac08d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/32217-h/32217-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7577 @@ +<!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=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Czechoslovak Fairy Tales, by Parker Fillmore. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + a {text-decoration: none;} + + img {border: none;} + + em {font-style: italic;} + + .hidden {display: none;} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-style: normal; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; padding: 1em; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .dropcap {float: left; width: auto; padding-right: 3px; font-size: 350%; line-height: 83%;} + /* Plain dropcaps */ + + .caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center; padding-bottom: 2em;} + .note {font-size: 90%; text-align: right;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: right;} + + .poem {margin-left:30%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + .tdl {text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;} /* left align cell */ + .tdr {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} /* right align cell */ + + .sig {text-align: right; margin-right: 4em;} /* signature aligned right */ + .date {margin-left: 2em; font-size: 85%;} /* date in smaller font */ + + .xlrgfont {font-size: 150%;} + .lrgfont {font-size: 120%;} + .smlfont {font-size: 90%;} + .tinyfont {font-size: 65%;} + + .padtop {padding-top: 3em;} + .padbase {padding-bottom: 3em;} + .ipadtop {padding-top: 2em;} + .ipadboth {padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 2em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Czechoslovak Fairy Tales, by Parker Fillmore + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Czechoslovak Fairy Tales + +Author: Parker Fillmore + +Illustrator: Jan Matulka + +Release Date: May 2, 2010 [EBook #32217] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CZECHOSLOVAK FAIRY TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Sam W. and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1 class="padtop">CZECHOSLOVAK<br /> +FAIRY TALES</h1> + + +<p class="center padtop">RETOLD BY</p> + +<p class="center xlrgfont">PARKER FILLMORE</p> + + +<p class="center smlfont padtop">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND DECORATIONS<br /> +BY</p> + +<p class="center lrgfont padbase">JAN MATULKA</p> + + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 265px;"> +<img src="images/cft01.png" width="265" height="200" +alt="Two birds" /> +</div> + + +<p class="center padtop padbase"><small>NEW YORK</small><br /> +HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY</p> + + + +<p class="center smlfont padtop padbase"> +COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY<br /> +PARKER FILLMORE</p> + + +<p class="center tinyfont">PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. BY<br /> +THE QUINN & BODEN COMPANY<br /> +RAHWAY, N. J.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 445px;"> +<a name="zloboha" id="zloboha"></a> +<img src="images/cft02.jpg" width="445" height="600" alt="" /> +<span class="note">Page <a href="#Page_192">192</a></span> +</div> + +<p class="caption"><i>Zloboha in Dobrunka’s Clothes</i></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="center padtop">To</p> + +<p class="center padbase lrgfont">MISS MARJORIE RAHLSON</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>vii]</a></span></p> + +<h2>NOTE</h2> + + +<p>This rendering of some of the old Czechoslovak tales +is not offered as a literal translation or a scholarly +translation. I have retold the stories in a way that I +hope will please American children. I have tried +hard to keep the flavor of the originals but have taken +the liberty of a short cut here and an elaboration there +wherever these have seemed to me to make the English +version clearer and more interesting.</p> + +<p>I have gone to Czech, Slovakian, and Moravian +sources. All these stories appear in many versions +in the different folklore collections made by such native +writers as Erben, Nemcova, Dobsinsky, Rimavsky, +Benes-Trebizsky, Kulda. They represent the folk-tale +in all stages of its development from the bald narrative +of <i>The Bird with the Golden Gizzard</i> which Kulda reports +with phonographic exactness, to Nemcova’s more +elaborate tale, <i>Prince Bayaya</i>, which is really a mosaic +of two or three simpler stories. I have included +<i>Katcha and the Devil</i> for the sake of its keen humor, +which is particularly Czech in character; <i>The Betrothal +Gifts</i> to show how a story common to other countries +is made most charmingly local by giving it a local +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>viii]</a></span> +background; <i>The Three Golden Hairs</i> to contrast it +with a famous German variant which it seems to me +is much inferior to the Slavic version; and several fine +stories of the prince gone off on adventures which +in common with the folk-tales of all Europe show a +strong Oriental influence.</p> + +<p>In the transliteration of proper names I have not +followed consistently any one method, but for each individual +name have made what seemed to be the best +selection from the various possible spellings. Until +transliteration from the Slavic languages has become +standardized this, I am sure, is permissible and even +advisable.</p> + +<p>In the preparation of this volume I have made +heavy draughts upon the scholarship and patience of +my Czech friends, Mrs. Jan Matulka and Mr. Vladimir +Jelinek. I beg them to accept my thanks. I +am also deeply grateful to Mr. A. B. Koukol, who did +me the favor of reading the final sheets. Lastly I wish +to express my appreciation of the Webster Branch of +the New York Public Library, which has gathered +together what is probably the most complete collection +of Czechoslovak literature in America, and one particularly +rich in folklore and children’s books.</p> + +<p class="sig">P. F.</p> + +<p class="date">August, 1919</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>ix]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft03.png" width="400" height="260" +alt="A house and barn" /> +</div> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="60%" summary="Table of contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdr"><small>PAGE</small></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Longshanks, Girth, and Keen:</span> The Story of Three Wonderful Serving Men</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Three Golden Hairs:</span> The Story of a Charcoal-Burner’s Son Who Married a Princess</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Flaming Horse:</span> The Story of a Country Where the Sun Never Shines</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Three Citrons:</span> The Story of a Prince Who Climbed the Glass Hill</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Prince Bayaya:</span> The Story of a Magic Horse</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Katcha and the Devil:</span> The Story of a Clinging Vine</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Betrothal Gifts:</span> The Story of Kubik and the Frog</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Grandfather’s Eyes:</span> The Story of Three Wicked Yezinkas</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Rattle-Rattle-Rattle and Chink-Chink-Chink:</span> +The Story of Long Beard, the Dwarf, and the Two Sisters</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Bird with the Golden Gizzard:</span> The Story of Two Brothers</td> + <td class="tdr"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>x]</a></span><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Wood Maiden:</span> The Story of Betushka and the Golden Birch Leaves</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Golden Spinning-Wheel:</span> The Story of King Dobromil and the Good Dobrunka</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Golden Godmother:</span> The Story of Poor Lukas</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Golden Duck:</span> The Story of Prince Raduz and the Faithful Ludmila</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl smcap">The Story That Never Ends</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>xi]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft04.png" width="400" height="321" +alt="A serpent" /> +</div> + +<h2>FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="60%" summary="List of illustrations"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdr"><small>PAGE</small></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Zloboha in Dobrunka’s Clothes</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#zloboha"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Music Played</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#music">72</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">When the Boys Had Grown into Handsome Youths</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#boys">80</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Kubik Greeting His Old Father</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#kubik">126</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Alike in Feature but Utterly Different in Disposition</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#alike">179</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>LONGSHANKS, GIRTH, AND KEEN</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF THREE WONDERFUL SERVING MEN</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft05.png" width="400" height="338" +alt="An older bearded man and a bird" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>3]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">LONGSHANKS, GIRTH, AND KEEN</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once an aged king who had an only +son. One day he called the prince to him and +said: “My dear son, you know that ripe fruit falls in +order to make room for other fruit. This my old head +is like ripe fruit and soon the sun will no longer shine +upon it. Now before I die I should like to see you +happily married. Get you a wife, my son.”</p> + +<p>“I would, my father, that I could please you in +this,” the prince answered, “but I know of no one who +would make you a worthy daughter-in-law.”</p> + +<p>The old king reached into his pocket, drew out a +golden key, and handed it to the prince. He said:</p> + +<p>“Go up into the tower to the very top. There +look about you and when you have decided what you +like best of all you see, come back and tell me.”</p> + +<p>The prince took the key and at once mounted the +tower. He had never before gone to the very top +and he had never heard what was there. He went up +and up until at last he saw a small iron door in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>4]</a></span> +ceiling. He opened this with the golden key, pushed +it back, and entered a large circular hall. The ceiling +was blue and silver like the heavens on a bright night +when the stars shine, and the floor was covered with a +green silken carpet. There were twelve tall windows +set in gold frames, and on the crystal glass of each +window a beautiful young girl was pictured in glowing +colors. Every one of them was a princess with a +royal crown upon her head. As the prince looked at +them it seemed to him that each was more lovely than +the last, and for the life of him he knew not which +was the loveliest. Then they began to move as if alive, +and they smiled at the prince and nodded, and looked +as if they were about to speak.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the prince noticed that one of the twelve +windows was covered with a white curtain. He pulled +the curtain aside and there without any question was +the most beautiful princess of them all, clothed in pure +white, with a silver girdle and a crown of pearls. Her +face was deathly pale and sad as the grave.</p> + +<p>For a long time the prince stood before this picture +in utter amazement and as he looked at it a pain +seemed to enter his heart.</p> + +<p>“This one I want for my bride,” he said aloud, +“this one and no other.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>5]</a></span> +At these words the maiden bowed, flushed like a +rose, and then instantly all the pictures disappeared.</p> + +<p>When the prince told his father what he had seen +and which maiden he had chosen, the old king was +greatly troubled.</p> + +<p>“My son,” he said, “you did ill to uncover what +was covered and in declaring this, your choice, you +have exposed yourself to a great danger. This maiden +is in the power of a black magician who holds her +captive in an iron castle. Of all who have gone to +rescue her not one has ever returned. However, what’s +done is done and you have given your word. Go, then, +try what fortune has in store for you, and may Heaven +bring you back safe and sound.”</p> + +<p>So the prince bade his father farewell, mounted his +horse, and rode forth to find his bride. His first adventure +was to lose his way in a deep forest. He +wandered about some time not knowing where to turn +when suddenly he was hailed from behind with these +words:</p> + +<p>“Hey, there, master, wait a minute!”</p> + +<p>He looked around and saw a tall man running +toward him.</p> + +<p>“Take me into your service, master,” the tall man +said. “If you do you won’t regret it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>6]</a></span> +“What is your name,” the prince asked, “and +what can you do?”</p> + +<p>“People call me Longshanks because I can stretch +myself out. I’ll show you. Do you see a bird’s nest in +the top of that tall fir? I’ll get it down for you +and not by climbing the tree either.”</p> + +<p>So saying he began to stretch out and his body +shot up and up until he was as tall as the fir tree. +He reached over and got the nest and then, in a shorter +time than it had taken him to stretch out, he reduced +himself to his natural size.</p> + +<p>“You do your trick very well,” the prince said, +“but just now a bird’s nest isn’t of much use to me. +What I need is some one to show me the way out +of this forest.”</p> + +<p>“H’m,” Longshanks said, “that’s an easy enough +matter.”</p> + +<p>Again he began to stretch himself up and up and +up until he was three times as tall as the highest pine +in the forest. He looked around and said: “Over +there, in that direction, is the nearest way out.”</p> + +<p>Then he made himself small again, took the horse +by the bridle, walked ahead, and in a short time they +emerged from the forest.</p> + +<p>A broad plain stretched out before them and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>7]</a></span> +beyond it they could see tall gray rocks that looked like +the walls of a great city and mountains overgrown +with forests.</p> + +<p>Longshanks pointed off across the plain and said: +“There, master, goes a comrade of mine who would +be very useful to you. You ought to take him into +your service too.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” said the prince, “call him here that +I may find out what sort of a fellow he is.”</p> + +<p>“He is too far away to call,” Longshanks said. +“He wouldn’t hear my voice and if he did he would +be a long time in reaching us, for he has much to +carry. I had better step over and get him myself.”</p> + +<p>As he said this, Longshanks stretched out and +out until his head was lost in the clouds. He took +two or three strides, reached his comrade, set him on +his shoulder, and brought him to the prince.</p> + +<p>The new man was heavily built and round as a +barrel.</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” the prince asked. “And what +can you do?”</p> + +<p>“I am called Girth,” the man said. “I can widen +myself.”</p> + +<p>“Let me see you do it,” the prince said.</p> + +<p>“Very well, master,” said Girth, beginning to puff +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>8]</a></span> +out, “I will. But take care! Ride off into the forest +as fast as you can!”</p> + +<p>The prince did not understand the warning, but he +saw that Longshanks was in full flight, so he spurred +his horse and galloped after him.</p> + +<p>It was just as well he did, for in another moment +Girth would have crushed both him and his horse, +so fast did he spread out, so huge did he become. In +a short time he filled the whole plain until it looked +as though a mountain had fallen upon it.</p> + +<p>When the plain was entirely covered, he stopped +expanding, heaved a deep breath that shook the forest +trees, and returned to his natural size.</p> + +<p>“You made me run for my life!” the prince said. +“I tell you I don’t meet a fellow like you every +day! By all means join me.”</p> + +<p>They went across the plain and as they neared +the rocks they met a man whose eyes were bandaged +with a handkerchief.</p> + +<p>“Master,” said Longshanks, “there is my other +comrade. Take him into your service, too, and I can +tell you you won’t regret the bread he eats.”</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” the prince asked. “And why do +you keep your eyes bandaged? You can’t see where +you’re going.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>9]</a></span> +“On the contrary, master, it is just because I see +too well that I have to bandage my eyes. With +bandaged eyes I see as well as other people whose +eyes are uncovered. When I take the handkerchief +off, my sight is so keen it goes straight through everything. +When I look at anything intently it catches +fire, and if it can’t burn, it crumbles to pieces. On +account of my sight I’m called Keen.”</p> + +<p>He untied the handkerchief, turned to one of the +rocks opposite, and gazed at it with glowing eyes. +Soon the rock began to crumble and fall to pieces. +In a few moments it was reduced to a heap of sand. +In the sand something gleamed like fire. Keen picked +it up and handed it to the prince. It was a lump of +pure gold.</p> + +<p>“Ha, ha!” said the prince. “You are a fine fellow +and worth more than wages! I should be a fool not +to take you into my service. Since you have such +keen eyes, look and tell me how much farther it is +to the Iron Castle and what is happening there now.”</p> + +<p>“If you rode there alone,” Keen answered, “you +might get there within a year, but with us to help +you, you will arrive this very day. Our coming is +not unexpected, either, for at this very moment they +are preparing supper for us.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>10]</a></span> +“What is the captive princess doing?”</p> + +<p>“She is sitting in a high tower behind an iron grating. +The magician stands on guard.”</p> + +<p>“If you are real men,” the prince cried, “you +will all help me to free her.”</p> + +<p>The three comrades promised they would.</p> + +<p>They led the prince straight through the gray rocks +by a defile which Keen made with his eyes, and on +and on through high mountains and deep forests. +Whatever obstacle was in the way one or another of +the three comrades was able to remove it.</p> + +<p>By late afternoon they had crossed the last mountain, +had left behind them the last stretch of dark +forest, and they saw looming up ahead of them the +Iron Castle.</p> + +<p>Just as the sun sank the prince and his followers +crossed the drawbridge and entered the courtyard gate. +Instantly the drawbridge lifted and the gate clanged +shut.</p> + +<p>They went through the courtyard and the prince put +his horse in the stable, where he found a place all in +readiness. Then the four of them marched boldly into +the castle.</p> + +<p>Everywhere—in the courtyard, in the stables, and +now in the various rooms of the castle—they saw great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>11]</a></span> +numbers of richly clad men all of whom, masters and +servants alike, had been turned to stone.</p> + +<p>They went on from one room to another until they +reached the banquet hall. This was brilliantly lighted +and the table, with food and drink in abundance, was +set for four persons. They waited, expecting some +one to appear, but no one came. At last, overpowered +by hunger, they sat down and ate and drank most +heartily.</p> + +<p>After supper they began to look about for a place +to sleep. It was then without warning that the doors +burst open and the magician appeared. He was a bent +old man with a bald head and a gray beard that +reached to his knees. He was dressed in a long black +robe and he had, instead of a belt, three iron bands +about his waist.</p> + +<p>He led in a beautiful lady dressed in white with +a silver girdle and a crown of pearls. Her face was +deathly pale and as sad as the grave. The prince +recognized her instantly and sprang forward to meet +her. Before he could speak, the magician raised his +hand and said:</p> + +<p>“I know why you have come. It is to carry off +this princess. Very well, take her. If you can guard +her for three nights so that she won’t escape you, she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>12]</a></span> +is yours. But if she escapes you, then you and your +men will suffer the fate of all those who have come +before you and be turned into stone.”</p> + +<p>Then when he had motioned the princess to a seat, +he turned and left the hall.</p> + +<p>The prince could not take his eyes from the princess, +she was so beautiful. He tried to talk to her, asking +her many questions, but she made him no answer. She +might have been marble the way she never smiled and +never looked at any of them.</p> + +<p>He seated himself beside her, determined to stay all +night on guard in order to prevent her escape. For +greater security Longshanks stretched himself out on +the floor like a strap and wound himself around the +room the whole length of the wall. Girth sat in the +doorway and puffed himself out until he filled that +space so completely that not even a mouse could slip +through. Keen took his place by a pillar in the middle +of the hall.</p> + +<p>But, alas, in a few moments they all grew heavy +with drowsiness and in the end slept soundly all night +long.</p> + +<p>In the morning in the early dawn the prince awoke +and with a pain in his heart that was like a blow from +a dagger, he saw that the princess was gone. Instantly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>13]</a></span> +he aroused his men and asked them what was to be +done.</p> + +<p>“It’s all right, master, don’t worry,” said Keen as +he took a long look through the window. “I see her +now. A hundred miles from here is a forest, in the +midst of the forest an ancient oak, on the top of the +oak an acorn. The princess is that acorn. Let Longshanks +take me on his shoulders and we’ll go get her.”</p> + +<p>Longshanks picked Keen up, stretched himself out, +and set forth. He took ten miles at a stride and in +the time it would take you or me to run around a +cottage, here he was back again with the acorn in his +hand. He gave it to the prince.</p> + +<p>“Drop it, master, on the floor.”</p> + +<p>The prince dropped the acorn and instantly the +princess appeared.</p> + +<p>As the sun came over the mountain tops the doors +slammed open and the magician entered. A crafty +smile was on his face. But when he saw the princess +the smile changed to a scowl, he growled in rage, and +bang! one of the iron bands about his waist burst +asunder. Then he took the princess by the hand and +dragged her off.</p> + +<p>That whole day the prince had nothing to do but +wander about the castle and look at all the strange +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>14]</a></span> +and curious things it contained. It seemed as if at +some one instant all life had been arrested. In one +hall he saw a prince who had been turned into stone +while he was brandishing his sword. The sword was +still uplifted. In another room there was a stone +knight who was taken in the act of flight. He had +stumbled on the threshold but he had not yet fallen. +A serving man sat under the chimney eating his supper. +With one hand he was reaching a piece of roast +meat to his mouth. Days, months, perhaps years had +gone by, but the meat had not yet touched his lips. +There were many others, all of them still in whatever +position they happened to be when the magician had +cried: “Be ye turned into stone!”</p> + +<p>In the courtyard and the stables the prince found +many fine horses overtaken by the same fate.</p> + +<p>Outside the castle everything was equally dead and +silent. There were trees but they had no leaves, there +was a river but it didn’t flow, and no fish could live +in its waters. There wasn’t a singing bird anywhere, +and there wasn’t even one tiny flower.</p> + +<p>In the morning, at noon, and at supper-time the +prince and his companions found a rich feast prepared +for them. Unseen hands served them food and poured +them wine.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>15]</a></span> +Then after supper, as on the preceding night, the +doors burst open and the magician led in the princess, +whom he handed over to the prince to guard for the +second night.</p> + +<p>Of course the prince and his men determined to +fight off drowsiness this time with all their strength. +But in spite of this determination again they fell +asleep. At dawn the prince awoke and saw that the +princess was gone.</p> + +<p>He jumped up and shook Keen by the shoulder.</p> + +<p>“Wake up, Keen, wake up! Where is the princess?”</p> + +<p>Keen rubbed his eyes, took one look out of the +window, and said:</p> + +<p>“There, I see her. Two hundred miles from here +is a mountain, in the mountain is a rock, in the rock a +precious stone. That stone is the princess. If Longshanks +will carry me over there we’ll get her.”</p> + +<p>Longshanks put Keen on his shoulder, stretched +himself out until he was able to go twenty miles at a +stride, and off he went. Keen fixed his glowing eyes +on the mountain and the mountain crumbled. Then +the rock that was inside the mountain broke into a +thousand pieces and there was the precious stone glittering +among the pieces.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>16]</a></span> +They picked it up and carried it back to the prince. +As soon as he dropped it on the floor the princess reappeared.</p> + +<p>When the magician came in and found her there, his +eyes sparkled with anger, and bang! the second of his +iron bands cracked and burst asunder. Rumbling and +growling he led the princess away.</p> + +<p>That day passed as the day before. After supper +the magician brought back the princess and, looking +fiercely at the prince, he sneered and said: “Now +we’ll see who wins, you or I.”</p> + +<p>This night the prince and his men tried harder than +ever to stay awake. They didn’t even allow themselves +to sit down but kept walking. All in vain. One after +another they fell asleep on their feet and again the +princess escaped.</p> + +<p>In the morning the prince, as usual, was the first to +awake. When he saw the princess was gone, he +aroused Keen.</p> + +<p>“Wake up, Keen!” he cried. “Look out and tell +me where the princess is.”</p> + +<p>This time Keen had to look long before he saw her.</p> + +<p>“Master, she is far away. Three hundred miles +from here there is a black sea. At the bottom of that +sea is a shell. In that shell is a golden ring. That ring +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>17]</a></span> +is the princess. But don’t be worried, master, we’ll +get her. This time let Longshanks take Girth as well +as me, for we may need him.”</p> + +<p>So Longshanks put Keen on one shoulder and +Girth on the other. Then he stretched himself out +until he was able to cover thirty miles at a stride. +When they reached the black sea Keen showed Longshanks +where to reach down in the water for the +shell. Longshanks reached down as far as he could +but not far enough to touch bottom.</p> + +<p>“Wait, comrades, wait a bit,” said Girth. “Now +it’s my turn to help.”</p> + +<p>With that he puffed himself out and out as far as +he could. Then he lay down on the beach and began +drinking up the sea. He drank it in such great gulps +that soon Longshanks was able to reach bottom and +to get the shell. Longshanks took out the ring and +then, putting his comrades on his shoulders, started +back for the castle. He was not able to go fast, for +Girth, with half the sea in his stomach, was very heavy. +At last in desperation Longshanks turned Girth upside +down and shook him and instantly the great plain +upon which he emptied him turned into a huge lake. +It was all poor Girth could do to scramble out of the +water and back to Longshanks’ shoulder.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>18]</a></span> +Meanwhile at the castle the prince was awaiting +his men in great anxiety. Morning was breaking +and still they did not come. As the first rays of the +sun shot over the mountain tops the doors slammed +open and the magician stood on the threshold. He +glanced around and when he saw that the princess was +not there he gave a mocking laugh and entered.</p> + +<p>But at that very instant there was the crash of a +breaking window, a golden ring struck the floor, and +lo! the princess! Keen had seen in time the danger +that was threatening the prince and Longshanks had +hurled the ring through the window.</p> + +<p>The magician bellowed with rage until the castle +shook and then, bang! the third iron band burst +asunder and from what had once been the magician a +black crow arose and flew out of the broken window +and was never seen again.</p> + +<p>Instantly the beautiful princess blushed like a rose +and was able to speak and to thank the prince for +delivering her.</p> + +<p>Everything in the castle came to life. The prince +with the uplifted sword finished his stroke and put the +sword into its scabbard. The knight who was stumbling +fell and jumped up holding his nose to see +whether he still had it. The serving man under the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>19]</a></span> +chimney put the meat into his mouth and kept on +eating. And so every one finished what he had been +doing at the moment of enchantment. The horses, +too, came to life and stamped and neighed.</p> + +<p>Around the castle the trees burst into leaf. Flowers +covered the meadows. High in the heavens the +lark sang, and in the flowing river there were shoals +of tiny fish. Everything was alive again, everything +happy.</p> + +<p>The knights who had been restored to life gathered +in the hall to thank the prince for their deliverance. +But the prince said to them:</p> + +<p>“You have nothing to thank me for. If it had not +been for these, my three trusty servants, Longshanks, +Girth, and Keen, I should have met the same fate +as you.”</p> + +<p>The prince set out at once on his journey home +with his bride and his three serving men. When he +reached home the old king, who had given him up for +lost, wept for joy at his unexpected return.</p> + +<p>All the knights whom the prince had rescued were +invited to the wedding which took place at once and +lasted for three weeks.</p> + +<p>When it was over, Longshanks, Girth, and Keen +presented themselves to the young king and told him +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>20]</a></span> +that they were again going out into the world to +look for work. The young king urged them to stay.</p> + +<p>“I will give you everything you need as long as +you live,” he promised them, “and you won’t have +to exert yourselves at all.”</p> + +<p>But such an idle life was not to their liking. So +they took their leave and started out again and to +this day they are still knocking around somewhere.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF A CHARCOAL-BURNER’S SON +WHO MARRIED A PRINCESS</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft06.png" width="400" height="337" +alt="A stag" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>23]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once a king who took great delight +in hunting. One day he followed a stag a great +distance into the forest. He went on and on until +he lost his way. Night fell and the king by happy +chance came upon a clearing where a charcoal-burner +had a cottage. The king asked the charcoal-burner +to lead him out of the forest and offered to pay him +handsomely.</p> + +<p>“I’d be glad to go with you,” the charcoal-burner +said, “but my wife is expecting the birth of a child and +I cannot leave her. It is too late for you to start out +alone. Won’t you spend the night here? Lie down on +some hay in the garret and tomorrow I’ll be your +guide.”</p> + +<p>The king had to accept this arrangement. He +climbed into the garret and lay down on the floor. +Soon afterwards a son was born to the charcoal-burner.</p> + +<p>At midnight the king noticed a strange light in +the room below him. He peeped through a chink in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>24]</a></span> +the boards and saw the charcoal-burner asleep, his wife +lying in a dead faint, and three old women, all in +white, standing over the baby, each holding a lighted +taper in her hand.</p> + +<p>The first old woman said: “My gift to this boy is +that he shall encounter great dangers.”</p> + +<p>The second said: “My gift to him is that he shall +go safely through them all, and live long.”</p> + +<p>The third one said: “And I give him for wife the +baby daughter born this night to the king who lies +upstairs on the straw.”</p> + +<p>The three old women blew out their tapers and +all was quiet. They were the Fates.</p> + +<p>The king felt as though a sword had been thrust +into his heart. He lay awake till morning trying to +think out some plan by which he could thwart the +will of the three old Fates.</p> + +<p>When day broke the child began to cry and the +charcoal-burner woke up. Then he saw that his wife +had died during the night.</p> + +<p>“Ah, my poor motherless child,” he cried, “what +shall I do with you now?”</p> + +<p>“Give me the baby,” the king said. “I’ll see that +he’s looked after properly and I’ll give you enough +money to keep you the rest of your life.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>25]</a></span> +The charcoal-burner was delighted with this offer +and the king went away promising to send at once for +the baby.</p> + +<p>A few days later when he reached his palace he +was met with the joyful news that a beautiful little +baby daughter had been born to him. He asked the +time of her birth, and of course it was on the very +night when he saw the Fates. Instead of being pleased +at the safe arrival of the baby princess, the king +frowned.</p> + +<p>Then he called one of his stewards and said to him: +“Go into the forest in a direction that I shall tell +you. You will find there a cottage where a charcoal-burner +lives. Give him this money and get from him +a little child. Take the child and on your way back +drown it. Do as I say or I shall have you drowned.”</p> + +<p>The steward went, found the charcoal-burner, and +took the child. He put it into a basket and carried +it away. As he was crossing a broad river he dropped +the basket into the water.</p> + +<p>“Goodnight to you, little son-in-law that nobody +wanted!” the king said when he heard what the +steward had done.</p> + +<p>He supposed of course that the baby was drowned. +But it wasn’t. Its little basket floated in the water like +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>26]</a></span> +a cradle, and the baby slept as if the river were singing +it a lullaby. It floated down with the current past +a fisherman’s cottage. The fisherman saw it, got into +his boat, and went after it. When he found what the +basket contained he was overjoyed. At once he carried +the baby to his wife and said:</p> + +<p>“You have always wanted a little son and here +you have one. The river has given him to us.”</p> + +<p>The fisherman’s wife was delighted and brought +up the child as her own. They named him Plavachek, +which means a little boy who has come floating on the +water.</p> + +<p>The river flowed on and the days went by and +Plavachek grew from a baby to a boy and then into +a handsome youth, the handsomest by far in the whole +countryside.</p> + +<p>One day the king happened to ride that way unattended. +It was hot and he was thirsty. He beckoned +to the fisherman to get him a drink of fresh +water. Plavachek brought it to him. The king looked +at the handsome youth in astonishment.</p> + +<p>“You have a fine lad,” he said to the fisherman. +“Is he your own son?”</p> + +<p>“He is, yet he isn’t,” the fisherman answered. +“Just twenty years ago a little baby in a basket floated +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>27]</a></span> +down the river. We took him in and he has been +ours ever since.”</p> + +<p>A mist rose before the king’s eyes and he went +deathly pale, for he knew at once that Plavachek was +the child that he had ordered drowned.</p> + +<p>Soon he recovered himself and jumping from his +horse he said: “I need a messenger to send to my +palace and I have no one with me. Could this youth +go for me?”</p> + +<p>“Your majesty has but to command,” the fisherman +said, “and Plavachek will go.”</p> + +<p>The king sat down and wrote a letter to the queen. +This is what he said:</p> + +<p>“Have the young man who delivers this letter run +through with a sword at once. He is a dangerous +enemy. Let him be dispatched before I return. Such +is my will.”</p> + +<p>He folded the letter, made it secure, and sealed it +with his own signet.</p> + +<p>Plavachek took the letter and started out with it at +once. He had to go through a deep forest where he +missed the path and lost his way. He struggled on +through underbrush and thicket until it began to +grow dark. Then he met an old woman who said to +him:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>28]</a></span> +“Where are you going, Plavachek?”</p> + +<p>“I’m carrying this letter to the king’s palace and +I’ve lost my way. Can you put me on the right road, +mother?”</p> + +<p>“You can’t get there today,” the old woman said. +“It’s dark now. Spend the night with me. You +won’t be with a stranger, for I’m your old godmother.”</p> + +<p>Plavachek allowed himself to be persuaded and +presently he saw before him a pretty little house that +seemed at that moment to have sprung out of the +ground.</p> + +<p>During the night while Plavachek was asleep, the +old woman took the letter out of his pocket and put in +another that read as follows:</p> + +<p>“Have the young man who delivers this letter married +to our daughter at once. He is my destined son-in-law. +Let the wedding take place before I return. +Such is my will.”</p> + +<p>The next day Plavachek delivered the letter and as +soon as the queen read it, she gave orders at once for +the wedding. Both she and her daughter were much +taken with the handsome youth and gazed at him with +tender eyes. As for Plavachek he fell instantly in love +with the princess and was delighted to marry her.</p> + +<p>Some days after the wedding the king returned +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>29]</a></span> +and when he heard what had happened he flew into a +violent rage at the queen.</p> + +<p>“But,” protested the queen, “you yourself ordered +me to have him married to our daughter before you +came back. Here is your letter.”</p> + +<p>The king took the letter and examined it carefully. +The handwriting, the seal, the paper—all were +his own.</p> + +<p>He called his son-in-law and questioned him.</p> + +<p>Plavachek related how he had lost his way in the +forest and spent the night with his godmother.</p> + +<p>“What does your godmother look like?” the king +asked.</p> + +<p>Plavachek described her.</p> + +<p>From the description the king recognized her as +the same old woman who had promised the princess +to the charcoal-burner’s son twenty years before.</p> + +<p>He looked at Plavachek thoughtfully and at last +he said:</p> + +<p>“What’s done can’t be undone. However, young +man, you can’t expect to be my son-in-law for nothing. +If you want my daughter you must bring me +for dowry three of the golden hairs of old Grandfather +Knowitall.”</p> + +<p>He thought to himself that this would be an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>30]</a></span> +impossible task and so would be a good way to get rid of +an undesirable son-in-law.</p> + +<p>Plavachek took leave of his bride and started off. +He didn’t know which way to go. Who would know? +Everybody talked about old Grandfather Knowitall, +but nobody seemed to know where to find him. Yet +Plavachek had a Fate for a godmother, so it wasn’t +likely that he would miss the right road.</p> + +<p>He traveled long and far, going over wooded hills +and desert plains and crossing deep rivers. He came +at last to a black sea.</p> + +<p>There he saw a boat and an old ferryman.</p> + +<p>“God bless you, old ferryman!” he said.</p> + +<p>“May God grant that prayer, young traveler! +Where are you going?”</p> + +<p>“I’m going to old Grandfather Knowitall to get +three of his golden hairs.”</p> + +<p>“Oho! I have long been hunting for just such +a messenger as you! For twenty years I have been +ferrying people across this black sea and nobody has +come to relieve me. If you promise to ask Grandfather +Knowitall when my work will end, I’ll ferry +you over.”</p> + +<p>Plavachek promised and the boatman took him +across.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>31]</a></span> +Plavachek traveled on until he came to a great city +that was in a state of decay. Before the city he met +an old man who had a staff in his hand, but even with +the staff he could scarcely crawl along.</p> + +<p>“God bless you, old grandfather!” Plavachek +said.</p> + +<p>“May God grant that prayer, handsome youth! +Where are you going?”</p> + +<p>“I am going to old Grandfather Knowitall to get +three of his golden hairs.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed! We have been waiting a long time for +just such a messenger as you! I must lead you at +once to the king.”</p> + +<p>So he took him to the king and the king said: +“Ah, so you are going on an errand to Grandfather +Knowitall! We have an apple-tree here that used +to bear apples of youth. If any one ate one of those +apples, no matter how aged he was, he’d become young +again. But, alas, for twenty years now our tree has +borne no fruit. If you promise to ask Grandfather +Knowitall if there is any help for us, I will reward +you handsomely.”</p> + +<p>Plavachek gave the king his promise and the king +bid him godspeed.</p> + +<p>Plavachek traveled on until he reached another great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>32]</a></span> +city that was half in ruins. Not far from the city +a man was burying his father, and tears as big as +peas were rolling down his cheek.</p> + +<p>“God bless you, mournful grave-digger!” Plavachek +said.</p> + +<p>“May God grant that prayer, kind traveler! +Where are you going?”</p> + +<p>“I’m going to old Grandfather Knowitall to get +three of his golden hairs.”</p> + +<p>“To Grandfather Knowitall! What a pity you +didn’t come sooner! Our king has long been waiting +for just such a messenger as you! I must lead you +to him.”</p> + +<p>So he took Plavachek to the king and the king +said to him: “So you’re going on an errand to Grandfather +Knowitall. We have a well here that used to +flow with the water of life. If any one drank of it, +no matter how sick he was, he would get well. Nay, +if he were already dead, this water, sprinkled upon +him, would bring him back to life. But, alas, for +twenty years now the well has gone dry. If you +promise to ask Grandfather Knowitall if there is help +for us, I will reward you handsomely.”</p> + +<p>Plavachek gave the king his promise and the king +bid him godspeed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>33]</a></span> +After that Plavachek traveled long and far into a +black forest. Deep in the forest he came upon a broad +green meadow full of beautiful flowers and in its +midst a golden palace glittering as though it were on +fire. This was the palace of Grandfather Knowitall.</p> + +<p>Plavachek entered and found nobody there but an +old woman who sat spinning in a corner.</p> + +<p>“Welcome, Plavachek,” she said. “I am delighted +to see you again.”</p> + +<p>He looked at the old woman and saw that she was +his godmother with whom he had spent the night when +he was carrying the letter to the palace.</p> + +<p>“What has brought you here, Plavachek?” she +asked.</p> + +<p>“The king, godmother. He says I can’t be his son-in-law +for nothing. I have to give a dowry. So he +has sent me to old Grandfather Knowitall to get three +of his golden hairs.”</p> + +<p>The old woman smiled and said: “Do you know +who Grandfather Knowitall is? Why, he’s the bright +Sun who goes everywhere and sees everything. I am +his mother. In the morning he’s a little lad, at noon +he’s a grown man, and in the evening an old grandfather. +I will get you three of the golden hairs from +his golden head, for I must not be a godmother for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>34]</a></span> +nothing! But, my lad, you mustn’t remain where you +are. My son is kind, but if he comes home hungry +he might want to roast you and eat you for his supper. +There’s an empty tub over there and I’ll just +cover you with it.”</p> + +<p>Plavachek begged his godmother to get from +Grandfather Knowitall the answers for the three questions +he had promised to ask.</p> + +<p>“I will,” said the old woman, “and do you listen +carefully to what he says.”</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was the rushing sound of a mighty +wind outside and the Sun, an old grandfather with a +golden head, flew in by the western window. He +sniffed the air suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“Phew! Phew!” he cried. “I smell human flesh! +Have you any one here, mother?”</p> + +<p>“Star of the day, whom could I have here without +your seeing him? The truth is you’ve been flying all +day long over God’s world and your nose is filled +with the smell of human flesh. That’s why you still +smell it when you come home in the evening.”</p> + +<p>The old man said nothing more and sat down to +his supper.</p> + +<p>After supper he laid his head on the old woman’s +lap and fell sound asleep. The old woman pulled out a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>35]</a></span> +golden hair and threw it on the floor. It twanged like +the string of a violin.</p> + +<p>“What is it, mother?” the old man said. “What +is it?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing, my boy, nothing. I was asleep and had +a wonderful dream.”</p> + +<p>“What did you dream about, mother?”</p> + +<p>“I dreamt about a city where they had a well of +living water. If any one drank of it, no matter how +sick he was, he would get well. Nay, if he were +already dead, this water, sprinkled on him, would +bring him back to life. For the last twenty years the +well has gone dry. Is there anything to be done to +make it flow again?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. There’s a frog sitting on the spring that +feeds the well. Let them kill the frog and clean out +the well and the water will flow as before.”</p> + +<p>When he fell asleep again the old woman pulled +out another golden hair and threw it on the floor.</p> + +<p>“What is it, mother?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing, my boy, nothing. I was asleep again +and I had a wonderful dream. I dreamt of a city +where they had an apple-tree that bore apples of +youth. If any one ate one of those apples, no matter +how aged he was, he’d become young again. But for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>36]</a></span> +twenty years the tree has borne no fruit. Can anything +be done about it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. In the roots of the tree there is a snake +that takes its strength. Let them kill the snake and +transplant the tree. Then it will bear fruit as before.”</p> + +<p>He fell asleep again and the old woman pulled out +a third golden hair.</p> + +<p>“Why won’t you let me sleep, mother?” he complained, +and started to sit up.</p> + +<p>“Lie still, my boy, lie still. I didn’t intend to +wake you, but a heavy sleep fell upon me and I had +another wonderful dream. I dreamt of a boatman on +the black sea. For twenty years he has been ferrying +that boat and no one has offered to relieve him. +When will he be relieved?”</p> + +<p>“Ah, but that boatman is the son of a stupid +mother! Why doesn’t he thrust the oar into the hand +of some one else and jump ashore himself? Then +the other man would have to be ferryman in his place. +But now let me be quiet. I must get up early +tomorrow morning and go and dry the tears which the +king’s daughter sheds every night for her husband, the +charcoal-burner’s son, whom the king has sent to get +three of my golden hairs.”</p> + +<p>In the morning there was again the rushing sound +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>37]</a></span> +of a mighty wind outside and a beautiful golden child—no +longer an old man—awoke on his mother’s lap. +It was the glorious Sun. He bade his mother farewell +and flew out by an eastern window.</p> + +<p>The old woman turned over the tub and said to +Plavachek: “Here are the three golden hairs for you. +You also have Grandfather Knowitall’s answers to +your three questions. Now good-by. As you will +need me no more, you will never see me again.”</p> + +<p>Plavachek thanked his godmother most gratefully +and departed.</p> + +<p>When he reached the first city the king asked him +what news he brought.</p> + +<p>“Good news!” Plavachek said. “Have the well +cleaned out and kill the frog that sits on its spring. +If you do this the water will flow again as it used to.”</p> + +<p>The king ordered this to be done at once and when +he saw the water beginning to bubble up and flow +again, he made Plavachek a present of twelve horses, +white as swans, laden with as much gold and silver +as they could carry.</p> + +<p>When Plavachek came to the second city and the +king of that city asked him what news he brought, +he said:</p> + +<p>“Good news! Have the apple tree dug up. At +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>38]</a></span> +its roots you will find a snake. Kill the snake and +replant the tree. Then it will bear fruit as it used to.”</p> + +<p>The king had this done at once and during the +night the tree burst into bloom and bore great quantities +of fruit. The king was delighted and made +Plavachek a present of twelve horses, black as ravens, +laden with as much riches as they could carry.</p> + +<p>Plavachek traveled on and when he came to the +black sea, the boatman asked him had he the answer to +his question.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I have,” said Plavachek, “but you must +ferry me over before I tell you.”</p> + +<p>The boatman wanted to hear the answer at once, +but Plavachek was firm. So the old man ferried him +across with his twelve white horses and his twelve +black horses.</p> + +<p>When Plavachek was safely landed, he said: “The +next person who comes to be ferried over, thrust the +oar into his hand and do you jump ashore. Then the +other man will have to be boatman in your place.”</p> + +<p>Plavachek traveled home to the palace. The king +could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw the three +golden hairs of Grandfather Knowitall. The princess +wept again, not for sorrow this time but for joy at +her bridegroom’s return.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>39]</a></span> +“But, Plavachek,” the king gasped, “where did +you get these beautiful horses and all these riches?”</p> + +<p>“I earned them,” said Plavachek proudly. Then +he related how he helped one king who had a tree of +the apples of youth and another king who had a well +of the water of life.</p> + +<p>“Apples of youth! Water of life!” the king kept +repeating softly to himself. “If I ate one of those +apples I should become young again! If I were dead +the water of life would restore me!”</p> + +<p>He lost no time in starting out in quest of the +apples of youth and the water of life. And do you +know, he hasn’t come back yet!</p> + +<p>So Plavachek, the charcoal-burner’s son, became the +king’s son-in-law as the old Fate foretold.</p> + +<p>As for the king, well, I fear he’s still ferrying that +boat across the black sea!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>THE FLAMING HORSE</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF A COUNTRY WHERE THE SUN +NEVER SHINES</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft07.png" width="400" height="335" +alt="A horse" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>43]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">THE FLAMING HORSE</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once a land that was dreary and dark +as the grave, for the sun of heaven never shone +upon it. The king of the country had a wonderful +horse that had, growing right on his forehead, a flaming +sun. In order that his subjects might have the light +that is necessary for life, the king had this horse led +back and forth from one end of his dark kingdom to +the other. Wherever he went his flaming head shone +out and it seemed like beautiful day.</p> + +<p>Suddenly this wonderful horse disappeared. Heavy +darkness that nothing could dispel settled down on +the country. Fear spread among the people and soon +they were suffering terrible poverty, for they were unable +to cultivate the fields or do anything else that +would earn them a livelihood. Confusion increased +until the king saw that the whole country was likely +to perish. In order then, if possible, to save his people, +he gathered his army together and set out in search +of the missing horse.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>44]</a></span> +Through heavy darkness they groped their way +slowly and with difficulty to the far boundaries of the +kingdom. At last they reached the ancient forests that +bordered the neighboring state and they saw gleaming +through the trees faint rays of the sunshine with which +that kingdom was blessed.</p> + +<p>Here they came upon a small lonely cottage which +the king entered in order to find out where he was and +to ask directions for moving forward.</p> + +<p>A man was sitting at the table reading diligently +from a large open book. When the king bowed to +him, he raised his eyes, returned the greeting, and stood +up. His whole appearance showed that he was no +ordinary man but a seer.</p> + +<p>“I was just reading about you,” he said to the king, +“that you were gone in search of the flaming horse. Exert +yourself no further, for you will never find him. But +trust the enterprise to me and I will get him for you.”</p> + +<p>“If you do that, my man,” the king said, “I will +pay you royally.”</p> + +<p>“I seek no reward. Return home at once with your +army, for your people need you. Only leave here with +me one of your serving men.”</p> + +<p>The king did exactly as the seer advised and went +home at once.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>45]</a></span> +The next day the seer and his man set forth. They +journeyed far and long until they had crossed six different +countries. Then they went on into the seventh +country which was ruled over by three brothers who +had married three sisters, the daughters of a +witch.</p> + +<p>They made their way to the front of the royal +palace, where the seer said to his man: “Do you stay +here while I go in and find out whether the kings are +at home. It is they who stole the flaming horse and +the youngest brother rides him.”</p> + +<p>Then the seer transformed himself into a green bird +and flew up to the window of the eldest queen and +flitted about and pecked until she opened the window +and let him into her chamber. When she let him in, he +alighted on her white hand and the queen was as happy +as a child.</p> + +<p>“You pretty thing!” she said, playing with him. +“If my husband were home how pleased he would be! +But he’s off visiting a third of his kingdom and he +won’t be home until evening.”</p> + +<p>Suddenly the old witch came into the room and as +soon as she saw the bird she shrieked to her daughter: +“Wring the neck of that cursed bird, or it will stain +you with blood!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>46]</a></span> +“Why should it stain me with blood, the dear innocent +thing?”</p> + +<p>“Dear innocent mischief!” shrieked the witch. +“Here, give it to me and I’ll wring its neck!”</p> + +<p>She tried to catch the bird, but the bird changed +itself into a man and was already out of the door before +they knew what had become of him.</p> + +<p>After that he changed himself again into a green +bird and flew up to the window of the second sister. +He pecked at it until she opened it and let him in. +Then he flitted about her, settling first on one of her +white hands, then on the other.</p> + +<p>“What a dear bird you are!” cried the queen. +“How you would please my husband if he were at +home. But he’s off visiting two-thirds of his kingdom +and he won’t be back until tomorrow evening.”</p> + +<p>At that moment the witch ran into the room and +as soon as she saw the bird she shrieked out: “Wring +the neck of that wretched bird, or it will stain you with +blood!”</p> + +<p>“Why should it stain me with blood?” the daughter +answered. “The dear innocent thing!”</p> + +<p>“Dear innocent mischief!” shrieked the witch. +“Here, give it to me and I’ll wring its neck!”</p> + +<p>She reached out to catch the bird, but in less time +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>47]</a></span> +than it takes to clap a hand, the bird had changed itself +into a man who ran through the door and was gone +before they knew where he was.</p> + +<p>A moment later he again changed himself into a +green bird and flew up to the window of the youngest +queen. He flitted about and pecked until she opened +the window and let him in. Then he alighted at once +on her white hand and this pleased her so much that +she laughed like a child and played with him.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a dear bird you are!” she cried. “How +you would delight my husband if he were home. But +he’s off visiting all three parts of his kingdom and he +won’t be back until the day after tomorrow in the +evening.”</p> + +<p>At that moment the old witch rushed into the room. +“Wring the neck of that cursed bird!” she shrieked, +“or it will stain you with blood.”</p> + +<p>“My dear mother,” the queen answered, “why +should it stain me with blood—beautiful innocent creature +that it is?”</p> + +<p>“Beautiful innocent mischief!” shrieked the witch. +“Here, give it to me and I’ll wring its neck!”</p> + +<p>But at that moment the bird changed itself into a +man, disappeared through the door, and they never saw +him again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>48]</a></span> +The seer knew now where the kings were and when +they would come home. So he made his plans accordingly. +He ordered his servant to follow him and they +set out from the city at a quick pace. They went on +until they came to a bridge which the three kings as +they came back would have to cross.</p> + +<p>The seer and his man hid themselves under the +bridge and lay there in wait until evening. As the +sun sank behind the mountains, they heard the clatter +of hoofs approaching the bridge. It was the eldest +king returning home. At the bridge his horse stumbled +on a log which the seer had rolled there.</p> + +<p>“What scoundrel has thrown a log here?” cried +the king angrily.</p> + +<p>Instantly the seer leaped out from under the bridge +and demanded of the king how he dared to call him a +scoundrel. Clamoring for satisfaction he drew his +sword and attacked the king. The king, too, drew +sword and defended himself, but after a short struggle +he fell from his horse dead. The seer bound the dead +king to his horse and then with a cut of the whip +started the horse homewards.</p> + +<p>The seer hid himself again and he and his man lay +in wait until the next evening.</p> + +<p>On that evening near sunset the second king came +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>49]</a></span> +riding up to the bridge. When he saw the ground +sprinkled with blood, he cried out: “Surely there has +been a murder here! Who has dared to commit such +a crime in my kingdom!”</p> + +<p>At these words the seer leaped out from under +the bridge, drew his sword, and shouted: “How +dare you insult me? Defend yourself as best you +can!”</p> + +<p>The king drew, but after a short struggle he, too, +yielded up his life to the sword of the seer.</p> + +<p>The seer bound the dead king to his horse and with +a cut of the whip started the horse homewards.</p> + +<p>Then the seer hid himself again under the bridge +and he and his man lay there in wait until the third +evening.</p> + +<p>On the third evening just at sunset the youngest +king came galloping home on the flaming steed. He +was hurrying fast because he had been delayed. But +when he saw red blood at the bridge he stopped short +and looked around.</p> + +<p>“What audacious villain,” he cried, “has dared to +kill a man in my kingdom!”</p> + +<p>Hardly had he spoken when the seer stood before +him with drawn sword demanding satisfaction for the +insult of his words.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>50]</a></span> +“I don’t know how I’ve insulted you,” the king +said, “unless you’re the murderer.”</p> + +<p>When the seer refused to parley, the king, too, drew +his sword and defended himself.</p> + +<p>To overcome the first two kings had been mere play +for the seer, but it was no play this time. They both +fought until their swords were broken and still victory +was doubtful.</p> + +<p>“We shall accomplish nothing with swords,” the +seer said. “That is plain. I tell you what: let us turn +ourselves into wheels and start rolling down the hill and +the wheel that gets broken let him yield.”</p> + +<p>“Good!” said the king. “I’ll be a cartwheel and +you be a lighter wheel.”</p> + +<p>“No, no,” the seer answered quickly. “You be the +light wheel and I’ll be the cartwheel.”</p> + +<p>To this the king agreed. So they went up the hill, +turned themselves into wheels and started rolling down. +The cartwheel went whizzing into the lighter wheel and +broke its spokes.</p> + +<p>“There!” cried the seer, rising up from the cartwheel. +“I am victor!”</p> + +<p>“Not so, brother, not so!” said the king, standing +before the seer. “You only broke my fingers! Now I +tell you what: let us change ourselves into two flames +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>51]</a></span> +and let the flame that burns up the other be victor. +I’ll be a red flame and do you be a white one.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” the seer interrupted. “You be the white +flame and I’ll be the red one.”</p> + +<p>The king agreed to this. So they went back to the +road that led to the bridge, turned themselves into +flames, and began burning each other mercilessly. But +neither was able to burn up the other.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a beggar came down the road, an old man +with a long gray beard and a bald head, with a scrip +at his side and a heavy staff in his hand.</p> + +<p>“Father,” the white flame said, “get some water +and pour it on the red flame and I’ll give you a penny.”</p> + +<p>But the red flame called out quickly: “Not so, +father! Get some water and pour it on the white flame +and I’ll give you a shilling!”</p> + +<p>Now of course the shilling appealed to the beggar +more than the penny. So he got some water, poured +it on the white flame and that was the end of the king.</p> + +<p>The red flame turned into a man who seized the +flaming horse by the bridle, mounted him and, after he +had rewarded the beggar, called his servant and rode +off.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile at the royal palace there was deep +sorrow for the murdered kings. The halls were draped +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>52]</a></span> +in black and people came from miles around to gaze at +the mutilated bodies of the two elder brothers which the +horses had carried home.</p> + +<p>The old witch was beside herself with rage. As +soon as she had devised a plan whereby she could +avenge the murder of her sons-in-law, she took her three +daughters under her arm, mounted an iron rake, and +sailed off through the air.</p> + +<p>The seer and his man had already covered a good +part of their journey and were hurrying on over rough +mountains and across desert plains, when the servant +was taken with a terrible hunger. There wasn’t anything +in sight that he could eat, not even a wild berry. +Then suddenly they came upon an apple tree that was +bending beneath a load of ripe fruit. The apples were +red and pleasant to the sight and sent out a fragrance +that was most inviting.</p> + +<p>The servant was delighted. “Glory to God!” he +cried. “Now I can feast to my heart’s content on +these apples!”</p> + +<p>He was already running to the tree when the seer +called him back.</p> + +<p>“Wait! Don’t touch them! I will pick them for +you myself!”</p> + +<p>But instead of picking an apple, the seer drew his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>53]</a></span> +sword and struck a mighty blow into the apple tree. +Red blood gushed forth.</p> + +<p>“Just see, my man! You would have perished if +you had eaten one apple. This apple tree is the eldest +queen, whom her mother, the witch, placed here for our +destruction.”</p> + +<p>Presently they came to a spring. Its water bubbled +up clear as crystal and most tempting to the tired +traveler.</p> + +<p>“Ah,” said the servant, “since we can get nothing +better, at least we can take a drink of this good water.”</p> + +<p>“Wait!” cried the seer. “I will draw some for +you.”</p> + +<p>But instead of drawing water he plunged his +naked sword into the middle of the spring. Instantly +it was covered with blood and blood began to spurt +from the spring in thick streams.</p> + +<p>“This is the second queen, whom her mother, the +witch, placed here to work our doom.”</p> + +<p>Presently they came to a rosebush covered with +beautiful red roses that scented all the air with their +fragrance.</p> + +<p>“What beautiful roses!” said the servant. “I have +never seen any such in all my life. I’ll go pluck a few. +As I can’t eat or drink, I’ll comfort myself with roses.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>54]</a></span> +“Don’t dare to pluck them!” cried the seer. “I’ll +pluck them for you.”</p> + +<p>With that he cut into the bush with his sword and +red blood spurted out as though he had cut a human +vein.</p> + +<p>“This is the youngest queen,” said the seer, “whom +her mother, the witch, placed here in the hope of revenging +herself on us for the death of her sons-in-law.”</p> + +<p>After that they proceeded without further adventures.</p> + +<p>When they crossed the boundaries of the dark kingdom, +the sun in the horse’s forehead sent out its blessed +rays in all directions. Everything came to life. The +earth rejoiced and covered itself with flowers.</p> + +<p>The king felt he could never thank the seer enough +and he offered him the half of his kingdom.</p> + +<p>But the seer replied: “You are the king. Keep on +ruling over the whole of your kingdom and let me +return to my cottage in peace.”</p> + +<p>He bade the king farewell and departed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>THE THREE CITRONS</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF A PRINCE +WHO CLIMBED THE GLASS HILL</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft08.png" width="400" height="300" +alt="A castle on top of a hill" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>57]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">THE THREE CITRONS</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was an aged king who +had an only son. One day he called the prince +to him and said: “My son, you see that my head is +white. Soon I shall be closing my eyes and you are +not yet settled in life. Marry, my son, marry at once +so that I can bless you before I die.”</p> + +<p>The prince made no answer but he took the king’s +words to heart and pondered them. He would gladly +have done as his father wished but there was no young +girl upon whom his affections were set.</p> + +<p>One day when he was sitting in the garden, wondering +what to do, an old woman suddenly appeared before +him.</p> + +<p>“Go,” she said, “to the top of the Glass Hill, +pluck the Three Citrons, and you will get a wife in +whom your heart will delight.” With that she disappeared +as mysteriously as she had come.</p> + +<p>Her words went through the prince’s soul like a +bright dart. Instantly he determined, come what +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>58]</a></span> +might, to find the Glass Hill and to pluck the Three +Citrons. He told his father his intention and the old +king fitted him out for the journey and gave him his +blessing.</p> + +<p>For a long time the prince wandered over wooded +mountains and desert plains without seeing or even +hearing anything of the Glass Hill and the Three +Citrons. One day, worn out with his long journey, he +threw himself down in the shade of a wide-spreading +linden tree. As his father’s sword, which he wore at +his side, clanked on the ground, twelve ravens began +cawing from the top of the tree. Frightened by the +clanking of the sword, they raised their wings and flew +off.</p> + +<p>The prince jumped to his feet. “Those are the first +living creatures I have seen for many a day. I’ll go +in the direction they have taken,” he said to himself, +“and perhaps I’ll have better luck.”</p> + +<p>So he traveled on and after three days and three +nights a high castle came in view.</p> + +<p>“Thank God!” he exclaimed, pushing joyfully +ahead. “I shall soon have human companionship once +more.”</p> + +<p>The castle was built entirely of lead. The twelve +ravens circled above it and in front of it stood an old +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>59]</a></span> +woman leaning on a long leaden staff. She was a +Yezibaba. Now you must know that a Yezibaba is +an ugly old witch with a hooked nose, a bristly face, +and long scrawny hands. She’s a bad old thing usually, +but sometimes, if you take her fancy, she’s kind.</p> + +<p>This time when she looked the prince over she shook +her head at him in a friendly way.</p> + +<p>“Yi, yi, my boy, how did you get here? Why, not +even a little bird or a tiny butterfly comes here, much +less a human being! You’d better escape if life is dear +to you, or my son, when he comes home, will eat you!”</p> + +<p>“No, no, old mother, don’t make me go,” begged +the prince. “I have come to you for advice to know +whether you can tell me anything about the Glass Hill +and the Three Citrons.”</p> + +<p>“No, I have never heard a word about the Glass +Hill,” Yezibaba said. “But wait until my son comes. +He may be able to tell you something. Yes, yes, I’ll +manage to save you somehow. Go hide under the +besom and stay there until I call you.”</p> + +<p>The mountains rumbled and the castle trembled and +Yezibaba whispered to the prince that her son was +coming.</p> + +<p>“Phew! Phew! I smell human meat! I’ll eat +it!” shouted Yezibaba’s son while he was still in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>60]</a></span> +doorway. He struck the ground with his leaden club +and the whole castle shook.</p> + +<p>“No, no, my son, don’t talk that way. It’s true +there is a pretty youth here, but he’s come to ask you +about something.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if he wants to ask me something, let him +come out and ask.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, my son, he will, but only when you promise +me that you will do nothing to him.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I won’t do anything to him. Now let him +come out.”</p> + +<p>The prince hidden under the besom was shaking +like an aspen leaf, for when he peeped through the twigs +he saw an ogre so huge that he himself would reach up +only to his knees. Happily the ogre had guaranteed +his life before Yezibaba ordered him out.</p> + +<p>“Well, well, well, you little June bug!” shouted +the ogre. “What are you afraid of? Where have you +been? What do you want?”</p> + +<p>“What do I want?” repeated the prince. “I have +been wandering in these mountains a long time and I +can’t find what I’m seeking. So I’ve come to you to +ask whether you can tell me something about the Glass +Hill and the Three Citrons.”</p> + +<p>Yezibaba’s son wrinkled his forehead. He thought +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>61]</a></span> +for a moment and then, lowering his voice a little, he +said: “I’ve never heard of any Glass Hill around here. +But I tell you what you do: go on to my brother in +arms who lives in the Silver Castle and ask him. +Maybe he’ll be able to tell you. But I can’t let you go +away hungry. That would never do! Hi, mother, +bring out the dumplings!”</p> + +<p>Old Yezibaba placed a large dish on the table and +her giant son sat down.</p> + +<p>“Well, come on! Eat!” he shouted to the prince.</p> + +<p>When the prince took the first dumpling and bit +into it, he almost broke two of his teeth, for the dumpling +was made of lead.</p> + +<p>“Well,” shouted Yezibaba’s son, “why don’t you +eat? Doesn’t the dumpling taste good?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, very good,” said the prince, politely, “but +just now I’m not hungry.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if you’re not hungry now you will be later. +Put a few in your pocket and eat them on your +journey.”</p> + +<p>So, whether he wanted them or not, the prince had +to put some leaden dumplings into his pocket. Then +he took his leave of Yezibaba and her son and +traveled on.</p> + +<p>He went on and on for three days and three nights. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>62]</a></span> +The farther he went, the more inhospitable became the +country. Before him stretched a waste of mountains, +behind him a waste of mountains with no living creature +in sight.</p> + +<p>Wearied with his long journey, he threw himself on +the ground. His silver sword clanked sharply and at +its sound twenty-four ravens circled above him, cawed +in fright, and flew away.</p> + +<p>“A good sign!” cried the prince. “I’ll follow the +ravens again!”</p> + +<p>So on he went as fast as his legs could carry him +until he came in sight of a tall castle. It was still +far away, but even at that distance it shone and flashed, +for it was built of pure silver.</p> + +<p>In front of the castle stood an old woman, bent +with age, and leaning on a long silver staff. This was +the second Yezibaba.</p> + +<p>“Yi, yi, my boy!” she cried. “How did you get +here? Why, not even a little bird or a tiny butterfly +comes here, much less a human being. You’d better +escape if life is dear to you, or my son, when he comes +home, will eat you!”</p> + +<p>“No, no, old mother, he won’t eat me. I bring +greetings from his brother of the Leaden Castle.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if you bring greetings from the Leaden +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>63]</a></span> +Castle you are safe enough. Come in, my boy, and +tell me your business.”</p> + +<p>“My business? For a long time, old mother, I’ve +been looking for the Glass Hill and the Three Citrons, +but I can’t find them. So I’ve come to ask you whether +you could tell me something about them.”</p> + +<p>“No, my boy, I don’t know anything about the +Glass Hill. But wait until my son comes. Perhaps +he can help you. In the meantime hide yourself under +the bed and don’t come out until I call you.”</p> + +<p>The mountains rumbled and the castle trembled and +the prince knew that Yezibaba’s son was coming home.</p> + +<p>“Phew! Phew! I smell human meat! I’ll eat +it!” bellowed the mighty fellow. He stood in the doorway +and banged the ground with his silver club until +the whole castle shook.</p> + +<p>“No, no, my son,” said Yezibaba, “don’t talk that +way! A pretty little chap has come bringing you +greetings from your brother of the Leaden Castle.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if he’s been at the Leaden Castle and came +to no harm, he’ll have nothing to fear from me either. +Where is he?”</p> + +<p>The prince slipped out from under the bed and +stood before the ogre. Looking up at him was like +looking at the top of the tallest pine tree.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>64]</a></span> +“Well, little June bug, so you’ve been at my +brother’s, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the prince. “See, I still have the +dumplings he gave me for the journey.”</p> + +<p>“I believe you. Well, what do you want?”</p> + +<p>“What do I want? I came to ask you whether you +could tell me something about the Glass Hill and the +Three Citrons.”</p> + +<p>“H’m, it seems to me I used to hear something +about them, but I forget. I tell you what you do: +go to my brother of the Golden Castle and ask him. +But wait! I can’t let you go away hungry. Hi, +mother, bring out the dumplings!”</p> + +<p>Yezibaba brought the dumplings on a large silver +dish and put them on the table.</p> + +<p>“Eat!” shouted her son.</p> + +<p>The prince saw they were silver dumplings, so he +said he wasn’t hungry just then, but he’d like to take +some with him for the journey.</p> + +<p>“Take as many as you want,” shouted the ogre. +“And give my greetings to my brother and my aunt.”</p> + +<p>So the prince took some silver dumplings, made +suitable thanks, and departed.</p> + +<p>He journeyed on from the Silver Castle three days +and three nights, through dense forests and over rough +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>65]</a></span> +mountains, not knowing where he was nor which way +to turn. At last all worn out he threw himself down +in the shade of a beech tree to rest. As the sword +clanked on the ground, its silver voice rang out and a +flock of thirty-six ravens circled over his head.</p> + +<p>“Caw! Caw!” they croaked. Then, frightened by +the sound of the sword, they flew away.</p> + +<p>“Praise God!” cried the prince. “The Golden +Castle can’t be far!”</p> + +<p>He jumped up and started eagerly off in the direction +the ravens had taken. As he left a valley and +climbed a little hill he saw before him a beautiful wide +meadow in the midst of which stood the Golden Castle +shining like the sun. Before the gate of the castle stood +a bent old Yezibaba leaning on a golden staff.</p> + +<p>“Yi, yi, my boy,” she cried to the prince, “how did +you get here? Why, not even a little bird or a tiny +butterfly comes here, much less a human being! You’d +better escape if life is dear to you, or my son, when +he comes home, will eat you!”</p> + +<p>“No, no, old mother, he won’t eat me, for I bring +him greetings from his brother of the Silver Castle!”</p> + +<p>“Well, if you bring greetings from the Silver +Castle you are safe enough. Come in, my boy, and +tell me your business.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>66]</a></span> +“My business, old mother? For a long time I’ve +been wandering over these wild mountains in search of +the Glass Hill and the Three Citrons. At the Silver +Castle they sent me to you because they thought you +might know something about them.”</p> + +<p>“The Glass Hill? No, I don’t know where it is. +But wait until my son comes. He will advise you +where to go and what to do. Hide under the table +and stay there till I call you.”</p> + +<p>The mountains rumbled and the castle trembled and +Yezibaba’s son came home.</p> + +<p>“Phew! Phew! I smell human meat! I’ll eat +it!” he roared. He stood in the doorway and pounded +the ground with his golden club until the whole castle +shook.</p> + +<p>“No, no, my son,” said Yezibaba, “don’t talk that +way! A pretty little fellow has come bringing you +greetings from your brother of the Silver Castle. If +you won’t harm him, I’ll call him out.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if my brother didn’t do anything to him, I +won’t either.”</p> + +<p>So the prince crawled out from under the table and +stood before the giant. It was like standing beneath a +high tower. He showed the ogre the silver dumplings +as proof that he had been at the Silver Castle.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>67]</a></span> +“Well, well, well, my little June bug,” shouted the +monstrous fellow, “tell me what it is you want! I’ll +advise you if I can! Don’t be afraid!”</p> + +<p>So the prince told him the purpose of his journey +and asked him how to get to the Glass Hill and pluck +the Three Citrons.</p> + +<p>“Do you see that blackish lump over yonder?” +the ogre said, pointing with his golden club. “That +is the Glass Hill. On that hill stands a tree. From +that tree hang the Three Citrons which send out fragrance +for seven miles around. You will climb the Glass +Hill, kneel beneath the tree, and reach up your hands. +If the citrons are destined for you they will fall into +your hands of their own accord. If they are not destined +for you, you will not be able to pluck them no +matter what you do. As you return, if you are hungry +or thirsty, cut open one of the citrons and you will +have food and drink in plenty. Go now with God’s +blessing. But wait! I can’t let you go away hungry! +Hi, mother, bring out the dumplings!”</p> + +<p>Yezibaba set a large golden dish on the table.</p> + +<p>“Eat!” her son shouted. “Or, if you are not +hungry just now, put some in your pocket and eat +them on the way.”</p> + +<p>The prince said that he was not hungry but that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>68]</a></span> +he would be glad to take some of the golden dumplings +with him and eat them later. Then he thanked the ogre +most courteously for his hospitality and advice and +took his leave.</p> + +<p>He trudged quickly on from hill to dale, from dale +to hill again, and never stopped until he reached the +Glass Hill itself. Then he stood still as if turned +into stone. The hill was high and steep and smooth +with not so much as a scratch on its surface. Over its +top spread out the branches of the magic tree upon +which hung the Three Citrons. Their fragrance was +so powerful that the prince almost fainted.</p> + +<p>“Let it be as God wills!” he thought to himself. +“But however the adventure is to come out, now that +I’m here I must at least make the attempt.”</p> + +<p>So he began to claw his way up the smooth glass, +but he hadn’t gone many yards before his foot slipped +and down he went so hard that he didn’t know where +he was or what had happened to him until he found +himself sitting on the ground.</p> + +<p>In his vexation he began to throw away the dumplings, +thinking that perhaps their weight had dragged +him down. He took one and threw it straight at the +hill. Imagine his surprise to see it fix itself firmly in +the glass. He threw a second and a third and there he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>69]</a></span> +had three steps on which he was able to stand with +safety!</p> + +<p>The prince was overjoyed. He threw dumpling after +dumpling and each one of them became a step. First +he threw the leaden ones, then the silver ones, and last +of all the golden ones. On the steps made in this way +he climbed higher and higher until he had reached +the very summit of the hill. Then he knelt under the +magic tree, lifted up his hands, and into them the +Three Citrons dropped of their own accord!</p> + +<p>Instantly the tree disappeared, the Glass Hill sank +until it was lost, and when the prince came to himself +there was neither tree nor hill to be seen, but only a +wide plain.</p> + +<p>Delighted with the outcome of his adventure, the +prince turned homewards. At first he was too happy +even to eat or drink. By the third day his stomach +began to protest and he discovered that he was so +hungry that he would have fallen ravenously upon a +leaden dumpling if he had had one in his pocket. But +his pocket, alas, was empty, and the country all about +was as bare as the palm of his hand.</p> + +<p>Then he remembered what the ogre of the Golden +Castle had told him and he took out one of the Three +Citrons. He cut it open, and what do you suppose +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>70]</a></span> +happened? Out jumped a beautiful maiden fresh from +the hand of God, who bowed low before him and +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Have you food ready for me? Have you drink +ready for me? Have you pretty clothes ready for +me?”</p> + +<p>“Alas, beautiful creature,” the prince sighed, “I +have not. I have nothing for you to eat or to drink +or to put on.”</p> + +<p>The lovely maiden clapped her hands three times, +bowed before him, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>“Ah,” said the prince, “now I know what kind of +citrons you are! I’ll think twice before opening one +of you again!”</p> + +<p>Of the one he had opened he ate and drank his +fill, and so refreshed, went on. He traveled three days +and three nights and by that time he began to feel +three times hungrier than before.</p> + +<p>“God help me!” thought he. “I must eat something! +There are still two citrons and if I cut open +one there would still be one left.”</p> + +<p>So he took out the second citron, cut it in two, and +lo, a maiden twice as beautiful as the first stood before +him. She bowed low and said:</p> + +<p>“Have you food ready for me? Have you drink +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>71]</a></span> +ready for me? Have you pretty clothes ready for +me?”</p> + +<p>“No, lovely creature, I haven’t! I haven’t!”</p> + +<p>The maiden clapped her hands thrice, bowed before +him, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>Now there was only one citron left. The prince +took it in his hand, looked at it, and said: “I won’t +cut you open until I’m safe at home in my father’s +house.”</p> + +<p>He took up his journey again and on the third +day he came to his native town and his father’s castle. +He had been gone a long time and how he ever got +back he didn’t know himself.</p> + +<p>Tears of joy rained down the old king’s cheeks.</p> + +<p>“Welcome home, my son, welcome a hundred +times!” he cried, falling on the prince’s neck.</p> + +<p>The prince related the adventures of his journey +and they at home told him how anxiously they had +awaited his return.</p> + +<p>On the next day a great feast was prepared. All +the nobles in the land were invited. The tables were +spread with food and drink the most expensive in the +world and many rich dresses embroidered in gold and +studded with pearls were laid out.</p> + +<p>The guests assembled, seated themselves at the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>72]</a></span> +tables, and waited. Music played and when all was +ready, the prince took the last citron and cut it in two. +Out jumped a beautiful creature, three times lovelier +than the others.</p> + +<p>“Have you food ready for me?” she cried. “Have +you drink ready for me? Have you pretty clothes +ready for me?”</p> + +<p>“I have indeed, dear heart!” the prince answered. +“I have everything ready for you!”</p> + +<p>He led her to the gorgeous clothes and she dressed +herself in them and every one present marveled at her +great beauty.</p> + +<p>Soon the betrothal took place and after the betrothal +a magnificent wedding.</p> + +<p>So now the old king’s wish was fulfilled. He +blessed his son, gave over the kingdom to him, and not +long afterwards he died.</p> + +<p>The first thing that faced the young king after +his father’s death was a war which a neighboring king +stirred up against him. So the young king had to +bid farewell to the bride whom he had won so dearly +and lead his men to battle. In order that nothing +happen to the queen in his absence, he built a golden +throne for her in the garden beside the lake. This +throne was as high as a tower and no one could ascend +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>73]</a></span> +it except those to whom the queen let down a silken +cord.</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 506px;"> +<a name="music" id="music"></a> +<img src="images/cft09.png" width="506" height="600" +alt="Three musicians playing" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption"><i>Music Played</i></p> + +<p>Not far from the king’s castle lived the old woman +who, in the first place, had told him about the Three +Citrons. She knew well enough how the young king +had won his bride and she was deeply incensed that he +had not invited her to the wedding and in fact had not +even thanked her for her good advice.</p> + +<p>Now this old woman had a gipsy for servant whom +she used to send to the lake for water. One day when +this gipsy was filling her pitcher, she saw in the lake +a beautiful reflection. She supposed it was a reflection +of herself.</p> + +<p>“Is it right,” she cried out, “that so lovely a creature +as I should carry water for that old witch?”</p> + +<p>In a fury she threw the pitcher on the ground and +broke it into a hundred pieces. Then she looked up +and discovered that it wasn’t her own reflection she had +seen in the water but that of the beautiful queen.</p> + +<p>Ashamed of herself, she picked up the broken +pitcher and went home. The old woman, who knew +beforehand what had happened, went out to meet her +with a new pitcher.</p> + +<p>“It’s no matter about the pitcher,” the old woman +said. “Go back to the lake and beg the lovely lady +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>74]</a></span> +to let down the silken cord and pull you up. Tell her +you will comb her hair. When she pulls you up, comb +her hair until she falls asleep. Then stick this pin +into her head. After that you can dress yourself up +in her clothes and sit there like a queen.”</p> + +<p>It was easy enough to persuade the gipsy. She +took the pitcher and the pin and returned to the lake.</p> + +<p>As she drew water she gazed at the lovely queen.</p> + +<p>“Oh, how beautiful you are!” she whined, leering +up at the queen with an evil eye. “How beautiful +you are! Aye, but you’d be a hundred times more +beautiful if you but let me comb out your lovely hair! +Indeed, I would so twine those golden tresses that +your lord would be delighted!”</p> + +<p>With words like these she beguiled and coaxed +the queen until she let down the silken cord and drew +the gipsy up. Once on the throne, the wicked gipsy +combed out the golden tresses and plaited them and +arranged them until the queen fell sound asleep. Then +the gipsy took the pin and stuck it into the queen’s head. +Instantly a beautiful white dove flew off the golden +throne and not a trace was left of the lovely queen +except her rich clothing. The gipsy dressed herself +in this, sat in the queen’s place, and gazed down into +the lake. But in the lake no lovely reflection showed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>75]</a></span> +itself, for even in the queen’s clothes the gipsy remained +a gipsy.</p> + +<p>The young king waged a successful war against his +enemies and made peace. Scarcely had he got home +when he hurried to the garden to see whether anything +had happened to his heart’s delight. Who can express +in words his astonishment and horror when instead of +his beautiful wife he saw the evil gipsy!</p> + +<p>“Ah, my dearest one, how you have changed!” +he murmured and tears flowed down his cheeks.</p> + +<p>“Yes, my dear, I have changed, I know I have,” +the gipsy answered. “It was grief for you that has +broken me.”</p> + +<p>She tried to fall on his neck but the king turned +quickly away and left her.</p> + +<p>From that time forth he had no peace but day and +night he mourned the lost beauty of his wife and +nothing consoled him.</p> + +<p>Grieving in this way and thinking always the same +sad thoughts, he was walking one day in the garden +when suddenly a beautiful white dove flew down from +a high tree and alighted on his hand. She looked up +at him with eyes as mournful as his own.</p> + +<p>“Ah, my poor dove,” the king said, “why are you +so sad? Has your mate also changed?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>76]</a></span> +As he spoke he stroked the dove gently on the +back and on the head. On the head he felt a little +lump. He blew aside the feathers and discovered the +head of a pin. He pulled out the pin and instantly +the sad dove changed into his own beautiful wife.</p> + +<p>She told him what had happened to her, how the +gipsy had deceived her and stuck the pin into her head. +The king had the gipsy and the old witch caught at +once and burnt at the stake.</p> + +<p>From that time on nothing happened to mar the +king’s happiness, neither the plots of his enemies nor +the spite of evil people. He lived in love and peace +with his beautiful wife and he ruled his kingdom wisely. +In fact he’s ruling it still if he hasn’t died.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>PRINCE BAYAYA</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF A MAGIC HORSE</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft10.png" width="400" height="362" +alt="A two-headed dragon" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>79]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">PRINCE BAYAYA</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">W</span>HILE the king of a distant country was off at +the wars, his wife, the queen, gave birth to twin +sons. There was great rejoicing throughout the court +and immediately messengers were despatched to the +king to carry him news of the happy event.</p> + +<p>Both boys were well and vigorous and shot up like +little trees. The one who was about a moment the +older was the hardier of the two. Even as a toddling +child he was forever playing in the courtyard and +struggling to climb on the back of a horse that had +been given him because it was just his own age.</p> + +<p>His brother, on the other hand, liked better to play +indoors on the soft carpets. He was always tagging +after his mother and never went outdoors except when +he followed the queen into the garden. For this reason +the younger prince became the mother’s favorite.</p> + +<p>The boys were seven years old before the king +returned from the wars. He looked at his sons with +pride and joy and he said to the queen:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>80]</a></span> +“But which is the older and which is the younger?”</p> + +<p>The queen, thinking that the king was asking in +order to know which was the heir to the throne, slipped +in her favorite as the older. The king, of course, did +not question his wife’s word and so, thereafter, he +always spoke of the younger one as his heir.</p> + +<p>When the boys had grown into handsome youths, +the older one wearied of life at home and of hearing +his brother always spoken of as the future king. He +longed to go out into the world and seek adventures +of his own. One day as he was pouring out his heart +to the little horse that had been his companion from +infancy, much to his amazement the horse spoke to +him with a human voice and said:</p> + +<p>“Since you are not happy at home, go out into the +world. But do not go without your father’s permission. +I advise you to take no one with you and to mount no +horse but me. This will bring you good luck.”</p> + +<p>The prince asked the horse how it happened that +he could talk like a human being.</p> + +<p>“Don’t ask me about that,” the horse said, “for +I can’t tell you. But I wish to be your friend and +counselor and I will be as long as you obey me.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 501px;"> +<a name="boys" id="boys"></a> +<img src="images/cft11.png" width="501" height="600" +alt="The twin princes on horseback" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption"><i>When the Boys Had Grown into Handsome Youths</i></p> + +<p>The prince promised to do as the horse advised. +He went at once to his father to beg his leave to ride +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>81]</a></span> +out into the world. At first his father was unwilling +to let him go but his mother gave her permission at +once. By dint of coaxing he finally won his father’s +consent. Of course the king wanted the prince to set +forth in a manner befitting his rank with a great company +of men and horses. But the prince insisted that +he wished to go unattended.</p> + +<p>“Why, my dear father, do I need any such retinue +as you suggest? Let me have some money for the +journey and let me ride off alone on my own little +horse. This will give me more freedom and less +trouble.”</p> + +<p>Again he had to argue with his father for some +time, but at last he succeeded in arranging everything +to his liking.</p> + +<p>The day of parting came. The little horse stood +saddled at the castle gate. The prince bade farewell +to his parents and his brother. They all wept on his +neck and at the last moment the queen’s heart misgave +her for the deceit she had practised and she made +the prince solemnly promise that he would return home +within a year or at least send them word of his whereabouts.</p> + +<p>So the prince mounted his little horse and off they +trotted. The horse went at a surprising pace for an +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>82]</a></span> +animal that was seventeen years old, but of course +you have guessed before this that he was no ordinary +horse. The years had not touched him at all. His +coat was as smooth as satin and his legs were straight +and sound. No matter how far he traveled he was +always as fresh as a fawn.</p> + +<p>He carried the prince a great distance until they +came in sight of the towers of a beautiful city. Then +the horse left the beaten track and crossed a field to +a big rock.</p> + +<p>When they reached the rock, the horse kicked it +with his hoof three times and the rock opened. They +rode inside and the prince found himself in a comfortable +stable.</p> + +<p>“Now you will leave me here,” the horse said, +“and go on alone to the nearby town. You must +pretend you are dumb and be careful never to betray +yourself. Present yourself at court and have the king +take you into his service. When you need anything, +no matter what it is, come to the rock, knock three +times, and the rock will open to you.”</p> + +<p>The prince thought to himself: “My horse certainly +knows what he’s about, so of course I’ll do exactly as +he says.”</p> + +<p>He disguised himself by bandaging one eye and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>83]</a></span> +making his face look pale and sallow. Then he +presented himself at court and the king, pitying his +youth and his affliction of dumbness, took him into +his service.</p> + +<p>The prince was capable and quick at affairs and it +wasn’t long before the king gave over to him the +management of the household. His advice was asked +in matters of importance and all day long he hurried +about the castle going from one thing to another. If +the king needed a scribe, there wasn’t a cleverer one +anywhere than the prince. Everybody liked him and +everybody was soon calling him Bayaya, because those +were the only sounds he made.</p> + +<p>The king had three daughters, each more beautiful +than the other. The oldest was called Zdobena, the +second Budinka, and the youngest Slavena.</p> + +<p>The prince loved to be with the three girls and as +he was supposed to be dumb and in his disguise was +very ugly, the king made no objection to his spending +his days with them. How could the king possibly +think that there was any danger of Bayaya’s stealing +the heart of one of the princesses? They liked him, all +three of them, and were always taking him with them +wherever they went. He wove garlands for them, spun +golden thread, picked them flowers, and drew them +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>84]</a></span> +designs of birds and flowers for their embroidery. He +liked them all, but he liked the youngest one best. +Everything he did for her was done a little better +than for the others. The garlands he wove her were +richer, the designs he drew for her were more beautiful. +The two older sisters noticed this and laughed, +and when they were alone they teased Slavena. +Slavena, who had a sweet and amiable disposition, accepted +their joking without retort.</p> + +<p>Bayaya had been at the court some time when one +morning he found the king sitting sad and gloomy over +his breakfast. So by signs he asked him what was the +matter.</p> + +<p>The king looked at him and sighed. “Is it possible, +my dear boy,” he said, “that you don’t know what’s the +matter? Don’t you know the calamity that threatens +us? Don’t you know the bitter three days that are +at hand for me?”</p> + +<p>Bayaya, alarmed by the seriousness of the king’s +manner, shook his head.</p> + +<p>“Then I’ll tell you,” said the king, “although you +can be of no help. Years ago three dragons came flying +through the air and alighted on a great rock near +here. The first was nine-headed, the second eighteen-headed, +and the third twenty-seven-headed. At once +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>85]</a></span> +they laid waste the country, devouring the cattle and +killing the people. Soon the city was in a state of siege. +To keep them away we placed all the food we had outside +the gates and in a short time we ourselves were +starving. In desperation I had an old wise woman +called to court and asked her was there any way to +drive these monsters from the land. Alas for me, there +was a way and that way was to promise the awful +creatures my three beautiful daughters when they +reached womanhood. At that time my daughters were +only small children and I thought to myself many +things might happen in the years before they grew +up. So, to relieve my stricken land, I promised the +dragons my daughters. The poor queen died at once +of grief, but my daughters grew up knowing nothing +of their fate. As soon as I made the monstrous bargain, +the dragons flew away and until yesterday were +never again heard of. Last night, a shepherd, beside +himself with terror, brought me the news that the +dragons are again settled in their old rock and are +sending out fearful roars. Tomorrow I must sacrifice +to them my oldest child, the day after tomorrow my +second child, and the day after that my youngest. +Then I shall be left a poor lonely old man with +nothing.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>86]</a></span> +The king strode up and down and tore his hair +in grief.</p> + +<p>In great distress Bayaya went to the princesses. +He found them dressed in black and looking ghastly +pale. They were sitting in a row and bewailing their +fate most piteously. Bayaya tried to comfort them, +telling them by signs that surely some one would appear +to rescue them. But they paid no heed to him +and kept on moaning and weeping.</p> + +<p>Grief and confusion spread throughout the city, +for every one loved the royal family. Every house +as well as the palace was soon draped in black and +the sound of mourning was heard on every side.</p> + +<p>Bayaya hurried secretly out of the city and across +the field to the rock where his magic horse was stabled. +He knocked three times, the rock opened, and he +entered.</p> + +<p>He stroked the horse’s shining mane and kissed his +muzzle in greeting.</p> + +<p>“My dear horse,” he said, “I have come to you +for advice. Help me and I shall be happy forever.”</p> + +<p>So he told the horse the story of the dragons.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know all about those dragons,” the horse +answered. “In fact, it was that you might rescue the +princesses that I brought you here in the first place. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>87]</a></span> +Early tomorrow morning come back and I will tell you +what to do.”</p> + +<p>Bayaya returned to the castle with such joy shining +in his face that if any one had noticed him he +would have been severely rebuked. He spent the day +with the princesses trying to comfort and console them, +but in spite of all he could do they felt only more terrified +as the hours went by.</p> + +<p>The next day at the first streak of dawn he was at +the rock.</p> + +<p>The horse greeted him and said: “Lift up the +stone under my trough and take out what you find +there.”</p> + +<p>Bayaya obeyed. He lifted the stone and under the +stone he found a large chest. Inside the chest he found +three beautiful suits of clothing, with caps and plumes +to match, a sword, and a horse’s bridle. The first +suit was red embroidered in silver and studded with +diamonds, the second was pure white embroidered in +gold, and the third was light blue richly embroidered +with silver and studded with diamonds and pearls.</p> + +<p>For all three suits there was but one mighty sword. +Its blade was beautifully inlaid and its scabbard shone +with precious stones. The horse’s bridle was also richly +jeweled.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>88]</a></span> +“All three suits are for you,” the horse said. “For +the first day, put on the red one.”</p> + +<p>So Bayaya dressed himself in the red suit, buckled +on his sword, and threw the bridle over the horse’s +head.</p> + +<p>“Have no fear,” the horse said as they left the +rock. “Cut bravely into the monster, trusting to your +sword. And remember, do not dismount.”</p> + +<p>At the castle heartbroken farewells were being +taken. Zdobena parted from her father and her sisters, +stepped into a carriage, and accompanied by a great +multitude of her weeping subjects was slowly driven +out of town to the Dragon Rock. As they neared the +fatal spot the princess alighted. She took a few steps +forward, then sank to the earth in a faint.</p> + +<p>At that moment the people saw galloping toward +them a knight with a red and white plume. In a voice +of authority he ordered them to stand back and leave +him to deal alone with the dragon. They were glad +enough to lead the princess away and they all went to +a hill near by from which they could watch the combat +at a safe distance.</p> + +<p>Now there was a deep rumbling noise, the earth +shook, and the Dragon Rock opened. A nine-headed +monster crawled out. He spat fire and poison from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>89]</a></span> +all his nine mouths and cast about his nine heads, this +way and that, looking for his promised prey. When +he saw the knight he let out a horrible roar.</p> + +<p>Bayaya rode straight at him and with one blow of +his sword cut off three of his heads. The dragon +writhed and enveloped Bayaya in flames and poisonous +fumes. But the prince, undaunted, struck at him again +and again until he had cut off all nine heads. The +life that still remained in the loathsome body, the horse +finished with his hoofs.</p> + +<p>When the dragon had perished the prince turned +and galloped back the way he had come.</p> + +<p>Zdobena looked after him, wishing she might follow +him to thank him for her deliverance. But she remembered +her poor father sunk in grief at the castle +and she felt it was her duty to hurry back to him as +quickly as she could.</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to describe in words the +king’s joy when Zdobena appeared before him safe +and uninjured. Her sisters embraced her and wondered +for the first time whether a deliverer would rise +up for them as well.</p> + +<p>Bayaya capered happily about and assured them +by signs that he was certain they, too, would be saved. +Although the prospect of the morrow still terrified +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>90]</a></span> +them, yet hope had come to them and once or twice +Bayaya succeeded in making them laugh.</p> + +<p>The next day Budinka was led out. As on the day +before, the unknown knight appeared, this time wearing +a white plume. He attacked the eighteen-headed +dragon and, after valiant conflict, despatched him. +Then before any one could reach him, he turned and +rode away.</p> + +<p>The princess returned to the castle, grieving that +she had not been able to speak to the knight and express +her gratitude.</p> + +<p>“You, my sisters,” Slavena said, “were backward +not to speak to him before he rode off. Tomorrow if +he delivers me I shall kneel before him and not get up +until he consents to return with me to the castle.”</p> + +<p>Just then Bayaya began laughing and chuckling +and Slavena asked him sharply what was the matter. +He capered about and made her understand that he, +too, wanted to see the knight.</p> + +<p>On the third day Slavena was taken out to the +Dragon Rock. This time the king also went. The +heart of the poor girl quaked with terror when she +thought that if the unknown knight failed to appear +she would be handed over to the horrible monster.</p> + +<p>A joyous shout from the people told her that the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>91]</a></span> +knight was coming. Then she saw him, a gallant figure +in blue with a blue and white plume floating in the +wind. As he had killed the first dragon, and the second +dragon, so he killed the third although the struggle was +longer and the little horse had much to do to stand up +against the poisonous fumes.</p> + +<p>Instantly the dragon was slain, Slavena and the +king rushed up to the knight and begged him to return +with them to the castle. He scarcely knew how to refuse, +especially when Slavena, kneeling before him, +grasped the edge of his tunic and looked up at him +so bewitchingly that his heart melted and he was ready +to do anything she asked.</p> + +<p>But the little horse took matters into his own hands, +reared up suddenly, and galloped off before the knight +had time to dismount.</p> + +<p>So Slavena, too, was unable to bring the knight +back to the castle. The king and all the court were +greatly disappointed but their disappointment was +swallowed up in their joy that the princesses had been +so miraculously saved.</p> + +<p>Shortly after this another disaster threatened the +king. A neighboring king of great power declared +war against him. The king sent far and wide and +summoned together all the nobles of the land. They +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>92]</a></span> +came, and the king when he had laid before them his +cause promised them the hands of his three beautiful +daughters in return for their support. This was indeed +an inducement and every young noble present +swore his allegiance and hurried home to gather his +forces.</p> + +<p>Troops poured in from all sides and soon the king +was ready to set forth.</p> + +<p>He handed over the affairs of the castle to Bayaya +and also intrusted to him the safety of the three princesses. +Bayaya did his duty faithfully, looking after +the castle and planning diversions for the princesses to +keep them happy and cheerful.</p> + +<p>Then one day he complained of feeling sick, but +instead of consulting the court physician, he said he +would go himself to the fields and hunt some herbs. +The princesses laughed at his whim but let him go.</p> + +<p>He hurried to the rock where his horse was stabled, +knocked three times, and entered.</p> + +<p>“You have come in good time,” the horse said. +“The king’s forces are weakening and tomorrow will +decide the battle. Put on the white suit, take your +sword, and let us be off.”</p> + +<p>Bayaya kissed his brave little horse and put on his +white suit.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>93]</a></span> +That night the king was awake planning the morrow’s +battle and sending swift messengers to his daughters +instructing them what to do in case the day went +against him.</p> + +<p>The next morning as the battle joined an unknown +knight suddenly appeared among the king’s forces. +He was all in white. He rode a little horse and he +wielded a mighty sword.</p> + +<p>He struck right and left among the enemy and he +caused such havoc that the king’s forces were instantly +heartened. Gathering around the white knight they +fought so valiantly that soon the enemy broke and +scattered and the king won a mighty victory.</p> + +<p>The knight himself was slightly wounded on the +foot. When the king saw this he jumped down from +his horse, tore off a piece of his own cape, and bound +up the wound. He begged the knight to dismount and +come with him to a tent. But the knight, thanking +him, refused, spurred his horse, and was gone.</p> + +<p>The king nearly wept with disappointment that +the unknown knight to whom he was under one more +obligation had again ridden off without so much as +leaving his name.</p> + +<p>With great rejoicing the king’s forces marched +home carrying vast stores of booty.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>94]</a></span> +“Well, steward,” said the king to Bayaya, “how +have the affairs of the household gone in my absence?”</p> + +<p>Bayaya nodded that everything had gone well, but +the princesses laughed at him and Slavena said:</p> + +<p>“I must enter complaint against your steward, for +he was disobedient. He said he was sick but he would +not consult the court physician. He said he wanted +to go himself and get some herbs. He went and he +was gone two whole days and when he came back +he was sicker than before.”</p> + +<p>The king looked at Bayaya to see if he was still +sick. Bayaya shook his head and capered about to +show the king that he was all right.</p> + +<p>When the princesses heard that the unknown knight +had again appeared and saved the day they were unwilling +to become at once the brides of any of the +nobles, for they thought the knight might perhaps +come demanding one of them.</p> + +<p>Again the king was in a quandary. All the various +nobles had helped him valiantly and the question now +arose to what three of them would the princesses be +awarded. After much thought the king hit upon a +plan which he hoped would decide the matter to the +satisfaction of them all. He called a meeting of the +nobles and said:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>95]</a></span> +“My dear comrades in arms, you remember that I +promised the hands of my daughters to those of you +who would support me in battle. All of you gave me +valiant support. Each of you deserves the hand of one +of my daughters. But, alas, I have only three daughters. +To decide therefore which three of you my +daughters shall marry I make this suggestion: let all +of you stand in the garden in a row and let each of +my daughters throw down a golden apple from a +balcony. Then each princess must wed the man to +whom her apple rolls. My lords, do you all agree +to this?”</p> + +<p>The nobles all agreed and the king sent for his +daughters. The princesses, still thinking of the unknown +knight, were not enthusiastic over this arrangement, +but not to shame their father they, too, agreed.</p> + +<p>So each of the girls, dressed in her loveliest, took +a golden apple in her hand and went up to a balcony.</p> + +<p>Below in the garden the nobles stood in a row. +Bayaya, as though he were a spectator, took his place +at the end of the line.</p> + +<p>First Zdobena threw down her apple. It rolled +straight to the feet of Bayaya but he turned quickly +aside and it rolled on to a handsome youth who +snatched it up with joy and stepped from the line.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>96]</a></span> +Then Budinka threw her apple. It, too, rolled to +Bayaya but he cleverly kicked it on so that it seemed +to roll straight to the feet of a valiant lord who picked +it up and then looked with happy eyes at his lovely +bride.</p> + +<p>Last Slavena threw her apple. This time Bayaya +did not step aside but when the apple rolled to him +he stooped and picked it up. Then he ran to the +balcony, knelt before the princess, and kissed her hand.</p> + +<p>Slavena snatched away her hand and ran to her +chamber, where she wept bitterly to think she would +have to marry Bayaya instead of the unknown knight.</p> + +<p>The king was much disappointed and the nobles +murmured. But what was done was done, and could +not be undone.</p> + +<p>That night there was a great feast but Slavena +remained in her chamber refusing to appear among +the guests.</p> + +<p>It was moonlight and from the rock in the field +the little horse carried his master for the last time. +When they reached the castle Bayaya dismounted. +Then he kissed his faithful friend farewell, and the +little horse vanished.</p> + +<p>Slavena still sat in her chamber, sad and unhappy. +When a maidservant opened the door and said that +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>97]</a></span> +Bayaya wished to speak to her, the princess hid her +face in the pillows.</p> + +<p>Presently some one took her by the hand and when +she raised her head she saw standing before her the +beautiful knight of her dreams.</p> + +<p>“Are you angry with your bridegroom that you +hide from him?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Why do you ask me that?” Slavena whispered. +“You are not my bridegroom. Bayaya is my bridegroom.”</p> + +<p>“I am Bayaya. I am the dumb youth who wove +you garlands. I am the knight who saved you and +your sisters from death and who helped your father in +battle. See, here is the piece of your father’s cape with +which he bound up my wounded foot.”</p> + +<p>That this was so was joy indeed to Slavena. She +led the white knight into the banquet hall and presented +him to the king as her bridegroom. When all had +been explained, the king rejoiced, the guests marveled, +and Zdobena and Budinka looked sideways at each +other with little gasps of envy.</p> + +<p>After the wedding Bayaya rode away with Slavena +to visit his parents. When he reached his native town +the first news he got was of the death of his brother. +He hurried to the castle to comfort his parents. They +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>98]</a></span> +were overjoyed at his return, for they had long ago +given him up for dead.</p> + +<p>After a time Bayaya succeeded to the kingdom. +He lived long and prospered and he enjoyed unclouded +happiness with his wife.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>KATCHA AND THE DEVIL</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF A CLINGING VINE</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft12.png" width="400" height="300" +alt="The devil" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>101]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">KATCHA AND THE DEVIL</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once a woman named Katcha who +lived in a village where she owned her own cottage +and garden. She had money besides but little good +it did her because she was such an ill-tempered vixen +that nobody, not even the poorest laborer, would marry +her. Nobody would even work for her, no matter what +she paid, for she couldn’t open her mouth without +scolding, and whenever she scolded she raised her shrill +voice until you could hear it a mile away. The older +she grew the worse she became until by the time she +was forty she was as sour as vinegar.</p> + +<p>Now as it always happens in a village, every Sunday +afternoon there was a dance either at the burgomaster’s, +or at the tavern. As soon as the bagpipes +sounded, the boys all crowded into the room and the +girls gathered outside and looked in the windows. +Katcha was always the first at the window. The music +would strike up and the boys would beckon the girls +to come in and dance, but no one ever beckoned Katcha. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>102]</a></span> +Even when she paid the piper no one ever asked her to +dance. Yet she came Sunday after Sunday just the +same.</p> + +<p>One Sunday afternoon as she was hurrying to the +tavern she thought to herself: “Here I am getting old +and yet I’ve never once danced with a boy! Plague +take it, today I’d dance with the devil if he asked me!”</p> + +<p>She was in a fine rage by the time she reached the +tavern, where she sat down near the stove and looked +around to see what girls the boys had invited to dance.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a stranger in hunter’s green came in. He +sat down at a table near Katcha and ordered drink. +When the serving maid brought the beer, he reached +over to Katcha and asked her to drink with him. At +first she was much taken back at this attention, then +she pursed her lips coyly and pretended to refuse, but +finally she accepted.</p> + +<p>When they had finished drinking, he pulled a ducat +from his pocket, tossed it to the piper, and called out:</p> + +<p>“Clear the floor, boys! This is for Katcha and me +alone!”</p> + +<p>The boys snickered and the girls giggled hiding behind +each other and stuffing their aprons into their +mouths so that Katcha wouldn’t hear them laughing. +But Katcha wasn’t noticing them at all. Katcha was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>103]</a></span> +dancing with a fine young man! If the whole world +had been laughing at her, Katcha wouldn’t have cared.</p> + +<p>The stranger danced with Katcha all afternoon and +all evening. Not once did he dance with any one else. +He bought her marzipan and sweet drinks and, when +the hour came to go home, he escorted her through the +village.</p> + +<p>“Ah,” sighed Katcha when they reached her cottage +and it was time to part, “I wish I could dance +with you forever!”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” said the stranger. “Come with me.”</p> + +<p>“Where do you live?”</p> + +<p>“Put your arm around my neck and I’ll tell you.”</p> + +<p>Katcha put both arms about his neck and instantly +the man changed into a devil and flew straight down +to hell.</p> + +<p>At the gates of hell he stopped and knocked.</p> + +<p>His comrades came and opened the gates and when +they saw that he was exhausted, they tried to take +Katcha off his neck. But Katcha held on tight and +nothing they could do or say would make her budge.</p> + +<p>The devil finally had to appear before the Prince +of Darkness himself with Katcha still glued to his neck.</p> + +<p>“What’s that thing you’ve got around your neck?” +the Prince asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>104]</a></span> +So the devil told how as he was walking about on +earth he had heard Katcha say she would dance with +the devil himself if he asked her. “So I asked her to +dance with me,” the devil said. “Afterwards just to +frighten her a little I brought her down to hell. And +now she won’t let go of me!”</p> + +<p>“Serve you right, you dunce!” the Prince said. +“How often have I told you to use common sense when +you go wandering around on earth! You might have +known Katcha would never let go of a man once she +had him!”</p> + +<p>“I beg your Majesty to make her let go!” the +poor devil implored.</p> + +<p>“I will not!” said the Prince. “You’ll have to +carry her back to earth yourself and get rid of her as +best you can. Perhaps this will be a lesson to you.”</p> + +<p>So the devil, very tired and very cross, shambled +back to earth with Katcha still clinging to his neck. +He tried every way to get her off. He promised her +wooded hills and rich meadows if she but let him go. +He cajoled her, he cursed her, but all to no avail. +Katcha still held on.</p> + +<p>Breathless and discouraged he came at last to a +meadow where a shepherd, wrapped in a great shaggy +sheepskin coat, was tending his flocks. The devil +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>105]</a></span> +transformed himself into an ordinary looking man so that +the shepherd didn’t recognize him.</p> + +<p>“Hi, there,” the shepherd said, “what’s that you’re +carrying?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t ask me,” the devil said with a sigh. “I’m +so worn out I’m nearly dead. I was walking yonder +not thinking of anything at all when along comes a +woman and jumps on my back and won’t let go. I’m +trying to carry her to the nearest village to get rid +of her there, but I don’t believe I’m able. My legs are +giving out.”</p> + +<p>The shepherd, who was a good-natured chap, said: +“I tell you what: I’ll help you. I can’t leave my +sheep long, but I’ll carry her halfway.”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” said the devil, “I’d be very grateful if you +did!”</p> + +<p>So the shepherd yelled at Katcha: “Hi, there, you! +Catch hold of me!”</p> + +<p>When Katcha saw that the shepherd was a handsome +youth, she let go of the devil and leapt upon the +shepherd’s back, catching hold of the collar of his +sheepskin coat.</p> + +<p>Now the young shepherd soon found that the long +shaggy coat and Katcha made a pretty heavy load for +walking. In a few moments he was sick of his bargain +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>106]</a></span> +and began casting about for some way of getting rid +of Katcha.</p> + +<p>Presently he came to a pond and he thought to +himself that he’d like to throw her in. He wondered +how he could do it. Perhaps he could manage it by +throwing in his greatcoat with her. The coat was so +loose that he thought he could slip out of it without +Katcha’s discovering what he was doing. Very cautiously +he slipped out one arm. Katcha didn’t move. +He slipped out the other arm. Still Katcha didn’t +move. He unlooped the first button. Katcha noticed +nothing. He unlooped the second button. Still Katcha +noticed nothing. He unlooped the third button +and kerplunk! he had pitched coat and Katcha and all +into the middle of the pond!</p> + +<p>When he got back to his sheep, the devil looked at +him in amazement.</p> + +<p>“Where’s Katcha?” he gasped.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” the shepherd said, pointing over his shoulder +with his thumb, “I decided to leave her up yonder in +a pond.”</p> + +<p>“My dear friend,” the devil cried, “I thank you! +You have done me a great favor. If it hadn’t been +for you I might be carrying Katcha till doomsday. +I’ll never forget you and some time I’ll reward you. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>107]</a></span> +As you don’t know who it is you’ve helped, I must +tell you I’m a devil.”</p> + +<p>With these words the devil vanished.</p> + +<p>For a moment the shepherd was dazed. Then he +laughed and said to himself: “Well, if they’re all as +stupid as he is, we ought to be able for them!”</p> + +<p>The country where the shepherd lived was ruled +over by a dissolute young duke who passed his days +in riotous living and his nights in carousing. He gave +over the affairs of state to two governors who were as +bad as he. With extortionate taxes and unjust fines +they robbed the people until the whole land was +crying out against them.</p> + +<p>Now one day for amusement the duke summoned +an astrologer to court and ordered him to read in the +planets the fate of himself and his two governors. +When the astrologer had cast a horoscope for each +of the three reprobates, he was greatly disturbed and +tried to dissuade the duke from questioning him further.</p> + +<p>“Such danger,” he said, “threatens your life and +the lives of your two governors that I fear to speak.”</p> + +<p>“Whatever it is,” said the duke, “speak. But I +warn you to speak the truth, for if what you say does +not come to pass you will forfeit your life.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>108]</a></span> +The astrologer bowed and said: “Hear then, oh +Duke, what the planets foretell: Before the second +quarter of the moon, on such and such a day, at such +and such an hour, a devil will come and carry off the +two governors. At the full of the moon on such and +such a day, at such and such an hour, the same devil +will come for your Highness and carry you off to +hell.”</p> + +<p>The duke pretended to be unconcerned but in his +heart he was deeply shaken. The voice of the astrologer +sounded to him like the voice of judgment and +for the first time conscience began to trouble him.</p> + +<p>As for the governors, they couldn’t eat a bite of +food and were carried from the palace half dead with +fright. They piled their ill-gotten wealth into wagons +and rode away to their castles, where they barred all +the doors and windows in order to keep the devil out.</p> + +<p>The duke reformed. He gave up his evil ways and +corrected the abuses of state in the hope of averting if +possible his cruel fate.</p> + +<p>The poor shepherd had no inkling of any of these +things. He tended his flocks from day to day and +never bothered his head about the happenings in the +great world.</p> + +<p>Suddenly one day the devil appeared before him +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>109]</a></span> +and said: “I have come, my friend, to repay you for +your kindness. When the moon is in its first quarter, +I was to carry off the former governors of this land +because they robbed the poor and gave the duke evil +counsel. However, they’re behaving themselves now so +they’re to be given another chance. But they don’t +know this. Now on such and such a day do you go to +the first castle where a crowd of people will be assembled. +When a cry goes up and the gates open and +I come dragging out the governor, do you step up to +me and say: ‘What do you mean by this? Get out of +here or there’ll be trouble!’ I’ll pretend to be greatly +frightened and make off. Then ask the governor to +pay you two bags of gold, and if he haggles just +threaten to call me back. After that go on to the +castle of the second governor and do the same thing +and demand the same pay. I warn you, though, be +prudent with the money and use it only for good. +When the moon is full, I’m to carry off the duke himself, +for he was so wicked that he’s to have no second +chance. So don’t try to save him, for if you do you’ll +pay for it with your own skin. Don’t forget!”</p> + +<p>The shepherd remembered carefully everything the +devil told him. When the moon was in its first quarter +he went to the first castle. A great crowd of people +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>110]</a></span> +was gathered outside waiting to see the devil carry +away the governor.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a loud cry of despair, the +gates of the castle opened, and there was the devil, +as black as night, dragging out the governor. He, +poor man, was half dead with fright.</p> + +<p>The shepherd elbowed his way through the crowd, +took the governor by the hand, and pushed the devil +roughly aside.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by this?” he shouted. “Get +out of here or there’ll be trouble!”</p> + +<p>Instantly the devil fled and the governor fell on +his knees before the shepherd and kissed his hands and +begged him to state what he wanted in reward. When +the shepherd asked for two bags of gold, the governor +ordered that they be given him without delay.</p> + +<p>Then the shepherd went to the castle of the second +governor and went through exactly the same performance.</p> + +<p>It goes without saying that the duke soon heard of +the shepherd, for he had been anxiously awaiting the +fate of the two governors. At once he sent a wagon +with four horses to fetch the shepherd to the palace and +when the shepherd arrived he begged him piteously to +rescue him likewise from the devil’s clutches.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>111]</a></span> +“Master,” the shepherd answered, “I cannot promise +you anything. I have to consider my own safety. +You have been a great sinner, but if you really want +to reform, if you really want to rule your people justly +and kindly and wisely as becomes a true ruler, then +indeed I will help you even if I have to suffer hellfire +in your place.”</p> + +<p>The duke declared that with God’s help he would +mend his ways and the shepherd promised to come back +on the fatal day.</p> + +<p>With grief and dread the whole country awaited +the coming of the full moon. In the first place the +people had greeted the astrologer’s prophecy with joy, +but since the duke had reformed their feelings for him +had changed.</p> + +<p>Time sped fast as time does whether joy be coming +or sorrow and all too soon the fatal day arrived.</p> + +<p>Dressed in black and pale with fright, the duke +sat expecting the arrival of the devil.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the door flew open and the devil, black +as night, stood before him. He paused a moment and +then he said, politely:</p> + +<p>“Your time has come, Lord Duke, and I am here +to get you!”</p> + +<p>Without a word the duke arose and followed the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>112]</a></span> +devil to the courtyard, which was filled with a great +multitude of people.</p> + +<p>At that moment the shepherd, all out of breath, +came pushing his way through the crowd, and ran +straight at the devil, shouting out:</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by this? Get out of here or +there’ll be trouble!”</p> + +<p>“What do <em>you</em> mean?” whispered the devil. +“Don’t you remember what I told you?”</p> + +<p>“Hush!” the shepherd whispered back. “I don’t +care anything about the duke. This is to warn you! +You know Katcha? She’s alive and she’s looking for +you!”</p> + +<p>The instant the devil heard the name of Katcha +he turned and fled.</p> + +<p>All the people cheered the shepherd, while the +shepherd himself laughed in his sleeve to think that +he had taken in the devil so easily.</p> + +<p>As for the duke, he was so grateful to the shepherd +that he made him his chief counselor and loved him as +a brother. And well he might, for the shepherd was a +sensible man and always gave him sound advice.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>THE BETROTHAL GIFTS</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF KUBIK AND THE FROG</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft13.png" width="400" height="308" +alt="A frog" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>115]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">THE BETROTHAL GIFTS</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> FARMER who had three sons was much troubled +in his mind as to how he should leave his +property. “My farm is too small to divide,” he kept +thinking to himself. “If I divide it into three equal +parts and give each of my sons one part, they will all be +poor cottagers, and yet, if I give it all to one son, I +shall be unjust to the other two. My grandfather +always said that it is a father’s duty to treat all his +children alike and I’m sure I don’t want to depart +from his teachings.”</p> + +<p>At last he called his sons together and said: “I +have hit upon a plan whereby fate shall decide which +of you shall be my heir. You must all go out into the +world and find brides, and he who brings back as a +betrothal gift the most beautiful ring shall have the +farm.”</p> + +<p>The sons agreed to this plan and the next day they +all set out in different directions in quest of brides.</p> + +<p>Now the youngest son, whose name was Kubik, was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>116]</a></span> +not considered as bright as his brothers, for he was +kind to beggars and he never drove a hard bargain. +His brothers often laughed at him and his father +pitied him, for he thought that Kubik was too gentle +to make his way in the world.</p> + +<p>Kubik’s path took him into a deep forest. He +walked on and on until suddenly a little frog hopped +up in front of him and said:</p> + +<p>“Where are you going, Kubik?”</p> + +<p>Now Kubik had never in all his life heard of a frog +that could talk. At first he was frightened but even so +he was too polite not to answer a civil question. So +he told the frog about his father and the farm and the +quest for betrothal gifts upon which he and his brothers +were bound.</p> + +<p>The frog listened and when he was finished she said: +“Come with me, Kubik, and my daughter, Kachenka, +will give you a more beautiful ring than any your +father or brothers have ever seen.”</p> + +<p>Kubik hesitated, but at last not to hurt the frog’s +feelings he agreed. “But if your daughter Kachenka +looks like you,” he thought to himself, “Heaven help +me, for she’ll be a pretty dear price to pay for a farm!”</p> + +<p>The frog led him to a deep valley at one side of +which rose a high rocky cliff that was honey-combed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>117]</a></span> +with caverns. The frog hopped into one of these and +called out:</p> + +<p>“Kachenka, my child, where are you? Here is +Kubik come to woo you and to beg a betrothal gift. +Bring out your little box of rings.”</p> + +<p>Instantly a second frog appeared dragging a heavy +jewel casket. Kachenka, alas, was a hundred times +uglier than her mother. Her legs were crooked, her +face was all covered with spots, and when she spoke +her voice was hoarse and croaking.</p> + +<p>For a moment Kubik shivered and turned away in +disgust, but only for a moment until he remembered +that it wasn’t Kachenka’s fault that she was a frog.</p> + +<p>The two frogs put the casket before him and opened +it and Kubik saw that it was filled with a collection of +the rarest and most beautiful rings in the world.</p> + +<p>“Make your own choice, Kubik,” the old frog said.</p> + +<p>Kubik selected as plain a ring as there was, for +he was ashamed to take one of the handsomest.</p> + +<p>“Not that one!” the old frog said, “unless you +want your brothers to laugh at you.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon she herself picked out the ring that had +the biggest diamond of them all, wrapped it up carefully +in paper, and handed it to Kubik.</p> + +<p>“Now hurry home,” she said, “for your brothers +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>118]</a></span> +are already there and your father is waiting for you.”</p> + +<p>As soon as Kubik reached home the farmer called +his three sons together and demanded to be shown +their betrothal gifts.</p> + +<p>All the eldest son had was a common brass ring.</p> + +<p>“Um,” the farmer said, shaking his head. “Well, +put it away for a keepsake.”</p> + +<p>The second son showed a silver ring that was worth +a few cents more.</p> + +<p>“A little better,” the old man mumbled, “but not +good enough for a farmer. Put it away for a keepsake. +And now,” he said, turning to his youngest son, “let +us see what Kubik has brought from his promised +bride.”</p> + +<p>They all looked at Kubik, and Kubik blushed as +he felt in his pocket for the little package.</p> + +<p>“Ho, ho!” his brothers laughed. “Kubik has such +a fine ring that he has to keep it wrapped up.”</p> + +<p>But when he opened the paper they stopped laughing, +and well they might, for there was a great diamond +that sparkled and blazed until it seemed that the sun +was shining in the room.</p> + +<p>“Kubik!” the farmer cried when at last he found +his voice, “where did you get that ring? You must +have stolen it, you wicked boy!” And without waiting +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>119]</a></span> +to hear what Kubik had to say, he reached for a whip +and trounced the poor lad to within an inch of his life. +Then he took the ring and hid it carefully away.</p> + +<p>“Now, my boys,” he said to his sons, “you will all +have to make another trial. This time ask of your +promised brides the gift of an embroidered kerchief +and he who brings back the most beautiful kerchief +shall be my heir.”</p> + +<p>So the next day the three sons again started out, +each in a different direction.</p> + +<p>Kubik thought to himself: “I won’t go the way I +went yesterday or I may meet that old frog again and +then, when I get home, the only prize I’ll get will be +another beating.”</p> + +<p>So he took a different path but he hadn’t gone far +before the old frog hopped up in front of him.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, Kubik?” she asked.</p> + +<p>At first Kubik didn’t want to tell her but she +questioned him and finally, not to seem rude, he told +her about the beating his father had given him on +account of Kachenka’s ring and about the new quest +for embroidered kerchiefs upon which his father was +now sending him and his brothers.</p> + +<p>“Now don’t think any more about that whipping,” +the old frog advised him. “And as for an embroidered +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>120]</a></span> +kerchief, why, Kachenka is the very girl for that! She +will give you one that will make your brothers open +their eyes!”</p> + +<p>Kubik wasn’t sure that he wanted to accept another +of Kachenka’s gifts, but the old frog urged him and +at last he agreed. So again they took the path to the +rocky cliff. The old frog called her daughter out as +before and presently Kachenka appeared dragging a +chest that was filled with the most wonderful of kerchiefs, +all of fine silk and all richly embroidered and +so large that they were more like shawls than kerchiefs.</p> + +<p>Kubik reached in and took the first that came to +hand.</p> + +<p>“Tut, tut!” the old frog said. “That’s no way +to select a kerchief.”</p> + +<p>Then she herself picked out the biggest and the +most richly embroidered of them all and wrapped it +up in paper. She gave it to Kubik and said:</p> + +<p>“Now hurry home, for your brothers are already +there and your father is waiting for you.”</p> + +<p>As soon as Kubik reached home the farmer called +his three sons together and demanded to be shown their +betrothal gifts.</p> + +<p>All the eldest one had was a small cheap kerchief +of no value whatever.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>121]</a></span> +“Um,” the farmer said, shaking his head. “Well, +put it away for a keepsake.”</p> + +<p>The kerchief of the second had cost a few cents +more.</p> + +<p>“A little better,” the old man mumbled. “Perhaps +it’s good enough for a farmer. And now,” he +said, turning to his youngest son, “let us see what +Kubik has brought from his promised bride.”</p> + +<p>They all looked at Kubik, and Kubik blushed as he +pulled out a parcel from under his shirt.</p> + +<p>“Ho, ho!” his brothers laughed. “Kubik has such +a fine kerchief that he has to keep it wrapped up in +paper!”</p> + +<p>But when Kubik opened the paper they stopped +laughing, and well they might, for there was a silken +kerchief so big that it could have covered the whole +room and so richly embroidered that any princess in +the world would have been proud to own it.</p> + +<p>“Kubik!” the farmer cried when at last he was +able to speak, “where did you get that kerchief? You +must have stolen it, you wicked boy!” And without +waiting to hear what Kubik had to say, he reached +down the whip again and trounced the poor boy to +within an inch of his life. Then he took the kerchief +and hid it carefully away.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>122]</a></span> +“Now, my sons,” he said, “you will all have to +make another trial. But this time it will not be for a +ring or a kerchief. This time bring home your brides +and he whose bride is the most beautiful shall be my +heir.”</p> + +<p>So the next day the three sons again started out, +each in a different direction.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to see Kachenka again,” poor Kubik +said to himself. “Twice I’ve brought back the best +betrothal gift and each time I’ve got a beating for it. +I wonder what they would say if I brought home a +frog for a bride! Then they would have something to +laugh at!”</p> + +<p>So he took a different path through the forest but +again he hadn’t gone far before the old frog hopped +up in front of him. This time Kubik turned and ran. +The old frog called after him but the louder she called +the faster he ran.</p> + +<p>He ran on and on until suddenly a great snake +stopped him. The snake reared high its head, then +dropped into a coil. Again it reared up and swayed +from side to side threatening to strike if Kubik went +on. So Kubik saw that fate was determined that he +should marry a frog and reluctantly he turned back.</p> + +<p>The snake led him to the cliff, where the old frog +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>123]</a></span> +greeted him kindly and thanked the snake for his faithful +service.</p> + +<p>Poor Kubik! He was very tired and very unhappy. +When you come to think of it, who wouldn’t +be unhappy at the prospect of being united for life +to a frog?</p> + +<p>Kubik was so tired that presently he fell asleep +and it was just as well he did, for at least in dreams +he could forget his troubles.</p> + +<p>The next morning when he woke and rubbed his +eyes, he found himself lying on a soft feather bed, +white as snow, in a splendid room with decorations +that were fit for a king. A fine silken shirt lay spread +out on a chair beside the bed and beyond the chair was +a stand with a silver basin. When he got up attendants +came running in carrying clothes of richly woven cloth +of gold. They dressed Kubik and they combed his +hair until they had him looking like a young prince. +Then they brought him breakfast and there was cream +with the coffee and I would have you know that this +was only the second time in his life that Kubik had ever +had cream with his coffee!</p> + +<p>Kubik did not know what to think of it all. His +head went round and round. When he looked out the +window he saw no trace of cliff or caverns or forest. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>124]</a></span> +Instead he saw a big town with streets and houses and +people going to and fro.</p> + +<p>Presently music began to play under the window, +a great crowd gathered and soon attendants came in +to escort Lord Kubik out. As he reached the castle +gate, the people cheered and a coach and six drove up. +Two ladies were in it, a mother and daughter, both +dressed in beautiful silks. They alighted from the +coach and when they saw Kubik they smiled and came +toward him with outstretched hands.</p> + +<p>“You don’t know us, do you, Kubik?” the older +lady said. “I was that old frog who coaxed you to +the cliff and this, my beautiful daughter, was the other +little frog, the very ugly one, that you feared you +would have to take home to your father’s house as +your bride. You see, Kubik, we were all under an +evil enchantment. Many years ago a wicked magician +brought ruin on us and our kingdom. He changed +our subjects into snakes and us into frogs and turned +our fine city into a rocky cliff. Nothing could break +the enchantment until some one should come and ask +a betrothal gift from my daughter. We lived in the +forest for years and years and all those years I begged +all the people who wandered by to help us but they +only trod on us or turned away from us in disgust. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>125]</a></span> +You, Kubik, were the first not to scorn us for our +ugly looks. By this you broke the evil spell that +held us and now we are all free. As a reward you shall +marry my daughter, the Princess Kachenka, and be +made king!”</p> + +<p>Then the old queen took Kubik by the hand and +led him to the royal coach, where she made him sit between +her and the princess. Music played and the +people cheered, and in this style they drove to Kubik’s +native village and to his father’s house.</p> + +<p>The old man was in the yard chopping firewood +and his older sons were helping him. They, too, had +brought home their brides, plain country girls from +poor farms, and at that moment they were all awaiting +Kubik’s arrival.</p> + +<p>“Look, father,” the oldest son cried, “some fine +folk are turning in here!”</p> + +<p>“We’re not behind in our taxes, are we?” the +second son asked.</p> + +<p>“Hush!” the old man whispered. “I have nothing +to fear. My affairs are all in good order.”</p> + +<p>He put his cap respectfully under his arm and stood +bareheaded and both his sons followed his example.</p> + +<p>The coach drove straight into the yard and a handsome +young lord and two beautiful ladies alighted. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>126]</a></span> +The handsome young lord greeted the old man and his +sons and they bowed and scraped and pressed their +hats under their arms tighter and tighter.</p> + +<p>Then they all stepped into the old kitchen that +was black with the smoke of many years and the +handsome young lord sat down on the bench behind +the table as though that was where he always sat. The +two brothers and their brides shrank back against the +oven and held their breath.</p> + +<p>Then the handsome young lord said to the old man: +“Don’t you know me?”</p> + +<p>“Where could I ever have seen your lordship?” +the farmer asked, humbly. He kept bobbing so low +it was a wonder he didn’t bump his head against the +floor.</p> + +<p>“And do neither of your sons know me? I think +these are your sons, aren’t they?”</p> + +<p>The farmer kept on bowing and the two sons looked +down, too embarrassed to speak.</p> + +<p>At length the handsome young lord said: “What, +don’t you know your own son, Kubik, whom you used +to beat for stealing when he showed you his betrothal +gifts?”</p> + +<p>At that the old man looked at him closely and +cried out: “Bless my soul, I believe it is our Kubik! +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>127]</a></span> +But who could recognize the boy!... And is this +his bride? That settles it! Kubik shall have the farm! +Kubik has brought home the most beautiful bride!”</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 419px;"> +<a name="kubik" id="kubik"></a> +<img src="images/cft14.png" width="419" height="600" +alt="The king and the old man shake hands" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption"><i>Kubik Greeting His Old Father</i></p> + +<p>“Kubik doesn’t need the farm,” the old queen +said, “nor will you need it any longer nor your other +sons. You will all come home with us to our kingdom +over which Kubik is now king. And may God grant +you many years to live on in peace and quiet.”</p> + +<p>The farmer was overjoyed at this arrangement. +He embraced his son, and his son’s bride, and his son’s +royal mother-in-law.</p> + +<p>He gave his farm to the poorest man in the village +and then he and his sons accompanied Kubik back +to his kingdom. There he lived long in peace and +comfort enjoying the thought that good fortune had +come to them all on account of his determination not +to divide the farm.</p> + +<p>The poor man who inherited the farm prayed for +him and his sons every night and never tired of telling +the story of how Kubik became a king and his brothers +courtiers.</p> + +<p>So for many years the memory of Kubik was kept +green. Now people are beginning to forget him, so +I thought it was time that I tell his story again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>GRANDFATHER’S EYES</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF THREE WICKED YEZINKAS</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft15.png" width="400" height="372" +alt="A goat" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>131]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">GRANDFATHER’S EYES</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a poor boy whom +everybody called Yanechek. His father and +mother were dead and he was forced to start out alone +in the world to make a living. For a long time he +could find nothing to do. He wandered on and on +and at last he came to a little house that stood by +itself near the edge of the woods. An old man sat +on the doorstep and Yanechek could see that he was +blind, for there were empty holes where his eyes used +to be.</p> + +<p>Some goats that were penned in a shed near the +house began bleating and the old man said:</p> + +<p>“You poor things, you want to go to pasture, +don’t you? But I can’t see to drive you and I have +no one else to send.”</p> + +<p>“Send me, grandfather,” Yanechek said. “Take +me as your goatherd and let me work for +you.”</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” the old man asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>132]</a></span> +Yanechek told him who he was and the old man +agreed to take him.</p> + +<p>“And now,” he said, “drive the goats to pasture. +But one thing, Yanechek: don’t take them to the hill +over there in the woods or the Yezinkas may get you! +That’s where they caught me!”</p> + +<p>Now Yanechek knew that the Yezinkas were +wicked witches who lived in a cave in the woods and +went about in the guise of beautiful young women. +If they met you they would greet you modestly and +say something like “God bless you!” to make you +think they were good and kind and then, once they +had you in their power, they would put you to sleep +and gouge out your eyes! Oh, yes, Yanechek knew +about the Yezinkas.</p> + +<p>“Never fear, grandfather, the Yezinkas won’t +get me!”</p> + +<p>The first day and the second day Yanechek kept +the goats near home. But the third day he said to +himself: “I think I’ll try the hill in the woods. +There’s better grass there and I’m not afraid of the +Yezinkas.”</p> + +<p>Before he started out he cut three long slender +switches from a blackberry bramble, wound them into +small coils, and hid them in the crown of his hat. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>133]</a></span> +Then he drove the goats through the woods where they +nibbled at leaves and branches, beside a deep river +where they paused to drink, and up the grassy slopes +of the hill.</p> + +<p>There the goats scattered this way and that and +Yanechek sat down on a stone in the shade. He was +hardly seated when he looked up and there before him, +dressed all in white, stood the most beautiful maiden +in the world. Her skin was red as roses and white as +milk, her eyes were black as sloe berries, and her hair, +dark as the raven’s wing, fell about her shoulders in +long waving tresses. She smiled and offered Yanechek +a big red apple.</p> + +<p>“God bless you, shepherd boy,” she said. “Here’s +something for you that grew in my own garden.”</p> + +<p>But Yanechek knew that she must be a Yezinka +and that, if he ate the apple, he would fall asleep and +then she would gouge out his eyes. So he said, +politely: “No, thank you, beautiful maiden. My +master has a tree in his garden with apples that are +bigger than yours and I have eaten as many as I +want.”</p> + +<p>When the maiden saw that Yanechek was not to +be coaxed, she disappeared.</p> + +<p>Presently a second maiden came, more beautiful, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>134]</a></span> +if possible, than the first. In her hand she carried a +lovely red rose.</p> + +<p>“God bless you, shepherd boy,” she said. “Isn’t +this a lovely rose? I picked it myself from the hedge. +How fragrant it is! Will you smell it?”</p> + +<p>She offered him the rose but Yanechek refused it.</p> + +<p>“No, thank you, beautiful maiden. My master’s +garden is full of roses much sweeter than yours and I +smell roses all the time.”</p> + +<p>At that the second maiden shrugged her shoulders +and disappeared.</p> + +<p>Presently a third one came, the youngest and most +beautiful of them all. In her hand she carried a +golden comb.</p> + +<p>“God bless you, shepherd boy.”</p> + +<p>“Good day to you, beautiful maiden.”</p> + +<p>She smiled at Yanechek and said: “Truly you are +a handsome lad, but you would be handsomer still if +your hair were nicely combed. Come, let me comb it +for you.”</p> + +<p>Yanechek said nothing but he took off his hat without +letting the maiden see what was hidden in its +crown. She came up close to him and then, just as +she was about to comb his hair, he whipped out one +of the long blackberry switches and struck her over +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>135]</a></span> +the hands. She screamed and tried to escape but she +could not because it is the fate of a Yezinka not to +be able to move if ever a human being strikes her +over the hands with a switch of bramble.</p> + +<p>So Yanechek took her two hands and bound them +together with the long thorny switch while she wept +and struggled.</p> + +<p>“Help, sisters! Help!” she cried.</p> + +<p>At that the two other Yezinkas came running and +when they saw what had happened they, too, began +to weep and to beg Yanechek to unbind their sister’s +hands and let her go.</p> + +<p>But Yanechek only laughed and said: “No. You +unbind them.”</p> + +<p>“But, Yanechek, how can we? Our hands are soft +and the thorns will prick us.”</p> + +<p>However, when they saw that Yanechek was not to +be moved, they went to their sister and tried to help +her. Whereupon Yanechek whipped out the other two +blackberry switches and struck them also on their soft +pretty hands, first one and then the other. After that +they, too, could not move and it was easy enough to +bind them and make them prisoners.</p> + +<p>“Now I’ve got the three of you, you wicked +Yezinkas!” Yanechek said. “It was you who gouged +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>136]</a></span> +out my poor old master’s eyes, you know it was! And +you shall not escape until you do as I ask.”</p> + +<p>He left them there and ran home to his master to +whom he said: “Come, grandfather, for I have found +a means of restoring your eyes!”</p> + +<p>He took the old man by the hand and led him +through the woods, along the bank of the river, and +up the grassy hillside where the three Yezinkas were +still struggling and weeping.</p> + +<p>Then he said to the first of them: “Tell me now +where my master’s eyes are. If you don’t tell me, +I’ll throw you into the river.”</p> + +<p>The first Yezinka pretended she didn’t know. So +Yanechek lifted her up and started down the hill +toward the river.</p> + +<p>That frightened the maiden and she cried out: +“Don’t throw me into the river, Yanechek, and I’ll +find you your master’s eyes, I promise you I will!”</p> + +<p>So Yanechek put her down and she led him to a +cave in the hillside where she and her wicked sisters +had piled up a great heap of eyes—all kinds of eyes +they were: big eyes, little eyes, black eyes, red eyes, +blue eyes, green eyes—every kind of eye in the world +that you can think of.</p> + +<p>She went to the heap and picked out two eyes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>137]</a></span> +which she said were the right ones. But when the +poor old man tried to look through them, he cried out +in fright:</p> + +<p>“I see nothing but dark treetops with sleeping +birds and flying bats! These are not my eyes! They +are owls’ eyes! Take them out! Take them out!”</p> + +<p>When Yanechek saw how the first Yezinka had +deceived him, without another word he picked her up, +threw her into the river, and that was the end of her.</p> + +<p>Then he said to the second sister: “Now you tell +me where my master’s eyes are.”</p> + +<p>At first she, too, pretended she didn’t know, but +when Yanechek threatened to throw her likewise into +the river, she was glad enough to lead him back to the +cave and pick out two eyes that she said were the right +ones.</p> + +<p>But when the poor old man tried to look through +them, again he cried out in fright: “I see nothing but +tangled underbrush and snapping teeth and hot red +tongues! These are not my eyes! They are wolves’ +eyes! Take them out! Take them out!”</p> + +<p>When Yanechek saw how the second Yezinka had +deceived him, without another word he picked her up, +and threw her also into the river, and that was the end +of her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>138]</a></span> +Then Yanechek said to the third sister: “Now you +tell me where my master’s eyes are.”</p> + +<p>At first she, too, pretended she didn’t know, but +when Yanechek threatened to throw her likewise into +the river, she was glad enough to lead him to the cave +and pick out two eyes that she said were the right +ones.</p> + +<p>But when the poor old man tried to look through +them, again he cried out in fright: “I see nothing +but swirling waters and flashing fins! These are not +my eyes! They are fishes’ eyes! Take them out! +Take them out!”</p> + +<p>When Yanechek saw how the third Yezinka had +deceived him, without another word he was ready to +serve her as he had served her sisters. But she begged +him not to drown her and she said:</p> + +<p>“Let me try again, Yanechek, and I’ll find you the +right eyes, I promise you I will!”</p> + +<p>So Yanechek let her try again and from the very +bottom of the heap she picked out two more eyes that +she swore were the right ones.</p> + +<p>When the old man looked through them, he clapped +his hands and said: “These are my own eyes, praise +God! Now I can see as well as ever!”</p> + +<p>After that the old man and Yanechek lived on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>139]</a></span> +happily together. Yanechek pastured the goats and the +old man made cheeses at home and they ate them together. +And you may be sure that the third Yezinka +never showed herself again on that hill!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>RATTLE-RATTLE-RATTLE AND CHINK-CHINK-CHINK</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF LONG BEARD, THE DWARF, +AND THE TWO SISTERS</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft16.png" width="400" height="383" +alt="A cottage" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>143]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">RATTLE-RATTLE-RATTLE AND CHINK-CHINK-CHINK</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once a poor man whose wife died +leaving him a daughter. The little girl’s name +was Lenka. She was a good little girl, cheerful and +obedient and very industrious, and she did all she +could to make her father comfortable.</p> + +<p>After some time the man married again. His +second wife also had a little girl just Lenka’s age. +Her name was Dorla. Dorla was a lazy, ill-natured +child, always quarreling and bickering. Yet her +mother thought Dorla was perfect and she was always +praising her to her husband.</p> + +<p>“See what a good child my Dorla is,” she would +say to him. “She works and spins and never says a +cross word. Very different from your good-for-nothing +Lenka who always breaks everything she touches +and does nothing in return for all the good food she +eats!”</p> + +<p>She never stopped nagging and scolding her poor +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>144]</a></span> +stepchild and complaining about her to her husband. +Lenka was patient and went on quietly doing what +was right, and she was always polite to her stepmother, +and kind to her ill-natured stepsister.</p> + +<p>She and Dorla used to go to spinning bees together. +Dorla would play and waste her time and hardly fill +one spindle. Lenka always worked industriously and +usually filled two or three spools. Yet, when the two +girls got home, the mother always took Dorla’s half-filled +spindle and said to the father: “See what +beautiful yarn my Dorla spins!” She would hide +Lenka’s spools and say: “Your Lenka did nothing but +play and waste her time!”</p> + +<p>And before other people she talked the same way, +pretending Dorla did everything that she didn’t do +and saying that good industrious Lenka was lazy and +good-for-nothing.</p> + +<p>One night when the two girls were walking home +together from a spinning bee, they came to a ditch in +the road. Dorla jumped quickly across and then +reached back her hand and said:</p> + +<p>“My dear sister, let me hold your spindle. You +may fall and hurt yourself.”</p> + +<p>Poor Lenka, suspecting nothing unkind, handed +Dorla her full spindle. Dorla took it and ran home +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>145]</a></span> +and then boasted to her mother and her stepfather +how much she had spun.</p> + +<p>“Lenka,” she said, “has no yarn at all. She did +nothing but play and waste her time.”</p> + +<p>“You see,” said the woman to her husband. “This +is what I’m always telling you but you never believe +me. That Lenka of yours is a lazy, good-for-nothing +girl who expects me and my poor daughter to do all +the work. I’m not going to stand her in the house +any longer. Tomorrow morning out she goes to make +her own way in the world. Then perhaps she’ll understand +what a good home she’s had with me!”</p> + +<p>The poor man tried to defend Lenka but his wife +would hear nothing. Lenka must go and that was all +there was to it.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning while it was still dark the +woman started Lenka off. She gave her a sack that +she said was full of good meal and smoked meat and +bread. But instead of meal she put in ashes, instead +of smoked meat straw, and instead of bread +stones.</p> + +<p>“Here is meal and smoked meat and bread for +your journey,” she said. “You will be a long time +finding any one who will be as good to you as I have +been! Now be off with you and never let me see you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>146]</a></span> +again! Let your father put you out in service if he +can!”</p> + +<p>The poor man put his ax on his shoulder and +started off with Lenka. He had no place to take her +and he hardly knew what to do. He led her off into +the mountains, where he built her a little two-room +hut. He was ashamed to tell her that he was going +to leave her alone, so he said to her:</p> + +<p>“You stay here, my dear child, while I go farther +into the forest and cut you some firewood.”</p> + +<p>But instead of cutting her firewood, he hung his +mallet on a beech tree and whenever the wind blew, +the mallet made a knocking sound. All afternoon +poor little Lenka hearing the knock-knock of the mallet +thought to herself: “There is my dear father chopping +wood for me!”</p> + +<p>When evening came and he hadn’t returned, Lenka +went out to find him, but all she could find was the +mallet going knock-knock on the tree. Then the poor +girl realized that her father had deceived her but she +forgave him, for she knew that it was her stepmother’s +fault.</p> + +<p>She went back to the little hut to get her supper, +but when she opened the sack her stepmother had +given her, instead of meal and smoked meat and bread, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>147]</a></span> +she found only ashes and straw and stones. Then +indeed did Lenka feel deserted and sitting down she +cried with loneliness and hunger.</p> + +<p>While she was crying an old beggar with a long +beard came into the hut.</p> + +<p>“God grant you happiness, my child,” he said.</p> + +<p>“May He grant you the same, old father,” Lenka +said, standing up and bowing politely.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, my child, thank you. And now will +you be so kind as to wash my face and give me a bite +of supper?”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, old father, I’d gladly wash your face +and give you food, but there’s no water here and nothing +to carry it in. And as for food, my stepmother +filled the sack with ashes, straw, and stones.”</p> + +<p>“That’s nothing, my child. Just go behind the +hut and you will find a spring.”</p> + +<p>Lenka went and there, sure enough, was a clear +bubbling spring and on the ground beside it a bucket. +She filled the bucket and carried it back to the +hut.</p> + +<p>As she entered the door she could hardly believe +her eyes, for on the wall she saw a row of shining +plates, big plates and little plates, and cups, and everything +else that ought to be in a kitchen. The old beggar +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>148]</a></span> +had started a fire, so Lenka at once put on water +to boil.</p> + +<p>“Look in the sack,” the beggar said.</p> + +<p>Lenka untied the sack again and here it was full +of fine meal and bread and smoked meat!</p> + +<p>So now Lenka lost no time in preparing a good +supper. Then she washed the old beggar’s face and +hands and together they ate. After supper Lenka +spread out her ragged clothes on the floor of the +inner room and put the beggar in there for the night. +She herself stretched out on the kitchen bench. It was +a hard bed but Lenka made no complaint and presently +she fell asleep.</p> + +<p>At midnight there was a knocking at the door and +a voice called out:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“<i>A man am I</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Six inches high,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>But a long, long beard</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Hangs from my chin.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Open the door</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And let me in!</i>”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Lenka jumped down and opened the door and +there before her stood a tiny dwarf with a long beard. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>149]</a></span> +He was Long Beard who lived in the mountains and +of whom Lenka had often heard stories.</p> + +<p>He came in dragging after him a heavy bag of +golden ducats.</p> + +<p>“I was that old beggar,” he said, “whose face you +washed and with whom you shared your supper. These +ducats are to reward you for your kindness. Now go +into your bedroom and lie down comfortably.”</p> + +<p>As he said this he vanished.</p> + +<p>Lenka went into her bedroom and there, instead of +her few rags on the floor, was a fine feather bed and +coverlets and a painted chest full of clothes. Lenka +lay down on the feather bed and instantly fell asleep.</p> + +<p>On the third day her father came, supposing by +that time Lenka had either died of hunger or been +devoured by wild beasts. At least, he thought, he +would gather together her bones.</p> + +<p>But when he reached the hut he rubbed his eyes +in surprise. Instead of the rough hut, there was a +pretty little cottage and instead of a handful of bones +there was a happy girl singing away at her spinning.</p> + +<p>“My daughter, my daughter!” he cried. “How +are you?”</p> + +<p>“Very well, dear father. You couldn’t have found +a better place for me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>150]</a></span> +She told him how happy she was and how pleasantly +she passed the time, spinning and singing and +working. Then she took a table-cloth and filled it +with golden ducats and gave it to him.</p> + +<p>So he went away very happy, thanking God for +the good fortune that had come to Lenka.</p> + +<p>As he neared home, the old dog that lay at the door +said to the stepmother:</p> + +<p>“Bow-wow, mistress, here comes the master. It’s +chink-chink the money before him and chink-chink the +money behind him!”</p> + +<p>“Not so, old dog!” the stepmother cried. “It’s +rattle-rattle bones before him and rattle-rattle bones +behind him!”</p> + +<p>Now when the man came into the cottage, he said: +“Wife, give me a basket and let me empty this table-cloth.”</p> + +<p>“What!” she cried. “Do you expect me to give +you a basket for your daughter’s bones?”</p> + +<p>But he began to chink the golden ducats and then +she got a basket fast enough.</p> + +<p>When she had all the ducats safely put away she +said:</p> + +<p>“Isn’t it just like you to find a place like that for +your Lenka! But what have you ever done for my +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>151]</a></span> +poor Dorla? Tomorrow you will take her out into the +world and find a good place for her!”</p> + +<p>So she got ready for Dorla a fine new bed and +stylish clothes and as much good food as she could +carry. The next day the man took Dorla out into +the mountains and built her a little hut of two rooms.</p> + +<p>Dorla sat in the hut and thought about the good +supper she was going to cook for herself.</p> + +<p>In the evening the same old beggar came and said +to her:</p> + +<p>“May God grant you happiness, my child. Won’t +you please wash my face?”</p> + +<p>“Wash your face, indeed!” cried Dorla in a rage. +“This is what I’ll do to you!” And she took a stick +and drove the old beggar away.</p> + +<p>“Very well!” he muttered. “Very well! Very +well!”</p> + +<p>Then Dorla cooked herself a fine supper. After +she had eaten every bite of it herself, she lay down on +the bed and went soundly to sleep.</p> + +<p>At midnight Long Beard knocked at the door and +called out:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“<i>A man am I</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Six inches high,</i><br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>152]</a></span> +<span class="i0"><i>But a long, long beard</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Hangs from my chin.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Open the door</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And let me in!</i>”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Then Dorla was very frightened and she hid in the +corner. Long Beard broke open the door and he +caught Dorla and he shook her out of her skin. It +served her right, too, for she was a wicked, spiteful +girl and she had never been kind to anybody in her +life.</p> + +<p>Long Beard left her bones in a heap on the floor, +and he hung her skin on the nail at the back of the +door. Then he put her grinning skull in the window.</p> + +<p>On the third day Dorla’s mother gave her husband +a brand new table-cloth and said:</p> + +<p>“Go now and see how my Dorla is getting on. +Here is a table-cloth for the ducats.”</p> + +<p>So the man took the table-cloth and went to the +mountains. As he came near the hut, he saw something +in the window that looked like grinning teeth. +He said to himself:</p> + +<p>“Dorla must be very happy to be smiling at me +from this distance.”</p> + +<p>But when he reached the hut all he found of Dorla +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>153]</a></span> +was a heap of bones on the floor, the skin hanging on +the nail behind the door, and the skull grinning in the +window.</p> + +<p>Without a word he gathered the bones into the +table-cloth and started back.</p> + +<p>As he neared home the old dog said:</p> + +<p>“Bow-wow, mistress, here comes the master and +it’s rattle-rattle before him and rattle-rattle behind +him.”</p> + +<p>“Not so, old dog!” cried the woman. “It’s chink-chink +before him, and chink-chink behind him!”</p> + +<p>But the old dog kept on barking and saying:</p> + +<p>“No, no, bow-wow, it’s rattle-rattle before him and +rattle-rattle behind him!”</p> + +<p>In a rage the woman took a stick and beat the dog.</p> + +<p>Then the man stepped into the cottage and at once +his wife brought out a basket for the ducats. But +when he shook out the table-cloth there was only the +rattle-rattle of bones.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>THE BIRD WITH THE GOLDEN GIZZARD</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF TWO BROTHERS</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft17.png" width="400" height="305" +alt="Three wading birds" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>157]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">THE BIRD WITH THE GOLDEN GIZZARD</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once a poor man who had a large family. +He was so poor that he had nothing to feed +the children. For three days they had had no food. +On the third day as the father was out cutting osiers +he saw, sitting in a bush, a small bird that shone like +gold.</p> + +<p>“If I could snare that bird,” he thought to himself, +“and take it home, the children would be amused +and perhaps forget they were hungry.”</p> + +<p>So he caught the bird and carried it home and, sure +enough, the children were so delighted that for two +days they didn’t cry for food.</p> + +<p>On the third day the bird laid a golden egg. The +oldest boy took the egg to the goldsmith to sell it. +The goldsmith examined it and said:</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe I have money enough to buy this +egg.”</p> + +<p>“Just give me some bread,” the boy said. “That +will be enough.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>158]</a></span> +The goldsmith gave him two loaves of bread, one +under each arm, and filled his pockets with golden +ducats. So for once the whole family had all it could +eat and still there was money left over.</p> + +<p>Two days later the bird laid another golden egg +which the boy carried to the goldsmith and sold for +the same price.</p> + +<p>Now the goldsmith had a son who said he would +like to see this wonderful bird. So he went home +with the boy. He looked the bird over very carefully +and under its wings he discovered an inscription that +no one else had seen. The inscription read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p><i>Whoever eats my heart will become king.</i></p> + +<p><i>Whoever eats my gizzard will find under his head +each morning a heap of golden ducats.</i></p> +</div> + +<p>The youth went home and told his father about +the strange inscription. They talked the matter over +and at last decided that it would be well for the young +man to marry the poor man’s oldest daughter provided +he could get the golden bird as dowry.</p> + +<p>The goldsmith went to see the girl’s father and +after some discussion the marriage was arranged.</p> + +<p>The wedding day arrived. The bridegroom ordered +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>159]</a></span> +the bird to be roasted and ready to be put on the table +when the bridal party came home from church. It was +his intention to eat the heart himself and have his +bride eat the gizzard.</p> + +<p>The children of the family cried bitterly at the +thought of losing their pretty bird, but the bridegroom, +of course, had his way.</p> + +<p>Now two of the boys stayed home from the wedding +and they decided that they would like very much to +taste the roast bird if only they could find a piece +that nobody would miss. They did not dare take a +leg or a wing, but they thought it would be safe to +pick out a morsel from the inside. So one boy ate +the heart, the other the gizzard. Then they were so +frightened at what they had done that they ran away +and never came back.</p> + +<p>When the bride and groom returned from church, +the bird was carried to the table. The groom looked +at once for the heart and the gizzard and was greatly +shocked at their disappearance.</p> + +<p>The two boys who had gone out into the world +found work with a merchant. They slept together +and every morning the merchant’s wife found a heap +of golden ducats under the feather bed. She didn’t +know to which boy they belonged. She took them and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>160]</a></span> +saved them for a whole year until they filled a hogshead.</p> + +<p>At the end of a year the boys decided to go out +again into the world. The merchant showed them all +the ducats his wife had found in their bed and he +said to them:</p> + +<p>“Take with you as many as you want now and +when you come back you may have the rest.”</p> + +<p>The brothers parted company and each set out +alone, the one to the left, the other to the right.</p> + +<p>The younger brother came to a tavern. The landlady +had two daughters who were so sharp at cards +that they very soon won all the money he had. When +he was picked clean he asked them to stop playing +until the next morning when he would again have +plenty of money.</p> + +<p>Sure enough in the morning when he got up he +had all the money he wanted. The girls asked him +where it came from and he told them.</p> + +<p>When they heard about the gizzard he had swallowed, +they put something in his wine that made him +sick at his stomach and he threw up the gizzard. The +younger girl instantly snatched it, washed it, and swallowed +it herself. Then as he had no more money they +drove the poor boy away.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>161]</a></span> +As he wandered in the fields he grew very hungry. +He came to a meadow where he found a kind of sorrel +that he ate. As soon as he ate it he turned into a +goat and went jumping about the bushes nibbling at +the leaves. He chanced to eat a kind of leaf that +changed him back into himself.</p> + +<p>“Ah,” he thought, “now I know what to do!”</p> + +<p>He picked some of the sorrel and some of the other +leaves and went straight back to the tavern. He told +them there that he was bringing them a present of a +new kind of spinach that tasted very good. They +asked him would he cook it for them.</p> + +<p>The cook tasted it and at once she turned into a +goat. The serving maid came into the kitchen and +when she saw a goat there she drove it out. The youth +asked the maid would she like to taste the new spinach. +She tasted it and immediately she turned into a goat. +Then when the landlady and her two daughters tasted +it they, too, turned into goats.</p> + +<p>He fed the cook and the serving maid some of the +other leaves and they turned back into themselves. +But the other three he left as goats.</p> + +<p>He made halters for them and then he hitched +them up and drove off.</p> + +<p>He drove on and on until he came to a town where +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>162]</a></span> +the king was building himself a castle. Now this king +was his brother who had eaten the magic bird’s heart. +The king’s workmen were hauling stone for the new +castle, so he decided to put his goats to work hauling +stone. He loaded his cart heavier than all the other +carts.</p> + +<p>The king noticed him and recognized him and asked +him where he got those goats. So he told the king +the whole story. The king thought the goats had +been punished long enough and begged his brother to +have pity on them and restore them. He took the +king’s advice and did so.</p> + +<p>When they were once more human beings, he +married the girl who had swallowed the gizzard. They +soon became very rich, for every morning there was a +heap of golden ducats under her head.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>THE WOOD MAIDEN</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF BETUSHKA AND +THE GOLDEN BIRCH LEAVES</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft18.png" width="400" height="347" +alt="Two birds" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>165]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">THE WOOD MAIDEN</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">B</span>ETUSHKA was a little girl. Her mother was +a poor widow with nothing but a tumble-down +cottage and two little nanny-goats. But poor as they +were Betushka was always cheerful. From spring till +autumn she pastured the goats in the birch wood. +Every morning when she left home her mother gave +her a little basket with a slice of bread and a spindle.</p> + +<p>“See that you bring home a full spindle,” her +mother always said.</p> + +<p>Betushka had no distaff, so she wound the flax +around her head. Then she took the little basket +and went romping and singing behind the goats to the +birch wood. When they got there she sat down under +a tree and pulled the fibers of the flax from her head +with her left hand, and with her right hand let down +the spindle so that it went humming along the ground. +All the while she sang until the woods echoed and the +little goats nibbled away at the leaves and grass.</p> + +<p>When the sun showed midday, she put the spindle +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>166]</a></span> +aside, called the goats and gave them a mouthful of +bread so that they wouldn’t stray, and ran off into the +woods to hunt berries or any other wild fruit that +was in season. Then when she had finished her bread +and fruit, she jumped up, folded her arms, and danced +and sang.</p> + +<p>The sun smiled at her through the green of the +trees and the little goats, resting on the grass, thought: +“What a merry little shepherdess we have!”</p> + +<p>After her dance she went back to her spinning and +worked industriously. In the evening when she got +home her mother never had to scold her because the +spindle was empty.</p> + +<p>One day at noon just after she had eaten and, as +usual, was going to dance, there suddenly stood before +her a most beautiful maiden. She was dressed in +white gauze that was fine as a spider’s web. Long +golden hair fell down to her waist and on her head +she wore a wreath of woodland flowers.</p> + +<p>Betushka was speechless with surprise and alarm.</p> + +<p>The maiden smiled at her and said in a sweet +voice:</p> + +<p>“Betushka, do you like to dance?”</p> + +<p>Her manner was so gracious that Betushka no +longer felt afraid, and answered:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>167]</a></span> +“Oh, I could dance all day long!”</p> + +<p>“Come, then, let us dance together,” said the +maiden. “I’ll teach you.”</p> + +<p>With that she tucked up her skirt, put her arm +about Betushka’s waist, and they began to dance. At +once such enchanting music sounded over their heads +that Betushka’s heart went one-two with the dancing. +The musicians sat on the branches of the birch trees. +They were clad in little frock coats, black and gray +and many-colored. It was a carefully chosen orchestra +that had gathered at the bidding of the beautiful +maiden: larks, nightingales, finches, linnets, thrushes, +blackbirds, and showy mocking-birds.</p> + +<p>Betushka’s cheeks burned, her eyes shone. She +forgot her spinning, she forgot her goats. All she +could do was gaze at her partner who was moving with +such grace and lightness that the grass didn’t seem to +bend under her slender feet.</p> + +<p>They danced from noon till sundown and yet Betushka +wasn’t the least bit tired. Then they stopped +dancing, the music ceased, and the maiden disappeared +as suddenly as she had come.</p> + +<p>Betushka looked around. The sun was sinking +behind the wood. She put her hands to the unspun +flax on her head and remembered the spindle that was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>168]</a></span> +lying unfilled on the grass. She took down the flax +and laid it with the spindle in the little basket. Then +she called the goats and started home.</p> + +<p>She reproached herself bitterly that she had allowed +the beautiful maiden to beguile her and she +told herself that another time she would not listen +to her. She was so quiet that the little goats, missing +her merry song, looked around to see whether it was +really their own little shepherdess who was following +them. Her mother, too, wondered why she didn’t +sing and questioned her.</p> + +<p>“Are you sick, Betushka?”</p> + +<p>“No, dear mother, I’m not sick, but I’ve been +singing too much and my throat is dry.”</p> + +<p>She knew that her mother did not reel the yarn +at once, so she hid the spindle and the unspun flax, +hoping to make up tomorrow what she had not done +today. She did not tell her mother one word about +the beautiful maiden.</p> + +<p>The next day she felt cheerful again and as she +drove the goats to pasture she sang merrily. At the +birch wood she sat down to her spinning, singing all +the while, for with a song on the lips work falls from +the hands more easily.</p> + +<p>Noonday came. Betushka gave a bit of bread to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>169]</a></span> +each of the goats and ran off to the woods for her +berries. Then she ate her luncheon.</p> + +<p>“Ah, my little goats,” she sighed, as she brushed +up the crumbs for the birds, “I mustn’t dance today.”</p> + +<p>“Why mustn’t you dance today?” a sweet voice +asked, and there stood the beautiful maiden as though +she had fallen from the clouds.</p> + +<p>Betushka was worse frightened than before and +she closed her eyes tight. When the maiden repeated +her question, Betushka answered timidly:</p> + +<p>“Forgive me, beautiful lady, for not dancing with +you. If I dance with you I cannot spin my stint +and then my mother will scold me. Today before the +sun sets I must make up for what I lost yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“Come, child, and dance,” the maiden said. “Before +the sun sets we’ll find some way of getting that +spinning done!”</p> + +<p>She tucked up her skirt, put her arm about Betushka, +the musicians in the treetops struck up, and off +they whirled. The maiden danced more beautifully +than ever. Betushka couldn’t take her eyes from her. +She forgot her goats, she forgot her spinning. All she +wanted to do was to dance on forever.</p> + +<p>At sundown the maiden paused and the music +stopped. Then Betushka, clasping her hands to her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>170]</a></span> +head, where the unspun flax was twined, burst into +tears. The beautiful maiden took the flax from her +head, wound it round the stem of a slender birch, +grasped the spindle, and began to spin. The spindle +hummed along the ground and filled in no time. Before +the sun sank behind the woods all the flax was +spun, even that which was left over from the day before. +The maiden handed Betushka the full spindle +and said:</p> + +<p>“Remember my words:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“<i>Reel and grumble not!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Reel and grumble not!</i>”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>When she said this, she vanished as if the earth +had swallowed her.</p> + +<p>Betushka was very happy now and she thought to +herself on her way home: “Since she is so good and +kind, I’ll dance with her again if she asks me. Oh, +how I hope she does!”</p> + +<p>She sang her merry little song as usual and the +goats trotted cheerfully along.</p> + +<p>She found her mother vexed with her, for she had +wanted to reel yesterday’s yarn and had discovered +that the spindle was not full.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>171]</a></span> +“What were you doing yesterday,” she scolded, +“that you didn’t spin your stint?”</p> + +<p>Betushka hung her head. “Forgive me, mother. +I danced too long.” Then she showed her mother +today’s spindle and said: “See, today I more than +made up for yesterday.”</p> + +<p>Her mother said no more but went to milk the +goats and Betushka put away the spindle. She wanted +to tell her mother her adventure, but she thought to +herself: “No, I’ll wait. If the beautiful lady comes +again, I’ll ask her who she is and then I’ll tell mother.” +So she said nothing.</p> + +<p>On the third morning she drove the goats as usual +to the birch wood. The goats went to pasture and +Betushka, sitting down under a tree, began to spin +and sing. When the sun pointed to noon, she laid her +spindle on the grass, gave the goats a mouthful of +bread, gathered some strawberries, ate her luncheon, +and then, giving the crumbs to the birds, she said +cheerily:</p> + +<p>“Today, my little goats, I will dance for you!”</p> + +<p>She jumped up, folded her arms, and was about +to see whether she could move as gracefully as the +beautiful maiden, when the maiden herself stood before +her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>172]</a></span> +“Let us dance together,” she said. She smiled +at Betushka, put her arm about her, and as the music +above their heads began to play, they whirled round +and round with flying feet. Again Betushka forgot +the spindle and the goats. Again she saw nothing but +the beautiful maiden whose body was lithe as a willow +shoot. Again she heard nothing but the enchanting +music to which her feet danced of themselves.</p> + +<p>They danced from noon till sundown. Then the +maiden paused and the music ceased. Betushka looked +around. The sun was already set behind the woods. +She clasped her hands to her head and looking down +at the unfilled spindle she burst into tears.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what will my mother say?” she cried.</p> + +<p>“Give me your little basket,” the maiden said, +“and I will put something in it that will more than +make up for today’s stint.”</p> + +<p>Betushka handed her the basket and the maiden +took it and vanished. In a moment she was back. +She returned the basket and said:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“<i>Look not inside until you’re home!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Look not inside until you’re home!</i>”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>As she said these words she was gone as if a wind +had blown her away.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>173]</a></span> +Betushka wanted awfully to peep inside but she +was afraid to. The basket was so light that she +wondered whether there was anything at all in it. +Was the lovely lady only fooling her? Halfway home +she peeped in to see.</p> + +<p>Imagine her feelings when she found the basket +was full of birch leaves! Then indeed did Betushka +burst into tears and reproach herself for being so +simple. In her vexation she threw out a handful of +leaves and was going to empty the basket when she +thought to herself:</p> + +<p>“No, I’ll keep what’s left as litter for the goats.”</p> + +<p>She was almost afraid to go home. She was so +quiet that again the little goats wondered what ailed +their shepherdess.</p> + +<p>Her mother was waiting for her in great excitement.</p> + +<p>“For heaven’s sake, Betushka, what kind of a spool +did you bring home yesterday?”</p> + +<p>“Why?” Betushka faltered.</p> + +<p>“When you went away this morning I started to +reel that yarn. I reeled and reeled and the spool remained +full. One skein, two skeins, three skeins, and +still the spool was full. ‘What evil spirit has spun +that?’ I cried out impatiently, and instantly the yarn +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>174]</a></span> +disappeared from the spindle as if blown away. Tell +me, what does it mean?”</p> + +<p>So Betushka confessed and told her mother all she +knew about the beautiful maiden.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” cried her mother in amazement, “that was +a wood maiden! At noon and midnight the wood +maidens dance. It is well you are not a little boy or +she might have danced you to death! But they are +often kind to little girls and sometimes make them +rich presents. Why didn’t you tell me? If I hadn’t +grumbled, I could have had yarn enough to fill the +house!”</p> + +<p>Betushka thought of the little basket and wondered +if there might be something under the leaves. She +took out the spindle and unspun flax and looked in +once more.</p> + +<p>“Mother!” she cried. “Come here and see!”</p> + +<p>Her mother looked and clapped her hands. The +birch leaves were all turned to gold!</p> + +<p>Betushka reproached herself bitterly: “She told +me not to look inside until I got home, but I didn’t +obey.”</p> + +<p>“It’s lucky you didn’t empty the whole basket,” +her mother said.</p> + +<p>The next morning she herself went to look for the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>175]</a></span> +handful of leaves that Betushka had thrown away. +She found them still lying in the road but they were +only birch leaves.</p> + +<p>But the riches which Betushka brought home were +enough. Her mother bought a farm with fields and +cattle. Betushka had pretty clothes and no longer +had to pasture goats.</p> + +<p>But no matter what she did, no matter how cheerful +and happy she was, still nothing ever again gave +her quite so much pleasure as the dance with the +wood maiden. She often went to the birch wood in +the hope of seeing the maiden again. But she never +did.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>THE GOLDEN SPINNING WHEEL</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF KING DOBROMIL AND THE GOOD DOBRUNKA</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft19.png" width="400" height="330" +alt="A spinning-wheel" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>179]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">THE GOLDEN SPINNING WHEEL</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once a poor woman who had twin +daughters. The girls were exactly alike in face +and feature but utterly different in disposition. Dobrunka +was kind, industrious, obedient, and everything +a good girl ought to be. Zloboha, her sister, was +spiteful, disobedient, lazy, and proud. In fact, she +had just about as many faults as a person could +have. Yet strange to say the mother loved Zloboha +much better and made everything easy for her.</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 465px;"> +<a name="alike" id="alike"></a> +<img src="images/cft20.png" width="465" height="600" +alt="Zloboha and Dobrunka" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption"><i>Alike in Feature but Utterly Different in Disposition</i></p> + +<p>They lived in a cottage a few miles from town. +The cottage stood by itself in a little clearing in the +woods. Hardly any one ever passed it except occasionally +some man who had lost his way in the woods.</p> + +<p>The mother put her favorite, Zloboha, out to service +so that she might learn city ways, but she kept +Dobrunka at home to do the housework and take care +of the garden. Dobrunka always began the day by +feeding the goats, then she prepared the breakfast, +swept the kitchen, and when everything else was done +she sat down at her spinning wheel and spun.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>180]</a></span> +She seldom benefited from the yarn she spun so +carefully, for her mother always sold it in town and +spent the money on clothes for Zloboha. Yet Dobrunka +loved her mother although she never had a +kind word or a kind look from her the whole day +long. She always obeyed her mother instantly and +without a frown and no one ever heard her complain +about all the work she had to do.</p> + +<p>One day when her mother was going to town +Dobrunka went part of the way with her, carrying +her yarn wrapped up in a kerchief.</p> + +<p>“Now see that you’re not lazy while I’m away,” +her mother said, crossly.</p> + +<p>“You know, mother, you never have to nag at +me. Today when I finish the housework, I’ll spin so +industriously that you’ll be more than satisfied when +you get home.”</p> + +<p>She handed her yarn to her mother and went back +to the cottage. Then when she had put the kitchen +in order, she sat down to her wheel and began to +spin. Dobrunka had a pretty voice, as pretty as any +of the song-birds in the forest, and always when she +was alone she sang. So today as she sat spinning +she sang all the songs she knew, one after the other.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she heard outside the trample of a horse. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>181]</a></span> +“Some one is coming,” she thought to herself, “someone +who has lost his way in the woods. I’ll go see.”</p> + +<p>She got up from her wheel and peeped out through +the small window. A young man was just dismounting +from a spirited horse.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” thought Dobrunka to herself, “what a +handsome young lord he is! How well his leather coat +fits him! How well his cap with its white feather +looks on his black hair! Ah, he is tying his horse and +is coming in. I must slip back to my spinning.”</p> + +<p>The next moment the young man opened the door +and stepped into the kitchen. All this happened a +long time ago, you see, when there were no locks or +bars on the doors, and there didn’t have to be because +nothing was ever stolen.</p> + +<p>“Good day to you, my girl,” the young man said +to Dobrunka.</p> + +<p>“Good day, sir,” Dobrunka answered. “What is +it, sir, you want?”</p> + +<p>“Will you please get me a little water. I’m very +thirsty.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly,” Dobrunka said. “Won’t you sit +down while I’m getting it?”</p> + +<p>She ran off, got the pitcher, rinsed it out, and +drew some fresh water from the well.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>182]</a></span> +“I wish I could give you something better, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing could taste better than this,” he said, +handing her back the empty pitcher. “See, I have +taken it all.”</p> + +<p>Dobrunka put the pitcher away and the young +man, while her back was turned, slipped a leather +bag, full of money, into the bed.</p> + +<p>“I thank you for the drink,” he said, as he rose +to go. “I’ll come again tomorrow if you’ll let me.”</p> + +<p>“Come if you want to,” Dobrunka said, modestly.</p> + +<p>He took her hand, held it a moment, then leaped +upon his horse and galloped off.</p> + +<p>Dobrunka sat down again to her wheel and tried +to work, but her mind wandered. The image of the +young man kept rising before her eyes and I have to +confess that, for an expert spinner, she broke her +thread pretty often.</p> + +<p>Her mother came home in the evening full of +praises of Zloboha, who, she said, was growing prettier +day by day. Everybody in town admired her and +she was fast learning city ways and city manners. +It was Zloboha this and Zloboha that for hours.</p> + +<p>Finally the old woman remarked: “They say +there was a great hunting party out today. Did you +hear anything of it?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>183]</a></span> +“Oh, yes,” Dobrunka said. “I forgot to tell you +that a young huntsman stopped here to ask for a +drink. He was handsomely dressed in leather. You +know once when I was in town with you we saw a +whole company of men in leather coats with white +feathers in their caps. No doubt this young man belonged +to the hunting party. When he had his drink, +he jumped on his horse and rode off.”</p> + +<p>Dobrunka forgot to mention that he had taken +her hand in parting and promised to come back next +day.</p> + +<p>When Dobrunka was preparing the bed for the +night, the bag of money fell out. In great surprise +she picked it up and handed it to her mother.</p> + +<p>The old woman looked at her sharply.</p> + +<p>“Dobrunka, who gave you all this money?”</p> + +<p>“Nobody gave it to me, mother. Perhaps the +huntsman slipped it into the bed. I don’t know where +else it could have come from.”</p> + +<p>The old woman emptied the bag on the table. +They were all gold pieces.</p> + +<p>“Good heavens, so much!” she murmured in +amazement. “He must be a very rich young lord! +Perhaps he saw how poor we were and thought to do +a kind deed. May God grant him happiness!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>184]</a></span> +She gathered the money together and hid it in the +chest.</p> + +<p>Usually when Dobrunka went to bed after her +day’s work she fell asleep at once, but tonight she +lay awake thinking of the handsome young rider. +When she did at last fall asleep it was to dream of +him. He was a powerful young lord, it seemed to +her, in her dream. He lived in a great palace and +she, Dobrunka, was his wife. She thought that they +were giving a fine banquet to which all the nobles in +the land had been invited. She and her husband arose +from the table and went together into another room. +He was about to put his arms about her and embrace +her when suddenly a black cat sprang between them +and buried its claws in Dobrunka’s breast. Her +heart’s blood spurted out and stained her white dress. +She cried out in fright and pain and the cry awoke +her.</p> + +<p>“What a strange dream,” she thought to herself. +“I wonder what it means. It began so beautifully +but the cruel cat spoiled it all. I fear it bodes something +ill.”</p> + +<p>In the morning when she got up, she was still +thinking of it.</p> + +<p>On other mornings it didn’t take Dobrunka long +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>185]</a></span> +to dress but this morning she was very slow. She +shook out her fresh skirt again and again. She had +the greatest trouble in putting on her bodice just +right. She spent much time on her hair, into which +she plaited the red ribbon that she usually kept for +holidays. When at last she was dressed and ready +to go about her household duties she looked very +fresh and sweet.</p> + +<p>As midday came, she found it hard to sit still at her +wheel, but kept jumping up on any pretext whatever +to run outdoors a moment to see if the young horseman +was in sight.</p> + +<p>At last she did see him at a distance and, oh, how +she hurried back to her stool so that he would never +think that she was watching for him.</p> + +<p>He rode into the yard, tied his horse, and came into +the cottage.</p> + +<p>“Good day, Dobrunka,” he said, speaking very +gently and very respectfully.</p> + +<p>Dobrunka’s heart was beating so fast that she +feared it would jump out of her body. Her mother +was in the woods gathering fagots, so she was again +alone with him. She managed to return his greeting +and to ask him to sit down. Then she went back to +her spinning.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>186]</a></span> +The young man came over to her and took her +hand.</p> + +<p>“How did you sleep, Dobrunka?”</p> + +<p>“Very well, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Did you dream?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I had a very strange dream.”</p> + +<p>“Tell me about it. I can explain dreams very +well.”</p> + +<p>“But I can’t tell this dream to you,” Dobrunka +said.</p> + +<p>“Why not?”</p> + +<p>“Because it’s about you.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the very reason you ought to tell me,” +the young man said.</p> + +<p>He urged her and begged her until at last Dobrunka +did tell him the dream.</p> + +<p>“Well now,” he said, “that dream of yours except +the part about the cat can be realized easily enough.”</p> + +<p>Dobrunka laughed. “How could I ever become a +fine lady?”</p> + +<p>“By marrying me,” the young man said.</p> + +<p>Dobrunka blushed. “Now, sir, you are joking.”</p> + +<p>“No, Dobrunka, this is no joke. I really mean +it. I came back this morning to ask you to marry +me. Will you?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>187]</a></span> +Dobrunka was too surprised to speak, but when +the young man took her hand she did not withdraw it.</p> + +<p>Just then the old woman came in. The young +man greeted her and without any delay declared his +intentions. He said he loved Dobrunka and wished +to make her his wife and that all he and Dobrunka +were waiting for was the mother’s consent.</p> + +<p>“I have my own house,” he added, “and am well +able to take care of a wife. And for you too, dear +mother, there will always be room in my house and +at my table.”</p> + +<p>The old woman listened to all he had to say and +then very promptly gave her blessing.</p> + +<p>“Then, my dear one,” the young man said to +Dobrunka, “go back to your spinning and when you +have spun enough for your wedding shift, I shall +come for you.”</p> + +<p>He kissed her, gave his hand to her mother, and, +springing on his horse, rode away.</p> + +<p>From that time the old woman treated Dobrunka +more kindly. She even went so far as to spend on +Dobrunka a little of the money the young man had +given them, but most of it, of course, went for clothes +for Zloboha.</p> + +<p>But in those happy days Dobrunka wasn’t worrying +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>188]</a></span> +about anything as unimportant as money. She +sat at her wheel and spun away thinking all the while +of her fine young lover. Time sped quickly and before +she knew it she had spun enough for her wedding +shift.</p> + +<p>The very day she was finished her lover came. She +heard the trample of his horse and ran out to meet +him.</p> + +<p>“Have you spun enough for your wedding shift?” +he asked her as he took her to his heart.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Dobrunka said, “I have.”</p> + +<p>“Then you can ride away with me this moment.”</p> + +<p>“This moment!” Dobrunka gasped. “Why so +quickly?”</p> + +<p>“It has to be, my dear one. Tomorrow I go off +to war and want you to take my place at home. +Then when I come back you’ll be there to greet me +as my wife.”</p> + +<p>“But what will my mother say to this?”</p> + +<p>“She will have to consent.”</p> + +<p>They went into the cottage and spoke to the old +woman. She was far from pleased with this arrangement, +for she had worked out a very different plan in +her mind. But what could she do? A rich young +bridegroom always has his own way. So she hid her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>189]</a></span> +disappointment with a false smile and gave them her +blessing.</p> + +<p>Then the young man said to her: “Get your +things together, mother, and follow Dobrunka, for I +don’t want her to be lonely while I’m gone. When +you get to the city, go to the palace and ask for +Dobromil. The people there will tell you where to +go.”</p> + +<p>Dobrunka with tears streaming down her cheeks +bid her mother good-by. Dobromil lifted her to the +saddle in front of him and away they went like the +wind.</p> + +<p>The town was in great excitement. There was +much hurrying to and fro as the troops were being +put in readiness for the morrow. A crowd had gathered +at the palace gates and as a young man came +galloping up, holding in front of him a lady lovely +as the day, the shout went up:</p> + +<p>“Here he is! Here he is!”</p> + +<p>The people in the courtyard took up the cry and +as Dobromil rode through the gate all of them with +one voice shouted out:</p> + +<p>“Long live our beautiful queen! Long live our +noble king!”</p> + +<p>Dobrunka was struck with amazement.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>190]</a></span> +“Are you really the king, Dobromil?” she asked, +looking into his proud and happy face.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” he said. “Aren’t you glad that I am?”</p> + +<p>“I love you,” Dobrunka said, “and so whatever +you are makes no difference to me. But why did you +deceive me?”</p> + +<p>“I did not deceive you. I told you that your +dream would be realized if you took me for your +husband.”</p> + +<p>In those early times marriage was a simple affair. +When a man and woman loved each other and their +parents consented to their union, they were looked +upon as married. So Dobromil now was able to present +Dobrunka to his people as his wife.</p> + +<p>There was great rejoicing, music played, and there +was feasting and drinking in the banquet hall until +dawn. The next day the young husband kissed his +lovely bride farewell and rode off to war.</p> + +<p>Left alone the young queen strayed through the +magnificent palace like a lost lamb. She would have +felt more at home rambling through the woods and +awaiting the return of her husband in a little cottage +than here where she was a lonely stranger. Yet she +was not a stranger long, for within half a day she +had won every heart by her sweetness and goodness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>191]</a></span> +The next day she sent for her mother and the +old woman soon arrived bringing with her Dobrunka’s +spinning wheel. So now there was no more excuse +for loneliness.</p> + +<p>Dobrunka supposed that her mother would be +made very happy to find what good fortune had befallen +her daughter. The old woman pretended she +was, but in her heart she was furious that a king had +married Dobrunka and not Zloboha.</p> + +<p>After a few days she said, very artfully, to Dobrunka: +“I know, my dear daughter, that you +think your sister, Zloboha, was not always kind to +you in times past. She’s sorry now and I want you +to forgive her and invite her here to the palace.”</p> + +<p>“I should have asked her before this,” said Dobrunka, +“but I didn’t suppose she wanted to come. +If you wish it, we’ll go for her at once.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, dear daughter, I do wish it.”</p> + +<p>So the queen ordered the carriage and off they +went to fetch Zloboha. When they came to the edge +of the woods they alighted and ordered the coachman +to await them there. They went on afoot to the cottage +where Zloboha was expecting them.</p> + +<p>Zloboha came running out to meet them. She +threw her arms about her sister’s neck and kissed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>192]</a></span> +her and wished her happiness. Then the wicked +sister and the wicked mother led poor unsuspecting +Dobrunka into the house. Once inside Zloboha took +a knife that she had ready and struck Dobrunka. +Then they cut off Dobrunka’s hands and feet, gouged +out her eyes, and hid her poor mutilated body in the +woods. Zloboha and her mother wrapped up the +hands and the feet and the eyes to carry them back +with them to the palace because they believed that it +would be easier for them to deceive the king if they +had with them something that had belonged to Dobrunka.</p> + +<p>Then Zloboha put on Dobrunka’s clothes and she +and her mother rode back to town in the carriage and +nobody could tell that she wasn’t Dobrunka. In the +palace the attendants soon whispered to each other +that their mistress was kinder to them at first, but +they suspected nothing.</p> + +<p>In the meantime poor Dobrunka, who was not +quite dead, had been found by a hermit and carried by +him to a cave. She awoke to feel a kind hand soothing +her wounds and putting some reviving drops between +her lips. Of course, she could not see who it +was, for she had no eyes. As she regained consciousness +she remembered what had happened and began +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>193]</a></span> +bitterly to upbraid her unnatural mother and her +cruel sister.</p> + +<p>“Be quiet. Do not complain,” a low voice said. +“All will yet be well.”</p> + +<p>“How can all be well,” wept poor Dobrunka, +“when I have no eyes and no feet and no hands? I +shall never again see the bright sun and the green +woods. I shall never again hold in my arms my beloved +Dobromil. Nor shall I be able to spin fine flax +for his shirts! Oh, what did I ever do to you, wicked +mother, or to you, cruel sister, that you have done +this to me?”</p> + +<p>The hermit went to the entrance of the cave and +called three times. Soon a boy came running in answer +to the call.</p> + +<p>“Wait here till I come back,” the hermit said.</p> + +<p>He returned in a short time with a golden spinning +wheel in his arms. He said to the boy:</p> + +<p>“My son, take this spinning wheel to town to the +king’s palace. Sit down in the courtyard near the +gate and if any one asks you for how much you will +sell the wheel, say: ‘For two eyes.’ Unless you are +offered two eyes for it bring it back.”</p> + +<p>The boy took the spinning wheel and carried it to +town as the hermit directed. He went to the palace +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>194]</a></span> +and sat down in the courtyard near the gate, just as +Zloboha and her mother were returning from a walk.</p> + +<p>“Look, mother!” Zloboha cried. “What a gorgeous +spinning wheel! I could spin on that myself! +Wait. I’ll ask whether it’s for sale.”</p> + +<p>She went over to the boy and asked him would he +sell the spinning wheel.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” he said, “if I get what I want.”</p> + +<p>“What do you want?”</p> + +<p>“I want two eyes.”</p> + +<p>“Two eyes?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, two eyes. My father told me to accept +nothing for it but two eyes. So I can’t sell it for +money.”</p> + +<p>The longer Zloboha looked at the spinning wheel +the more beautiful it seemed to her and the more she +wanted it. Suddenly she remembered Dobrunka’s eyes +that she had hidden away.</p> + +<p>“Mother,” she said, “as a queen I ought to have +something no one else has. When the king comes +home he will want me to spin, and just think how +lovely I should look sitting at this golden wheel. Now +we’ve got those eyes of Dobrunka’s. Let us exchange +them for the golden spinning wheel. We’ll still have +the hands and feet.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>195]</a></span> +The mother, who was as foolish as the daughter, +agreed. So Zloboha got the eyes and gave them to +the boy for the spinning wheel.</p> + +<p>The boy hurried back to the forest and handed +the eyes to the hermit. The old man took them and +gently put them into place. Instantly Dobrunka +could see.</p> + +<p>The first thing she saw was the old hermit himself +with his tall spare figure and long white beard. The +last rays of the setting sun shone through the opening +of the cave and lighted up his grave and gentle +face. He looked to Dobrunka like one of God’s own +saints.</p> + +<p>“How can I ever repay you?” she said, “for all +your loving kindness? Oh, that I could cover your +hands with kisses!”</p> + +<p>“Be quiet, my child,” the old man said. “If you +are patient all will yet be well.”</p> + +<p>He went out and soon returned with some delicious +fruit on a wooden plate. This he carried over to the +bed of leaves and moss upon which Dobrunka was +lying and with his own hands he fed Dobrunka as a +mother would feed her helpless child. Then he gave +her a drink from a wooden cup.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the hermit again called +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>196]</a></span> +three times and the boy came running at once. This +time the hermit handed him a golden distaff and said:</p> + +<p>“Take this distaff and go to the palace. Sit down +in the courtyard near the gate. If any one asks you +what you want for the distaff, say two feet and don’t +exchange it for anything else.”</p> + +<p>Zloboha was standing at a window of the palace +looking down into the courtyard when she saw the boy +with a golden distaff.</p> + +<p>“Mother!” she cried. “Come and see! There’s +that boy again sitting near the gate and this time he +has a golden distaff!”</p> + +<p>Mother and daughter at once went out to question +the boy.</p> + +<p>“What do you want for the distaff?” Zloboha +asked.</p> + +<p>“Two feet,” the boy said.</p> + +<p>“Two feet?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, two feet.”</p> + +<p>“Tell me, what will your father do with two feet?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know. I never ask my father what he +does with anything. But whatever he tells me to do, +I do. That is why I can’t exchange the distaff for +anything but two feet.”</p> + +<p>“Listen, mother,” Zloboha said, “now that I have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>197]</a></span> +a golden spinning wheel, I ought to have a golden +distaff to go with it. You know we have those two +feet of Dobrunka’s hidden away. What if I gave them +to the boy? We shall still have Dobrunka’s hands.”</p> + +<p>“Well, do as you please,” the old woman said.</p> + +<p>So Zloboha went and got Dobrunka’s feet, wrapped +them up, and gave them to the boy in exchange for +the distaff. Delighted with her bargain, Zloboha went +to her chamber and the boy hurried back to the forest.</p> + +<p>He gave the feet to the hermit and the old man +carried them at once inside the cave. Then he rubbed +Dobrunka’s wounds with some healing salve and stuck +on the feet. Dobrunka wanted to jump up from the +couch and walk but the old man restrained her.</p> + +<p>“Lie quiet where you are until you are all well +and then I’ll let you get up.”</p> + +<p>Dobrunka knew that whatever the old hermit said +was for her good, so she rested as he ordered.</p> + +<p>On the third morning the hermit called the boy +and gave him a golden spindle.</p> + +<p>“Go to the palace again,” he said, “and today +offer this spindle for sale. If any one asks you what +you want for the spindle, say two hands. Don’t accept +anything else.”</p> + +<p>The boy took the golden spindle and when he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>198]</a></span> +reached the palace and sat down in the courtyard near +the gate, Zloboha ran up to him at once.</p> + +<p>“What do you want for that spindle?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Two hands,” the boy said.</p> + +<p>“It’s a strange thing you won’t sell anything for +money.”</p> + +<p>“I have to ask what my father tells me to ask.”</p> + +<p>Zloboha was in a quandary. She wanted the golden +spindle, for it was very beautiful. It would go well +with the spinning wheel and would be something to +be proud of. Yet she didn’t want to be left without +anything that had belonged to Dobrunka.</p> + +<p>“But really, mother,” she whined, “I don’t see +why I have to keep something of Dobrunka’s so that +Dobromil will love me as he loved her. I’m sure I’m +as pretty as Dobrunka ever was.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the old woman, “it would be better +if you kept them. I’ve often heard that’s a good way +to guard a man’s love. However, do as you like.”</p> + +<p>For a moment Zloboha was undecided. Then, +tossing her head, she ran and got the hands and gave +them to the boy.</p> + +<p>Zloboha took the spindle and, delighted with her +bargain, carried it into her chamber where she had the +wheel and distaff. The old woman was a little troubled, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>199]</a></span> +for she feared Zloboha had acted foolishly. But Zloboha, +confident of her beauty and her ability to charm +the king, only laughed at her.</p> + +<p>As soon as the boy had delivered the hands to the +hermit, the old man carried them into the cave. Then +he anointed the wounds on Dobrunka’s arms with the +same healing salve that he used before, and stuck on +the hands.</p> + +<p>As soon as Dobrunka could move them she jumped +up from the couch and, falling at the hermit’s feet, +she kissed the hands that had been so good to her.</p> + +<p>“A thousand thanks to you, my benefactor!” she +cried with tears of joy in her eyes. “I can never +repay you, I know that, but ask of me anything I can +do and I’ll do it.”</p> + +<p>“I ask nothing,” the old man said, gently raising +her to her feet. “What I did for you I would do +for any one. I only did my duty. So say no more +about it. And now, my child, farewell. You are to +stay here until some one comes for you. Have no +concern for food. I shall send you what you need.”</p> + +<p>Dobrunka wanted to say something to him, but he +disappeared and she never saw him again.</p> + +<p>Now she was able to run out of the cave and look +once more upon God’s green world. Now for the first +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>200]</a></span> +time in her life she knew what it meant to be strong +and well. She threw herself on the ground and kissed +it. She hugged the slender birches and danced around +them, simply bursting with love for every living thing. +She reached out longing hands towards the town and +would probably have gone there running all the distance +but she remembered the words of the old hermit +and knew that she must stay where she was.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile strange things were happening at the +palace. Messengers brought word that the king was +returning from war and there was great rejoicing on +every side. The king’s own household was particularly +happy, for service under the new mistress was growing +more unpleasant every day. As for Zloboha and her +mother, it must be confessed that they were a little +frightened over the outcome of their plot.</p> + +<p>Finally the king arrived. Zloboha with smiling face +went to meet him. He took her to his heart with +great tenderness and from that moment Zloboha had +no fear that he would recognize her.</p> + +<p>A great feast was at once prepared, for the king +had brought home with him many of his nobles to rest +and make merry after the hardships of war.</p> + +<p>Zloboha as she sat at Dobromil’s side could not take +her eyes off him. The handsome young soldier caught +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>201]</a></span> +her fancy and she was rejoiced that she had put +Dobrunka out of the way.</p> + +<p>When they finished feasting, Dobromil asked her: +“What have you been doing all this time, my dear +Dobrunka? I’m sure you’ve been spinning.”</p> + +<p>“That’s true, my dear husband,” Zloboha said in +a flattering tone. “My old spinning wheel got broken, +so I bought a new one, a lovely golden one.”</p> + +<p>“You must show me it at once,” the king said, +and he took Zloboha’s arm and led her away.</p> + +<p>He went with her to her chamber where she had the +golden spinning wheel and she took it out and showed +it to him. Dobromil admired it greatly.</p> + +<p>“Sit down, Dobrunka,” he said, “and spin. I +should like to see you again at the distaff.”</p> + +<p>Zloboha at once sat down behind the wheel. She +put her foot to the treadle and started the wheel. Instantly +the wheel sang out and this is what it sang:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“<i>Master, master, don’t believe her!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>She’s a cruel and base deceiver!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>She is not your own sweet wife!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>She destroyed Dobrunka’s life!</i>”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Zloboha sat stunned and motionless while the king +looked wildly about to see where the song came from.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>202]</a></span> +When he could see nothing, he told her to spin +some more. Trembling, she obeyed. Hardly had she +put her foot to the treadle when the voice again sang +out:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“<i>Master, master, don’t believe her!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>She’s a cruel and base deceiver!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>She has killed her sister good</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And hid her body in the wood!</i>”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Beside herself with fright, Zloboha wanted to flee +the spinning wheel, but Dobromil restrained her. Suddenly +her face grew so hideous with fear that Dobromil +saw she was not his own gentle Dobrunka. With a +rough hand he forced her back to the stool and in a +stern voice ordered her to spin.</p> + +<p>Again she turned the fatal wheel and then for the +third time the voice sang out:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“<i>Master, master, haste away!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>To the wood without delay!</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>In a cave your wife, restored,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Yearns for you, her own true lord!</i>”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>At those words Dobromil released Zloboha and ran +like mad out of the chamber and down into the courtyard +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>203]</a></span> +where he ordered his swiftest horse to be saddled +instantly. The attendants, frightened by his appearance, +lost no time and almost at once Dobromil was +on his horse and flying over hill and dale so fast that +the horse’s hoofs scarcely touched the earth.</p> + +<p>When he reached the forest he did not know where +to look for the cave. He rode straight into the wood +until a white doe crossed his path. Then the horse in +fright plunged to one side and pushed through bushes +and undergrowth to the base of a big rock. Dobromil +dismounted and tied the horse to a tree.</p> + +<p>He climbed the rock and there he saw something +white gleaming among the trees. He crept forward +cautiously and suddenly found himself in front of a +cave. Imagine then his joy, when he enters and finds +his own dear wife Dobrunka.</p> + +<p>As he kisses her and looks into her sweet gentle +face he says: “Where were my eyes that I was +deceived for an instant by your wicked sister?”</p> + +<p>“What have you heard about my sister?” asked +Dobrunka, who as yet knew nothing of the magic +spinning wheel.</p> + +<p>So the king told her all that had happened and +she in turn told him what had befallen her.</p> + +<p>“And from the time the hermit disappeared,” she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>204]</a></span> +said in conclusion, “the little boy has brought me food +every day.”</p> + +<p>They sat down on the grass and together they ate +some fruit from the wooden plate. When they rose +to go they took the wooden plate and the cup away +with them as keepsakes.</p> + +<p>Dobromil seated his wife in front of him on the +horse and sped homewards with her. All his people +were at the palace gate waiting to tell him what had +happened in his absence.</p> + +<p>It seems that the devil himself had come and +before their very eyes had carried off his wife and +mother-in-law. They looked at each other in amazement +as Dobromil rode up with what seemed to be +the same wife whom the devil had so recently carried +off.</p> + +<p>Dobromil explained to them what had happened +and with one voice they called down punishment on +the head of the wicked sister.</p> + +<p>The golden spinning wheel had vanished. So +Dobrunka hunted out her old one and set to work at +once to spin for her husband’s shirts. No one in the +kingdom had such fine shirts as Dobromil and no one +was happier.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>THE GOLDEN GODMOTHER</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF POOR LUKAS</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft21.png" width="400" height="281" +alt="A baby in a crib" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>207]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">THE GOLDEN GODMOTHER</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once a wealthy farmer named Lukas +who was so careless in the management of his +affairs that there came a time when all his property +was gone and he had nothing left but one old tumble-down +cottage. Then when it was too late he realized +how foolish he had been.</p> + +<p>He had always prayed for a child but during the +years of his prosperity God had never heard him. +Now when he was so poor that he had nothing to eat, +his wife gave birth to a little daughter. He looked +at the poor unwelcome little stranger and sighed, for +he didn’t know how he was going to take care of it.</p> + +<p>The first thing to be thought about was the +christening. Lukas went to the wife of a laborer who +lived nearby and asked her to be godmother. She +refused because she didn’t see that it would do her +any good to be godmother to a child of a man as poor +as Lukas.</p> + +<p>“You see, Lukas, what happens to a man who has +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>208]</a></span> +wasted his property,” his wife said. “While we were +rich the burgomaster himself was our friend, but now +even that poverty-stricken woman won’t raise a finger +to help us.... See how the poor infant shivers, for +I haven’t even any old rags in which to wrap it! And +it has to lie on the bare straw! God have mercy on +us, how poor we are!” So she wept over the baby, +covering it with tears and kisses.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a happy thought came to her. She +wiped away her tears and said to her husband:</p> + +<p>“I beg you, Lukas, go to our old neighbor, the +burgomaster’s wife. She is wealthy. I’m sure she +hasn’t forgotten that I was godmother to her child. +Go and ask her if she will be godmother to mine.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think she will,” Lukas answered, “but +I’ll ask her.”</p> + +<p>With a heavy heart he went by the fields and the +barns that had once been his own and entered the +house of his old friend, the burgomaster.</p> + +<p>“God bless you, neighbor,” he said to the burgomaster’s +wife. “My wife sends her greeting and bids +me tell you that God has given us a little daughter +whom she wants you to hold at the christening.”</p> + +<p>The burgomaster’s wife looked at him and laughed +in his face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>209]</a></span> +“My dear Lukas, of course I should like to do +this for you, but times are hard. Nowadays a person +needs every penny and it would take a good deal to +help such poor beggars as you. Why don’t you ask +some one else? Why have you picked me out?”</p> + +<p>“Because my wife was godmother to your child.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s it, is it? What you did for me at that +time was a loan, was it? And now you want me to +give you back as much as you gave me, eh? I’ll do +no such thing! If I were as generous as you used to +be, I’d soon go the way you have gone. No! I shall +not walk one step toward that christening!”</p> + +<p>Without answering her, Lukas turned and went +home in tears.</p> + +<p>“You see, dear wife,” he said when he got there, +“it turned out as I knew it would. But don’t be +discouraged, for God never entirely forsakes any one. +Give me the child and I myself will carry it to the +christening and the first person I meet I shall take +for godmother.”</p> + +<p>Weeping all the while, the wife wrapped the baby +in a piece of old skirt and placed it in her husband’s +arms.</p> + +<p>On the way to the chapel, Lukas came to a crossroads +where he met an old woman.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>210]</a></span> +“Grandmother,” he said, “will you be godmother +to my child?” And he explained to her how every +one else had refused on account of his poverty and +how in desperation he had decided to ask the first person +he met. “And so, dear grandmother,” he concluded, +“I am asking you.”</p> + +<p>“Of course I’ll be godmother,” the old woman +said. “Here, give me the dear wee thing!”</p> + +<p>So Lukas gave her the child and together they +went on to the chapel.</p> + +<p>As they arrived the priest was just ready to leave. +The sexton hurried up to him and whispered that a +christening party was coming.</p> + +<p>“Who is it?” he asked, impatiently.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s only that good-for-nothing of a Lukas +who is poorer than a church mouse.”</p> + +<p>The godmother saw that the sexton was whispering +something unfriendly, so she pulled out a shining +ducat from her pocket, stepped up to the priest, and +pressed it into his hand.</p> + +<p>The priest blinked his eyes in amazement, looking +first at the ducat and then at the shabby old woman +who had given it. He stuffed the ducat into his +pocket, whispered hurriedly to the sexton to bring him +the font, and then christened the child of poor Lukas +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>211]</a></span> +with as much ceremony as the child of the richest +townsman. The little girl received the name Marishka.</p> + +<p>After the christening the priest accompanied the +godmother to the door of the chapel and the sexton +went even farther until he, too, received the reward +for which he was hoping.</p> + +<p>When Lukas and the old woman came to the crossroads +where they had met, she handed him the child. +Then she reached into her pocket, drew out another +golden ducat which she stuck into a fold of the child’s +clothes, and said: “From this ducat with which I +endow my godchild, you will have enough to bring her +up properly. She will always be a joy and a comfort +to you, and when she grows up she will make a happy +marriage. Now good-by.”</p> + +<p>She drew a green wand from her bosom and +touched the earth. Instantly a lovely rosebush appeared, +covered with blooms. At the same moment +the old woman vanished.</p> + +<p>In bewilderment Lukas looked this way and that +but she was gone. He was so surprised that he didn’t +know what had happened. I really think he would +be standing on that same spot to this day if little +Marishka had not begun to cry and by this reminded +him of home.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>212]</a></span> +His wife, meantime, was anxiously awaiting him. +She, poor soul, was suffering the pangs of hunger, +thirst, and bodily pain. There wasn’t a mouthful of +bread in the house, nor a cent of money.</p> + +<p>As Lukas entered the room, he said: “Weep no +more, dear wife. Here is your little Marishka. But +before you kiss the child, take out the christening gift +that you will find tucked away in her clothes. From +it you will know what an excellent godmother she +has.”</p> + +<p>The wife reached into the clothes and pulled out +not one ducat but a whole handful of ducats!</p> + +<p>“Oh!” she gasped and in her surprise she dropped +the ducats and they rolled about in the straw that littered +the wretched floor.</p> + +<p>“Husband! Husband! Who gave you so much +money? Just look!”</p> + +<p>“I have already looked and at first when I saw +them I was more surprised than you are. Now let +me tell you where they come from.”</p> + +<p>So Lukas related to his wife all that had happened +at the christening. In conclusion he said: “When I +saw the old woman was really gone, I started home. +On the way curiosity overcame me and I drew out +the christening present and instead of one ducat I +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>213]</a></span> +found a handful. I can tell you I was surprised but +instead of letting them drop on the ground I let them +slip back into the baby’s clothes. I said to myself: +‘Let your wife also have the pleasure of pulling out +those golden horses.’ And now, dear wife, leave off +exclaiming. Give thanks to God for that which he +has bestowed upon us and help me gather up the +golden darlings, for we don’t want any one coming in +and spying on us just now.”</p> + +<p>As they began picking them up, they had a new +surprise. Wherever there was one ducat, there they +found ten! When they got them all together they +made a fine big heap.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear, oh, dear!” said the woman as she gazed +at the pile. “Who knows whether this money will be +blessed to our use? Perhaps that old woman was an +evil spirit who just wants to buy our souls!”</p> + +<p>Lukas looked at his wife reprovingly. “How can +you be so foolish? Do you suppose an evil spirit +would have gone with me to church, allowed herself +to be sprinkled with holy water, yes, and even herself +make the sign of the cross! Never! I don’t say that +she is just an ordinary human being, but I do say +that she must be a good spirit whom God has sent to +us to help us. I’m sure we can keep this money with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>214]</a></span> +a clear conscience. The first question is where to hide +it so that no one can find it. For the present I shall +put it into the chest, but tomorrow night I shall bury +it under the pear tree. And one thing, wife, I warn +you: don’t say anything about it to any one. I shall +take one ducat and go to the burgomaster’s wife and +ask her to change it. Then I shall go buy some milk +and eggs and bread and flour, and I’ll bring back a +woman with me who will make us a fine supper. +Tomorrow I’ll go to town and buy some clothes and +feather beds. After that what else shall I buy? Can +you guess?”</p> + +<p>“The best thing to do would be to buy back our +old property—the house, the fields, and the live stock, +and then manage it more wisely than before.”</p> + +<p>“You’re right, wife, that’s just what I’ll do. And +I will manage prudently this time! I have learned +my lesson, I can tell you, for poverty is a good +teacher.”</p> + +<p>When Lukas had hidden the money in the chest +and turned the key, he took one ducat and went out +to make his purchases. While he was gone his wife +spent the time nursing the child and weaving happy +dreams that now, she was sure, would come to pass.</p> + +<p>After a short hour the door opened and Lukas and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>215]</a></span> +a red-cheeked maid entered. The maid carried a great +pail of foaming milk. Lukas followed her with a +basket of eggs in one hand and on top of the eggs two +big round brown cakes, and in the other hand a load +of feather beds tied in a knot.</p> + +<p>“God be with you!” said the maid, placing the +milk pail on the bench. “My mistress, the burgomaster’s +wife, greets you and sends you some milk for +pudding. If there is anything else you need you are +to let her know.” The maid curtsied and went away +before the poor woman could express her thanks.</p> + +<p>Lukas laughed and said: “You see, wife, what just +one ducat did! If they knew how many more we had +they would carry us about in their arms! The burgomaster’s +wife has sent us all these things. She is +lending us feather beds until tomorrow and she is +going to send us an old woman to help us out. I told +her our child had received a handful of ducats as a +christening gift. If she comes here to see you, make +up your mind what you’re going to say.”</p> + +<p>Then Lukas built a fire. Presently the old woman +came and soon good hot soup was ready. It was just +plain milk soup, but I can tell you it tasted better to +hungry Lukas and his wife than the rich food which +the king himself ate that day from a golden platter.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>216]</a></span> +The next day after breakfast Lukas set out for +town. The burgomaster’s wife took advantage of his +absence to visit his wife and find out what she could +about the money.</p> + +<p>“My dear neighbor,” she said, after she had made +the necessary inquiries about health, “the blessing of +God came into your house with that child.”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” said the other, “if you mean the christening +gift, it isn’t so very much. A handful of ducats soon +roll away. However, may God repay that good +woman, the godmother. At least we can now buy +back our old farm and live like respectable people.”</p> + +<p>On the way home the burgomaster’s wife stopped +at the houses of her various friends and gave them a +full account of Lukas’ wealth. Before noon every +small boy in the village knew that at Lukas’ house +they had a hogshead of ducats.</p> + +<p>In the evening Lukas came back from town driving +a cart that was piled high with furniture and clothing +and feather beds and food. The next day he bought +back his old farm with the cattle and the implements.</p> + +<p>This marked the beginning of a new life for Lukas. +He set to work with industry and put into practice +all the lessons that poverty had taught him.</p> + +<p>He and his wife lived happily. Their greatest joy +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>217]</a></span> +was Marishka, a little girl so charming and so pretty +that every one loved her on sight.</p> + +<p>“Dear neighbor,” all the old women used to say +to the child’s mother, “that girl of yours will never +grow up. She’s far too wise for her years!”</p> + +<p>But Marishka did very well. She grew up into a +beautiful young woman and one day a prince saw her, +fell in love with her, and married her. So the old +godmother’s prophecy that Marishka would make a +happy marriage was fulfilled.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>THE GOLDEN DUCK</h2> + +<p class="center">THE STORY OF PRINCE RADUZ +AND THE FAITHFUL LUDMILA</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft22.png" width="400" height="287" +alt="A duck" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>221]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">THE GOLDEN DUCK</p> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a king who had four +sons. One day the queen said to him:</p> + +<p>“It is time that one of our boys went out into the +world to make his fortune.”</p> + +<p>“I have been thinking that very same thing,” the +king said. “Let us get ready Raduz, our youngest, +and send him off with God’s blessing.”</p> + +<p>Preparations were at once made and in a +few days Raduz bid his parents farewell and set +forth.</p> + +<p>He traveled many days and many nights over +desert plains and through dense forests until he came +to a high mountain. Halfway up the mountain he +found a house.</p> + +<p>“I’ll stop here,” he thought to himself, “and see +if they’ll take me into service.”</p> + +<p>Now this house was occupied by three people: old +Yezibaba, who was a bad old witch; her husband, who +was a wizard but not so bad as Yezibaba; and their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>222]</a></span> +daughter, Ludmila, the sweetest, kindest girl that two +wicked parents ever had.</p> + +<p>“Good day to you all,” Raduz said, as he stepped +into the house and bowed.</p> + +<p>“The same to you,” old Yezibaba answered. +“What brings you here?”</p> + +<p>“I’m looking for work and I thought you might +have something for me to do.”</p> + +<p>“What can you do?” Yezibaba asked.</p> + +<p>“I’ll do anything you set me to. I’m trustworthy +and industrious.”</p> + +<p>Yezibaba didn’t want to take him, but the old man +wanted him and in the end Yezibaba with very ill +grace consented to give him a trial.</p> + +<p>He rested that night and early next morning presented +himself to the old witch and said:</p> + +<p>“What work am I to do today, mistress?”</p> + +<p>Yezibaba looked him over from head to foot. Then +she took him to a window and said: “What do you +see out there?”</p> + +<p>“I see a rocky hillside.”</p> + +<p>“Good. Go to that rocky hillside, cultivate it, +plant it in trees that will grow, blossom, and bear fruit +tonight. Tomorrow morning bring me the ripe fruit. +Here is a wooden hoe with which to work.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>223]</a></span> +“Alas,” thought Raduz to himself, “did ever a +man have such a task as this? What can I do on that +rocky hillside with a wooden hoe? How can I finish +my task in so short a time?”</p> + +<p>He started to work but he hadn’t struck three blows +with the wooden hoe before it broke. In despair he +tossed it aside and sat down under a beech tree.</p> + +<p>In the meantime wicked old Yezibaba had cooked a +disgusting mess of toads which she told Ludmila to +carry out to the serving man for his dinner. Ludmila +was sorry for the poor young man who had fallen into +her mother’s clutches and she said to herself: “What +has he done to deserve such unkind treatment? I won’t +let him eat this nasty mess. I’ll share my own dinner +with him.”</p> + +<p>She waited until her mother was out of the room, +then she took Yezibaba’s magic wand and hid it under +her apron. After that she hurried out to Raduz, whom +she found sitting under the beech tree with his face +in his hands.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be discouraged,” she said to him. “It is +true your mistress cooked you a mess of toads for your +dinner but, see, I have thrown them away and have +brought you my own dinner instead. As for your +task,” she continued, “I will help you with that. Here +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>224]</a></span> +is my mother’s magic wand. I have but to strike the +rocky hillside and by tomorrow the trees that my +mother has ordered will spring up, blossom, and bear +fruit.”</p> + +<p>Ludmila did as she promised. She struck the +ground with the magic wand and instantly instead of +the rocky hillside there appeared an orchard with rows +on rows of trees that blossomed and bore fruit as you +watched them.</p> + +<p>Raduz looked from Ludmila to the orchard and +couldn’t find words with which to express his surprise +and gratitude. Then Ludmila spread out her dinner +and together they ate it, laughing merrily and talking. +Raduz would have kept Ludmila all the afternoon but +she remembered that Yezibaba was waiting for her and +she hurried away.</p> + +<p>The next morning Raduz presented Yezibaba a +basket of ripe fruit. She sniffed it suspiciously and +then very grudgingly acknowledged that he had accomplished +his task.</p> + +<p>“What am I to do today?” Raduz asked.</p> + +<p>Yezibaba led him to a second window and asked +him what he saw there.</p> + +<p>“I see a rocky ravine covered with brambles,” he +said.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>225]</a></span> +“Right. Go now and clear away the brambles, dig +up the ravine, and plant it in grape vines. Tomorrow +morning bring me the ripe grapes. Here is another +wooden hoe with which to work.”</p> + +<p>Raduz took the hoe and set to work manfully. At +the first blow the hoe broke into three pieces.</p> + +<p>“Alas,” he thought, “what is going to happen to +me now? Unless Ludmila helps me again, I am lost.”</p> + +<p>At home Yezibaba was busy cooking a mess of +serpents. When noonday came she said to Ludmila: +“Here, my child, is dinner for the serving man. Take +it out to him.”</p> + +<p>Ludmila took the nasty mess and, as on the day +before, threw it away. Then again hiding Yezibaba’s +wand under her apron, she went to Raduz, carrying in +her hands her own dinner.</p> + +<p>Raduz saw her coming and at once his heart grew +light and he thought to himself how kind Ludmila was +and how beautiful.</p> + +<p>“I have been sitting here idle,” he told her, “for at +the first blow my hoe broke. Unless you help me, I +don’t know what I shall do.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry,” Ludmila said. “It is true your +mistress sent you a mess of serpents for your dinner, +but I threw them out and have brought you my own +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>226]</a></span> +dinner instead. And I’ve brought the magic wand, +too, so it will be easy enough to plant a vineyard that +will produce ripe grapes by tomorrow morning.”</p> + +<p>They ate together and after dinner Ludmila took +the wand and struck the earth. At once a vineyard +appeared and, as they watched, the vines blossomed +and the blooms turned to grapes.</p> + +<p>It was harder than before for Raduz to let Ludmila +go, for he wanted to keep on talking to her forever, +but she remembered that Yezibaba was waiting for her +and she hurried away.</p> + +<p>The next morning when Raduz presented a basket +of ripe grapes, old Yezibaba could scarcely believe her +eyes. She sniffed the grapes suspiciously and then very +grudgingly acknowledged that he had accomplished his +second task.</p> + +<p>“What am I to do today?” Raduz asked.</p> + +<p>Yezibaba led him to a third window and told him +to look out and tell her what he saw.</p> + +<p>“I see a great rocky cliff.”</p> + +<p>“Right,” she said. “Go now to that cliff and grind +me flour out of the rocks and from the flour bake me +bread. Tomorrow morning bring me the fresh loaves. +Today you shall have no tools of any kind. Go now +and do this task or suffer the consequences.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>227]</a></span> +As Raduz started off, Yezibaba looked after him +and shook her head suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand this,” she said to her husband. +“He could never have done these two tasks alone. Do +you suppose Ludmila has been helping him? I’ll +punish her if she has!”</p> + +<p>“Shame on you,” the old man said, “to talk so of +your own daughter! Ludmila is a good girl and has +always been loyal and obedient.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so,” Yezibaba said, “but just the same I +think I myself will carry him out his dinner today.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense, old woman! You’ll do no such thing! +You’re always smelling a rat somewhere! Let the boy +alone and don’t go nagging at Ludmila either!”</p> + +<p>So Yezibaba said no more. This time she cooked +a mess of lizards for Raduz’ dinner.</p> + +<p>“Here, Ludmila,” she said, “carry this out to the +young man. But see that you don’t talk to him. And +hurry back.”</p> + +<p>Poor Raduz had been pounding stones one on another +as well as he could, but he hadn’t been able to +grind any of them into flour. As noonday approached +he kept looking up anxiously to see whether beautiful +Ludmila was again coming to help him.</p> + +<p>“Here I am,” she called while she was yet some +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>228]</a></span> +distance away. “You were to have lizard stew today +but, see, I am bringing you my own dinner!”</p> + +<p>Then she told him what she had heard Yezibaba +say to her father.</p> + +<p>“Today she almost brought you your dinner herself, +for she suspects that I have been helping you. +If she knew that I really had she would kill you.”</p> + +<p>“Dear Ludmila,” Raduz said, “I know very well +that without you I am lost! How can I ever thank +you for all you have done for me?”</p> + +<p>Ludmila said she didn’t want thanks. She was +helping Raduz because she was sorry for him and loved +him.</p> + +<p>Then she took Yezibaba’s wand and struck the +rocky cliff. At once, instead of the bare rock, there +were sacks of grain and a millstone that worked merrily +away grinding out fine flour. As you watched, the flour +was kneaded up into loaves and then, pop went the +loaves into a hot oven and soon the air was sweet with +the smell of baking bread.</p> + +<p>Raduz begged Ludmila to stay and talk to him, but +she remembered that the old witch was waiting for her +and she hurried home.</p> + +<p>The next morning Raduz carried the baked loaves +to Yezibaba. She sniffed at them suspiciously and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>229]</a></span> +then her wicked heart nearly cracked with bitterness +to think that Raduz had accomplished his third task. +But she hid her disappointment and pretending to +smile, she said:</p> + +<p>“I see, my dear boy, that you have been able to do +all the tasks that I have set you. This is enough for +the present. Today you may rest.”</p> + +<p>That night the old witch hatched the plot of boiling +Raduz alive. She had him fill a big cauldron with +water and put it on the fire. Then she said to her +husband:</p> + +<p>“Now, old man, I’m going to take a nap but when +the water boils wake me up.”</p> + +<p>As soon as Yezibaba was asleep Ludmila gave the +old man strong wine until he, too, fell asleep. Then +she called Raduz and told him what Yezibaba was +planning to do.</p> + +<p>“You must escape while you can,” she said, “for if +you are here tomorrow you will surely be thrown into +the boiling cauldron.”</p> + +<p>But Raduz had fallen too deeply in love with Ludmila +to leave her and now he declared that he would +never go unless she went with him.</p> + +<p>“Very well,” Ludmila said, “I will go with you if +you swear you will never forget me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>230]</a></span> +“Forget you? How could I forget you,” Raduz +said, “when I wouldn’t give you up for the whole +world!”</p> + +<p>So Raduz took a solemn oath and they made ready +to flee. Ludmila threw down her kerchief in one corner +of the house and Raduz’ cap in another. Then she took +Yezibaba’s wand and off they started.</p> + +<p>The next morning when the old man awoke, he +called out: “Hi, there, boy! Are you still asleep?”</p> + +<p>“No, I’m not asleep,” answered Raduz’ cap. “I’m +just stretching.”</p> + +<p>Presently the old man called out again: “Here, +boy, hand me my clothes.”</p> + +<p>“In a minute,” the cap answered. “Just wait till +I put on my slippers.”</p> + +<p>Then old Yezibaba awoke. “Ludmila!” she cried. +“Get up, you lazy girl, and hand me my skirt and +bodice.”</p> + +<p>“In a minute! In a minute!” the kerchief +answered.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” Yezibaba scolded. “Why +are you so long dressing?”</p> + +<p>“Just one more minute!” the kerchief said.</p> + +<p>But Yezibaba, who was an impatient old witch, sat +up in bed and then she could see that Ludmila’s bed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>231]</a></span> +was empty. That threw her into a fine rage and she +called out to her husband:</p> + +<p>“Now, old man, what have you got to say? As +sure as I’m alive that good-for-nothing boy is gone and +that precious daughter of yours has gone with him!”</p> + +<p>“No, no,” the old man said. “I don’t think so.”</p> + +<p>Then they both got up and sure enough neither +Raduz nor Ludmila was to be found.</p> + +<p>“What do you think now, you old booby!” Yezibaba +shouted. “A mighty good and loyal and obedient +girl that daughter of yours is! But why do you stand +there all day? Mount the black steed and fly after +them and when you overtake them bring them back +to me and I’ll punish them properly!”</p> + +<p>In the meantime Raduz and Ludmila were fleeing +as fast as they could.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Ludmila said: “Oh, how my left cheek +burns! I wonder what it means? Look back, dear +Raduz, and see if there is any one following us.”</p> + +<p>Raduz turned and looked. “There’s nothing following +us,” he said, “but a black cloud in the sky.”</p> + +<p>“A black cloud? That’s the old man on the black +horse that rides on the clouds. Quick! We must be +ready for him!”</p> + +<p>Ludmila struck the ground with Yezibaba’s wand +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>232]</a></span> +and changed it into a field. She turned herself into the +growing rye and made Raduz the reaper who was cutting +the rye. Then she instructed him how to answer +the old man with cunning.</p> + +<p>The black cloud descended upon them with thunder +and a shower of hailstones that beat down the growing +rye.</p> + +<p>“Take care!” Raduz cried. “You’re trampling +my rye! Leave some of it for me.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” the old man said, alighting from his +steed, “I’ll leave some of it for you. But tell me, +reaper, have you seen anything of two young people +passing this way?”</p> + +<p>“Not a soul has passed while I’ve been reaping, but +I do remember that while I was planting this field two +such people did pass.”</p> + +<p>The old man shook his head, mounted his steed, and +flew home again on the black cloud.</p> + +<p>“Well, old wiseacre,” said Yezibaba, “what brings +you back so soon?”</p> + +<p>“No use my going on,” the old man said. “The +only person I saw was a reaper in a field of rye.”</p> + +<p>“You booby!” cried Yezibaba, “not to know that +Raduz was the reaper and Ludmila the rye! How they +fooled you! And didn’t you bring me back just one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>233]</a></span> +stalk of rye? Go after them again and this time don’t +let them fool you!”</p> + +<p>In the meantime Raduz and Ludmila were hurrying +on. Suddenly Ludmila said:</p> + +<p>“I wonder why my left cheek burns? Look back, +dear Raduz, and see if there is any one following us.”</p> + +<p>Raduz turned and looked. “There’s nothing following +us but a gray cloud in the sky.”</p> + +<p>“A gray cloud? That’s the old man on the gray +horse that rides on the clouds. But don’t be afraid. +Only have ready a cunning answer.”</p> + +<p>Ludmila struck her hat with the wand and changed +it into a chapel. Herself she changed into a fly that +attracted a host of other flies. She changed Raduz into +a hermit. All the flies flew into the chapel and Raduz +began preaching to them.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the gray cloud descended on the chapel +with a flurry of snow and such cold that the shingles +of the roof crackled.</p> + +<p>The old man alighted from the gray steed and entered +the chapel.</p> + +<p>“Hermit,” he said to Raduz, “have you seen two +travelers go by here, a girl and a youth?”</p> + +<p>“As long as I’ve been preaching here,” Raduz said, +“I’ve had only flies for a congregation. But I do +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>234]</a></span> +remember that while the chapel was building two such +people did go by. But now I must beg you, good sir, +to go out, for you are letting in so much cold that my +congregation is freezing.”</p> + +<p>At that the old man mounted his steed and flew +back home on the gray cloud.</p> + +<p>Old Yezibaba was waiting for him. When she saw +him coming she called out:</p> + +<p>“Again you bring no one, you good-for-nothing! +Where did you leave them this time?”</p> + +<p>“Where did I leave them?” the old man said. +“How could I leave them when I didn’t even see them? +All I saw was a little chapel and a hermit preaching to +a congregation of flies. I almost froze the congregation +to death!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a booby you are!” Yezibaba cried. +“Raduz was the hermit and Ludmila one of the flies! +Why didn’t you bring me just one shingle from the +roof of the chapel? I see I’ll have to go after them +myself!”</p> + +<p>In a rage she mounted the third magic steed and +flew off.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Raduz and Ludmila were hurrying +on. Suddenly Ludmila said:</p> + +<p>“I wonder why my left cheek burns? Look back, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>235]</a></span> +dear Raduz, again, and see if there is any one following +us.”</p> + +<p>Raduz turned and looked. “There’s nothing following +us but a red cloud in the sky.”</p> + +<p>“A red cloud? That must be Yezibaba herself on +the steed of fire. Now indeed we must be careful. Up +to this it has been easy enough but it won’t be easy to +deceive her. Here we are beside a lake. I will change +myself into a golden duck and float on the water. Do +you dive into the water so that she can’t burn you. +When she alights and tries to catch me, do you jump +up and get the horse by the bridle. Don’t be afraid +at what will happen.”</p> + +<p>The fiery cloud descended, burning up everything it +touched. At the edge of the water Yezibaba alighted +from her steed and tried to catch the golden duck. +The duck fluttered on and on just out of her reach +and Yezibaba went farther and farther from her horse.</p> + +<p>Then Raduz leaped out of the water and caught the +horse by its bridle. At once the duck rose on its wings +and flew to Raduz and became again Ludmila. Together +they mounted the fiery steed and flew off over +the lake.</p> + +<p>Yezibaba, helpless with rage and dismay, called +after them a bitter curse:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>236]</a></span> +“If you, Raduz, are kissed by woman before you +wed Ludmila, then will you forget Ludmila! And you, +ungrateful girl, if once Raduz forgets you then he shall +not remember you again until seven long years have +come and gone!”</p> + +<p>Raduz and Ludmila rode on and on until they +neared Raduz’ native city. There they met a man of +whom Raduz asked the news.</p> + +<p>“News indeed!” the man said. “The king and his +three older sons are dead. Only the queen is alive and +she cries night and day for her youngest son who went +out into the world and has never been heard of since. +The whole city is in an uproar as to who shall be the +new king.”</p> + +<p>When Raduz heard this he said to Ludmila: “Do +you, my dear Ludmila, wait for me here outside the +city while I go quickly to the palace and let it be +known that I am alive and am returned. It would not +be fitting to present you to my mother, the queen, +in those ragged clothes. As soon as I am made king +I shall come for you, bringing you a beautiful dress.”</p> + +<p>Ludmila agreed to this and Raduz left her and +hurried to the castle. His mother recognized him at +once and ran with open arms to greet him. She wanted +to kiss him but he wouldn’t let her. The news of his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>237]</a></span> +return flew abroad and he was immediately proclaimed +king. A great feast was spread and all the people +ate and drank and made merry.</p> + +<p>Fatigued with his journey and with the excitement +of his return, Raduz lay down to rest. While he slept +his mother came in and kissed him on both cheeks. +Instantly Yezibaba’s curse was fulfilled and all memory +of Ludmila left him.</p> + +<p>Poor Ludmila waited for his return but he never +came. Then she knew what must have happened. +Heartbroken and lonely she found a spot near a farmhouse +that commanded a view of the castle, and she +stood there day after day hoping to see Raduz. She +stood there so long that finally she took root and grew +up into a poplar tree that was so beautiful that soon +throughout the countryside people began talking about +it. Every one admired it but the young king. He +when he looked at it always felt unhappy and he supposed +this was because it obstructed the view from his +window. At last he ordered it to be cut down.</p> + +<p>The farmer near whose house it stood begged hard +to have it saved, but the king was firm.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the poplar was cut down there grew +up under the king’s very window a pretty little pear +tree that bore golden pears. It was a wonderful little +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>238]</a></span> +tree. No matter how many pears you picked in the +evening, by the next morning the tree would again be +full.</p> + +<p>The king loved the little tree and was forever talking +about it. The old queen, on the other hand, disliked +it.</p> + +<p>“I wish that tree would die,” she used to say. +“There’s something strange about it that makes me +nervous.”</p> + +<p>The king begged her to leave the tree alone but she +worried and complained and nagged until at last for +his own peace of mind he had the poor little pear tree +cut down.</p> + +<p>The seven years of Yezibaba’s curse at last ran out. +Then Ludmila changed herself again into a little golden +duck and went swimming about on the lake that was +under the king’s window.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the king began to remember that he had +seen that duck before. He ordered it to be caught +and brought to him. But none of his people could +catch it. Then he called together all the fishermen and +birdcatchers in the country but none of them could +catch the strange duck.</p> + +<p>The days went by and the king’s mind was more +and more engrossed with the thought of the golden +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>239]</a></span> +duck. “If no one can catch it for me,” he said at +last, “I must try to catch it myself.”</p> + +<p>So he went to the lake and reached out his hand +after the golden duck. The duck led him on and on +but at last she allowed herself to be caught. As soon +as she was in his hand she changed to herself and +Raduz recognized her as his own beautiful Ludmila.</p> + +<p>She said to him: “I have been true to you but you +have forgotten me all these years. Yet I forgive you, +for it was not your fault.”</p> + +<p>In Raduz’ heart his old love returned a hundredfold +and he was overjoyed to lead Ludmila to the +castle. He presented her to his mother and said:</p> + +<p>“This is she who saved my life many times. She +and no one else will be my wife.”</p> + +<p>A great wedding feast was prepared and so at last +Raduz married the faithful Ludmila.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"><!-- unnumbered half title page --></a></span></p> + +<h2>THE STORY THAT NEVER ENDS</h2> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft23.png" width="400" height="373" +alt="A ram" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"><!-- blank page --></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>243]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center lrgfont">THE STORY THAT NEVER ENDS</p> + + +<p>(<i>To be told very seriously</i>)</p> + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there was a shepherd who had +a great flock of sheep. He used to pasture them +in a meadow on the other side of a brook. One day +the sun had already set before he started home. +Recent rains had swollen the brook so that he and the +sheep had to cross on a little footbridge. The bridge +was so narrow that the sheep had to pass over one +by one.</p> + +<p>Now we’ll wait until he drives them all over. Then +I’ll go on with my story.</p> + +<p>(<i>When the children grow impatient and beg for a +continuation of the story, they are told that there are +many sheep and that up to this time only a few have +crossed. A little later when their impatience again +breaks out, they are told that the sheep are still crossing. +And so on indefinitely. In conclusion:</i>)</p> + +<p>In fact there were so many sheep that when morning +came they were still crossing, and then it was time +for the shepherd to turn around and drive them back +again to pasture!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"><!-- unnumbered illustration page --></a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadboth" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cft24.png" width="400" height="253" +alt="A dragon flies past a castle" /> +</div> + + + +<div class="bbox"> +<p><b>Transcriber's Note</b></p> + +<p>Minor printer errors have been repaired.</p> + +<p>The frontispiece illustration has been moved to follow the title page. +Other illustrations have been moved where necessary so that they are +not in the middle of a paragraph.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Czechoslovak Fairy Tales, by Parker Fillmore + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CZECHOSLOVAK FAIRY TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 32217-h.htm or 32217-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/1/32217/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Sam W. and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Czechoslovak Fairy Tales + +Author: Parker Fillmore + +Illustrator: Jan Matulka + +Release Date: May 2, 2010 [EBook #32217] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CZECHOSLOVAK FAIRY TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Sam W. and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +Illustration captions in braces {like this} have been added by the +transcriber for the convenience of the reader. + + + + + CZECHOSLOVAK + FAIRY TALES + + + RETOLD BY + PARKER FILLMORE + + WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND DECORATIONS BY + JAN MATULKA + + + [Illustration: {Two birds}] + + + NEW YORK + HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY + PARKER FILLMORE + + PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. BY + THE QUINN & BODEN COMPANY + RAHWAY, N. J. + + + + + [Illustration: _Zloboha in Dobrunka's Clothes_ + Page 192] + + + + + To + MISS MARJORIE RAHLSON + + + + +NOTE + + +This rendering of some of the old Czechoslovak tales is not offered as +a literal translation or a scholarly translation. I have retold the +stories in a way that I hope will please American children. I have +tried hard to keep the flavor of the originals but have taken the +liberty of a short cut here and an elaboration there wherever these +have seemed to me to make the English version clearer and more +interesting. + +I have gone to Czech, Slovakian, and Moravian sources. All these +stories appear in many versions in the different folklore collections +made by such native writers as Erben, Nemcova, Dobsinsky, Rimavsky, +Benes-Trebizsky, Kulda. They represent the folk-tale in all stages of +its development from the bald narrative of _The Bird with the Golden +Gizzard_ which Kulda reports with phonographic exactness, to Nemcova's +more elaborate tale, _Prince Bayaya_, which is really a mosaic of two +or three simpler stories. I have included _Katcha and the Devil_ for +the sake of its keen humor, which is particularly Czech in character; +_The Betrothal Gifts_ to show how a story common to other countries is +made most charmingly local by giving it a local background; _The +Three Golden Hairs_ to contrast it with a famous German variant which +it seems to me is much inferior to the Slavic version; and several +fine stories of the prince gone off on adventures which in common with +the folk-tales of all Europe show a strong Oriental influence. + +In the transliteration of proper names I have not followed +consistently any one method, but for each individual name have made +what seemed to be the best selection from the various possible +spellings. Until transliteration from the Slavic languages has become +standardized this, I am sure, is permissible and even advisable. + +In the preparation of this volume I have made heavy draughts upon the +scholarship and patience of my Czech friends, Mrs. Jan Matulka and Mr. +Vladimir Jelinek. I beg them to accept my thanks. I am also deeply +grateful to Mr. A. B. Koukol, who did me the favor of reading the +final sheets. Lastly I wish to express my appreciation of the Webster +Branch of the New York Public Library, which has gathered together +what is probably the most complete collection of Czechoslovak +literature in America, and one particularly rich in folklore and +children's books. + + P. F. + August, 1919 + + + + +[Illustration: {A house and barn}] + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + LONGSHANKS, GIRTH, AND KEEN: The Story of Three + Wonderful Serving Men 1 + + THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS: The Story of a Charcoal-Burner's + Son Who Married a Princess 21 + + THE FLAMING HORSE: The Story of a Country Where the Sun + Never Shines 41 + + THE THREE CITRONS: The Story of a Prince Who Climbed the + Glass Hill 55 + + PRINCE BAYAYA: The Story of a Magic Horse 77 + + KATCHA AND THE DEVIL: The Story of a Clinging Vine 99 + + THE BETROTHAL GIFTS: The Story of Kubik and the Frog 113 + + GRANDFATHER'S EYES: The Story of Three Wicked Yezinkas 129 + + RATTLE-RATTLE-RATTLE AND CHINK-CHINK-CHINK: The Story + of Long Beard, the Dwarf, and the Two Sisters 141 + + THE BIRD WITH THE GOLDEN GIZZARD: The Story of Two + Brothers 155 + + THE WOOD MAIDEN: The Story of Betushka and the Golden + Birch Leaves 163 + + THE GOLDEN SPINNING-WHEEL: The Story of King Dobromil + and the Good Dobrunka 177 + + THE GOLDEN GODMOTHER: The Story of Poor Lukas 205 + + THE GOLDEN DUCK: The Story of Prince Raduz and the + Faithful Ludmila 219 + + THE STORY THAT NEVER ENDS 241 + + + + +[Illustration: {A serpent}] + +FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PAGE + + Zloboha in Dobrunka's Clothes _Frontispiece_ + + Music Played 72 + + When the Boys Had Grown into Handsome Youths 80 + + Kubik Greeting His Old Father 126 + + Alike in Feature but Utterly Different in Disposition 179 + + + + +LONGSHANKS, GIRTH, AND KEEN + +THE STORY OF THREE WONDERFUL SERVING MEN + +[Illustration: {An older bearded man and a bird}] + + +LONGSHANKS, GIRTH, AND KEEN + +There was once an aged king who had an only son. One day he called the +prince to him and said: "My dear son, you know that ripe fruit falls +in order to make room for other fruit. This my old head is like ripe +fruit and soon the sun will no longer shine upon it. Now before I die +I should like to see you happily married. Get you a wife, my son." + +"I would, my father, that I could please you in this," the prince +answered, "but I know of no one who would make you a worthy +daughter-in-law." + +The old king reached into his pocket, drew out a golden key, and +handed it to the prince. He said: + +"Go up into the tower to the very top. There look about you and when +you have decided what you like best of all you see, come back and tell +me." + +The prince took the key and at once mounted the tower. He had never +before gone to the very top and he had never heard what was there. He +went up and up until at last he saw a small iron door in the ceiling. +He opened this with the golden key, pushed it back, and entered a +large circular hall. The ceiling was blue and silver like the heavens +on a bright night when the stars shine, and the floor was covered with +a green silken carpet. There were twelve tall windows set in gold +frames, and on the crystal glass of each window a beautiful young girl +was pictured in glowing colors. Every one of them was a princess with +a royal crown upon her head. As the prince looked at them it seemed to +him that each was more lovely than the last, and for the life of him +he knew not which was the loveliest. Then they began to move as if +alive, and they smiled at the prince and nodded, and looked as if they +were about to speak. + +Suddenly the prince noticed that one of the twelve windows was covered +with a white curtain. He pulled the curtain aside and there without +any question was the most beautiful princess of them all, clothed in +pure white, with a silver girdle and a crown of pearls. Her face was +deathly pale and sad as the grave. + +For a long time the prince stood before this picture in utter +amazement and as he looked at it a pain seemed to enter his heart. + +"This one I want for my bride," he said aloud, "this one and no +other." + +At these words the maiden bowed, flushed like a rose, and then +instantly all the pictures disappeared. + +When the prince told his father what he had seen and which maiden he +had chosen, the old king was greatly troubled. + +"My son," he said, "you did ill to uncover what was covered and in +declaring this, your choice, you have exposed yourself to a great +danger. This maiden is in the power of a black magician who holds her +captive in an iron castle. Of all who have gone to rescue her not one +has ever returned. However, what's done is done and you have given +your word. Go, then, try what fortune has in store for you, and may +Heaven bring you back safe and sound." + +So the prince bade his father farewell, mounted his horse, and rode +forth to find his bride. His first adventure was to lose his way in a +deep forest. He wandered about some time not knowing where to turn +when suddenly he was hailed from behind with these words: + +"Hey, there, master, wait a minute!" + +He looked around and saw a tall man running toward him. + +"Take me into your service, master," the tall man said. "If you do you +won't regret it." + +"What is your name," the prince asked, "and what can you do?" + +"People call me Longshanks because I can stretch myself out. I'll show +you. Do you see a bird's nest in the top of that tall fir? I'll get it +down for you and not by climbing the tree either." + +So saying he began to stretch out and his body shot up and up until he +was as tall as the fir tree. He reached over and got the nest and +then, in a shorter time than it had taken him to stretch out, he +reduced himself to his natural size. + +"You do your trick very well," the prince said, "but just now a bird's +nest isn't of much use to me. What I need is some one to show me the +way out of this forest." + +"H'm," Longshanks said, "that's an easy enough matter." + +Again he began to stretch himself up and up and up until he was three +times as tall as the highest pine in the forest. He looked around and +said: "Over there, in that direction, is the nearest way out." + +Then he made himself small again, took the horse by the bridle, walked +ahead, and in a short time they emerged from the forest. + +A broad plain stretched out before them and beyond it they could see +tall gray rocks that looked like the walls of a great city and +mountains overgrown with forests. + +Longshanks pointed off across the plain and said: "There, master, goes +a comrade of mine who would be very useful to you. You ought to take +him into your service too." + +"Very well," said the prince, "call him here that I may find out what +sort of a fellow he is." + +"He is too far away to call," Longshanks said. "He wouldn't hear my +voice and if he did he would be a long time in reaching us, for he has +much to carry. I had better step over and get him myself." + +As he said this, Longshanks stretched out and out until his head was +lost in the clouds. He took two or three strides, reached his comrade, +set him on his shoulder, and brought him to the prince. + +The new man was heavily built and round as a barrel. + +"Who are you?" the prince asked. "And what can you do?" + +"I am called Girth," the man said. "I can widen myself." + +"Let me see you do it," the prince said. + +"Very well, master," said Girth, beginning to puff out, "I will. But +take care! Ride off into the forest as fast as you can!" + +The prince did not understand the warning, but he saw that Longshanks +was in full flight, so he spurred his horse and galloped after him. + +It was just as well he did, for in another moment Girth would have +crushed both him and his horse, so fast did he spread out, so huge did +he become. In a short time he filled the whole plain until it looked +as though a mountain had fallen upon it. + +When the plain was entirely covered, he stopped expanding, heaved a +deep breath that shook the forest trees, and returned to his natural +size. + +"You made me run for my life!" the prince said. "I tell you I don't +meet a fellow like you every day! By all means join me." + +They went across the plain and as they neared the rocks they met a man +whose eyes were bandaged with a handkerchief. + +"Master," said Longshanks, "there is my other comrade. Take him into +your service, too, and I can tell you you won't regret the bread he +eats." + +"Who are you?" the prince asked. "And why do you keep your eyes +bandaged? You can't see where you're going." + +"On the contrary, master, it is just because I see too well that I +have to bandage my eyes. With bandaged eyes I see as well as other +people whose eyes are uncovered. When I take the handkerchief off, my +sight is so keen it goes straight through everything. When I look at +anything intently it catches fire, and if it can't burn, it crumbles +to pieces. On account of my sight I'm called Keen." + +He untied the handkerchief, turned to one of the rocks opposite, and +gazed at it with glowing eyes. Soon the rock began to crumble and fall +to pieces. In a few moments it was reduced to a heap of sand. In the +sand something gleamed like fire. Keen picked it up and handed it to +the prince. It was a lump of pure gold. + +"Ha, ha!" said the prince. "You are a fine fellow and worth more than +wages! I should be a fool not to take you into my service. Since you +have such keen eyes, look and tell me how much farther it is to the +Iron Castle and what is happening there now." + +"If you rode there alone," Keen answered, "you might get there within +a year, but with us to help you, you will arrive this very day. Our +coming is not unexpected, either, for at this very moment they are +preparing supper for us." + +"What is the captive princess doing?" + +"She is sitting in a high tower behind an iron grating. The magician +stands on guard." + +"If you are real men," the prince cried, "you will all help me to free +her." + +The three comrades promised they would. + +They led the prince straight through the gray rocks by a defile which +Keen made with his eyes, and on and on through high mountains and deep +forests. Whatever obstacle was in the way one or another of the three +comrades was able to remove it. + +By late afternoon they had crossed the last mountain, had left behind +them the last stretch of dark forest, and they saw looming up ahead of +them the Iron Castle. + +Just as the sun sank the prince and his followers crossed the +drawbridge and entered the courtyard gate. Instantly the drawbridge +lifted and the gate clanged shut. + +They went through the courtyard and the prince put his horse in the +stable, where he found a place all in readiness. Then the four of them +marched boldly into the castle. + +Everywhere--in the courtyard, in the stables, and now in the various +rooms of the castle--they saw great numbers of richly clad men all of +whom, masters and servants alike, had been turned to stone. + +They went on from one room to another until they reached the banquet +hall. This was brilliantly lighted and the table, with food and drink +in abundance, was set for four persons. They waited, expecting some +one to appear, but no one came. At last, overpowered by hunger, they +sat down and ate and drank most heartily. + +After supper they began to look about for a place to sleep. It was +then without warning that the doors burst open and the magician +appeared. He was a bent old man with a bald head and a gray beard that +reached to his knees. He was dressed in a long black robe and he had, +instead of a belt, three iron bands about his waist. + +He led in a beautiful lady dressed in white with a silver girdle and a +crown of pearls. Her face was deathly pale and as sad as the grave. +The prince recognized her instantly and sprang forward to meet her. +Before he could speak, the magician raised his hand and said: + +"I know why you have come. It is to carry off this princess. Very +well, take her. If you can guard her for three nights so that she +won't escape you, she is yours. But if she escapes you, then you and +your men will suffer the fate of all those who have come before you +and be turned into stone." + +Then when he had motioned the princess to a seat, he turned and left +the hall. + +The prince could not take his eyes from the princess, she was so +beautiful. He tried to talk to her, asking her many questions, but she +made him no answer. She might have been marble the way she never +smiled and never looked at any of them. + +He seated himself beside her, determined to stay all night on guard in +order to prevent her escape. For greater security Longshanks stretched +himself out on the floor like a strap and wound himself around the +room the whole length of the wall. Girth sat in the doorway and puffed +himself out until he filled that space so completely that not even a +mouse could slip through. Keen took his place by a pillar in the +middle of the hall. + +But, alas, in a few moments they all grew heavy with drowsiness and in +the end slept soundly all night long. + +In the morning in the early dawn the prince awoke and with a pain in +his heart that was like a blow from a dagger, he saw that the princess +was gone. Instantly he aroused his men and asked them what was to be +done. + +"It's all right, master, don't worry," said Keen as he took a long +look through the window. "I see her now. A hundred miles from here is +a forest, in the midst of the forest an ancient oak, on the top of the +oak an acorn. The princess is that acorn. Let Longshanks take me on +his shoulders and we'll go get her." + +Longshanks picked Keen up, stretched himself out, and set forth. He +took ten miles at a stride and in the time it would take you or me to +run around a cottage, here he was back again with the acorn in his +hand. He gave it to the prince. + +"Drop it, master, on the floor." + +The prince dropped the acorn and instantly the princess appeared. + +As the sun came over the mountain tops the doors slammed open and the +magician entered. A crafty smile was on his face. But when he saw the +princess the smile changed to a scowl, he growled in rage, and bang! +one of the iron bands about his waist burst asunder. Then he took the +princess by the hand and dragged her off. + +That whole day the prince had nothing to do but wander about the +castle and look at all the strange and curious things it contained. +It seemed as if at some one instant all life had been arrested. In one +hall he saw a prince who had been turned into stone while he was +brandishing his sword. The sword was still uplifted. In another room +there was a stone knight who was taken in the act of flight. He had +stumbled on the threshold but he had not yet fallen. A serving man sat +under the chimney eating his supper. With one hand he was reaching a +piece of roast meat to his mouth. Days, months, perhaps years had gone +by, but the meat had not yet touched his lips. There were many others, +all of them still in whatever position they happened to be when the +magician had cried: "Be ye turned into stone!" + +In the courtyard and the stables the prince found many fine horses +overtaken by the same fate. + +Outside the castle everything was equally dead and silent. There were +trees but they had no leaves, there was a river but it didn't flow, +and no fish could live in its waters. There wasn't a singing bird +anywhere, and there wasn't even one tiny flower. + +In the morning, at noon, and at supper-time the prince and his +companions found a rich feast prepared for them. Unseen hands served +them food and poured them wine. + +Then after supper, as on the preceding night, the doors burst open +and the magician led in the princess, whom he handed over to the +prince to guard for the second night. + +Of course the prince and his men determined to fight off drowsiness +this time with all their strength. But in spite of this determination +again they fell asleep. At dawn the prince awoke and saw that the +princess was gone. + +He jumped up and shook Keen by the shoulder. + +"Wake up, Keen, wake up! Where is the princess?" + +Keen rubbed his eyes, took one look out of the window, and said: + +"There, I see her. Two hundred miles from here is a mountain, in the +mountain is a rock, in the rock a precious stone. That stone is the +princess. If Longshanks will carry me over there we'll get her." + +Longshanks put Keen on his shoulder, stretched himself out until he +was able to go twenty miles at a stride, and off he went. Keen fixed +his glowing eyes on the mountain and the mountain crumbled. Then the +rock that was inside the mountain broke into a thousand pieces and +there was the precious stone glittering among the pieces. + +They picked it up and carried it back to the prince. As soon as he +dropped it on the floor the princess reappeared. + +When the magician came in and found her there, his eyes sparkled with +anger, and bang! the second of his iron bands cracked and burst +asunder. Rumbling and growling he led the princess away. + +That day passed as the day before. After supper the magician brought +back the princess and, looking fiercely at the prince, he sneered and +said: "Now we'll see who wins, you or I." + +This night the prince and his men tried harder than ever to stay +awake. They didn't even allow themselves to sit down but kept walking. +All in vain. One after another they fell asleep on their feet and +again the princess escaped. + +In the morning the prince, as usual, was the first to awake. When he +saw the princess was gone, he aroused Keen. + +"Wake up, Keen!" he cried. "Look out and tell me where the princess +is." + +This time Keen had to look long before he saw her. + +"Master, she is far away. Three hundred miles from here there is a +black sea. At the bottom of that sea is a shell. In that shell is a +golden ring. That ring is the princess. But don't be worried, master, +we'll get her. This time let Longshanks take Girth as well as me, for +we may need him." + +So Longshanks put Keen on one shoulder and Girth on the other. Then he +stretched himself out until he was able to cover thirty miles at a +stride. When they reached the black sea Keen showed Longshanks where +to reach down in the water for the shell. Longshanks reached down as +far as he could but not far enough to touch bottom. + +"Wait, comrades, wait a bit," said Girth. "Now it's my turn to help." + +With that he puffed himself out and out as far as he could. Then he +lay down on the beach and began drinking up the sea. He drank it in +such great gulps that soon Longshanks was able to reach bottom and to +get the shell. Longshanks took out the ring and then, putting his +comrades on his shoulders, started back for the castle. He was not +able to go fast, for Girth, with half the sea in his stomach, was very +heavy. At last in desperation Longshanks turned Girth upside down and +shook him and instantly the great plain upon which he emptied him +turned into a huge lake. It was all poor Girth could do to scramble +out of the water and back to Longshanks' shoulder. + +Meanwhile at the castle the prince was awaiting his men in great +anxiety. Morning was breaking and still they did not come. As the +first rays of the sun shot over the mountain tops the doors slammed +open and the magician stood on the threshold. He glanced around and +when he saw that the princess was not there he gave a mocking laugh +and entered. + +But at that very instant there was the crash of a breaking window, a +golden ring struck the floor, and lo! the princess! Keen had seen in +time the danger that was threatening the prince and Longshanks had +hurled the ring through the window. + +The magician bellowed with rage until the castle shook and then, bang! +the third iron band burst asunder and from what had once been the +magician a black crow arose and flew out of the broken window and was +never seen again. + +Instantly the beautiful princess blushed like a rose and was able to +speak and to thank the prince for delivering her. + +Everything in the castle came to life. The prince with the uplifted +sword finished his stroke and put the sword into its scabbard. The +knight who was stumbling fell and jumped up holding his nose to see +whether he still had it. The serving man under the chimney put the +meat into his mouth and kept on eating. And so every one finished what +he had been doing at the moment of enchantment. The horses, too, came +to life and stamped and neighed. + +Around the castle the trees burst into leaf. Flowers covered the +meadows. High in the heavens the lark sang, and in the flowing river +there were shoals of tiny fish. Everything was alive again, everything +happy. + +The knights who had been restored to life gathered in the hall to +thank the prince for their deliverance. But the prince said to them: + +"You have nothing to thank me for. If it had not been for these, my +three trusty servants, Longshanks, Girth, and Keen, I should have met +the same fate as you." + +The prince set out at once on his journey home with his bride and his +three serving men. When he reached home the old king, who had given +him up for lost, wept for joy at his unexpected return. + +All the knights whom the prince had rescued were invited to the +wedding which took place at once and lasted for three weeks. + +When it was over, Longshanks, Girth, and Keen presented themselves to +the young king and told him that they were again going out into the +world to look for work. The young king urged them to stay. + +"I will give you everything you need as long as you live," he promised +them, "and you won't have to exert yourselves at all." + +But such an idle life was not to their liking. So they took their +leave and started out again and to this day they are still knocking +around somewhere. + + + + +THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS + +THE STORY OF A CHARCOAL-BURNER'S SON WHO MARRIED A PRINCESS + +[Illustration: {A stag}] + + +THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS + +There was once a king who took great delight in hunting. One day he +followed a stag a great distance into the forest. He went on and on +until he lost his way. Night fell and the king by happy chance came +upon a clearing where a charcoal-burner had a cottage. The king asked +the charcoal-burner to lead him out of the forest and offered to pay +him handsomely. + +"I'd be glad to go with you," the charcoal-burner said, "but my wife +is expecting the birth of a child and I cannot leave her. It is too +late for you to start out alone. Won't you spend the night here? Lie +down on some hay in the garret and tomorrow I'll be your guide." + +The king had to accept this arrangement. He climbed into the garret +and lay down on the floor. Soon afterwards a son was born to the +charcoal-burner. + +At midnight the king noticed a strange light in the room below him. He +peeped through a chink in the boards and saw the charcoal-burner +asleep, his wife lying in a dead faint, and three old women, all in +white, standing over the baby, each holding a lighted taper in her +hand. + +The first old woman said: "My gift to this boy is that he shall +encounter great dangers." + +The second said: "My gift to him is that he shall go safely through +them all, and live long." + +The third one said: "And I give him for wife the baby daughter born +this night to the king who lies upstairs on the straw." + +The three old women blew out their tapers and all was quiet. They were +the Fates. + +The king felt as though a sword had been thrust into his heart. He lay +awake till morning trying to think out some plan by which he could +thwart the will of the three old Fates. + +When day broke the child began to cry and the charcoal-burner woke up. +Then he saw that his wife had died during the night. + +"Ah, my poor motherless child," he cried, "what shall I do with you +now?" + +"Give me the baby," the king said. "I'll see that he's looked after +properly and I'll give you enough money to keep you the rest of your +life." + +The charcoal-burner was delighted with this offer and the king went +away promising to send at once for the baby. + +A few days later when he reached his palace he was met with the joyful +news that a beautiful little baby daughter had been born to him. He +asked the time of her birth, and of course it was on the very night +when he saw the Fates. Instead of being pleased at the safe arrival of +the baby princess, the king frowned. + +Then he called one of his stewards and said to him: "Go into the +forest in a direction that I shall tell you. You will find there a +cottage where a charcoal-burner lives. Give him this money and get +from him a little child. Take the child and on your way back drown it. +Do as I say or I shall have you drowned." + +The steward went, found the charcoal-burner, and took the child. He +put it into a basket and carried it away. As he was crossing a broad +river he dropped the basket into the water. + +"Goodnight to you, little son-in-law that nobody wanted!" the king +said when he heard what the steward had done. + +He supposed of course that the baby was drowned. But it wasn't. Its +little basket floated in the water like a cradle, and the baby slept +as if the river were singing it a lullaby. It floated down with the +current past a fisherman's cottage. The fisherman saw it, got into his +boat, and went after it. When he found what the basket contained he +was overjoyed. At once he carried the baby to his wife and said: + +"You have always wanted a little son and here you have one. The river +has given him to us." + +The fisherman's wife was delighted and brought up the child as her +own. They named him Plavachek, which means a little boy who has come +floating on the water. + +The river flowed on and the days went by and Plavachek grew from a +baby to a boy and then into a handsome youth, the handsomest by far in +the whole countryside. + +One day the king happened to ride that way unattended. It was hot and +he was thirsty. He beckoned to the fisherman to get him a drink of +fresh water. Plavachek brought it to him. The king looked at the +handsome youth in astonishment. + +"You have a fine lad," he said to the fisherman. "Is he your own son?" + +"He is, yet he isn't," the fisherman answered. "Just twenty years ago +a little baby in a basket floated down the river. We took him in and +he has been ours ever since." + +A mist rose before the king's eyes and he went deathly pale, for he +knew at once that Plavachek was the child that he had ordered drowned. + +Soon he recovered himself and jumping from his horse he said: "I need +a messenger to send to my palace and I have no one with me. Could this +youth go for me?" + +"Your majesty has but to command," the fisherman said, "and Plavachek +will go." + +The king sat down and wrote a letter to the queen. This is what he +said: + +"Have the young man who delivers this letter run through with a sword +at once. He is a dangerous enemy. Let him be dispatched before I +return. Such is my will." + +He folded the letter, made it secure, and sealed it with his own +signet. + +Plavachek took the letter and started out with it at once. He had to +go through a deep forest where he missed the path and lost his way. He +struggled on through underbrush and thicket until it began to grow +dark. Then he met an old woman who said to him: + +"Where are you going, Plavachek?" + +"I'm carrying this letter to the king's palace and I've lost my way. +Can you put me on the right road, mother?" + +"You can't get there today," the old woman said. "It's dark now. Spend +the night with me. You won't be with a stranger, for I'm your old +godmother." + +Plavachek allowed himself to be persuaded and presently he saw before +him a pretty little house that seemed at that moment to have sprung +out of the ground. + +During the night while Plavachek was asleep, the old woman took the +letter out of his pocket and put in another that read as follows: + +"Have the young man who delivers this letter married to our daughter +at once. He is my destined son-in-law. Let the wedding take place +before I return. Such is my will." + +The next day Plavachek delivered the letter and as soon as the queen +read it, she gave orders at once for the wedding. Both she and her +daughter were much taken with the handsome youth and gazed at him with +tender eyes. As for Plavachek he fell instantly in love with the +princess and was delighted to marry her. + +Some days after the wedding the king returned and when he heard what +had happened he flew into a violent rage at the queen. + +"But," protested the queen, "you yourself ordered me to have him +married to our daughter before you came back. Here is your letter." + +The king took the letter and examined it carefully. The handwriting, +the seal, the paper--all were his own. + +He called his son-in-law and questioned him. + +Plavachek related how he had lost his way in the forest and spent the +night with his godmother. + +"What does your godmother look like?" the king asked. + +Plavachek described her. + +From the description the king recognized her as the same old woman who +had promised the princess to the charcoal-burner's son twenty years +before. + +He looked at Plavachek thoughtfully and at last he said: + +"What's done can't be undone. However, young man, you can't expect to +be my son-in-law for nothing. If you want my daughter you must bring +me for dowry three of the golden hairs of old Grandfather Knowitall." + +He thought to himself that this would be an impossible task and so +would be a good way to get rid of an undesirable son-in-law. + +Plavachek took leave of his bride and started off. He didn't know +which way to go. Who would know? Everybody talked about old +Grandfather Knowitall, but nobody seemed to know where to find him. +Yet Plavachek had a Fate for a godmother, so it wasn't likely that he +would miss the right road. + +He traveled long and far, going over wooded hills and desert plains +and crossing deep rivers. He came at last to a black sea. + +There he saw a boat and an old ferryman. + +"God bless you, old ferryman!" he said. + +"May God grant that prayer, young traveler! Where are you going?" + +"I'm going to old Grandfather Knowitall to get three of his golden +hairs." + +"Oho! I have long been hunting for just such a messenger as you! For +twenty years I have been ferrying people across this black sea and +nobody has come to relieve me. If you promise to ask Grandfather +Knowitall when my work will end, I'll ferry you over." + +Plavachek promised and the boatman took him across. + +Plavachek traveled on until he came to a great city that was in a +state of decay. Before the city he met an old man who had a staff in +his hand, but even with the staff he could scarcely crawl along. + +"God bless you, old grandfather!" Plavachek said. + +"May God grant that prayer, handsome youth! Where are you going?" + +"I am going to old Grandfather Knowitall to get three of his golden +hairs." + +"Indeed! We have been waiting a long time for just such a messenger as +you! I must lead you at once to the king." + +So he took him to the king and the king said: "Ah, so you are going on +an errand to Grandfather Knowitall! We have an apple-tree here that +used to bear apples of youth. If any one ate one of those apples, no +matter how aged he was, he'd become young again. But, alas, for twenty +years now our tree has borne no fruit. If you promise to ask +Grandfather Knowitall if there is any help for us, I will reward you +handsomely." + +Plavachek gave the king his promise and the king bid him godspeed. + +Plavachek traveled on until he reached another great city that was +half in ruins. Not far from the city a man was burying his father, and +tears as big as peas were rolling down his cheek. + +"God bless you, mournful grave-digger!" Plavachek said. + +"May God grant that prayer, kind traveler! Where are you going?" + +"I'm going to old Grandfather Knowitall to get three of his golden +hairs." + +"To Grandfather Knowitall! What a pity you didn't come sooner! Our +king has long been waiting for just such a messenger as you! I must +lead you to him." + +So he took Plavachek to the king and the king said to him: "So you're +going on an errand to Grandfather Knowitall. We have a well here that +used to flow with the water of life. If any one drank of it, no matter +how sick he was, he would get well. Nay, if he were already dead, this +water, sprinkled upon him, would bring him back to life. But, alas, +for twenty years now the well has gone dry. If you promise to ask +Grandfather Knowitall if there is help for us, I will reward you +handsomely." + +Plavachek gave the king his promise and the king bid him godspeed. + +After that Plavachek traveled long and far into a black forest. Deep +in the forest he came upon a broad green meadow full of beautiful +flowers and in its midst a golden palace glittering as though it were +on fire. This was the palace of Grandfather Knowitall. + +Plavachek entered and found nobody there but an old woman who sat +spinning in a corner. + +"Welcome, Plavachek," she said. "I am delighted to see you again." + +He looked at the old woman and saw that she was his godmother with +whom he had spent the night when he was carrying the letter to the +palace. + +"What has brought you here, Plavachek?" she asked. + +"The king, godmother. He says I can't be his son-in-law for nothing. I +have to give a dowry. So he has sent me to old Grandfather Knowitall +to get three of his golden hairs." + +The old woman smiled and said: "Do you know who Grandfather Knowitall +is? Why, he's the bright Sun who goes everywhere and sees everything. +I am his mother. In the morning he's a little lad, at noon he's a +grown man, and in the evening an old grandfather. I will get you three +of the golden hairs from his golden head, for I must not be a +godmother for nothing! But, my lad, you mustn't remain where you are. +My son is kind, but if he comes home hungry he might want to roast you +and eat you for his supper. There's an empty tub over there and I'll +just cover you with it." + +Plavachek begged his godmother to get from Grandfather Knowitall the +answers for the three questions he had promised to ask. + +"I will," said the old woman, "and do you listen carefully to what he +says." + +Suddenly there was the rushing sound of a mighty wind outside and the +Sun, an old grandfather with a golden head, flew in by the western +window. He sniffed the air suspiciously. + +"Phew! Phew!" he cried. "I smell human flesh! Have you any one here, +mother?" + +"Star of the day, whom could I have here without your seeing him? The +truth is you've been flying all day long over God's world and your +nose is filled with the smell of human flesh. That's why you still +smell it when you come home in the evening." + +The old man said nothing more and sat down to his supper. + +After supper he laid his head on the old woman's lap and fell sound +asleep. The old woman pulled out a golden hair and threw it on the +floor. It twanged like the string of a violin. + +"What is it, mother?" the old man said. "What is it?" + +"Nothing, my boy, nothing. I was asleep and had a wonderful dream." + +"What did you dream about, mother?" + +"I dreamt about a city where they had a well of living water. If any +one drank of it, no matter how sick he was, he would get well. Nay, if +he were already dead, this water, sprinkled on him, would bring him +back to life. For the last twenty years the well has gone dry. Is +there anything to be done to make it flow again?" + +"Yes. There's a frog sitting on the spring that feeds the well. Let +them kill the frog and clean out the well and the water will flow as +before." + +When he fell asleep again the old woman pulled out another golden hair +and threw it on the floor. + +"What is it, mother?" + +"Nothing, my boy, nothing. I was asleep again and I had a wonderful +dream. I dreamt of a city where they had an apple-tree that bore +apples of youth. If any one ate one of those apples, no matter how +aged he was, he'd become young again. But for twenty years the tree +has borne no fruit. Can anything be done about it?" + +"Yes. In the roots of the tree there is a snake that takes its +strength. Let them kill the snake and transplant the tree. Then it +will bear fruit as before." + +He fell asleep again and the old woman pulled out a third golden hair. + +"Why won't you let me sleep, mother?" he complained, and started to +sit up. + +"Lie still, my boy, lie still. I didn't intend to wake you, but a +heavy sleep fell upon me and I had another wonderful dream. I dreamt +of a boatman on the black sea. For twenty years he has been ferrying +that boat and no one has offered to relieve him. When will he be +relieved?" + +"Ah, but that boatman is the son of a stupid mother! Why doesn't he +thrust the oar into the hand of some one else and jump ashore himself? +Then the other man would have to be ferryman in his place. But now let +me be quiet. I must get up early tomorrow morning and go and dry the +tears which the king's daughter sheds every night for her husband, the +charcoal-burner's son, whom the king has sent to get three of my +golden hairs." + +In the morning there was again the rushing sound of a mighty wind +outside and a beautiful golden child--no longer an old man--awoke on +his mother's lap. It was the glorious Sun. He bade his mother farewell +and flew out by an eastern window. + +The old woman turned over the tub and said to Plavachek: "Here are the +three golden hairs for you. You also have Grandfather Knowitall's +answers to your three questions. Now good-by. As you will need me no +more, you will never see me again." + +Plavachek thanked his godmother most gratefully and departed. + +When he reached the first city the king asked him what news he +brought. + +"Good news!" Plavachek said. "Have the well cleaned out and kill the +frog that sits on its spring. If you do this the water will flow again +as it used to." + +The king ordered this to be done at once and when he saw the water +beginning to bubble up and flow again, he made Plavachek a present of +twelve horses, white as swans, laden with as much gold and silver as +they could carry. + +When Plavachek came to the second city and the king of that city asked +him what news he brought, he said: + +"Good news! Have the apple tree dug up. At its roots you will find a +snake. Kill the snake and replant the tree. Then it will bear fruit as +it used to." + +The king had this done at once and during the night the tree burst +into bloom and bore great quantities of fruit. The king was delighted +and made Plavachek a present of twelve horses, black as ravens, laden +with as much riches as they could carry. + +Plavachek traveled on and when he came to the black sea, the boatman +asked him had he the answer to his question. + +"Yes, I have," said Plavachek, "but you must ferry me over before I +tell you." + +The boatman wanted to hear the answer at once, but Plavachek was firm. +So the old man ferried him across with his twelve white horses and his +twelve black horses. + +When Plavachek was safely landed, he said: "The next person who comes +to be ferried over, thrust the oar into his hand and do you jump +ashore. Then the other man will have to be boatman in your place." + +Plavachek traveled home to the palace. The king could scarcely believe +his eyes when he saw the three golden hairs of Grandfather Knowitall. +The princess wept again, not for sorrow this time but for joy at her +bridegroom's return. + +"But, Plavachek," the king gasped, "where did you get these beautiful +horses and all these riches?" + +"I earned them," said Plavachek proudly. Then he related how he helped +one king who had a tree of the apples of youth and another king who +had a well of the water of life. + +"Apples of youth! Water of life!" the king kept repeating softly to +himself. "If I ate one of those apples I should become young again! If +I were dead the water of life would restore me!" + +He lost no time in starting out in quest of the apples of youth and +the water of life. And do you know, he hasn't come back yet! + +So Plavachek, the charcoal-burner's son, became the king's son-in-law +as the old Fate foretold. + +As for the king, well, I fear he's still ferrying that boat across the +black sea! + + + + +THE FLAMING HORSE + +THE STORY OF A COUNTRY WHERE THE SUN NEVER SHINES + +[Illustration: {A horse}] + + +THE FLAMING HORSE + +There was once a land that was dreary and dark as the grave, for the +sun of heaven never shone upon it. The king of the country had a +wonderful horse that had, growing right on his forehead, a flaming +sun. In order that his subjects might have the light that is necessary +for life, the king had this horse led back and forth from one end of +his dark kingdom to the other. Wherever he went his flaming head shone +out and it seemed like beautiful day. + +Suddenly this wonderful horse disappeared. Heavy darkness that nothing +could dispel settled down on the country. Fear spread among the people +and soon they were suffering terrible poverty, for they were unable to +cultivate the fields or do anything else that would earn them a +livelihood. Confusion increased until the king saw that the whole +country was likely to perish. In order then, if possible, to save his +people, he gathered his army together and set out in search of the +missing horse. + +Through heavy darkness they groped their way slowly and with +difficulty to the far boundaries of the kingdom. At last they reached +the ancient forests that bordered the neighboring state and they saw +gleaming through the trees faint rays of the sunshine with which that +kingdom was blessed. + +Here they came upon a small lonely cottage which the king entered in +order to find out where he was and to ask directions for moving +forward. + +A man was sitting at the table reading diligently from a large open +book. When the king bowed to him, he raised his eyes, returned the +greeting, and stood up. His whole appearance showed that he was no +ordinary man but a seer. + +"I was just reading about you," he said to the king, "that you were +gone in search of the flaming horse. Exert yourself no further, for +you will never find him. But trust the enterprise to me and I will get +him for you." + +"If you do that, my man," the king said, "I will pay you royally." + +"I seek no reward. Return home at once with your army, for your people +need you. Only leave here with me one of your serving men." + +The king did exactly as the seer advised and went home at once. + +The next day the seer and his man set forth. They journeyed far and +long until they had crossed six different countries. Then they went on +into the seventh country which was ruled over by three brothers who +had married three sisters, the daughters of a witch. + +They made their way to the front of the royal palace, where the seer +said to his man: "Do you stay here while I go in and find out whether +the kings are at home. It is they who stole the flaming horse and the +youngest brother rides him." + +Then the seer transformed himself into a green bird and flew up to the +window of the eldest queen and flitted about and pecked until she +opened the window and let him into her chamber. When she let him in, +he alighted on her white hand and the queen was as happy as a child. + +"You pretty thing!" she said, playing with him. "If my husband were +home how pleased he would be! But he's off visiting a third of his +kingdom and he won't be home until evening." + +Suddenly the old witch came into the room and as soon as she saw the +bird she shrieked to her daughter: "Wring the neck of that cursed +bird, or it will stain you with blood!" + +"Why should it stain me with blood, the dear innocent thing?" + +"Dear innocent mischief!" shrieked the witch. "Here, give it to me and +I'll wring its neck!" + +She tried to catch the bird, but the bird changed itself into a man +and was already out of the door before they knew what had become of +him. + +After that he changed himself again into a green bird and flew up to +the window of the second sister. He pecked at it until she opened it +and let him in. Then he flitted about her, settling first on one of +her white hands, then on the other. + +"What a dear bird you are!" cried the queen. "How you would please my +husband if he were at home. But he's off visiting two-thirds of his +kingdom and he won't be back until tomorrow evening." + +At that moment the witch ran into the room and as soon as she saw the +bird she shrieked out: "Wring the neck of that wretched bird, or it +will stain you with blood!" + +"Why should it stain me with blood?" the daughter answered. "The dear +innocent thing!" + +"Dear innocent mischief!" shrieked the witch. "Here, give it to me and +I'll wring its neck!" + +She reached out to catch the bird, but in less time than it takes to +clap a hand, the bird had changed itself into a man who ran through +the door and was gone before they knew where he was. + +A moment later he again changed himself into a green bird and flew up +to the window of the youngest queen. He flitted about and pecked until +she opened the window and let him in. Then he alighted at once on her +white hand and this pleased her so much that she laughed like a child +and played with him. + +"Oh, what a dear bird you are!" she cried. "How you would delight my +husband if he were home. But he's off visiting all three parts of his +kingdom and he won't be back until the day after tomorrow in the +evening." + +At that moment the old witch rushed into the room. "Wring the neck of +that cursed bird!" she shrieked, "or it will stain you with blood." + +"My dear mother," the queen answered, "why should it stain me with +blood--beautiful innocent creature that it is?" + +"Beautiful innocent mischief!" shrieked the witch. "Here, give it to +me and I'll wring its neck!" + +But at that moment the bird changed itself into a man, disappeared +through the door, and they never saw him again. + +The seer knew now where the kings were and when they would come home. +So he made his plans accordingly. He ordered his servant to follow him +and they set out from the city at a quick pace. They went on until +they came to a bridge which the three kings as they came back would +have to cross. + +The seer and his man hid themselves under the bridge and lay there in +wait until evening. As the sun sank behind the mountains, they heard +the clatter of hoofs approaching the bridge. It was the eldest king +returning home. At the bridge his horse stumbled on a log which the +seer had rolled there. + +"What scoundrel has thrown a log here?" cried the king angrily. + +Instantly the seer leaped out from under the bridge and demanded of +the king how he dared to call him a scoundrel. Clamoring for +satisfaction he drew his sword and attacked the king. The king, too, +drew sword and defended himself, but after a short struggle he fell +from his horse dead. The seer bound the dead king to his horse and +then with a cut of the whip started the horse homewards. + +The seer hid himself again and he and his man lay in wait until the +next evening. + +On that evening near sunset the second king came riding up to the +bridge. When he saw the ground sprinkled with blood, he cried out: +"Surely there has been a murder here! Who has dared to commit such a +crime in my kingdom!" + +At these words the seer leaped out from under the bridge, drew his +sword, and shouted: "How dare you insult me? Defend yourself as best +you can!" + +The king drew, but after a short struggle he, too, yielded up his life +to the sword of the seer. + +The seer bound the dead king to his horse and with a cut of the whip +started the horse homewards. + +Then the seer hid himself again under the bridge and he and his man +lay there in wait until the third evening. + +On the third evening just at sunset the youngest king came galloping +home on the flaming steed. He was hurrying fast because he had been +delayed. But when he saw red blood at the bridge he stopped short and +looked around. + +"What audacious villain," he cried, "has dared to kill a man in my +kingdom!" + +Hardly had he spoken when the seer stood before him with drawn sword +demanding satisfaction for the insult of his words. + +"I don't know how I've insulted you," the king said, "unless you're +the murderer." + +When the seer refused to parley, the king, too, drew his sword and +defended himself. + +To overcome the first two kings had been mere play for the seer, but +it was no play this time. They both fought until their swords were +broken and still victory was doubtful. + +"We shall accomplish nothing with swords," the seer said. "That is +plain. I tell you what: let us turn ourselves into wheels and start +rolling down the hill and the wheel that gets broken let him yield." + +"Good!" said the king. "I'll be a cartwheel and you be a lighter +wheel." + +"No, no," the seer answered quickly. "You be the light wheel and I'll +be the cartwheel." + +To this the king agreed. So they went up the hill, turned themselves +into wheels and started rolling down. The cartwheel went whizzing into +the lighter wheel and broke its spokes. + +"There!" cried the seer, rising up from the cartwheel. "I am victor!" + +"Not so, brother, not so!" said the king, standing before the seer. +"You only broke my fingers! Now I tell you what: let us change +ourselves into two flames and let the flame that burns up the other +be victor. I'll be a red flame and do you be a white one." + +"Oh, no," the seer interrupted. "You be the white flame and I'll be +the red one." + +The king agreed to this. So they went back to the road that led to the +bridge, turned themselves into flames, and began burning each other +mercilessly. But neither was able to burn up the other. + +Suddenly a beggar came down the road, an old man with a long gray +beard and a bald head, with a scrip at his side and a heavy staff in +his hand. + +"Father," the white flame said, "get some water and pour it on the red +flame and I'll give you a penny." + +But the red flame called out quickly: "Not so, father! Get some water +and pour it on the white flame and I'll give you a shilling!" + +Now of course the shilling appealed to the beggar more than the penny. +So he got some water, poured it on the white flame and that was the +end of the king. + +The red flame turned into a man who seized the flaming horse by the +bridle, mounted him and, after he had rewarded the beggar, called his +servant and rode off. + +Meanwhile at the royal palace there was deep sorrow for the murdered +kings. The halls were draped in black and people came from miles +around to gaze at the mutilated bodies of the two elder brothers which +the horses had carried home. + +The old witch was beside herself with rage. As soon as she had devised +a plan whereby she could avenge the murder of her sons-in-law, she +took her three daughters under her arm, mounted an iron rake, and +sailed off through the air. + +The seer and his man had already covered a good part of their journey +and were hurrying on over rough mountains and across desert plains, +when the servant was taken with a terrible hunger. There wasn't +anything in sight that he could eat, not even a wild berry. Then +suddenly they came upon an apple tree that was bending beneath a load +of ripe fruit. The apples were red and pleasant to the sight and sent +out a fragrance that was most inviting. + +The servant was delighted. "Glory to God!" he cried. "Now I can feast +to my heart's content on these apples!" + +He was already running to the tree when the seer called him back. + +"Wait! Don't touch them! I will pick them for you myself!" + +But instead of picking an apple, the seer drew his sword and struck a +mighty blow into the apple tree. Red blood gushed forth. + +"Just see, my man! You would have perished if you had eaten one apple. +This apple tree is the eldest queen, whom her mother, the witch, +placed here for our destruction." + +Presently they came to a spring. Its water bubbled up clear as crystal +and most tempting to the tired traveler. + +"Ah," said the servant, "since we can get nothing better, at least we +can take a drink of this good water." + +"Wait!" cried the seer. "I will draw some for you." + +But instead of drawing water he plunged his naked sword into the +middle of the spring. Instantly it was covered with blood and blood +began to spurt from the spring in thick streams. + +"This is the second queen, whom her mother, the witch, placed here to +work our doom." + +Presently they came to a rosebush covered with beautiful red roses +that scented all the air with their fragrance. + +"What beautiful roses!" said the servant. "I have never seen any such +in all my life. I'll go pluck a few. As I can't eat or drink, I'll +comfort myself with roses." + +"Don't dare to pluck them!" cried the seer. "I'll pluck them for +you." + +With that he cut into the bush with his sword and red blood spurted +out as though he had cut a human vein. + +"This is the youngest queen," said the seer, "whom her mother, the +witch, placed here in the hope of revenging herself on us for the +death of her sons-in-law." + +After that they proceeded without further adventures. + +When they crossed the boundaries of the dark kingdom, the sun in the +horse's forehead sent out its blessed rays in all directions. +Everything came to life. The earth rejoiced and covered itself with +flowers. + +The king felt he could never thank the seer enough and he offered him +the half of his kingdom. + +But the seer replied: "You are the king. Keep on ruling over the whole +of your kingdom and let me return to my cottage in peace." + +He bade the king farewell and departed. + + + + +THE THREE CITRONS + +THE STORY OF A PRINCE WHO CLIMBED THE GLASS HILL + +[Illustration: {A castle on top of a hill}] + + +THE THREE CITRONS + +Once upon a time there was an aged king who had an only son. One day +he called the prince to him and said: "My son, you see that my head is +white. Soon I shall be closing my eyes and you are not yet settled in +life. Marry, my son, marry at once so that I can bless you before I +die." + +The prince made no answer but he took the king's words to heart and +pondered them. He would gladly have done as his father wished but +there was no young girl upon whom his affections were set. + +One day when he was sitting in the garden, wondering what to do, an +old woman suddenly appeared before him. + +"Go," she said, "to the top of the Glass Hill, pluck the Three +Citrons, and you will get a wife in whom your heart will delight." +With that she disappeared as mysteriously as she had come. + +Her words went through the prince's soul like a bright dart. Instantly +he determined, come what might, to find the Glass Hill and to pluck +the Three Citrons. He told his father his intention and the old king +fitted him out for the journey and gave him his blessing. + +For a long time the prince wandered over wooded mountains and desert +plains without seeing or even hearing anything of the Glass Hill and +the Three Citrons. One day, worn out with his long journey, he threw +himself down in the shade of a wide-spreading linden tree. As his +father's sword, which he wore at his side, clanked on the ground, +twelve ravens began cawing from the top of the tree. Frightened by the +clanking of the sword, they raised their wings and flew off. + +The prince jumped to his feet. "Those are the first living creatures I +have seen for many a day. I'll go in the direction they have taken," +he said to himself, "and perhaps I'll have better luck." + +So he traveled on and after three days and three nights a high castle +came in view. + +"Thank God!" he exclaimed, pushing joyfully ahead. "I shall soon have +human companionship once more." + +The castle was built entirely of lead. The twelve ravens circled above +it and in front of it stood an old woman leaning on a long leaden +staff. She was a Yezibaba. Now you must know that a Yezibaba is an +ugly old witch with a hooked nose, a bristly face, and long scrawny +hands. She's a bad old thing usually, but sometimes, if you take her +fancy, she's kind. + +This time when she looked the prince over she shook her head at him in +a friendly way. + +"Yi, yi, my boy, how did you get here? Why, not even a little bird or +a tiny butterfly comes here, much less a human being! You'd better +escape if life is dear to you, or my son, when he comes home, will eat +you!" + +"No, no, old mother, don't make me go," begged the prince. "I have +come to you for advice to know whether you can tell me anything about +the Glass Hill and the Three Citrons." + +"No, I have never heard a word about the Glass Hill," Yezibaba said. +"But wait until my son comes. He may be able to tell you something. +Yes, yes, I'll manage to save you somehow. Go hide under the besom and +stay there until I call you." + +The mountains rumbled and the castle trembled and Yezibaba whispered +to the prince that her son was coming. + +"Phew! Phew! I smell human meat! I'll eat it!" shouted Yezibaba's son +while he was still in the doorway. He struck the ground with his +leaden club and the whole castle shook. + +"No, no, my son, don't talk that way. It's true there is a pretty +youth here, but he's come to ask you about something." + +"Well, if he wants to ask me something, let him come out and ask." + +"Yes, my son, he will, but only when you promise me that you will do +nothing to him." + +"Well, I won't do anything to him. Now let him come out." + +The prince hidden under the besom was shaking like an aspen leaf, for +when he peeped through the twigs he saw an ogre so huge that he +himself would reach up only to his knees. Happily the ogre had +guaranteed his life before Yezibaba ordered him out. + +"Well, well, well, you little June bug!" shouted the ogre. "What are +you afraid of? Where have you been? What do you want?" + +"What do I want?" repeated the prince. "I have been wandering in these +mountains a long time and I can't find what I'm seeking. So I've come +to you to ask whether you can tell me something about the Glass Hill +and the Three Citrons." + +Yezibaba's son wrinkled his forehead. He thought for a moment and +then, lowering his voice a little, he said: "I've never heard of any +Glass Hill around here. But I tell you what you do: go on to my +brother in arms who lives in the Silver Castle and ask him. Maybe +he'll be able to tell you. But I can't let you go away hungry. That +would never do! Hi, mother, bring out the dumplings!" + +Old Yezibaba placed a large dish on the table and her giant son sat +down. + +"Well, come on! Eat!" he shouted to the prince. + +When the prince took the first dumpling and bit into it, he almost +broke two of his teeth, for the dumpling was made of lead. + +"Well," shouted Yezibaba's son, "why don't you eat? Doesn't the +dumpling taste good?" + +"Oh, yes, very good," said the prince, politely, "but just now I'm not +hungry." + +"Well, if you're not hungry now you will be later. Put a few in your +pocket and eat them on your journey." + +So, whether he wanted them or not, the prince had to put some leaden +dumplings into his pocket. Then he took his leave of Yezibaba and her +son and traveled on. + +He went on and on for three days and three nights. The farther he +went, the more inhospitable became the country. Before him stretched a +waste of mountains, behind him a waste of mountains with no living +creature in sight. + +Wearied with his long journey, he threw himself on the ground. His +silver sword clanked sharply and at its sound twenty-four ravens +circled above him, cawed in fright, and flew away. + +"A good sign!" cried the prince. "I'll follow the ravens again!" + +So on he went as fast as his legs could carry him until he came in +sight of a tall castle. It was still far away, but even at that +distance it shone and flashed, for it was built of pure silver. + +In front of the castle stood an old woman, bent with age, and leaning +on a long silver staff. This was the second Yezibaba. + +"Yi, yi, my boy!" she cried. "How did you get here? Why, not even a +little bird or a tiny butterfly comes here, much less a human being. +You'd better escape if life is dear to you, or my son, when he comes +home, will eat you!" + +"No, no, old mother, he won't eat me. I bring greetings from his +brother of the Leaden Castle." + +"Well, if you bring greetings from the Leaden Castle you are safe +enough. Come in, my boy, and tell me your business." + +"My business? For a long time, old mother, I've been looking for the +Glass Hill and the Three Citrons, but I can't find them. So I've come +to ask you whether you could tell me something about them." + +"No, my boy, I don't know anything about the Glass Hill. But wait +until my son comes. Perhaps he can help you. In the meantime hide +yourself under the bed and don't come out until I call you." + +The mountains rumbled and the castle trembled and the prince knew that +Yezibaba's son was coming home. + +"Phew! Phew! I smell human meat! I'll eat it!" bellowed the mighty +fellow. He stood in the doorway and banged the ground with his silver +club until the whole castle shook. + +"No, no, my son," said Yezibaba, "don't talk that way! A pretty little +chap has come bringing you greetings from your brother of the Leaden +Castle." + +"Well, if he's been at the Leaden Castle and came to no harm, he'll +have nothing to fear from me either. Where is he?" + +The prince slipped out from under the bed and stood before the ogre. +Looking up at him was like looking at the top of the tallest pine +tree. + +"Well, little June bug, so you've been at my brother's, eh?" + +"Yes," said the prince. "See, I still have the dumplings he gave me +for the journey." + +"I believe you. Well, what do you want?" + +"What do I want? I came to ask you whether you could tell me something +about the Glass Hill and the Three Citrons." + +"H'm, it seems to me I used to hear something about them, but I +forget. I tell you what you do: go to my brother of the Golden Castle +and ask him. But wait! I can't let you go away hungry. Hi, mother, +bring out the dumplings!" + +Yezibaba brought the dumplings on a large silver dish and put them on +the table. + +"Eat!" shouted her son. + +The prince saw they were silver dumplings, so he said he wasn't hungry +just then, but he'd like to take some with him for the journey. + +"Take as many as you want," shouted the ogre. "And give my greetings +to my brother and my aunt." + +So the prince took some silver dumplings, made suitable thanks, and +departed. + +He journeyed on from the Silver Castle three days and three nights, +through dense forests and over rough mountains, not knowing where he +was nor which way to turn. At last all worn out he threw himself down +in the shade of a beech tree to rest. As the sword clanked on the +ground, its silver voice rang out and a flock of thirty-six ravens +circled over his head. + +"Caw! Caw!" they croaked. Then, frightened by the sound of the sword, +they flew away. + +"Praise God!" cried the prince. "The Golden Castle can't be far!" + +He jumped up and started eagerly off in the direction the ravens had +taken. As he left a valley and climbed a little hill he saw before him +a beautiful wide meadow in the midst of which stood the Golden Castle +shining like the sun. Before the gate of the castle stood a bent old +Yezibaba leaning on a golden staff. + +"Yi, yi, my boy," she cried to the prince, "how did you get here? Why, +not even a little bird or a tiny butterfly comes here, much less a +human being! You'd better escape if life is dear to you, or my son, +when he comes home, will eat you!" + +"No, no, old mother, he won't eat me, for I bring him greetings from +his brother of the Silver Castle!" + +"Well, if you bring greetings from the Silver Castle you are safe +enough. Come in, my boy, and tell me your business." + +"My business, old mother? For a long time I've been wandering over +these wild mountains in search of the Glass Hill and the Three +Citrons. At the Silver Castle they sent me to you because they thought +you might know something about them." + +"The Glass Hill? No, I don't know where it is. But wait until my son +comes. He will advise you where to go and what to do. Hide under the +table and stay there till I call you." + +The mountains rumbled and the castle trembled and Yezibaba's son came +home. + +"Phew! Phew! I smell human meat! I'll eat it!" he roared. He stood in +the doorway and pounded the ground with his golden club until the +whole castle shook. + +"No, no, my son," said Yezibaba, "don't talk that way! A pretty little +fellow has come bringing you greetings from your brother of the Silver +Castle. If you won't harm him, I'll call him out." + +"Well, if my brother didn't do anything to him, I won't either." + +So the prince crawled out from under the table and stood before the +giant. It was like standing beneath a high tower. He showed the ogre +the silver dumplings as proof that he had been at the Silver Castle. + +"Well, well, well, my little June bug," shouted the monstrous fellow, +"tell me what it is you want! I'll advise you if I can! Don't be +afraid!" + +So the prince told him the purpose of his journey and asked him how to +get to the Glass Hill and pluck the Three Citrons. + +"Do you see that blackish lump over yonder?" the ogre said, pointing +with his golden club. "That is the Glass Hill. On that hill stands a +tree. From that tree hang the Three Citrons which send out fragrance +for seven miles around. You will climb the Glass Hill, kneel beneath +the tree, and reach up your hands. If the citrons are destined for you +they will fall into your hands of their own accord. If they are not +destined for you, you will not be able to pluck them no matter what +you do. As you return, if you are hungry or thirsty, cut open one of +the citrons and you will have food and drink in plenty. Go now with +God's blessing. But wait! I can't let you go away hungry! Hi, mother, +bring out the dumplings!" + +Yezibaba set a large golden dish on the table. + +"Eat!" her son shouted. "Or, if you are not hungry just now, put some +in your pocket and eat them on the way." + +The prince said that he was not hungry but that he would be glad to +take some of the golden dumplings with him and eat them later. Then he +thanked the ogre most courteously for his hospitality and advice and +took his leave. + +He trudged quickly on from hill to dale, from dale to hill again, and +never stopped until he reached the Glass Hill itself. Then he stood +still as if turned into stone. The hill was high and steep and smooth +with not so much as a scratch on its surface. Over its top spread out +the branches of the magic tree upon which hung the Three Citrons. +Their fragrance was so powerful that the prince almost fainted. + +"Let it be as God wills!" he thought to himself. "But however the +adventure is to come out, now that I'm here I must at least make the +attempt." + +So he began to claw his way up the smooth glass, but he hadn't gone +many yards before his foot slipped and down he went so hard that he +didn't know where he was or what had happened to him until he found +himself sitting on the ground. + +In his vexation he began to throw away the dumplings, thinking that +perhaps their weight had dragged him down. He took one and threw it +straight at the hill. Imagine his surprise to see it fix itself firmly +in the glass. He threw a second and a third and there he had three +steps on which he was able to stand with safety! + +The prince was overjoyed. He threw dumpling after dumpling and each +one of them became a step. First he threw the leaden ones, then the +silver ones, and last of all the golden ones. On the steps made in +this way he climbed higher and higher until he had reached the very +summit of the hill. Then he knelt under the magic tree, lifted up his +hands, and into them the Three Citrons dropped of their own accord! + +Instantly the tree disappeared, the Glass Hill sank until it was lost, +and when the prince came to himself there was neither tree nor hill to +be seen, but only a wide plain. + +Delighted with the outcome of his adventure, the prince turned +homewards. At first he was too happy even to eat or drink. By the +third day his stomach began to protest and he discovered that he was +so hungry that he would have fallen ravenously upon a leaden dumpling +if he had had one in his pocket. But his pocket, alas, was empty, and +the country all about was as bare as the palm of his hand. + +Then he remembered what the ogre of the Golden Castle had told him and +he took out one of the Three Citrons. He cut it open, and what do you +suppose happened? Out jumped a beautiful maiden fresh from the hand +of God, who bowed low before him and exclaimed: + +"Have you food ready for me? Have you drink ready for me? Have you +pretty clothes ready for me?" + +"Alas, beautiful creature," the prince sighed, "I have not. I have +nothing for you to eat or to drink or to put on." + +The lovely maiden clapped her hands three times, bowed before him, and +disappeared. + +"Ah," said the prince, "now I know what kind of citrons you are! I'll +think twice before opening one of you again!" + +Of the one he had opened he ate and drank his fill, and so refreshed, +went on. He traveled three days and three nights and by that time he +began to feel three times hungrier than before. + +"God help me!" thought he. "I must eat something! There are still two +citrons and if I cut open one there would still be one left." + +So he took out the second citron, cut it in two, and lo, a maiden +twice as beautiful as the first stood before him. She bowed low and +said: + +"Have you food ready for me? Have you drink ready for me? Have you +pretty clothes ready for me?" + +"No, lovely creature, I haven't! I haven't!" + +The maiden clapped her hands thrice, bowed before him, and +disappeared. + +Now there was only one citron left. The prince took it in his hand, +looked at it, and said: "I won't cut you open until I'm safe at home +in my father's house." + +He took up his journey again and on the third day he came to his +native town and his father's castle. He had been gone a long time and +how he ever got back he didn't know himself. + +Tears of joy rained down the old king's cheeks. + +"Welcome home, my son, welcome a hundred times!" he cried, falling on +the prince's neck. + +The prince related the adventures of his journey and they at home told +him how anxiously they had awaited his return. + +On the next day a great feast was prepared. All the nobles in the land +were invited. The tables were spread with food and drink the most +expensive in the world and many rich dresses embroidered in gold and +studded with pearls were laid out. + +The guests assembled, seated themselves at the tables, and waited. +Music played and when all was ready, the prince took the last citron +and cut it in two. Out jumped a beautiful creature, three times +lovelier than the others. + +"Have you food ready for me?" she cried. "Have you drink ready for me? +Have you pretty clothes ready for me?" + +"I have indeed, dear heart!" the prince answered. "I have everything +ready for you!" + +He led her to the gorgeous clothes and she dressed herself in them and +every one present marveled at her great beauty. + +Soon the betrothal took place and after the betrothal a magnificent +wedding. + +So now the old king's wish was fulfilled. He blessed his son, gave +over the kingdom to him, and not long afterwards he died. + +The first thing that faced the young king after his father's death was +a war which a neighboring king stirred up against him. So the young +king had to bid farewell to the bride whom he had won so dearly and +lead his men to battle. In order that nothing happen to the queen in +his absence, he built a golden throne for her in the garden beside the +lake. This throne was as high as a tower and no one could ascend it +except those to whom the queen let down a silken cord. + + [Illustration: _Music Played_] + +Not far from the king's castle lived the old woman who, in the first +place, had told him about the Three Citrons. She knew well enough how +the young king had won his bride and she was deeply incensed that he +had not invited her to the wedding and in fact had not even thanked +her for her good advice. + +Now this old woman had a gipsy for servant whom she used to send to +the lake for water. One day when this gipsy was filling her pitcher, +she saw in the lake a beautiful reflection. She supposed it was a +reflection of herself. + +"Is it right," she cried out, "that so lovely a creature as I should +carry water for that old witch?" + +In a fury she threw the pitcher on the ground and broke it into a +hundred pieces. Then she looked up and discovered that it wasn't her +own reflection she had seen in the water but that of the beautiful +queen. + +Ashamed of herself, she picked up the broken pitcher and went home. +The old woman, who knew beforehand what had happened, went out to meet +her with a new pitcher. + +"It's no matter about the pitcher," the old woman said. "Go back to +the lake and beg the lovely lady to let down the silken cord and pull +you up. Tell her you will comb her hair. When she pulls you up, comb +her hair until she falls asleep. Then stick this pin into her head. +After that you can dress yourself up in her clothes and sit there like +a queen." + +It was easy enough to persuade the gipsy. She took the pitcher and the +pin and returned to the lake. + +As she drew water she gazed at the lovely queen. + +"Oh, how beautiful you are!" she whined, leering up at the queen with +an evil eye. "How beautiful you are! Aye, but you'd be a hundred times +more beautiful if you but let me comb out your lovely hair! Indeed, I +would so twine those golden tresses that your lord would be +delighted!" + +With words like these she beguiled and coaxed the queen until she let +down the silken cord and drew the gipsy up. Once on the throne, the +wicked gipsy combed out the golden tresses and plaited them and +arranged them until the queen fell sound asleep. Then the gipsy took +the pin and stuck it into the queen's head. Instantly a beautiful +white dove flew off the golden throne and not a trace was left of the +lovely queen except her rich clothing. The gipsy dressed herself in +this, sat in the queen's place, and gazed down into the lake. But in +the lake no lovely reflection showed itself, for even in the queen's +clothes the gipsy remained a gipsy. + +The young king waged a successful war against his enemies and made +peace. Scarcely had he got home when he hurried to the garden to see +whether anything had happened to his heart's delight. Who can express +in words his astonishment and horror when instead of his beautiful +wife he saw the evil gipsy! + +"Ah, my dearest one, how you have changed!" he murmured and tears +flowed down his cheeks. + +"Yes, my dear, I have changed, I know I have," the gipsy answered. "It +was grief for you that has broken me." + +She tried to fall on his neck but the king turned quickly away and +left her. + +From that time forth he had no peace but day and night he mourned the +lost beauty of his wife and nothing consoled him. + +Grieving in this way and thinking always the same sad thoughts, he was +walking one day in the garden when suddenly a beautiful white dove +flew down from a high tree and alighted on his hand. She looked up at +him with eyes as mournful as his own. + +"Ah, my poor dove," the king said, "why are you so sad? Has your mate +also changed?" + +As he spoke he stroked the dove gently on the back and on the head. +On the head he felt a little lump. He blew aside the feathers and +discovered the head of a pin. He pulled out the pin and instantly the +sad dove changed into his own beautiful wife. + +She told him what had happened to her, how the gipsy had deceived her +and stuck the pin into her head. The king had the gipsy and the old +witch caught at once and burnt at the stake. + +From that time on nothing happened to mar the king's happiness, +neither the plots of his enemies nor the spite of evil people. He +lived in love and peace with his beautiful wife and he ruled his +kingdom wisely. In fact he's ruling it still if he hasn't died. + + + + +PRINCE BAYAYA + +THE STORY OF A MAGIC HORSE + +[Illustration: {A two-headed dragon}] + + +PRINCE BAYAYA + +While the king of a distant country was off at the wars, his wife, the +queen, gave birth to twin sons. There was great rejoicing throughout +the court and immediately messengers were despatched to the king to +carry him news of the happy event. + +Both boys were well and vigorous and shot up like little trees. The +one who was about a moment the older was the hardier of the two. Even +as a toddling child he was forever playing in the courtyard and +struggling to climb on the back of a horse that had been given him +because it was just his own age. + +His brother, on the other hand, liked better to play indoors on the +soft carpets. He was always tagging after his mother and never went +outdoors except when he followed the queen into the garden. For this +reason the younger prince became the mother's favorite. + +The boys were seven years old before the king returned from the wars. +He looked at his sons with pride and joy and he said to the queen: + +"But which is the older and which is the younger?" + +The queen, thinking that the king was asking in order to know which +was the heir to the throne, slipped in her favorite as the older. The +king, of course, did not question his wife's word and so, thereafter, +he always spoke of the younger one as his heir. + +When the boys had grown into handsome youths, the older one wearied of +life at home and of hearing his brother always spoken of as the future +king. He longed to go out into the world and seek adventures of his +own. One day as he was pouring out his heart to the little horse that +had been his companion from infancy, much to his amazement the horse +spoke to him with a human voice and said: + +"Since you are not happy at home, go out into the world. But do not go +without your father's permission. I advise you to take no one with you +and to mount no horse but me. This will bring you good luck." + +The prince asked the horse how it happened that he could talk like a +human being. + +"Don't ask me about that," the horse said, "for I can't tell you. But +I wish to be your friend and counselor and I will be as long as you +obey me." + + [Illustration: _When the Boys Had Grown into Handsome Youths_] + +The prince promised to do as the horse advised. He went at once to his +father to beg his leave to ride out into the world. At first his +father was unwilling to let him go but his mother gave her permission +at once. By dint of coaxing he finally won his father's consent. Of +course the king wanted the prince to set forth in a manner befitting +his rank with a great company of men and horses. But the prince +insisted that he wished to go unattended. + +"Why, my dear father, do I need any such retinue as you suggest? Let +me have some money for the journey and let me ride off alone on my own +little horse. This will give me more freedom and less trouble." + +Again he had to argue with his father for some time, but at last he +succeeded in arranging everything to his liking. + +The day of parting came. The little horse stood saddled at the castle +gate. The prince bade farewell to his parents and his brother. They +all wept on his neck and at the last moment the queen's heart misgave +her for the deceit she had practised and she made the prince solemnly +promise that he would return home within a year or at least send them +word of his whereabouts. + +So the prince mounted his little horse and off they trotted. The horse +went at a surprising pace for an animal that was seventeen years old, +but of course you have guessed before this that he was no ordinary +horse. The years had not touched him at all. His coat was as smooth as +satin and his legs were straight and sound. No matter how far he +traveled he was always as fresh as a fawn. + +He carried the prince a great distance until they came in sight of the +towers of a beautiful city. Then the horse left the beaten track and +crossed a field to a big rock. + +When they reached the rock, the horse kicked it with his hoof three +times and the rock opened. They rode inside and the prince found +himself in a comfortable stable. + +"Now you will leave me here," the horse said, "and go on alone to the +nearby town. You must pretend you are dumb and be careful never to +betray yourself. Present yourself at court and have the king take you +into his service. When you need anything, no matter what it is, come +to the rock, knock three times, and the rock will open to you." + +The prince thought to himself: "My horse certainly knows what he's +about, so of course I'll do exactly as he says." + +He disguised himself by bandaging one eye and making his face look +pale and sallow. Then he presented himself at court and the king, +pitying his youth and his affliction of dumbness, took him into his +service. + +The prince was capable and quick at affairs and it wasn't long before +the king gave over to him the management of the household. His advice +was asked in matters of importance and all day long he hurried about +the castle going from one thing to another. If the king needed a +scribe, there wasn't a cleverer one anywhere than the prince. +Everybody liked him and everybody was soon calling him Bayaya, because +those were the only sounds he made. + +The king had three daughters, each more beautiful than the other. The +oldest was called Zdobena, the second Budinka, and the youngest +Slavena. + +The prince loved to be with the three girls and as he was supposed to +be dumb and in his disguise was very ugly, the king made no objection +to his spending his days with them. How could the king possibly think +that there was any danger of Bayaya's stealing the heart of one of the +princesses? They liked him, all three of them, and were always taking +him with them wherever they went. He wove garlands for them, spun +golden thread, picked them flowers, and drew them designs of birds +and flowers for their embroidery. He liked them all, but he liked the +youngest one best. Everything he did for her was done a little better +than for the others. The garlands he wove her were richer, the designs +he drew for her were more beautiful. The two older sisters noticed +this and laughed, and when they were alone they teased Slavena. +Slavena, who had a sweet and amiable disposition, accepted their +joking without retort. + +Bayaya had been at the court some time when one morning he found the +king sitting sad and gloomy over his breakfast. So by signs he asked +him what was the matter. + +The king looked at him and sighed. "Is it possible, my dear boy," he +said, "that you don't know what's the matter? Don't you know the +calamity that threatens us? Don't you know the bitter three days that +are at hand for me?" + +Bayaya, alarmed by the seriousness of the king's manner, shook his +head. + +"Then I'll tell you," said the king, "although you can be of no help. +Years ago three dragons came flying through the air and alighted on a +great rock near here. The first was nine-headed, the second +eighteen-headed, and the third twenty-seven-headed. At once they laid +waste the country, devouring the cattle and killing the people. Soon +the city was in a state of siege. To keep them away we placed all the +food we had outside the gates and in a short time we ourselves were +starving. In desperation I had an old wise woman called to court and +asked her was there any way to drive these monsters from the land. +Alas for me, there was a way and that way was to promise the awful +creatures my three beautiful daughters when they reached womanhood. At +that time my daughters were only small children and I thought to +myself many things might happen in the years before they grew up. So, +to relieve my stricken land, I promised the dragons my daughters. The +poor queen died at once of grief, but my daughters grew up knowing +nothing of their fate. As soon as I made the monstrous bargain, the +dragons flew away and until yesterday were never again heard of. Last +night, a shepherd, beside himself with terror, brought me the news +that the dragons are again settled in their old rock and are sending +out fearful roars. Tomorrow I must sacrifice to them my oldest child, +the day after tomorrow my second child, and the day after that my +youngest. Then I shall be left a poor lonely old man with nothing." + +The king strode up and down and tore his hair in grief. + +In great distress Bayaya went to the princesses. He found them dressed +in black and looking ghastly pale. They were sitting in a row and +bewailing their fate most piteously. Bayaya tried to comfort them, +telling them by signs that surely some one would appear to rescue +them. But they paid no heed to him and kept on moaning and weeping. + +Grief and confusion spread throughout the city, for every one loved +the royal family. Every house as well as the palace was soon draped in +black and the sound of mourning was heard on every side. + +Bayaya hurried secretly out of the city and across the field to the +rock where his magic horse was stabled. He knocked three times, the +rock opened, and he entered. + +He stroked the horse's shining mane and kissed his muzzle in greeting. + +"My dear horse," he said, "I have come to you for advice. Help me and +I shall be happy forever." + +So he told the horse the story of the dragons. + +"Oh, I know all about those dragons," the horse answered. "In fact, it +was that you might rescue the princesses that I brought you here in +the first place. Early tomorrow morning come back and I will tell you +what to do." + +Bayaya returned to the castle with such joy shining in his face that +if any one had noticed him he would have been severely rebuked. He +spent the day with the princesses trying to comfort and console them, +but in spite of all he could do they felt only more terrified as the +hours went by. + +The next day at the first streak of dawn he was at the rock. + +The horse greeted him and said: "Lift up the stone under my trough and +take out what you find there." + +Bayaya obeyed. He lifted the stone and under the stone he found a +large chest. Inside the chest he found three beautiful suits of +clothing, with caps and plumes to match, a sword, and a horse's +bridle. The first suit was red embroidered in silver and studded with +diamonds, the second was pure white embroidered in gold, and the third +was light blue richly embroidered with silver and studded with +diamonds and pearls. + +For all three suits there was but one mighty sword. Its blade was +beautifully inlaid and its scabbard shone with precious stones. The +horse's bridle was also richly jeweled. + +"All three suits are for you," the horse said. "For the first day, +put on the red one." + +So Bayaya dressed himself in the red suit, buckled on his sword, and +threw the bridle over the horse's head. + +"Have no fear," the horse said as they left the rock. "Cut bravely +into the monster, trusting to your sword. And remember, do not +dismount." + +At the castle heartbroken farewells were being taken. Zdobena parted +from her father and her sisters, stepped into a carriage, and +accompanied by a great multitude of her weeping subjects was slowly +driven out of town to the Dragon Rock. As they neared the fatal spot +the princess alighted. She took a few steps forward, then sank to the +earth in a faint. + +At that moment the people saw galloping toward them a knight with a +red and white plume. In a voice of authority he ordered them to stand +back and leave him to deal alone with the dragon. They were glad +enough to lead the princess away and they all went to a hill near by +from which they could watch the combat at a safe distance. + +Now there was a deep rumbling noise, the earth shook, and the Dragon +Rock opened. A nine-headed monster crawled out. He spat fire and +poison from all his nine mouths and cast about his nine heads, this +way and that, looking for his promised prey. When he saw the knight he +let out a horrible roar. + +Bayaya rode straight at him and with one blow of his sword cut off +three of his heads. The dragon writhed and enveloped Bayaya in flames +and poisonous fumes. But the prince, undaunted, struck at him again +and again until he had cut off all nine heads. The life that still +remained in the loathsome body, the horse finished with his hoofs. + +When the dragon had perished the prince turned and galloped back the +way he had come. + +Zdobena looked after him, wishing she might follow him to thank him +for her deliverance. But she remembered her poor father sunk in grief +at the castle and she felt it was her duty to hurry back to him as +quickly as she could. + +It would be impossible to describe in words the king's joy when +Zdobena appeared before him safe and uninjured. Her sisters embraced +her and wondered for the first time whether a deliverer would rise up +for them as well. + +Bayaya capered happily about and assured them by signs that he was +certain they, too, would be saved. Although the prospect of the morrow +still terrified them, yet hope had come to them and once or twice +Bayaya succeeded in making them laugh. + +The next day Budinka was led out. As on the day before, the unknown +knight appeared, this time wearing a white plume. He attacked the +eighteen-headed dragon and, after valiant conflict, despatched him. +Then before any one could reach him, he turned and rode away. + +The princess returned to the castle, grieving that she had not been +able to speak to the knight and express her gratitude. + +"You, my sisters," Slavena said, "were backward not to speak to him +before he rode off. Tomorrow if he delivers me I shall kneel before +him and not get up until he consents to return with me to the castle." + +Just then Bayaya began laughing and chuckling and Slavena asked him +sharply what was the matter. He capered about and made her understand +that he, too, wanted to see the knight. + +On the third day Slavena was taken out to the Dragon Rock. This time +the king also went. The heart of the poor girl quaked with terror when +she thought that if the unknown knight failed to appear she would be +handed over to the horrible monster. + +A joyous shout from the people told her that the knight was coming. +Then she saw him, a gallant figure in blue with a blue and white plume +floating in the wind. As he had killed the first dragon, and the +second dragon, so he killed the third although the struggle was longer +and the little horse had much to do to stand up against the poisonous +fumes. + +Instantly the dragon was slain, Slavena and the king rushed up to the +knight and begged him to return with them to the castle. He scarcely +knew how to refuse, especially when Slavena, kneeling before him, +grasped the edge of his tunic and looked up at him so bewitchingly +that his heart melted and he was ready to do anything she asked. + +But the little horse took matters into his own hands, reared up +suddenly, and galloped off before the knight had time to dismount. + +So Slavena, too, was unable to bring the knight back to the castle. +The king and all the court were greatly disappointed but their +disappointment was swallowed up in their joy that the princesses had +been so miraculously saved. + +Shortly after this another disaster threatened the king. A neighboring +king of great power declared war against him. The king sent far and +wide and summoned together all the nobles of the land. They came, and +the king when he had laid before them his cause promised them the +hands of his three beautiful daughters in return for their support. +This was indeed an inducement and every young noble present swore his +allegiance and hurried home to gather his forces. + +Troops poured in from all sides and soon the king was ready to set +forth. + +He handed over the affairs of the castle to Bayaya and also intrusted +to him the safety of the three princesses. Bayaya did his duty +faithfully, looking after the castle and planning diversions for the +princesses to keep them happy and cheerful. + +Then one day he complained of feeling sick, but instead of consulting +the court physician, he said he would go himself to the fields and +hunt some herbs. The princesses laughed at his whim but let him go. + +He hurried to the rock where his horse was stabled, knocked three +times, and entered. + +"You have come in good time," the horse said. "The king's forces are +weakening and tomorrow will decide the battle. Put on the white suit, +take your sword, and let us be off." + +Bayaya kissed his brave little horse and put on his white suit. + +That night the king was awake planning the morrow's battle and +sending swift messengers to his daughters instructing them what to do +in case the day went against him. + +The next morning as the battle joined an unknown knight suddenly +appeared among the king's forces. He was all in white. He rode a +little horse and he wielded a mighty sword. + +He struck right and left among the enemy and he caused such havoc that +the king's forces were instantly heartened. Gathering around the white +knight they fought so valiantly that soon the enemy broke and +scattered and the king won a mighty victory. + +The knight himself was slightly wounded on the foot. When the king saw +this he jumped down from his horse, tore off a piece of his own cape, +and bound up the wound. He begged the knight to dismount and come with +him to a tent. But the knight, thanking him, refused, spurred his +horse, and was gone. + +The king nearly wept with disappointment that the unknown knight to +whom he was under one more obligation had again ridden off without so +much as leaving his name. + +With great rejoicing the king's forces marched home carrying vast +stores of booty. + +"Well, steward," said the king to Bayaya, "how have the affairs of +the household gone in my absence?" + +Bayaya nodded that everything had gone well, but the princesses +laughed at him and Slavena said: + +"I must enter complaint against your steward, for he was disobedient. +He said he was sick but he would not consult the court physician. He +said he wanted to go himself and get some herbs. He went and he was +gone two whole days and when he came back he was sicker than before." + +The king looked at Bayaya to see if he was still sick. Bayaya shook +his head and capered about to show the king that he was all right. + +When the princesses heard that the unknown knight had again appeared +and saved the day they were unwilling to become at once the brides of +any of the nobles, for they thought the knight might perhaps come +demanding one of them. + +Again the king was in a quandary. All the various nobles had helped +him valiantly and the question now arose to what three of them would +the princesses be awarded. After much thought the king hit upon a plan +which he hoped would decide the matter to the satisfaction of them +all. He called a meeting of the nobles and said: + +"My dear comrades in arms, you remember that I promised the hands of +my daughters to those of you who would support me in battle. All of +you gave me valiant support. Each of you deserves the hand of one of +my daughters. But, alas, I have only three daughters. To decide +therefore which three of you my daughters shall marry I make this +suggestion: let all of you stand in the garden in a row and let each +of my daughters throw down a golden apple from a balcony. Then each +princess must wed the man to whom her apple rolls. My lords, do you +all agree to this?" + +The nobles all agreed and the king sent for his daughters. The +princesses, still thinking of the unknown knight, were not +enthusiastic over this arrangement, but not to shame their father +they, too, agreed. + +So each of the girls, dressed in her loveliest, took a golden apple in +her hand and went up to a balcony. + +Below in the garden the nobles stood in a row. Bayaya, as though he +were a spectator, took his place at the end of the line. + +First Zdobena threw down her apple. It rolled straight to the feet of +Bayaya but he turned quickly aside and it rolled on to a handsome +youth who snatched it up with joy and stepped from the line. + +Then Budinka threw her apple. It, too, rolled to Bayaya but he +cleverly kicked it on so that it seemed to roll straight to the feet +of a valiant lord who picked it up and then looked with happy eyes at +his lovely bride. + +Last Slavena threw her apple. This time Bayaya did not step aside but +when the apple rolled to him he stooped and picked it up. Then he ran +to the balcony, knelt before the princess, and kissed her hand. + +Slavena snatched away her hand and ran to her chamber, where she wept +bitterly to think she would have to marry Bayaya instead of the +unknown knight. + +The king was much disappointed and the nobles murmured. But what was +done was done, and could not be undone. + +That night there was a great feast but Slavena remained in her chamber +refusing to appear among the guests. + +It was moonlight and from the rock in the field the little horse +carried his master for the last time. When they reached the castle +Bayaya dismounted. Then he kissed his faithful friend farewell, and +the little horse vanished. + +Slavena still sat in her chamber, sad and unhappy. When a maidservant +opened the door and said that Bayaya wished to speak to her, the +princess hid her face in the pillows. + +Presently some one took her by the hand and when she raised her head +she saw standing before her the beautiful knight of her dreams. + +"Are you angry with your bridegroom that you hide from him?" he asked. + +"Why do you ask me that?" Slavena whispered. "You are not my +bridegroom. Bayaya is my bridegroom." + +"I am Bayaya. I am the dumb youth who wove you garlands. I am the +knight who saved you and your sisters from death and who helped your +father in battle. See, here is the piece of your father's cape with +which he bound up my wounded foot." + +That this was so was joy indeed to Slavena. She led the white knight +into the banquet hall and presented him to the king as her bridegroom. +When all had been explained, the king rejoiced, the guests marveled, +and Zdobena and Budinka looked sideways at each other with little +gasps of envy. + +After the wedding Bayaya rode away with Slavena to visit his parents. +When he reached his native town the first news he got was of the death +of his brother. He hurried to the castle to comfort his parents. They +were overjoyed at his return, for they had long ago given him up for +dead. + +After a time Bayaya succeeded to the kingdom. He lived long and +prospered and he enjoyed unclouded happiness with his wife. + + + + +KATCHA AND THE DEVIL + +THE STORY OF A CLINGING VINE + +[Illustration: {The devil}] + + +KATCHA AND THE DEVIL + +There was once a woman named Katcha who lived in a village where she +owned her own cottage and garden. She had money besides but little +good it did her because she was such an ill-tempered vixen that +nobody, not even the poorest laborer, would marry her. Nobody would +even work for her, no matter what she paid, for she couldn't open her +mouth without scolding, and whenever she scolded she raised her shrill +voice until you could hear it a mile away. The older she grew the +worse she became until by the time she was forty she was as sour as +vinegar. + +Now as it always happens in a village, every Sunday afternoon there +was a dance either at the burgomaster's, or at the tavern. As soon as +the bagpipes sounded, the boys all crowded into the room and the girls +gathered outside and looked in the windows. Katcha was always the +first at the window. The music would strike up and the boys would +beckon the girls to come in and dance, but no one ever beckoned +Katcha. Even when she paid the piper no one ever asked her to dance. +Yet she came Sunday after Sunday just the same. + +One Sunday afternoon as she was hurrying to the tavern she thought to +herself: "Here I am getting old and yet I've never once danced with a +boy! Plague take it, today I'd dance with the devil if he asked me!" + +She was in a fine rage by the time she reached the tavern, where she +sat down near the stove and looked around to see what girls the boys +had invited to dance. + +Suddenly a stranger in hunter's green came in. He sat down at a table +near Katcha and ordered drink. When the serving maid brought the beer, +he reached over to Katcha and asked her to drink with him. At first +she was much taken back at this attention, then she pursed her lips +coyly and pretended to refuse, but finally she accepted. + +When they had finished drinking, he pulled a ducat from his pocket, +tossed it to the piper, and called out: + +"Clear the floor, boys! This is for Katcha and me alone!" + +The boys snickered and the girls giggled hiding behind each other and +stuffing their aprons into their mouths so that Katcha wouldn't hear +them laughing. But Katcha wasn't noticing them at all. Katcha was +dancing with a fine young man! If the whole world had been laughing at +her, Katcha wouldn't have cared. + +The stranger danced with Katcha all afternoon and all evening. Not +once did he dance with any one else. He bought her marzipan and sweet +drinks and, when the hour came to go home, he escorted her through the +village. + +"Ah," sighed Katcha when they reached her cottage and it was time to +part, "I wish I could dance with you forever!" + +"Very well," said the stranger. "Come with me." + +"Where do you live?" + +"Put your arm around my neck and I'll tell you." + +Katcha put both arms about his neck and instantly the man changed into +a devil and flew straight down to hell. + +At the gates of hell he stopped and knocked. + +His comrades came and opened the gates and when they saw that he was +exhausted, they tried to take Katcha off his neck. But Katcha held on +tight and nothing they could do or say would make her budge. + +The devil finally had to appear before the Prince of Darkness himself +with Katcha still glued to his neck. + +"What's that thing you've got around your neck?" the Prince asked. + +So the devil told how as he was walking about on earth he had heard +Katcha say she would dance with the devil himself if he asked her. "So +I asked her to dance with me," the devil said. "Afterwards just to +frighten her a little I brought her down to hell. And now she won't +let go of me!" + +"Serve you right, you dunce!" the Prince said. "How often have I told +you to use common sense when you go wandering around on earth! You +might have known Katcha would never let go of a man once she had him!" + +"I beg your Majesty to make her let go!" the poor devil implored. + +"I will not!" said the Prince. "You'll have to carry her back to earth +yourself and get rid of her as best you can. Perhaps this will be a +lesson to you." + +So the devil, very tired and very cross, shambled back to earth with +Katcha still clinging to his neck. He tried every way to get her off. +He promised her wooded hills and rich meadows if she but let him go. +He cajoled her, he cursed her, but all to no avail. Katcha still held +on. + +Breathless and discouraged he came at last to a meadow where a +shepherd, wrapped in a great shaggy sheepskin coat, was tending his +flocks. The devil transformed himself into an ordinary looking man so +that the shepherd didn't recognize him. + +"Hi, there," the shepherd said, "what's that you're carrying?" + +"Don't ask me," the devil said with a sigh. "I'm so worn out I'm +nearly dead. I was walking yonder not thinking of anything at all when +along comes a woman and jumps on my back and won't let go. I'm trying +to carry her to the nearest village to get rid of her there, but I +don't believe I'm able. My legs are giving out." + +The shepherd, who was a good-natured chap, said: "I tell you what: +I'll help you. I can't leave my sheep long, but I'll carry her +halfway." + +"Oh," said the devil, "I'd be very grateful if you did!" + +So the shepherd yelled at Katcha: "Hi, there, you! Catch hold of me!" + +When Katcha saw that the shepherd was a handsome youth, she let go of +the devil and leapt upon the shepherd's back, catching hold of the +collar of his sheepskin coat. + +Now the young shepherd soon found that the long shaggy coat and Katcha +made a pretty heavy load for walking. In a few moments he was sick of +his bargain and began casting about for some way of getting rid of +Katcha. + +Presently he came to a pond and he thought to himself that he'd like +to throw her in. He wondered how he could do it. Perhaps he could +manage it by throwing in his greatcoat with her. The coat was so loose +that he thought he could slip out of it without Katcha's discovering +what he was doing. Very cautiously he slipped out one arm. Katcha +didn't move. He slipped out the other arm. Still Katcha didn't move. +He unlooped the first button. Katcha noticed nothing. He unlooped the +second button. Still Katcha noticed nothing. He unlooped the third +button and kerplunk! he had pitched coat and Katcha and all into the +middle of the pond! + +When he got back to his sheep, the devil looked at him in amazement. + +"Where's Katcha?" he gasped. + +"Oh," the shepherd said, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb, "I +decided to leave her up yonder in a pond." + +"My dear friend," the devil cried, "I thank you! You have done me a +great favor. If it hadn't been for you I might be carrying Katcha till +doomsday. I'll never forget you and some time I'll reward you. As you +don't know who it is you've helped, I must tell you I'm a devil." + +With these words the devil vanished. + +For a moment the shepherd was dazed. Then he laughed and said to +himself: "Well, if they're all as stupid as he is, we ought to be able +for them!" + +The country where the shepherd lived was ruled over by a dissolute +young duke who passed his days in riotous living and his nights in +carousing. He gave over the affairs of state to two governors who were +as bad as he. With extortionate taxes and unjust fines they robbed the +people until the whole land was crying out against them. + +Now one day for amusement the duke summoned an astrologer to court and +ordered him to read in the planets the fate of himself and his two +governors. When the astrologer had cast a horoscope for each of the +three reprobates, he was greatly disturbed and tried to dissuade the +duke from questioning him further. + +"Such danger," he said, "threatens your life and the lives of your two +governors that I fear to speak." + +"Whatever it is," said the duke, "speak. But I warn you to speak the +truth, for if what you say does not come to pass you will forfeit your +life." + +The astrologer bowed and said: "Hear then, oh Duke, what the planets +foretell: Before the second quarter of the moon, on such and such a +day, at such and such an hour, a devil will come and carry off the two +governors. At the full of the moon on such and such a day, at such and +such an hour, the same devil will come for your Highness and carry you +off to hell." + +The duke pretended to be unconcerned but in his heart he was deeply +shaken. The voice of the astrologer sounded to him like the voice of +judgment and for the first time conscience began to trouble him. + +As for the governors, they couldn't eat a bite of food and were +carried from the palace half dead with fright. They piled their +ill-gotten wealth into wagons and rode away to their castles, where +they barred all the doors and windows in order to keep the devil out. + +The duke reformed. He gave up his evil ways and corrected the abuses +of state in the hope of averting if possible his cruel fate. + +The poor shepherd had no inkling of any of these things. He tended his +flocks from day to day and never bothered his head about the +happenings in the great world. + +Suddenly one day the devil appeared before him and said: "I have +come, my friend, to repay you for your kindness. When the moon is in +its first quarter, I was to carry off the former governors of this +land because they robbed the poor and gave the duke evil counsel. +However, they're behaving themselves now so they're to be given +another chance. But they don't know this. Now on such and such a day +do you go to the first castle where a crowd of people will be +assembled. When a cry goes up and the gates open and I come dragging +out the governor, do you step up to me and say: 'What do you mean by +this? Get out of here or there'll be trouble!' I'll pretend to be +greatly frightened and make off. Then ask the governor to pay you two +bags of gold, and if he haggles just threaten to call me back. After +that go on to the castle of the second governor and do the same thing +and demand the same pay. I warn you, though, be prudent with the money +and use it only for good. When the moon is full, I'm to carry off the +duke himself, for he was so wicked that he's to have no second chance. +So don't try to save him, for if you do you'll pay for it with your +own skin. Don't forget!" + +The shepherd remembered carefully everything the devil told him. When +the moon was in its first quarter he went to the first castle. A great +crowd of people was gathered outside waiting to see the devil carry +away the governor. + +Suddenly there was a loud cry of despair, the gates of the castle +opened, and there was the devil, as black as night, dragging out the +governor. He, poor man, was half dead with fright. + +The shepherd elbowed his way through the crowd, took the governor by +the hand, and pushed the devil roughly aside. + +"What do you mean by this?" he shouted. "Get out of here or there'll +be trouble!" + +Instantly the devil fled and the governor fell on his knees before the +shepherd and kissed his hands and begged him to state what he wanted +in reward. When the shepherd asked for two bags of gold, the governor +ordered that they be given him without delay. + +Then the shepherd went to the castle of the second governor and went +through exactly the same performance. + +It goes without saying that the duke soon heard of the shepherd, for +he had been anxiously awaiting the fate of the two governors. At once +he sent a wagon with four horses to fetch the shepherd to the palace +and when the shepherd arrived he begged him piteously to rescue him +likewise from the devil's clutches. + +"Master," the shepherd answered, "I cannot promise you anything. I +have to consider my own safety. You have been a great sinner, but if +you really want to reform, if you really want to rule your people +justly and kindly and wisely as becomes a true ruler, then indeed I +will help you even if I have to suffer hellfire in your place." + +The duke declared that with God's help he would mend his ways and the +shepherd promised to come back on the fatal day. + +With grief and dread the whole country awaited the coming of the full +moon. In the first place the people had greeted the astrologer's +prophecy with joy, but since the duke had reformed their feelings for +him had changed. + +Time sped fast as time does whether joy be coming or sorrow and all +too soon the fatal day arrived. + +Dressed in black and pale with fright, the duke sat expecting the +arrival of the devil. + +Suddenly the door flew open and the devil, black as night, stood +before him. He paused a moment and then he said, politely: + +"Your time has come, Lord Duke, and I am here to get you!" + +Without a word the duke arose and followed the devil to the +courtyard, which was filled with a great multitude of people. + +At that moment the shepherd, all out of breath, came pushing his way +through the crowd, and ran straight at the devil, shouting out: + +"What do you mean by this? Get out of here or there'll be trouble!" + +"What do _you_ mean?" whispered the devil. "Don't you remember what I +told you?" + +"Hush!" the shepherd whispered back. "I don't care anything about the +duke. This is to warn you! You know Katcha? She's alive and she's +looking for you!" + +The instant the devil heard the name of Katcha he turned and fled. + +All the people cheered the shepherd, while the shepherd himself +laughed in his sleeve to think that he had taken in the devil so +easily. + +As for the duke, he was so grateful to the shepherd that he made him +his chief counselor and loved him as a brother. And well he might, for +the shepherd was a sensible man and always gave him sound advice. + + + + +THE BETROTHAL GIFTS + +THE STORY OF KUBIK AND THE FROG + +[Illustration: {A frog}] + + +THE BETROTHAL GIFTS + +A farmer who had three sons was much troubled in his mind as to how he +should leave his property. "My farm is too small to divide," he kept +thinking to himself. "If I divide it into three equal parts and give +each of my sons one part, they will all be poor cottagers, and yet, if +I give it all to one son, I shall be unjust to the other two. My +grandfather always said that it is a father's duty to treat all his +children alike and I'm sure I don't want to depart from his +teachings." + +At last he called his sons together and said: "I have hit upon a plan +whereby fate shall decide which of you shall be my heir. You must all +go out into the world and find brides, and he who brings back as a +betrothal gift the most beautiful ring shall have the farm." + +The sons agreed to this plan and the next day they all set out in +different directions in quest of brides. + +Now the youngest son, whose name was Kubik, was not considered as +bright as his brothers, for he was kind to beggars and he never drove +a hard bargain. His brothers often laughed at him and his father +pitied him, for he thought that Kubik was too gentle to make his way +in the world. + +Kubik's path took him into a deep forest. He walked on and on until +suddenly a little frog hopped up in front of him and said: + +"Where are you going, Kubik?" + +Now Kubik had never in all his life heard of a frog that could talk. +At first he was frightened but even so he was too polite not to answer +a civil question. So he told the frog about his father and the farm +and the quest for betrothal gifts upon which he and his brothers were +bound. + +The frog listened and when he was finished she said: "Come with me, +Kubik, and my daughter, Kachenka, will give you a more beautiful ring +than any your father or brothers have ever seen." + +Kubik hesitated, but at last not to hurt the frog's feelings he +agreed. "But if your daughter Kachenka looks like you," he thought to +himself, "Heaven help me, for she'll be a pretty dear price to pay for +a farm!" + +The frog led him to a deep valley at one side of which rose a high +rocky cliff that was honey-combed with caverns. The frog hopped into +one of these and called out: + +"Kachenka, my child, where are you? Here is Kubik come to woo you and +to beg a betrothal gift. Bring out your little box of rings." + +Instantly a second frog appeared dragging a heavy jewel casket. +Kachenka, alas, was a hundred times uglier than her mother. Her legs +were crooked, her face was all covered with spots, and when she spoke +her voice was hoarse and croaking. + +For a moment Kubik shivered and turned away in disgust, but only for a +moment until he remembered that it wasn't Kachenka's fault that she +was a frog. + +The two frogs put the casket before him and opened it and Kubik saw +that it was filled with a collection of the rarest and most beautiful +rings in the world. + +"Make your own choice, Kubik," the old frog said. + +Kubik selected as plain a ring as there was, for he was ashamed to +take one of the handsomest. + +"Not that one!" the old frog said, "unless you want your brothers to +laugh at you." + +Thereupon she herself picked out the ring that had the biggest diamond +of them all, wrapped it up carefully in paper, and handed it to Kubik. + +"Now hurry home," she said, "for your brothers are already there and +your father is waiting for you." + +As soon as Kubik reached home the farmer called his three sons +together and demanded to be shown their betrothal gifts. + +All the eldest son had was a common brass ring. + +"Um," the farmer said, shaking his head. "Well, put it away for a +keepsake." + +The second son showed a silver ring that was worth a few cents more. + +"A little better," the old man mumbled, "but not good enough for a +farmer. Put it away for a keepsake. And now," he said, turning to his +youngest son, "let us see what Kubik has brought from his promised +bride." + +They all looked at Kubik, and Kubik blushed as he felt in his pocket +for the little package. + +"Ho, ho!" his brothers laughed. "Kubik has such a fine ring that he +has to keep it wrapped up." + +But when he opened the paper they stopped laughing, and well they +might, for there was a great diamond that sparkled and blazed until it +seemed that the sun was shining in the room. + +"Kubik!" the farmer cried when at last he found his voice, "where did +you get that ring? You must have stolen it, you wicked boy!" And +without waiting to hear what Kubik had to say, he reached for a whip +and trounced the poor lad to within an inch of his life. Then he took +the ring and hid it carefully away. + +"Now, my boys," he said to his sons, "you will all have to make +another trial. This time ask of your promised brides the gift of an +embroidered kerchief and he who brings back the most beautiful +kerchief shall be my heir." + +So the next day the three sons again started out, each in a different +direction. + +Kubik thought to himself: "I won't go the way I went yesterday or I +may meet that old frog again and then, when I get home, the only prize +I'll get will be another beating." + +So he took a different path but he hadn't gone far before the old frog +hopped up in front of him. + +"What's the matter, Kubik?" she asked. + +At first Kubik didn't want to tell her but she questioned him and +finally, not to seem rude, he told her about the beating his father +had given him on account of Kachenka's ring and about the new quest +for embroidered kerchiefs upon which his father was now sending him +and his brothers. + +"Now don't think any more about that whipping," the old frog advised +him. "And as for an embroidered kerchief, why, Kachenka is the very +girl for that! She will give you one that will make your brothers open +their eyes!" + +Kubik wasn't sure that he wanted to accept another of Kachenka's +gifts, but the old frog urged him and at last he agreed. So again they +took the path to the rocky cliff. The old frog called her daughter out +as before and presently Kachenka appeared dragging a chest that was +filled with the most wonderful of kerchiefs, all of fine silk and all +richly embroidered and so large that they were more like shawls than +kerchiefs. + +Kubik reached in and took the first that came to hand. + +"Tut, tut!" the old frog said. "That's no way to select a kerchief." + +Then she herself picked out the biggest and the most richly +embroidered of them all and wrapped it up in paper. She gave it to +Kubik and said: + +"Now hurry home, for your brothers are already there and your father +is waiting for you." + +As soon as Kubik reached home the farmer called his three sons +together and demanded to be shown their betrothal gifts. + +All the eldest one had was a small cheap kerchief of no value +whatever. + +"Um," the farmer said, shaking his head. "Well, put it away for a +keepsake." + +The kerchief of the second had cost a few cents more. + +"A little better," the old man mumbled. "Perhaps it's good enough for +a farmer. And now," he said, turning to his youngest son, "let us see +what Kubik has brought from his promised bride." + +They all looked at Kubik, and Kubik blushed as he pulled out a parcel +from under his shirt. + +"Ho, ho!" his brothers laughed. "Kubik has such a fine kerchief that +he has to keep it wrapped up in paper!" + +But when Kubik opened the paper they stopped laughing, and well they +might, for there was a silken kerchief so big that it could have +covered the whole room and so richly embroidered that any princess in +the world would have been proud to own it. + +"Kubik!" the farmer cried when at last he was able to speak, "where +did you get that kerchief? You must have stolen it, you wicked boy!" +And without waiting to hear what Kubik had to say, he reached down the +whip again and trounced the poor boy to within an inch of his life. +Then he took the kerchief and hid it carefully away. + +"Now, my sons," he said, "you will all have to make another trial. +But this time it will not be for a ring or a kerchief. This time bring +home your brides and he whose bride is the most beautiful shall be my +heir." + +So the next day the three sons again started out, each in a different +direction. + +"I don't want to see Kachenka again," poor Kubik said to himself. +"Twice I've brought back the best betrothal gift and each time I've +got a beating for it. I wonder what they would say if I brought home a +frog for a bride! Then they would have something to laugh at!" + +So he took a different path through the forest but again he hadn't +gone far before the old frog hopped up in front of him. This time +Kubik turned and ran. The old frog called after him but the louder she +called the faster he ran. + +He ran on and on until suddenly a great snake stopped him. The snake +reared high its head, then dropped into a coil. Again it reared up and +swayed from side to side threatening to strike if Kubik went on. So +Kubik saw that fate was determined that he should marry a frog and +reluctantly he turned back. + +The snake led him to the cliff, where the old frog greeted him kindly +and thanked the snake for his faithful service. + +Poor Kubik! He was very tired and very unhappy. When you come to think +of it, who wouldn't be unhappy at the prospect of being united for +life to a frog? + +Kubik was so tired that presently he fell asleep and it was just as +well he did, for at least in dreams he could forget his troubles. + +The next morning when he woke and rubbed his eyes, he found himself +lying on a soft feather bed, white as snow, in a splendid room with +decorations that were fit for a king. A fine silken shirt lay spread +out on a chair beside the bed and beyond the chair was a stand with a +silver basin. When he got up attendants came running in carrying +clothes of richly woven cloth of gold. They dressed Kubik and they +combed his hair until they had him looking like a young prince. Then +they brought him breakfast and there was cream with the coffee and I +would have you know that this was only the second time in his life +that Kubik had ever had cream with his coffee! + +Kubik did not know what to think of it all. His head went round and +round. When he looked out the window he saw no trace of cliff or +caverns or forest. Instead he saw a big town with streets and houses +and people going to and fro. + +Presently music began to play under the window, a great crowd gathered +and soon attendants came in to escort Lord Kubik out. As he reached +the castle gate, the people cheered and a coach and six drove up. Two +ladies were in it, a mother and daughter, both dressed in beautiful +silks. They alighted from the coach and when they saw Kubik they +smiled and came toward him with outstretched hands. + +"You don't know us, do you, Kubik?" the older lady said. "I was that +old frog who coaxed you to the cliff and this, my beautiful daughter, +was the other little frog, the very ugly one, that you feared you +would have to take home to your father's house as your bride. You see, +Kubik, we were all under an evil enchantment. Many years ago a wicked +magician brought ruin on us and our kingdom. He changed our subjects +into snakes and us into frogs and turned our fine city into a rocky +cliff. Nothing could break the enchantment until some one should come +and ask a betrothal gift from my daughter. We lived in the forest for +years and years and all those years I begged all the people who +wandered by to help us but they only trod on us or turned away from us +in disgust. You, Kubik, were the first not to scorn us for our ugly +looks. By this you broke the evil spell that held us and now we are +all free. As a reward you shall marry my daughter, the Princess +Kachenka, and be made king!" + +Then the old queen took Kubik by the hand and led him to the royal +coach, where she made him sit between her and the princess. Music +played and the people cheered, and in this style they drove to Kubik's +native village and to his father's house. + +The old man was in the yard chopping firewood and his older sons were +helping him. They, too, had brought home their brides, plain country +girls from poor farms, and at that moment they were all awaiting +Kubik's arrival. + +"Look, father," the oldest son cried, "some fine folk are turning in +here!" + +"We're not behind in our taxes, are we?" the second son asked. + +"Hush!" the old man whispered. "I have nothing to fear. My affairs are +all in good order." + +He put his cap respectfully under his arm and stood bareheaded and +both his sons followed his example. + +The coach drove straight into the yard and a handsome young lord and +two beautiful ladies alighted. The handsome young lord greeted the +old man and his sons and they bowed and scraped and pressed their hats +under their arms tighter and tighter. + +Then they all stepped into the old kitchen that was black with the +smoke of many years and the handsome young lord sat down on the bench +behind the table as though that was where he always sat. The two +brothers and their brides shrank back against the oven and held their +breath. + +Then the handsome young lord said to the old man: "Don't you know me?" + +"Where could I ever have seen your lordship?" the farmer asked, +humbly. He kept bobbing so low it was a wonder he didn't bump his head +against the floor. + +"And do neither of your sons know me? I think these are your sons, +aren't they?" + +The farmer kept on bowing and the two sons looked down, too +embarrassed to speak. + +At length the handsome young lord said: "What, don't you know your own +son, Kubik, whom you used to beat for stealing when he showed you his +betrothal gifts?" + +At that the old man looked at him closely and cried out: "Bless my +soul, I believe it is our Kubik! But who could recognize the +boy!... And is this his bride? That settles it! Kubik shall have the +farm! Kubik has brought home the most beautiful bride!" + + [Illustration: _Kubik Greeting His Old Father_] + +"Kubik doesn't need the farm," the old queen said, "nor will you need +it any longer nor your other sons. You will all come home with us to +our kingdom over which Kubik is now king. And may God grant you many +years to live on in peace and quiet." + +The farmer was overjoyed at this arrangement. He embraced his son, and +his son's bride, and his son's royal mother-in-law. + +He gave his farm to the poorest man in the village and then he and his +sons accompanied Kubik back to his kingdom. There he lived long in +peace and comfort enjoying the thought that good fortune had come to +them all on account of his determination not to divide the farm. + +The poor man who inherited the farm prayed for him and his sons every +night and never tired of telling the story of how Kubik became a king +and his brothers courtiers. + +So for many years the memory of Kubik was kept green. Now people are +beginning to forget him, so I thought it was time that I tell his +story again. + + + + +GRANDFATHER'S EYES + +THE STORY OF THREE WICKED YEZINKAS + +[Illustration: {A goat}] + + +GRANDFATHER'S EYES + +Once upon a time there was a poor boy whom everybody called Yanechek. +His father and mother were dead and he was forced to start out alone +in the world to make a living. For a long time he could find nothing +to do. He wandered on and on and at last he came to a little house +that stood by itself near the edge of the woods. An old man sat on the +doorstep and Yanechek could see that he was blind, for there were +empty holes where his eyes used to be. + +Some goats that were penned in a shed near the house began bleating +and the old man said: + +"You poor things, you want to go to pasture, don't you? But I can't +see to drive you and I have no one else to send." + +"Send me, grandfather," Yanechek said. "Take me as your goatherd and +let me work for you." + +"Who are you?" the old man asked. + +Yanechek told him who he was and the old man agreed to take him. + +"And now," he said, "drive the goats to pasture. But one thing, +Yanechek: don't take them to the hill over there in the woods or the +Yezinkas may get you! That's where they caught me!" + +Now Yanechek knew that the Yezinkas were wicked witches who lived in a +cave in the woods and went about in the guise of beautiful young +women. If they met you they would greet you modestly and say something +like "God bless you!" to make you think they were good and kind and +then, once they had you in their power, they would put you to sleep +and gouge out your eyes! Oh, yes, Yanechek knew about the Yezinkas. + +"Never fear, grandfather, the Yezinkas won't get me!" + +The first day and the second day Yanechek kept the goats near home. +But the third day he said to himself: "I think I'll try the hill in +the woods. There's better grass there and I'm not afraid of the +Yezinkas." + +Before he started out he cut three long slender switches from a +blackberry bramble, wound them into small coils, and hid them in the +crown of his hat. Then he drove the goats through the woods where +they nibbled at leaves and branches, beside a deep river where they +paused to drink, and up the grassy slopes of the hill. + +There the goats scattered this way and that and Yanechek sat down on a +stone in the shade. He was hardly seated when he looked up and there +before him, dressed all in white, stood the most beautiful maiden in +the world. Her skin was red as roses and white as milk, her eyes were +black as sloe berries, and her hair, dark as the raven's wing, fell +about her shoulders in long waving tresses. She smiled and offered +Yanechek a big red apple. + +"God bless you, shepherd boy," she said. "Here's something for you +that grew in my own garden." + +But Yanechek knew that she must be a Yezinka and that, if he ate the +apple, he would fall asleep and then she would gouge out his eyes. So +he said, politely: "No, thank you, beautiful maiden. My master has a +tree in his garden with apples that are bigger than yours and I have +eaten as many as I want." + +When the maiden saw that Yanechek was not to be coaxed, she +disappeared. + +Presently a second maiden came, more beautiful, if possible, than the +first. In her hand she carried a lovely red rose. + +"God bless you, shepherd boy," she said. "Isn't this a lovely rose? I +picked it myself from the hedge. How fragrant it is! Will you smell +it?" + +She offered him the rose but Yanechek refused it. + +"No, thank you, beautiful maiden. My master's garden is full of roses +much sweeter than yours and I smell roses all the time." + +At that the second maiden shrugged her shoulders and disappeared. + +Presently a third one came, the youngest and most beautiful of them +all. In her hand she carried a golden comb. + +"God bless you, shepherd boy." + +"Good day to you, beautiful maiden." + +She smiled at Yanechek and said: "Truly you are a handsome lad, but +you would be handsomer still if your hair were nicely combed. Come, +let me comb it for you." + +Yanechek said nothing but he took off his hat without letting the +maiden see what was hidden in its crown. She came up close to him and +then, just as she was about to comb his hair, he whipped out one of +the long blackberry switches and struck her over the hands. She +screamed and tried to escape but she could not because it is the fate +of a Yezinka not to be able to move if ever a human being strikes her +over the hands with a switch of bramble. + +So Yanechek took her two hands and bound them together with the long +thorny switch while she wept and struggled. + +"Help, sisters! Help!" she cried. + +At that the two other Yezinkas came running and when they saw what had +happened they, too, began to weep and to beg Yanechek to unbind their +sister's hands and let her go. + +But Yanechek only laughed and said: "No. You unbind them." + +"But, Yanechek, how can we? Our hands are soft and the thorns will +prick us." + +However, when they saw that Yanechek was not to be moved, they went to +their sister and tried to help her. Whereupon Yanechek whipped out the +other two blackberry switches and struck them also on their soft +pretty hands, first one and then the other. After that they, too, +could not move and it was easy enough to bind them and make them +prisoners. + +"Now I've got the three of you, you wicked Yezinkas!" Yanechek said. +"It was you who gouged out my poor old master's eyes, you know it +was! And you shall not escape until you do as I ask." + +He left them there and ran home to his master to whom he said: "Come, +grandfather, for I have found a means of restoring your eyes!" + +He took the old man by the hand and led him through the woods, along +the bank of the river, and up the grassy hillside where the three +Yezinkas were still struggling and weeping. + +Then he said to the first of them: "Tell me now where my master's eyes +are. If you don't tell me, I'll throw you into the river." + +The first Yezinka pretended she didn't know. So Yanechek lifted her up +and started down the hill toward the river. + +That frightened the maiden and she cried out: "Don't throw me into the +river, Yanechek, and I'll find you your master's eyes, I promise you I +will!" + +So Yanechek put her down and she led him to a cave in the hillside +where she and her wicked sisters had piled up a great heap of +eyes--all kinds of eyes they were: big eyes, little eyes, black eyes, +red eyes, blue eyes, green eyes--every kind of eye in the world that +you can think of. + +She went to the heap and picked out two eyes which she said were the +right ones. But when the poor old man tried to look through them, he +cried out in fright: + +"I see nothing but dark treetops with sleeping birds and flying bats! +These are not my eyes! They are owls' eyes! Take them out! Take them +out!" + +When Yanechek saw how the first Yezinka had deceived him, without +another word he picked her up, threw her into the river, and that was +the end of her. + +Then he said to the second sister: "Now you tell me where my master's +eyes are." + +At first she, too, pretended she didn't know, but when Yanechek +threatened to throw her likewise into the river, she was glad enough +to lead him back to the cave and pick out two eyes that she said were +the right ones. + +But when the poor old man tried to look through them, again he cried +out in fright: "I see nothing but tangled underbrush and snapping +teeth and hot red tongues! These are not my eyes! They are wolves' +eyes! Take them out! Take them out!" + +When Yanechek saw how the second Yezinka had deceived him, without +another word he picked her up, and threw her also into the river, and +that was the end of her. + +Then Yanechek said to the third sister: "Now you tell me where my +master's eyes are." + +At first she, too, pretended she didn't know, but when Yanechek +threatened to throw her likewise into the river, she was glad enough +to lead him to the cave and pick out two eyes that she said were the +right ones. + +But when the poor old man tried to look through them, again he cried +out in fright: "I see nothing but swirling waters and flashing fins! +These are not my eyes! They are fishes' eyes! Take them out! Take them +out!" + +When Yanechek saw how the third Yezinka had deceived him, without +another word he was ready to serve her as he had served her sisters. +But she begged him not to drown her and she said: + +"Let me try again, Yanechek, and I'll find you the right eyes, I +promise you I will!" + +So Yanechek let her try again and from the very bottom of the heap she +picked out two more eyes that she swore were the right ones. + +When the old man looked through them, he clapped his hands and said: +"These are my own eyes, praise God! Now I can see as well as ever!" + +After that the old man and Yanechek lived on happily together. +Yanechek pastured the goats and the old man made cheeses at home and +they ate them together. And you may be sure that the third Yezinka +never showed herself again on that hill! + + + + +RATTLE-RATTLE-RATTLE AND CHINK-CHINK-CHINK + +THE STORY OF LONG BEARD, THE DWARF, AND THE TWO SISTERS + +[Illustration: {A cottage}] + + +RATTLE-RATTLE-RATTLE AND CHINK-CHINK-CHINK + +There was once a poor man whose wife died leaving him a daughter. The +little girl's name was Lenka. She was a good little girl, cheerful and +obedient and very industrious, and she did all she could to make her +father comfortable. + +After some time the man married again. His second wife also had a +little girl just Lenka's age. Her name was Dorla. Dorla was a lazy, +ill-natured child, always quarreling and bickering. Yet her mother +thought Dorla was perfect and she was always praising her to her +husband. + +"See what a good child my Dorla is," she would say to him. "She works +and spins and never says a cross word. Very different from your +good-for-nothing Lenka who always breaks everything she touches and +does nothing in return for all the good food she eats!" + +She never stopped nagging and scolding her poor stepchild and +complaining about her to her husband. Lenka was patient and went on +quietly doing what was right, and she was always polite to her +stepmother, and kind to her ill-natured stepsister. + +She and Dorla used to go to spinning bees together. Dorla would play +and waste her time and hardly fill one spindle. Lenka always worked +industriously and usually filled two or three spools. Yet, when the +two girls got home, the mother always took Dorla's half-filled spindle +and said to the father: "See what beautiful yarn my Dorla spins!" She +would hide Lenka's spools and say: "Your Lenka did nothing but play +and waste her time!" + +And before other people she talked the same way, pretending Dorla did +everything that she didn't do and saying that good industrious Lenka +was lazy and good-for-nothing. + +One night when the two girls were walking home together from a +spinning bee, they came to a ditch in the road. Dorla jumped quickly +across and then reached back her hand and said: + +"My dear sister, let me hold your spindle. You may fall and hurt +yourself." + +Poor Lenka, suspecting nothing unkind, handed Dorla her full spindle. +Dorla took it and ran home and then boasted to her mother and her +stepfather how much she had spun. + +"Lenka," she said, "has no yarn at all. She did nothing but play and +waste her time." + +"You see," said the woman to her husband. "This is what I'm always +telling you but you never believe me. That Lenka of yours is a lazy, +good-for-nothing girl who expects me and my poor daughter to do all +the work. I'm not going to stand her in the house any longer. Tomorrow +morning out she goes to make her own way in the world. Then perhaps +she'll understand what a good home she's had with me!" + +The poor man tried to defend Lenka but his wife would hear nothing. +Lenka must go and that was all there was to it. + +Early the next morning while it was still dark the woman started Lenka +off. She gave her a sack that she said was full of good meal and +smoked meat and bread. But instead of meal she put in ashes, instead +of smoked meat straw, and instead of bread stones. + +"Here is meal and smoked meat and bread for your journey," she said. +"You will be a long time finding any one who will be as good to you as +I have been! Now be off with you and never let me see you again! Let +your father put you out in service if he can!" + +The poor man put his ax on his shoulder and started off with Lenka. He +had no place to take her and he hardly knew what to do. He led her off +into the mountains, where he built her a little two-room hut. He was +ashamed to tell her that he was going to leave her alone, so he said +to her: + +"You stay here, my dear child, while I go farther into the forest and +cut you some firewood." + +But instead of cutting her firewood, he hung his mallet on a beech +tree and whenever the wind blew, the mallet made a knocking sound. All +afternoon poor little Lenka hearing the knock-knock of the mallet +thought to herself: "There is my dear father chopping wood for me!" + +When evening came and he hadn't returned, Lenka went out to find him, +but all she could find was the mallet going knock-knock on the tree. +Then the poor girl realized that her father had deceived her but she +forgave him, for she knew that it was her stepmother's fault. + +She went back to the little hut to get her supper, but when she opened +the sack her stepmother had given her, instead of meal and smoked meat +and bread, she found only ashes and straw and stones. Then indeed did +Lenka feel deserted and sitting down she cried with loneliness and +hunger. + +While she was crying an old beggar with a long beard came into the +hut. + +"God grant you happiness, my child," he said. + +"May He grant you the same, old father," Lenka said, standing up and +bowing politely. + +"Thank you, my child, thank you. And now will you be so kind as to +wash my face and give me a bite of supper?" + +"Indeed, old father, I'd gladly wash your face and give you food, but +there's no water here and nothing to carry it in. And as for food, my +stepmother filled the sack with ashes, straw, and stones." + +"That's nothing, my child. Just go behind the hut and you will find a +spring." + +Lenka went and there, sure enough, was a clear bubbling spring and on +the ground beside it a bucket. She filled the bucket and carried it +back to the hut. + +As she entered the door she could hardly believe her eyes, for on the +wall she saw a row of shining plates, big plates and little plates, +and cups, and everything else that ought to be in a kitchen. The old +beggar had started a fire, so Lenka at once put on water to boil. + +"Look in the sack," the beggar said. + +Lenka untied the sack again and here it was full of fine meal and +bread and smoked meat! + +So now Lenka lost no time in preparing a good supper. Then she washed +the old beggar's face and hands and together they ate. After supper +Lenka spread out her ragged clothes on the floor of the inner room and +put the beggar in there for the night. She herself stretched out on +the kitchen bench. It was a hard bed but Lenka made no complaint and +presently she fell asleep. + +At midnight there was a knocking at the door and a voice called out: + + "_A man am I + Six inches high, + But a long, long beard + Hangs from my chin. + Open the door + And let me in!_" + +Lenka jumped down and opened the door and there before her stood a +tiny dwarf with a long beard. He was Long Beard who lived in the +mountains and of whom Lenka had often heard stories. + +He came in dragging after him a heavy bag of golden ducats. + +"I was that old beggar," he said, "whose face you washed and with whom +you shared your supper. These ducats are to reward you for your +kindness. Now go into your bedroom and lie down comfortably." + +As he said this he vanished. + +Lenka went into her bedroom and there, instead of her few rags on the +floor, was a fine feather bed and coverlets and a painted chest full +of clothes. Lenka lay down on the feather bed and instantly fell +asleep. + +On the third day her father came, supposing by that time Lenka had +either died of hunger or been devoured by wild beasts. At least, he +thought, he would gather together her bones. + +But when he reached the hut he rubbed his eyes in surprise. Instead of +the rough hut, there was a pretty little cottage and instead of a +handful of bones there was a happy girl singing away at her spinning. + +"My daughter, my daughter!" he cried. "How are you?" + +"Very well, dear father. You couldn't have found a better place for +me." + +She told him how happy she was and how pleasantly she passed the +time, spinning and singing and working. Then she took a table-cloth +and filled it with golden ducats and gave it to him. + +So he went away very happy, thanking God for the good fortune that had +come to Lenka. + +As he neared home, the old dog that lay at the door said to the +stepmother: + +"Bow-wow, mistress, here comes the master. It's chink-chink the money +before him and chink-chink the money behind him!" + +"Not so, old dog!" the stepmother cried. "It's rattle-rattle bones +before him and rattle-rattle bones behind him!" + +Now when the man came into the cottage, he said: "Wife, give me a +basket and let me empty this table-cloth." + +"What!" she cried. "Do you expect me to give you a basket for your +daughter's bones?" + +But he began to chink the golden ducats and then she got a basket fast +enough. + +When she had all the ducats safely put away she said: + +"Isn't it just like you to find a place like that for your Lenka! But +what have you ever done for my poor Dorla? Tomorrow you will take her +out into the world and find a good place for her!" + +So she got ready for Dorla a fine new bed and stylish clothes and as +much good food as she could carry. The next day the man took Dorla out +into the mountains and built her a little hut of two rooms. + +Dorla sat in the hut and thought about the good supper she was going +to cook for herself. + +In the evening the same old beggar came and said to her: + +"May God grant you happiness, my child. Won't you please wash my +face?" + +"Wash your face, indeed!" cried Dorla in a rage. "This is what I'll do +to you!" And she took a stick and drove the old beggar away. + +"Very well!" he muttered. "Very well! Very well!" + +Then Dorla cooked herself a fine supper. After she had eaten every +bite of it herself, she lay down on the bed and went soundly to sleep. + +At midnight Long Beard knocked at the door and called out: + + "_A man am I + Six inches high, + But a long, long beard + Hangs from my chin. + Open the door + And let me in!_" + +Then Dorla was very frightened and she hid in the corner. Long Beard +broke open the door and he caught Dorla and he shook her out of her +skin. It served her right, too, for she was a wicked, spiteful girl +and she had never been kind to anybody in her life. + +Long Beard left her bones in a heap on the floor, and he hung her skin +on the nail at the back of the door. Then he put her grinning skull in +the window. + +On the third day Dorla's mother gave her husband a brand new +table-cloth and said: + +"Go now and see how my Dorla is getting on. Here is a table-cloth for +the ducats." + +So the man took the table-cloth and went to the mountains. As he came +near the hut, he saw something in the window that looked like grinning +teeth. He said to himself: + +"Dorla must be very happy to be smiling at me from this distance." + +But when he reached the hut all he found of Dorla was a heap of bones +on the floor, the skin hanging on the nail behind the door, and the +skull grinning in the window. + +Without a word he gathered the bones into the table-cloth and started +back. + +As he neared home the old dog said: + +"Bow-wow, mistress, here comes the master and it's rattle-rattle +before him and rattle-rattle behind him." + +"Not so, old dog!" cried the woman. "It's chink-chink before him, and +chink-chink behind him!" + +But the old dog kept on barking and saying: + +"No, no, bow-wow, it's rattle-rattle before him and rattle-rattle +behind him!" + +In a rage the woman took a stick and beat the dog. + +Then the man stepped into the cottage and at once his wife brought out +a basket for the ducats. But when he shook out the table-cloth there +was only the rattle-rattle of bones. + + + + +THE BIRD WITH THE GOLDEN GIZZARD + +THE STORY OF TWO BROTHERS + +[Illustration: {Three wading birds}] + + +THE BIRD WITH THE GOLDEN GIZZARD + +There was once a poor man who had a large family. He was so poor that +he had nothing to feed the children. For three days they had had no +food. On the third day as the father was out cutting osiers he saw, +sitting in a bush, a small bird that shone like gold. + +"If I could snare that bird," he thought to himself, "and take it +home, the children would be amused and perhaps forget they were +hungry." + +So he caught the bird and carried it home and, sure enough, the +children were so delighted that for two days they didn't cry for food. + +On the third day the bird laid a golden egg. The oldest boy took the +egg to the goldsmith to sell it. The goldsmith examined it and said: + +"I don't believe I have money enough to buy this egg." + +"Just give me some bread," the boy said. "That will be enough." + +The goldsmith gave him two loaves of bread, one under each arm, and +filled his pockets with golden ducats. So for once the whole family +had all it could eat and still there was money left over. + +Two days later the bird laid another golden egg which the boy carried +to the goldsmith and sold for the same price. + +Now the goldsmith had a son who said he would like to see this +wonderful bird. So he went home with the boy. He looked the bird over +very carefully and under its wings he discovered an inscription that +no one else had seen. The inscription read: + + _Whoever eats my heart will become king._ + + _Whoever eats my gizzard will find under his head each + morning a heap of golden ducats._ + +The youth went home and told his father about the strange inscription. +They talked the matter over and at last decided that it would be well +for the young man to marry the poor man's oldest daughter provided he +could get the golden bird as dowry. + +The goldsmith went to see the girl's father and after some discussion +the marriage was arranged. + +The wedding day arrived. The bridegroom ordered the bird to be +roasted and ready to be put on the table when the bridal party came +home from church. It was his intention to eat the heart himself and +have his bride eat the gizzard. + +The children of the family cried bitterly at the thought of losing +their pretty bird, but the bridegroom, of course, had his way. + +Now two of the boys stayed home from the wedding and they decided that +they would like very much to taste the roast bird if only they could +find a piece that nobody would miss. They did not dare take a leg or a +wing, but they thought it would be safe to pick out a morsel from the +inside. So one boy ate the heart, the other the gizzard. Then they +were so frightened at what they had done that they ran away and never +came back. + +When the bride and groom returned from church, the bird was carried to +the table. The groom looked at once for the heart and the gizzard and +was greatly shocked at their disappearance. + +The two boys who had gone out into the world found work with a +merchant. They slept together and every morning the merchant's wife +found a heap of golden ducats under the feather bed. She didn't know +to which boy they belonged. She took them and saved them for a whole +year until they filled a hogshead. + +At the end of a year the boys decided to go out again into the world. +The merchant showed them all the ducats his wife had found in their +bed and he said to them: + +"Take with you as many as you want now and when you come back you may +have the rest." + +The brothers parted company and each set out alone, the one to the +left, the other to the right. + +The younger brother came to a tavern. The landlady had two daughters +who were so sharp at cards that they very soon won all the money he +had. When he was picked clean he asked them to stop playing until the +next morning when he would again have plenty of money. + +Sure enough in the morning when he got up he had all the money he +wanted. The girls asked him where it came from and he told them. + +When they heard about the gizzard he had swallowed, they put something +in his wine that made him sick at his stomach and he threw up the +gizzard. The younger girl instantly snatched it, washed it, and +swallowed it herself. Then as he had no more money they drove the poor +boy away. + +As he wandered in the fields he grew very hungry. He came to a meadow +where he found a kind of sorrel that he ate. As soon as he ate it he +turned into a goat and went jumping about the bushes nibbling at the +leaves. He chanced to eat a kind of leaf that changed him back into +himself. + +"Ah," he thought, "now I know what to do!" + +He picked some of the sorrel and some of the other leaves and went +straight back to the tavern. He told them there that he was bringing +them a present of a new kind of spinach that tasted very good. They +asked him would he cook it for them. + +The cook tasted it and at once she turned into a goat. The serving +maid came into the kitchen and when she saw a goat there she drove it +out. The youth asked the maid would she like to taste the new spinach. +She tasted it and immediately she turned into a goat. Then when the +landlady and her two daughters tasted it they, too, turned into goats. + +He fed the cook and the serving maid some of the other leaves and they +turned back into themselves. But the other three he left as goats. + +He made halters for them and then he hitched them up and drove off. + +He drove on and on until he came to a town where the king was +building himself a castle. Now this king was his brother who had eaten +the magic bird's heart. The king's workmen were hauling stone for the +new castle, so he decided to put his goats to work hauling stone. He +loaded his cart heavier than all the other carts. + +The king noticed him and recognized him and asked him where he got +those goats. So he told the king the whole story. The king thought the +goats had been punished long enough and begged his brother to have +pity on them and restore them. He took the king's advice and did so. + +When they were once more human beings, he married the girl who had +swallowed the gizzard. They soon became very rich, for every morning +there was a heap of golden ducats under her head. + + + + +THE WOOD MAIDEN + +THE STORY OF BETUSHKA AND THE GOLDEN BIRCH LEAVES + +[Illustration: {Two birds}] + + +THE WOOD MAIDEN + +Betushka was a little girl. Her mother was a poor widow with nothing +but a tumble-down cottage and two little nanny-goats. But poor as they +were Betushka was always cheerful. From spring till autumn she +pastured the goats in the birch wood. Every morning when she left home +her mother gave her a little basket with a slice of bread and a +spindle. + +"See that you bring home a full spindle," her mother always said. + +Betushka had no distaff, so she wound the flax around her head. Then +she took the little basket and went romping and singing behind the +goats to the birch wood. When they got there she sat down under a tree +and pulled the fibers of the flax from her head with her left hand, +and with her right hand let down the spindle so that it went humming +along the ground. All the while she sang until the woods echoed and +the little goats nibbled away at the leaves and grass. + +When the sun showed midday, she put the spindle aside, called the +goats and gave them a mouthful of bread so that they wouldn't stray, +and ran off into the woods to hunt berries or any other wild fruit +that was in season. Then when she had finished her bread and fruit, +she jumped up, folded her arms, and danced and sang. + +The sun smiled at her through the green of the trees and the little +goats, resting on the grass, thought: "What a merry little shepherdess +we have!" + +After her dance she went back to her spinning and worked +industriously. In the evening when she got home her mother never had +to scold her because the spindle was empty. + +One day at noon just after she had eaten and, as usual, was going to +dance, there suddenly stood before her a most beautiful maiden. She +was dressed in white gauze that was fine as a spider's web. Long +golden hair fell down to her waist and on her head she wore a wreath +of woodland flowers. + +Betushka was speechless with surprise and alarm. + +The maiden smiled at her and said in a sweet voice: + +"Betushka, do you like to dance?" + +Her manner was so gracious that Betushka no longer felt afraid, and +answered: + +"Oh, I could dance all day long!" + +"Come, then, let us dance together," said the maiden. "I'll teach +you." + +With that she tucked up her skirt, put her arm about Betushka's waist, +and they began to dance. At once such enchanting music sounded over +their heads that Betushka's heart went one-two with the dancing. The +musicians sat on the branches of the birch trees. They were clad in +little frock coats, black and gray and many-colored. It was a +carefully chosen orchestra that had gathered at the bidding of the +beautiful maiden: larks, nightingales, finches, linnets, thrushes, +blackbirds, and showy mocking-birds. + +Betushka's cheeks burned, her eyes shone. She forgot her spinning, she +forgot her goats. All she could do was gaze at her partner who was +moving with such grace and lightness that the grass didn't seem to +bend under her slender feet. + +They danced from noon till sundown and yet Betushka wasn't the least +bit tired. Then they stopped dancing, the music ceased, and the maiden +disappeared as suddenly as she had come. + +Betushka looked around. The sun was sinking behind the wood. She put +her hands to the unspun flax on her head and remembered the spindle +that was lying unfilled on the grass. She took down the flax and laid +it with the spindle in the little basket. Then she called the goats +and started home. + +She reproached herself bitterly that she had allowed the beautiful +maiden to beguile her and she told herself that another time she would +not listen to her. She was so quiet that the little goats, missing her +merry song, looked around to see whether it was really their own +little shepherdess who was following them. Her mother, too, wondered +why she didn't sing and questioned her. + +"Are you sick, Betushka?" + +"No, dear mother, I'm not sick, but I've been singing too much and my +throat is dry." + +She knew that her mother did not reel the yarn at once, so she hid the +spindle and the unspun flax, hoping to make up tomorrow what she had +not done today. She did not tell her mother one word about the +beautiful maiden. + +The next day she felt cheerful again and as she drove the goats to +pasture she sang merrily. At the birch wood she sat down to her +spinning, singing all the while, for with a song on the lips work +falls from the hands more easily. + +Noonday came. Betushka gave a bit of bread to each of the goats and +ran off to the woods for her berries. Then she ate her luncheon. + +"Ah, my little goats," she sighed, as she brushed up the crumbs for +the birds, "I mustn't dance today." + +"Why mustn't you dance today?" a sweet voice asked, and there stood +the beautiful maiden as though she had fallen from the clouds. + +Betushka was worse frightened than before and she closed her eyes +tight. When the maiden repeated her question, Betushka answered +timidly: + +"Forgive me, beautiful lady, for not dancing with you. If I dance with +you I cannot spin my stint and then my mother will scold me. Today +before the sun sets I must make up for what I lost yesterday." + +"Come, child, and dance," the maiden said. "Before the sun sets we'll +find some way of getting that spinning done!" + +She tucked up her skirt, put her arm about Betushka, the musicians in +the treetops struck up, and off they whirled. The maiden danced more +beautifully than ever. Betushka couldn't take her eyes from her. She +forgot her goats, she forgot her spinning. All she wanted to do was to +dance on forever. + +At sundown the maiden paused and the music stopped. Then Betushka, +clasping her hands to her head, where the unspun flax was twined, +burst into tears. The beautiful maiden took the flax from her head, +wound it round the stem of a slender birch, grasped the spindle, and +began to spin. The spindle hummed along the ground and filled in no +time. Before the sun sank behind the woods all the flax was spun, even +that which was left over from the day before. The maiden handed +Betushka the full spindle and said: + +"Remember my words: + + "_Reel and grumble not! + Reel and grumble not!_" + +When she said this, she vanished as if the earth had swallowed her. + +Betushka was very happy now and she thought to herself on her way +home: "Since she is so good and kind, I'll dance with her again if she +asks me. Oh, how I hope she does!" + +She sang her merry little song as usual and the goats trotted +cheerfully along. + +She found her mother vexed with her, for she had wanted to reel +yesterday's yarn and had discovered that the spindle was not full. + +"What were you doing yesterday," she scolded, "that you didn't spin +your stint?" + +Betushka hung her head. "Forgive me, mother. I danced too long." Then +she showed her mother today's spindle and said: "See, today I more +than made up for yesterday." + +Her mother said no more but went to milk the goats and Betushka put +away the spindle. She wanted to tell her mother her adventure, but she +thought to herself: "No, I'll wait. If the beautiful lady comes again, +I'll ask her who she is and then I'll tell mother." So she said +nothing. + +On the third morning she drove the goats as usual to the birch wood. +The goats went to pasture and Betushka, sitting down under a tree, +began to spin and sing. When the sun pointed to noon, she laid her +spindle on the grass, gave the goats a mouthful of bread, gathered +some strawberries, ate her luncheon, and then, giving the crumbs to +the birds, she said cheerily: + +"Today, my little goats, I will dance for you!" + +She jumped up, folded her arms, and was about to see whether she could +move as gracefully as the beautiful maiden, when the maiden herself +stood before her. + +"Let us dance together," she said. She smiled at Betushka, put her +arm about her, and as the music above their heads began to play, they +whirled round and round with flying feet. Again Betushka forgot the +spindle and the goats. Again she saw nothing but the beautiful maiden +whose body was lithe as a willow shoot. Again she heard nothing but +the enchanting music to which her feet danced of themselves. + +They danced from noon till sundown. Then the maiden paused and the +music ceased. Betushka looked around. The sun was already set behind +the woods. She clasped her hands to her head and looking down at the +unfilled spindle she burst into tears. + +"Oh, what will my mother say?" she cried. + +"Give me your little basket," the maiden said, "and I will put +something in it that will more than make up for today's stint." + +Betushka handed her the basket and the maiden took it and vanished. In +a moment she was back. She returned the basket and said: + + "_Look not inside until you're home! + Look not inside until you're home!_" + +As she said these words she was gone as if a wind had blown her away. + +Betushka wanted awfully to peep inside but she was afraid to. The +basket was so light that she wondered whether there was anything at +all in it. Was the lovely lady only fooling her? Halfway home she +peeped in to see. + +Imagine her feelings when she found the basket was full of birch +leaves! Then indeed did Betushka burst into tears and reproach herself +for being so simple. In her vexation she threw out a handful of leaves +and was going to empty the basket when she thought to herself: + +"No, I'll keep what's left as litter for the goats." + +She was almost afraid to go home. She was so quiet that again the +little goats wondered what ailed their shepherdess. + +Her mother was waiting for her in great excitement. + +"For heaven's sake, Betushka, what kind of a spool did you bring home +yesterday?" + +"Why?" Betushka faltered. + +"When you went away this morning I started to reel that yarn. I reeled +and reeled and the spool remained full. One skein, two skeins, three +skeins, and still the spool was full. 'What evil spirit has spun +that?' I cried out impatiently, and instantly the yarn disappeared +from the spindle as if blown away. Tell me, what does it mean?" + +So Betushka confessed and told her mother all she knew about the +beautiful maiden. + +"Oh," cried her mother in amazement, "that was a wood maiden! At noon +and midnight the wood maidens dance. It is well you are not a little +boy or she might have danced you to death! But they are often kind to +little girls and sometimes make them rich presents. Why didn't you +tell me? If I hadn't grumbled, I could have had yarn enough to fill +the house!" + +Betushka thought of the little basket and wondered if there might be +something under the leaves. She took out the spindle and unspun flax +and looked in once more. + +"Mother!" she cried. "Come here and see!" + +Her mother looked and clapped her hands. The birch leaves were all +turned to gold! + +Betushka reproached herself bitterly: "She told me not to look inside +until I got home, but I didn't obey." + +"It's lucky you didn't empty the whole basket," her mother said. + +The next morning she herself went to look for the handful of leaves +that Betushka had thrown away. She found them still lying in the road +but they were only birch leaves. + +But the riches which Betushka brought home were enough. Her mother +bought a farm with fields and cattle. Betushka had pretty clothes and +no longer had to pasture goats. + +But no matter what she did, no matter how cheerful and happy she was, +still nothing ever again gave her quite so much pleasure as the dance +with the wood maiden. She often went to the birch wood in the hope of +seeing the maiden again. But she never did. + + + + +THE GOLDEN SPINNING WHEEL + +THE STORY OF KING DOBROMIL AND THE GOOD DOBRUNKA + +[Illustration: {A spinning wheel}] + + +THE GOLDEN SPINNING WHEEL + +There was once a poor woman who had twin daughters. The girls were +exactly alike in face and feature but utterly different in +disposition. Dobrunka was kind, industrious, obedient, and everything +a good girl ought to be. Zloboha, her sister, was spiteful, +disobedient, lazy, and proud. In fact, she had just about as many +faults as a person could have. Yet strange to say the mother loved +Zloboha much better and made everything easy for her. + + [Illustration: _Alike in Feature but Utterly Different in + Disposition_] + +They lived in a cottage a few miles from town. The cottage stood by +itself in a little clearing in the woods. Hardly any one ever passed +it except occasionally some man who had lost his way in the woods. + +The mother put her favorite, Zloboha, out to service so that she might +learn city ways, but she kept Dobrunka at home to do the housework and +take care of the garden. Dobrunka always began the day by feeding the +goats, then she prepared the breakfast, swept the kitchen, and when +everything else was done she sat down at her spinning wheel and spun. + +She seldom benefited from the yarn she spun so carefully, for her +mother always sold it in town and spent the money on clothes for +Zloboha. Yet Dobrunka loved her mother although she never had a kind +word or a kind look from her the whole day long. She always obeyed her +mother instantly and without a frown and no one ever heard her +complain about all the work she had to do. + +One day when her mother was going to town Dobrunka went part of the +way with her, carrying her yarn wrapped up in a kerchief. + +"Now see that you're not lazy while I'm away," her mother said, +crossly. + +"You know, mother, you never have to nag at me. Today when I finish +the housework, I'll spin so industriously that you'll be more than +satisfied when you get home." + +She handed her yarn to her mother and went back to the cottage. Then +when she had put the kitchen in order, she sat down to her wheel and +began to spin. Dobrunka had a pretty voice, as pretty as any of the +song-birds in the forest, and always when she was alone she sang. So +today as she sat spinning she sang all the songs she knew, one after +the other. + +Suddenly she heard outside the trample of a horse. "Some one is +coming," she thought to herself, "someone who has lost his way in the +woods. I'll go see." + +She got up from her wheel and peeped out through the small window. A +young man was just dismounting from a spirited horse. + +"Oh," thought Dobrunka to herself, "what a handsome young lord he is! +How well his leather coat fits him! How well his cap with its white +feather looks on his black hair! Ah, he is tying his horse and is +coming in. I must slip back to my spinning." + +The next moment the young man opened the door and stepped into the +kitchen. All this happened a long time ago, you see, when there were +no locks or bars on the doors, and there didn't have to be because +nothing was ever stolen. + +"Good day to you, my girl," the young man said to Dobrunka. + +"Good day, sir," Dobrunka answered. "What is it, sir, you want?" + +"Will you please get me a little water. I'm very thirsty." + +"Certainly," Dobrunka said. "Won't you sit down while I'm getting it?" + +She ran off, got the pitcher, rinsed it out, and drew some fresh water +from the well. + +"I wish I could give you something better, sir." + +"Nothing could taste better than this," he said, handing her back the +empty pitcher. "See, I have taken it all." + +Dobrunka put the pitcher away and the young man, while her back was +turned, slipped a leather bag, full of money, into the bed. + +"I thank you for the drink," he said, as he rose to go. "I'll come +again tomorrow if you'll let me." + +"Come if you want to," Dobrunka said, modestly. + +He took her hand, held it a moment, then leaped upon his horse and +galloped off. + +Dobrunka sat down again to her wheel and tried to work, but her mind +wandered. The image of the young man kept rising before her eyes and I +have to confess that, for an expert spinner, she broke her thread +pretty often. + +Her mother came home in the evening full of praises of Zloboha, who, +she said, was growing prettier day by day. Everybody in town admired +her and she was fast learning city ways and city manners. It was +Zloboha this and Zloboha that for hours. + +Finally the old woman remarked: "They say there was a great hunting +party out today. Did you hear anything of it?" + +"Oh, yes," Dobrunka said. "I forgot to tell you that a young huntsman +stopped here to ask for a drink. He was handsomely dressed in leather. +You know once when I was in town with you we saw a whole company of +men in leather coats with white feathers in their caps. No doubt this +young man belonged to the hunting party. When he had his drink, he +jumped on his horse and rode off." + +Dobrunka forgot to mention that he had taken her hand in parting and +promised to come back next day. + +When Dobrunka was preparing the bed for the night, the bag of money +fell out. In great surprise she picked it up and handed it to her +mother. + +The old woman looked at her sharply. + +"Dobrunka, who gave you all this money?" + +"Nobody gave it to me, mother. Perhaps the huntsman slipped it into +the bed. I don't know where else it could have come from." + +The old woman emptied the bag on the table. They were all gold pieces. + +"Good heavens, so much!" she murmured in amazement. "He must be a very +rich young lord! Perhaps he saw how poor we were and thought to do a +kind deed. May God grant him happiness!" + +She gathered the money together and hid it in the chest. + +Usually when Dobrunka went to bed after her day's work she fell asleep +at once, but tonight she lay awake thinking of the handsome young +rider. When she did at last fall asleep it was to dream of him. He was +a powerful young lord, it seemed to her, in her dream. He lived in a +great palace and she, Dobrunka, was his wife. She thought that they +were giving a fine banquet to which all the nobles in the land had +been invited. She and her husband arose from the table and went +together into another room. He was about to put his arms about her and +embrace her when suddenly a black cat sprang between them and buried +its claws in Dobrunka's breast. Her heart's blood spurted out and +stained her white dress. She cried out in fright and pain and the cry +awoke her. + +"What a strange dream," she thought to herself. "I wonder what it +means. It began so beautifully but the cruel cat spoiled it all. I +fear it bodes something ill." + +In the morning when she got up, she was still thinking of it. + +On other mornings it didn't take Dobrunka long to dress but this +morning she was very slow. She shook out her fresh skirt again and +again. She had the greatest trouble in putting on her bodice just +right. She spent much time on her hair, into which she plaited the red +ribbon that she usually kept for holidays. When at last she was +dressed and ready to go about her household duties she looked very +fresh and sweet. + +As midday came, she found it hard to sit still at her wheel, but kept +jumping up on any pretext whatever to run outdoors a moment to see if +the young horseman was in sight. + +At last she did see him at a distance and, oh, how she hurried back to +her stool so that he would never think that she was watching for him. + +He rode into the yard, tied his horse, and came into the cottage. + +"Good day, Dobrunka," he said, speaking very gently and very +respectfully. + +Dobrunka's heart was beating so fast that she feared it would jump out +of her body. Her mother was in the woods gathering fagots, so she was +again alone with him. She managed to return his greeting and to ask +him to sit down. Then she went back to her spinning. + +The young man came over to her and took her hand. + +"How did you sleep, Dobrunka?" + +"Very well, sir." + +"Did you dream?" + +"Yes, I had a very strange dream." + +"Tell me about it. I can explain dreams very well." + +"But I can't tell this dream to you," Dobrunka said. + +"Why not?" + +"Because it's about you." + +"That's the very reason you ought to tell me," the young man said. + +He urged her and begged her until at last Dobrunka did tell him the +dream. + +"Well now," he said, "that dream of yours except the part about the +cat can be realized easily enough." + +Dobrunka laughed. "How could I ever become a fine lady?" + +"By marrying me," the young man said. + +Dobrunka blushed. "Now, sir, you are joking." + +"No, Dobrunka, this is no joke. I really mean it. I came back this +morning to ask you to marry me. Will you?" + +Dobrunka was too surprised to speak, but when the young man took her +hand she did not withdraw it. + +Just then the old woman came in. The young man greeted her and without +any delay declared his intentions. He said he loved Dobrunka and +wished to make her his wife and that all he and Dobrunka were waiting +for was the mother's consent. + +"I have my own house," he added, "and am well able to take care of a +wife. And for you too, dear mother, there will always be room in my +house and at my table." + +The old woman listened to all he had to say and then very promptly +gave her blessing. + +"Then, my dear one," the young man said to Dobrunka, "go back to your +spinning and when you have spun enough for your wedding shift, I shall +come for you." + +He kissed her, gave his hand to her mother, and, springing on his +horse, rode away. + +From that time the old woman treated Dobrunka more kindly. She even +went so far as to spend on Dobrunka a little of the money the young +man had given them, but most of it, of course, went for clothes for +Zloboha. + +But in those happy days Dobrunka wasn't worrying about anything as +unimportant as money. She sat at her wheel and spun away thinking all +the while of her fine young lover. Time sped quickly and before she +knew it she had spun enough for her wedding shift. + +The very day she was finished her lover came. She heard the trample of +his horse and ran out to meet him. + +"Have you spun enough for your wedding shift?" he asked her as he took +her to his heart. + +"Yes," Dobrunka said, "I have." + +"Then you can ride away with me this moment." + +"This moment!" Dobrunka gasped. "Why so quickly?" + +"It has to be, my dear one. Tomorrow I go off to war and want you to +take my place at home. Then when I come back you'll be there to greet +me as my wife." + +"But what will my mother say to this?" + +"She will have to consent." + +They went into the cottage and spoke to the old woman. She was far +from pleased with this arrangement, for she had worked out a very +different plan in her mind. But what could she do? A rich young +bridegroom always has his own way. So she hid her disappointment with +a false smile and gave them her blessing. + +Then the young man said to her: "Get your things together, mother, and +follow Dobrunka, for I don't want her to be lonely while I'm gone. +When you get to the city, go to the palace and ask for Dobromil. The +people there will tell you where to go." + +Dobrunka with tears streaming down her cheeks bid her mother good-by. +Dobromil lifted her to the saddle in front of him and away they went +like the wind. + +The town was in great excitement. There was much hurrying to and fro +as the troops were being put in readiness for the morrow. A crowd had +gathered at the palace gates and as a young man came galloping up, +holding in front of him a lady lovely as the day, the shout went up: + +"Here he is! Here he is!" + +The people in the courtyard took up the cry and as Dobromil rode +through the gate all of them with one voice shouted out: + +"Long live our beautiful queen! Long live our noble king!" + +Dobrunka was struck with amazement. + +"Are you really the king, Dobromil?" she asked, looking into his +proud and happy face. + +"Yes," he said. "Aren't you glad that I am?" + +"I love you," Dobrunka said, "and so whatever you are makes no +difference to me. But why did you deceive me?" + +"I did not deceive you. I told you that your dream would be realized +if you took me for your husband." + +In those early times marriage was a simple affair. When a man and +woman loved each other and their parents consented to their union, +they were looked upon as married. So Dobromil now was able to present +Dobrunka to his people as his wife. + +There was great rejoicing, music played, and there was feasting and +drinking in the banquet hall until dawn. The next day the young +husband kissed his lovely bride farewell and rode off to war. + +Left alone the young queen strayed through the magnificent palace like +a lost lamb. She would have felt more at home rambling through the +woods and awaiting the return of her husband in a little cottage than +here where she was a lonely stranger. Yet she was not a stranger long, +for within half a day she had won every heart by her sweetness and +goodness. + +The next day she sent for her mother and the old woman soon arrived +bringing with her Dobrunka's spinning wheel. So now there was no more +excuse for loneliness. + +Dobrunka supposed that her mother would be made very happy to find +what good fortune had befallen her daughter. The old woman pretended +she was, but in her heart she was furious that a king had married +Dobrunka and not Zloboha. + +After a few days she said, very artfully, to Dobrunka: "I know, my +dear daughter, that you think your sister, Zloboha, was not always +kind to you in times past. She's sorry now and I want you to forgive +her and invite her here to the palace." + +"I should have asked her before this," said Dobrunka, "but I didn't +suppose she wanted to come. If you wish it, we'll go for her at once." + +"Yes, dear daughter, I do wish it." + +So the queen ordered the carriage and off they went to fetch Zloboha. +When they came to the edge of the woods they alighted and ordered the +coachman to await them there. They went on afoot to the cottage where +Zloboha was expecting them. + +Zloboha came running out to meet them. She threw her arms about her +sister's neck and kissed her and wished her happiness. Then the +wicked sister and the wicked mother led poor unsuspecting Dobrunka +into the house. Once inside Zloboha took a knife that she had ready +and struck Dobrunka. Then they cut off Dobrunka's hands and feet, +gouged out her eyes, and hid her poor mutilated body in the woods. +Zloboha and her mother wrapped up the hands and the feet and the eyes +to carry them back with them to the palace because they believed that +it would be easier for them to deceive the king if they had with them +something that had belonged to Dobrunka. + +Then Zloboha put on Dobrunka's clothes and she and her mother rode +back to town in the carriage and nobody could tell that she wasn't +Dobrunka. In the palace the attendants soon whispered to each other +that their mistress was kinder to them at first, but they suspected +nothing. + +In the meantime poor Dobrunka, who was not quite dead, had been found +by a hermit and carried by him to a cave. She awoke to feel a kind +hand soothing her wounds and putting some reviving drops between her +lips. Of course, she could not see who it was, for she had no eyes. As +she regained consciousness she remembered what had happened and began +bitterly to upbraid her unnatural mother and her cruel sister. + +"Be quiet. Do not complain," a low voice said. "All will yet be well." + +"How can all be well," wept poor Dobrunka, "when I have no eyes and no +feet and no hands? I shall never again see the bright sun and the +green woods. I shall never again hold in my arms my beloved Dobromil. +Nor shall I be able to spin fine flax for his shirts! Oh, what did I +ever do to you, wicked mother, or to you, cruel sister, that you have +done this to me?" + +The hermit went to the entrance of the cave and called three times. +Soon a boy came running in answer to the call. + +"Wait here till I come back," the hermit said. + +He returned in a short time with a golden spinning wheel in his arms. +He said to the boy: + +"My son, take this spinning wheel to town to the king's palace. Sit +down in the courtyard near the gate and if any one asks you for how +much you will sell the wheel, say: 'For two eyes.' Unless you are +offered two eyes for it bring it back." + +The boy took the spinning wheel and carried it to town as the hermit +directed. He went to the palace and sat down in the courtyard near +the gate, just as Zloboha and her mother were returning from a walk. + +"Look, mother!" Zloboha cried. "What a gorgeous spinning wheel! I +could spin on that myself! Wait. I'll ask whether it's for sale." + +She went over to the boy and asked him would he sell the spinning +wheel. + +"Yes," he said, "if I get what I want." + +"What do you want?" + +"I want two eyes." + +"Two eyes?" + +"Yes, two eyes. My father told me to accept nothing for it but two +eyes. So I can't sell it for money." + +The longer Zloboha looked at the spinning wheel the more beautiful it +seemed to her and the more she wanted it. Suddenly she remembered +Dobrunka's eyes that she had hidden away. + +"Mother," she said, "as a queen I ought to have something no one else +has. When the king comes home he will want me to spin, and just think +how lovely I should look sitting at this golden wheel. Now we've got +those eyes of Dobrunka's. Let us exchange them for the golden spinning +wheel. We'll still have the hands and feet." + +The mother, who was as foolish as the daughter, agreed. So Zloboha +got the eyes and gave them to the boy for the spinning wheel. + +The boy hurried back to the forest and handed the eyes to the hermit. +The old man took them and gently put them into place. Instantly +Dobrunka could see. + +The first thing she saw was the old hermit himself with his tall spare +figure and long white beard. The last rays of the setting sun shone +through the opening of the cave and lighted up his grave and gentle +face. He looked to Dobrunka like one of God's own saints. + +"How can I ever repay you?" she said, "for all your loving kindness? +Oh, that I could cover your hands with kisses!" + +"Be quiet, my child," the old man said. "If you are patient all will +yet be well." + +He went out and soon returned with some delicious fruit on a wooden +plate. This he carried over to the bed of leaves and moss upon which +Dobrunka was lying and with his own hands he fed Dobrunka as a mother +would feed her helpless child. Then he gave her a drink from a wooden +cup. + +Early the next morning the hermit again called three times and the +boy came running at once. This time the hermit handed him a golden +distaff and said: + +"Take this distaff and go to the palace. Sit down in the courtyard +near the gate. If any one asks you what you want for the distaff, say +two feet and don't exchange it for anything else." + +Zloboha was standing at a window of the palace looking down into the +courtyard when she saw the boy with a golden distaff. + +"Mother!" she cried. "Come and see! There's that boy again sitting +near the gate and this time he has a golden distaff!" + +Mother and daughter at once went out to question the boy. + +"What do you want for the distaff?" Zloboha asked. + +"Two feet," the boy said. + +"Two feet?" + +"Yes, two feet." + +"Tell me, what will your father do with two feet?" + +"I don't know. I never ask my father what he does with anything. But +whatever he tells me to do, I do. That is why I can't exchange the +distaff for anything but two feet." + +"Listen, mother," Zloboha said, "now that I have a golden spinning +wheel, I ought to have a golden distaff to go with it. You know we +have those two feet of Dobrunka's hidden away. What if I gave them to +the boy? We shall still have Dobrunka's hands." + +"Well, do as you please," the old woman said. + +So Zloboha went and got Dobrunka's feet, wrapped them up, and gave +them to the boy in exchange for the distaff. Delighted with her +bargain, Zloboha went to her chamber and the boy hurried back to the +forest. + +He gave the feet to the hermit and the old man carried them at once +inside the cave. Then he rubbed Dobrunka's wounds with some healing +salve and stuck on the feet. Dobrunka wanted to jump up from the couch +and walk but the old man restrained her. + +"Lie quiet where you are until you are all well and then I'll let you +get up." + +Dobrunka knew that whatever the old hermit said was for her good, so +she rested as he ordered. + +On the third morning the hermit called the boy and gave him a golden +spindle. + +"Go to the palace again," he said, "and today offer this spindle for +sale. If any one asks you what you want for the spindle, say two +hands. Don't accept anything else." + +The boy took the golden spindle and when he reached the palace and +sat down in the courtyard near the gate, Zloboha ran up to him at +once. + +"What do you want for that spindle?" she asked. + +"Two hands," the boy said. + +"It's a strange thing you won't sell anything for money." + +"I have to ask what my father tells me to ask." + +Zloboha was in a quandary. She wanted the golden spindle, for it was +very beautiful. It would go well with the spinning wheel and would be +something to be proud of. Yet she didn't want to be left without +anything that had belonged to Dobrunka. + +"But really, mother," she whined, "I don't see why I have to keep +something of Dobrunka's so that Dobromil will love me as he loved her. +I'm sure I'm as pretty as Dobrunka ever was." + +"Well," said the old woman, "it would be better if you kept them. I've +often heard that's a good way to guard a man's love. However, do as +you like." + +For a moment Zloboha was undecided. Then, tossing her head, she ran +and got the hands and gave them to the boy. + +Zloboha took the spindle and, delighted with her bargain, carried it +into her chamber where she had the wheel and distaff. The old woman +was a little troubled, for she feared Zloboha had acted foolishly. +But Zloboha, confident of her beauty and her ability to charm the +king, only laughed at her. + +As soon as the boy had delivered the hands to the hermit, the old man +carried them into the cave. Then he anointed the wounds on Dobrunka's +arms with the same healing salve that he used before, and stuck on the +hands. + +As soon as Dobrunka could move them she jumped up from the couch and, +falling at the hermit's feet, she kissed the hands that had been so +good to her. + +"A thousand thanks to you, my benefactor!" she cried with tears of joy +in her eyes. "I can never repay you, I know that, but ask of me +anything I can do and I'll do it." + +"I ask nothing," the old man said, gently raising her to her feet. +"What I did for you I would do for any one. I only did my duty. So say +no more about it. And now, my child, farewell. You are to stay here +until some one comes for you. Have no concern for food. I shall send +you what you need." + +Dobrunka wanted to say something to him, but he disappeared and she +never saw him again. + +Now she was able to run out of the cave and look once more upon God's +green world. Now for the first time in her life she knew what it +meant to be strong and well. She threw herself on the ground and +kissed it. She hugged the slender birches and danced around them, +simply bursting with love for every living thing. She reached out +longing hands towards the town and would probably have gone there +running all the distance but she remembered the words of the old +hermit and knew that she must stay where she was. + +Meanwhile strange things were happening at the palace. Messengers +brought word that the king was returning from war and there was great +rejoicing on every side. The king's own household was particularly +happy, for service under the new mistress was growing more unpleasant +every day. As for Zloboha and her mother, it must be confessed that +they were a little frightened over the outcome of their plot. + +Finally the king arrived. Zloboha with smiling face went to meet him. +He took her to his heart with great tenderness and from that moment +Zloboha had no fear that he would recognize her. + +A great feast was at once prepared, for the king had brought home with +him many of his nobles to rest and make merry after the hardships of +war. + +Zloboha as she sat at Dobromil's side could not take her eyes off him. +The handsome young soldier caught her fancy and she was rejoiced that +she had put Dobrunka out of the way. + +When they finished feasting, Dobromil asked her: "What have you been +doing all this time, my dear Dobrunka? I'm sure you've been spinning." + +"That's true, my dear husband," Zloboha said in a flattering tone. "My +old spinning wheel got broken, so I bought a new one, a lovely golden +one." + +"You must show me it at once," the king said, and he took Zloboha's +arm and led her away. + +He went with her to her chamber where she had the golden spinning +wheel and she took it out and showed it to him. Dobromil admired it +greatly. + +"Sit down, Dobrunka," he said, "and spin. I should like to see you +again at the distaff." + +Zloboha at once sat down behind the wheel. She put her foot to the +treadle and started the wheel. Instantly the wheel sang out and this +is what it sang: + + "_Master, master, don't believe her! + She's a cruel and base deceiver! + She is not your own sweet wife! + She destroyed Dobrunka's life!_" + +Zloboha sat stunned and motionless while the king looked wildly about +to see where the song came from. + +When he could see nothing, he told her to spin some more. Trembling, +she obeyed. Hardly had she put her foot to the treadle when the voice +again sang out: + + "_Master, master, don't believe her! + She's a cruel and base deceiver! + She has killed her sister good + And hid her body in the wood!_" + +Beside herself with fright, Zloboha wanted to flee the spinning wheel, +but Dobromil restrained her. Suddenly her face grew so hideous with +fear that Dobromil saw she was not his own gentle Dobrunka. With a +rough hand he forced her back to the stool and in a stern voice +ordered her to spin. + +Again she turned the fatal wheel and then for the third time the voice +sang out: + + "_Master, master, haste away! + To the wood without delay! + In a cave your wife, restored, + Yearns for you, her own true lord!_" + +At those words Dobromil released Zloboha and ran like mad out of the +chamber and down into the courtyard where he ordered his swiftest +horse to be saddled instantly. The attendants, frightened by his +appearance, lost no time and almost at once Dobromil was on his horse +and flying over hill and dale so fast that the horse's hoofs scarcely +touched the earth. + +When he reached the forest he did not know where to look for the cave. +He rode straight into the wood until a white doe crossed his path. +Then the horse in fright plunged to one side and pushed through bushes +and undergrowth to the base of a big rock. Dobromil dismounted and +tied the horse to a tree. + +He climbed the rock and there he saw something white gleaming among +the trees. He crept forward cautiously and suddenly found himself in +front of a cave. Imagine then his joy, when he enters and finds his +own dear wife Dobrunka. + +As he kisses her and looks into her sweet gentle face he says: "Where +were my eyes that I was deceived for an instant by your wicked +sister?" + +"What have you heard about my sister?" asked Dobrunka, who as yet knew +nothing of the magic spinning wheel. + +So the king told her all that had happened and she in turn told him +what had befallen her. + +"And from the time the hermit disappeared," she said in conclusion, +"the little boy has brought me food every day." + +They sat down on the grass and together they ate some fruit from the +wooden plate. When they rose to go they took the wooden plate and the +cup away with them as keepsakes. + +Dobromil seated his wife in front of him on the horse and sped +homewards with her. All his people were at the palace gate waiting to +tell him what had happened in his absence. + +It seems that the devil himself had come and before their very eyes +had carried off his wife and mother-in-law. They looked at each other +in amazement as Dobromil rode up with what seemed to be the same wife +whom the devil had so recently carried off. + +Dobromil explained to them what had happened and with one voice they +called down punishment on the head of the wicked sister. + +The golden spinning wheel had vanished. So Dobrunka hunted out her old +one and set to work at once to spin for her husband's shirts. No one +in the kingdom had such fine shirts as Dobromil and no one was +happier. + + + + +THE GOLDEN GODMOTHER + +THE STORY OF POOR LUKAS + +[Illustration: {A baby in a crib}] + + +THE GOLDEN GODMOTHER + +There was once a wealthy farmer named Lukas who was so careless in the +management of his affairs that there came a time when all his property +was gone and he had nothing left but one old tumble-down cottage. Then +when it was too late he realized how foolish he had been. + +He had always prayed for a child but during the years of his +prosperity God had never heard him. Now when he was so poor that he +had nothing to eat, his wife gave birth to a little daughter. He +looked at the poor unwelcome little stranger and sighed, for he didn't +know how he was going to take care of it. + +The first thing to be thought about was the christening. Lukas went to +the wife of a laborer who lived nearby and asked her to be godmother. +She refused because she didn't see that it would do her any good to be +godmother to a child of a man as poor as Lukas. + +"You see, Lukas, what happens to a man who has wasted his property," +his wife said. "While we were rich the burgomaster himself was our +friend, but now even that poverty-stricken woman won't raise a finger +to help us.... See how the poor infant shivers, for I haven't even any +old rags in which to wrap it! And it has to lie on the bare straw! God +have mercy on us, how poor we are!" So she wept over the baby, +covering it with tears and kisses. + +Suddenly a happy thought came to her. She wiped away her tears and +said to her husband: + +"I beg you, Lukas, go to our old neighbor, the burgomaster's wife. She +is wealthy. I'm sure she hasn't forgotten that I was godmother to her +child. Go and ask her if she will be godmother to mine." + +"I don't think she will," Lukas answered, "but I'll ask her." + +With a heavy heart he went by the fields and the barns that had once +been his own and entered the house of his old friend, the burgomaster. + +"God bless you, neighbor," he said to the burgomaster's wife. "My wife +sends her greeting and bids me tell you that God has given us a little +daughter whom she wants you to hold at the christening." + +The burgomaster's wife looked at him and laughed in his face. + +"My dear Lukas, of course I should like to do this for you, but times +are hard. Nowadays a person needs every penny and it would take a good +deal to help such poor beggars as you. Why don't you ask some one +else? Why have you picked me out?" + +"Because my wife was godmother to your child." + +"Oh, that's it, is it? What you did for me at that time was a loan, +was it? And now you want me to give you back as much as you gave me, +eh? I'll do no such thing! If I were as generous as you used to be, +I'd soon go the way you have gone. No! I shall not walk one step +toward that christening!" + +Without answering her, Lukas turned and went home in tears. + +"You see, dear wife," he said when he got there, "it turned out as I +knew it would. But don't be discouraged, for God never entirely +forsakes any one. Give me the child and I myself will carry it to the +christening and the first person I meet I shall take for godmother." + +Weeping all the while, the wife wrapped the baby in a piece of old +skirt and placed it in her husband's arms. + +On the way to the chapel, Lukas came to a crossroads where he met an +old woman. + +"Grandmother," he said, "will you be godmother to my child?" And he +explained to her how every one else had refused on account of his +poverty and how in desperation he had decided to ask the first person +he met. "And so, dear grandmother," he concluded, "I am asking you." + +"Of course I'll be godmother," the old woman said. "Here, give me the +dear wee thing!" + +So Lukas gave her the child and together they went on to the chapel. + +As they arrived the priest was just ready to leave. The sexton hurried +up to him and whispered that a christening party was coming. + +"Who is it?" he asked, impatiently. + +"Oh, it's only that good-for-nothing of a Lukas who is poorer than a +church mouse." + +The godmother saw that the sexton was whispering something unfriendly, +so she pulled out a shining ducat from her pocket, stepped up to the +priest, and pressed it into his hand. + +The priest blinked his eyes in amazement, looking first at the ducat +and then at the shabby old woman who had given it. He stuffed the +ducat into his pocket, whispered hurriedly to the sexton to bring him +the font, and then christened the child of poor Lukas with as much +ceremony as the child of the richest townsman. The little girl +received the name Marishka. + +After the christening the priest accompanied the godmother to the door +of the chapel and the sexton went even farther until he, too, received +the reward for which he was hoping. + +When Lukas and the old woman came to the crossroads where they had +met, she handed him the child. Then she reached into her pocket, drew +out another golden ducat which she stuck into a fold of the child's +clothes, and said: "From this ducat with which I endow my godchild, +you will have enough to bring her up properly. She will always be a +joy and a comfort to you, and when she grows up she will make a happy +marriage. Now good-by." + +She drew a green wand from her bosom and touched the earth. Instantly +a lovely rosebush appeared, covered with blooms. At the same moment +the old woman vanished. + +In bewilderment Lukas looked this way and that but she was gone. He +was so surprised that he didn't know what had happened. I really think +he would be standing on that same spot to this day if little Marishka +had not begun to cry and by this reminded him of home. + +His wife, meantime, was anxiously awaiting him. She, poor soul, was +suffering the pangs of hunger, thirst, and bodily pain. There wasn't a +mouthful of bread in the house, nor a cent of money. + +As Lukas entered the room, he said: "Weep no more, dear wife. Here is +your little Marishka. But before you kiss the child, take out the +christening gift that you will find tucked away in her clothes. From +it you will know what an excellent godmother she has." + +The wife reached into the clothes and pulled out not one ducat but a +whole handful of ducats! + +"Oh!" she gasped and in her surprise she dropped the ducats and they +rolled about in the straw that littered the wretched floor. + +"Husband! Husband! Who gave you so much money? Just look!" + +"I have already looked and at first when I saw them I was more +surprised than you are. Now let me tell you where they come from." + +So Lukas related to his wife all that had happened at the christening. +In conclusion he said: "When I saw the old woman was really gone, I +started home. On the way curiosity overcame me and I drew out the +christening present and instead of one ducat I found a handful. I can +tell you I was surprised but instead of letting them drop on the +ground I let them slip back into the baby's clothes. I said to myself: +'Let your wife also have the pleasure of pulling out those golden +horses.' And now, dear wife, leave off exclaiming. Give thanks to God +for that which he has bestowed upon us and help me gather up the +golden darlings, for we don't want any one coming in and spying on us +just now." + +As they began picking them up, they had a new surprise. Wherever there +was one ducat, there they found ten! When they got them all together +they made a fine big heap. + +"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" said the woman as she gazed at the pile. "Who +knows whether this money will be blessed to our use? Perhaps that old +woman was an evil spirit who just wants to buy our souls!" + +Lukas looked at his wife reprovingly. "How can you be so foolish? Do +you suppose an evil spirit would have gone with me to church, allowed +herself to be sprinkled with holy water, yes, and even herself make +the sign of the cross! Never! I don't say that she is just an ordinary +human being, but I do say that she must be a good spirit whom God has +sent to us to help us. I'm sure we can keep this money with a clear +conscience. The first question is where to hide it so that no one can +find it. For the present I shall put it into the chest, but tomorrow +night I shall bury it under the pear tree. And one thing, wife, I warn +you: don't say anything about it to any one. I shall take one ducat +and go to the burgomaster's wife and ask her to change it. Then I +shall go buy some milk and eggs and bread and flour, and I'll bring +back a woman with me who will make us a fine supper. Tomorrow I'll go +to town and buy some clothes and feather beds. After that what else +shall I buy? Can you guess?" + +"The best thing to do would be to buy back our old property--the +house, the fields, and the live stock, and then manage it more wisely +than before." + +"You're right, wife, that's just what I'll do. And I will manage +prudently this time! I have learned my lesson, I can tell you, for +poverty is a good teacher." + +When Lukas had hidden the money in the chest and turned the key, he +took one ducat and went out to make his purchases. While he was gone +his wife spent the time nursing the child and weaving happy dreams +that now, she was sure, would come to pass. + +After a short hour the door opened and Lukas and a red-cheeked maid +entered. The maid carried a great pail of foaming milk. Lukas followed +her with a basket of eggs in one hand and on top of the eggs two big +round brown cakes, and in the other hand a load of feather beds tied +in a knot. + +"God be with you!" said the maid, placing the milk pail on the bench. +"My mistress, the burgomaster's wife, greets you and sends you some +milk for pudding. If there is anything else you need you are to let +her know." The maid curtsied and went away before the poor woman could +express her thanks. + +Lukas laughed and said: "You see, wife, what just one ducat did! If +they knew how many more we had they would carry us about in their +arms! The burgomaster's wife has sent us all these things. She is +lending us feather beds until tomorrow and she is going to send us an +old woman to help us out. I told her our child had received a handful +of ducats as a christening gift. If she comes here to see you, make up +your mind what you're going to say." + +Then Lukas built a fire. Presently the old woman came and soon good +hot soup was ready. It was just plain milk soup, but I can tell you it +tasted better to hungry Lukas and his wife than the rich food which +the king himself ate that day from a golden platter. + +The next day after breakfast Lukas set out for town. The +burgomaster's wife took advantage of his absence to visit his wife and +find out what she could about the money. + +"My dear neighbor," she said, after she had made the necessary +inquiries about health, "the blessing of God came into your house with +that child." + +"Oh," said the other, "if you mean the christening gift, it isn't so +very much. A handful of ducats soon roll away. However, may God repay +that good woman, the godmother. At least we can now buy back our old +farm and live like respectable people." + +On the way home the burgomaster's wife stopped at the houses of her +various friends and gave them a full account of Lukas' wealth. Before +noon every small boy in the village knew that at Lukas' house they had +a hogshead of ducats. + +In the evening Lukas came back from town driving a cart that was piled +high with furniture and clothing and feather beds and food. The next +day he bought back his old farm with the cattle and the implements. + +This marked the beginning of a new life for Lukas. He set to work with +industry and put into practice all the lessons that poverty had taught +him. + +He and his wife lived happily. Their greatest joy was Marishka, a +little girl so charming and so pretty that every one loved her on +sight. + +"Dear neighbor," all the old women used to say to the child's mother, +"that girl of yours will never grow up. She's far too wise for her +years!" + +But Marishka did very well. She grew up into a beautiful young woman +and one day a prince saw her, fell in love with her, and married her. +So the old godmother's prophecy that Marishka would make a happy +marriage was fulfilled. + + + + +THE GOLDEN DUCK + +THE STORY OF PRINCE RADUZ AND THE FAITHFUL LUDMILA + +[Illustration: {A duck}] + + +THE GOLDEN DUCK + +Once upon a time there was a king who had four sons. One day the queen +said to him: + +"It is time that one of our boys went out into the world to make his +fortune." + +"I have been thinking that very same thing," the king said. "Let us +get ready Raduz, our youngest, and send him off with God's blessing." + +Preparations were at once made and in a few days Raduz bid his parents +farewell and set forth. + +He traveled many days and many nights over desert plains and through +dense forests until he came to a high mountain. Halfway up the +mountain he found a house. + +"I'll stop here," he thought to himself, "and see if they'll take me +into service." + +Now this house was occupied by three people: old Yezibaba, who was a +bad old witch; her husband, who was a wizard but not so bad as +Yezibaba; and their daughter, Ludmila, the sweetest, kindest girl +that two wicked parents ever had. + +"Good day to you all," Raduz said, as he stepped into the house and +bowed. + +"The same to you," old Yezibaba answered. "What brings you here?" + +"I'm looking for work and I thought you might have something for me to +do." + +"What can you do?" Yezibaba asked. + +"I'll do anything you set me to. I'm trustworthy and industrious." + +Yezibaba didn't want to take him, but the old man wanted him and in +the end Yezibaba with very ill grace consented to give him a trial. + +He rested that night and early next morning presented himself to the +old witch and said: + +"What work am I to do today, mistress?" + +Yezibaba looked him over from head to foot. Then she took him to a +window and said: "What do you see out there?" + +"I see a rocky hillside." + +"Good. Go to that rocky hillside, cultivate it, plant it in trees that +will grow, blossom, and bear fruit tonight. Tomorrow morning bring me +the ripe fruit. Here is a wooden hoe with which to work." + +"Alas," thought Raduz to himself, "did ever a man have such a task as +this? What can I do on that rocky hillside with a wooden hoe? How can +I finish my task in so short a time?" + +He started to work but he hadn't struck three blows with the wooden +hoe before it broke. In despair he tossed it aside and sat down under +a beech tree. + +In the meantime wicked old Yezibaba had cooked a disgusting mess of +toads which she told Ludmila to carry out to the serving man for his +dinner. Ludmila was sorry for the poor young man who had fallen into +her mother's clutches and she said to herself: "What has he done to +deserve such unkind treatment? I won't let him eat this nasty mess. +I'll share my own dinner with him." + +She waited until her mother was out of the room, then she took +Yezibaba's magic wand and hid it under her apron. After that she +hurried out to Raduz, whom she found sitting under the beech tree with +his face in his hands. + +"Don't be discouraged," she said to him. "It is true your mistress +cooked you a mess of toads for your dinner but, see, I have thrown +them away and have brought you my own dinner instead. As for your +task," she continued, "I will help you with that. Here is my mother's +magic wand. I have but to strike the rocky hillside and by tomorrow +the trees that my mother has ordered will spring up, blossom, and bear +fruit." + +Ludmila did as she promised. She struck the ground with the magic wand +and instantly instead of the rocky hillside there appeared an orchard +with rows on rows of trees that blossomed and bore fruit as you +watched them. + +Raduz looked from Ludmila to the orchard and couldn't find words with +which to express his surprise and gratitude. Then Ludmila spread out +her dinner and together they ate it, laughing merrily and talking. +Raduz would have kept Ludmila all the afternoon but she remembered +that Yezibaba was waiting for her and she hurried away. + +The next morning Raduz presented Yezibaba a basket of ripe fruit. She +sniffed it suspiciously and then very grudgingly acknowledged that he +had accomplished his task. + +"What am I to do today?" Raduz asked. + +Yezibaba led him to a second window and asked him what he saw there. + +"I see a rocky ravine covered with brambles," he said. + +"Right. Go now and clear away the brambles, dig up the ravine, and +plant it in grape vines. Tomorrow morning bring me the ripe grapes. +Here is another wooden hoe with which to work." + +Raduz took the hoe and set to work manfully. At the first blow the hoe +broke into three pieces. + +"Alas," he thought, "what is going to happen to me now? Unless Ludmila +helps me again, I am lost." + +At home Yezibaba was busy cooking a mess of serpents. When noonday +came she said to Ludmila: "Here, my child, is dinner for the serving +man. Take it out to him." + +Ludmila took the nasty mess and, as on the day before, threw it away. +Then again hiding Yezibaba's wand under her apron, she went to Raduz, +carrying in her hands her own dinner. + +Raduz saw her coming and at once his heart grew light and he thought +to himself how kind Ludmila was and how beautiful. + +"I have been sitting here idle," he told her, "for at the first blow +my hoe broke. Unless you help me, I don't know what I shall do." + +"Don't worry," Ludmila said. "It is true your mistress sent you a mess +of serpents for your dinner, but I threw them out and have brought you +my own dinner instead. And I've brought the magic wand, too, so it +will be easy enough to plant a vineyard that will produce ripe grapes +by tomorrow morning." + +They ate together and after dinner Ludmila took the wand and struck +the earth. At once a vineyard appeared and, as they watched, the vines +blossomed and the blooms turned to grapes. + +It was harder than before for Raduz to let Ludmila go, for he wanted +to keep on talking to her forever, but she remembered that Yezibaba +was waiting for her and she hurried away. + +The next morning when Raduz presented a basket of ripe grapes, old +Yezibaba could scarcely believe her eyes. She sniffed the grapes +suspiciously and then very grudgingly acknowledged that he had +accomplished his second task. + +"What am I to do today?" Raduz asked. + +Yezibaba led him to a third window and told him to look out and tell +her what he saw. + +"I see a great rocky cliff." + +"Right," she said. "Go now to that cliff and grind me flour out of the +rocks and from the flour bake me bread. Tomorrow morning bring me the +fresh loaves. Today you shall have no tools of any kind. Go now and do +this task or suffer the consequences." + +As Raduz started off, Yezibaba looked after him and shook her head +suspiciously. + +"I don't understand this," she said to her husband. "He could never +have done these two tasks alone. Do you suppose Ludmila has been +helping him? I'll punish her if she has!" + +"Shame on you," the old man said, "to talk so of your own daughter! +Ludmila is a good girl and has always been loyal and obedient." + +"I hope so," Yezibaba said, "but just the same I think I myself will +carry him out his dinner today." + +"Nonsense, old woman! You'll do no such thing! You're always smelling +a rat somewhere! Let the boy alone and don't go nagging at Ludmila +either!" + +So Yezibaba said no more. This time she cooked a mess of lizards for +Raduz' dinner. + +"Here, Ludmila," she said, "carry this out to the young man. But see +that you don't talk to him. And hurry back." + +Poor Raduz had been pounding stones one on another as well as he +could, but he hadn't been able to grind any of them into flour. As +noonday approached he kept looking up anxiously to see whether +beautiful Ludmila was again coming to help him. + +"Here I am," she called while she was yet some distance away. "You +were to have lizard stew today but, see, I am bringing you my own +dinner!" + +Then she told him what she had heard Yezibaba say to her father. + +"Today she almost brought you your dinner herself, for she suspects +that I have been helping you. If she knew that I really had she would +kill you." + +"Dear Ludmila," Raduz said, "I know very well that without you I am +lost! How can I ever thank you for all you have done for me?" + +Ludmila said she didn't want thanks. She was helping Raduz because she +was sorry for him and loved him. + +Then she took Yezibaba's wand and struck the rocky cliff. At once, +instead of the bare rock, there were sacks of grain and a millstone +that worked merrily away grinding out fine flour. As you watched, the +flour was kneaded up into loaves and then, pop went the loaves into a +hot oven and soon the air was sweet with the smell of baking bread. + +Raduz begged Ludmila to stay and talk to him, but she remembered that +the old witch was waiting for her and she hurried home. + +The next morning Raduz carried the baked loaves to Yezibaba. She +sniffed at them suspiciously and then her wicked heart nearly cracked +with bitterness to think that Raduz had accomplished his third task. +But she hid her disappointment and pretending to smile, she said: + +"I see, my dear boy, that you have been able to do all the tasks that +I have set you. This is enough for the present. Today you may rest." + +That night the old witch hatched the plot of boiling Raduz alive. She +had him fill a big cauldron with water and put it on the fire. Then +she said to her husband: + +"Now, old man, I'm going to take a nap but when the water boils wake +me up." + +As soon as Yezibaba was asleep Ludmila gave the old man strong wine +until he, too, fell asleep. Then she called Raduz and told him what +Yezibaba was planning to do. + +"You must escape while you can," she said, "for if you are here +tomorrow you will surely be thrown into the boiling cauldron." + +But Raduz had fallen too deeply in love with Ludmila to leave her and +now he declared that he would never go unless she went with him. + +"Very well," Ludmila said, "I will go with you if you swear you will +never forget me." + +"Forget you? How could I forget you," Raduz said, "when I wouldn't +give you up for the whole world!" + +So Raduz took a solemn oath and they made ready to flee. Ludmila threw +down her kerchief in one corner of the house and Raduz' cap in +another. Then she took Yezibaba's wand and off they started. + +The next morning when the old man awoke, he called out: "Hi, there, +boy! Are you still asleep?" + +"No, I'm not asleep," answered Raduz' cap. "I'm just stretching." + +Presently the old man called out again: "Here, boy, hand me my +clothes." + +"In a minute," the cap answered. "Just wait till I put on my +slippers." + +Then old Yezibaba awoke. "Ludmila!" she cried. "Get up, you lazy girl, +and hand me my skirt and bodice." + +"In a minute! In a minute!" the kerchief answered. + +"What's the matter?" Yezibaba scolded. "Why are you so long dressing?" + +"Just one more minute!" the kerchief said. + +But Yezibaba, who was an impatient old witch, sat up in bed and then +she could see that Ludmila's bed was empty. That threw her into a +fine rage and she called out to her husband: + +"Now, old man, what have you got to say? As sure as I'm alive that +good-for-nothing boy is gone and that precious daughter of yours has +gone with him!" + +"No, no," the old man said. "I don't think so." + +Then they both got up and sure enough neither Raduz nor Ludmila was to +be found. + +"What do you think now, you old booby!" Yezibaba shouted. "A mighty +good and loyal and obedient girl that daughter of yours is! But why do +you stand there all day? Mount the black steed and fly after them and +when you overtake them bring them back to me and I'll punish them +properly!" + +In the meantime Raduz and Ludmila were fleeing as fast as they could. + +Suddenly Ludmila said: "Oh, how my left cheek burns! I wonder what it +means? Look back, dear Raduz, and see if there is any one following +us." + +Raduz turned and looked. "There's nothing following us," he said, "but +a black cloud in the sky." + +"A black cloud? That's the old man on the black horse that rides on +the clouds. Quick! We must be ready for him!" + +Ludmila struck the ground with Yezibaba's wand and changed it into a +field. She turned herself into the growing rye and made Raduz the +reaper who was cutting the rye. Then she instructed him how to answer +the old man with cunning. + +The black cloud descended upon them with thunder and a shower of +hailstones that beat down the growing rye. + +"Take care!" Raduz cried. "You're trampling my rye! Leave some of it +for me." + +"Very well," the old man said, alighting from his steed, "I'll leave +some of it for you. But tell me, reaper, have you seen anything of two +young people passing this way?" + +"Not a soul has passed while I've been reaping, but I do remember that +while I was planting this field two such people did pass." + +The old man shook his head, mounted his steed, and flew home again on +the black cloud. + +"Well, old wiseacre," said Yezibaba, "what brings you back so soon?" + +"No use my going on," the old man said. "The only person I saw was a +reaper in a field of rye." + +"You booby!" cried Yezibaba, "not to know that Raduz was the reaper +and Ludmila the rye! How they fooled you! And didn't you bring me back +just one stalk of rye? Go after them again and this time don't let +them fool you!" + +In the meantime Raduz and Ludmila were hurrying on. Suddenly Ludmila +said: + +"I wonder why my left cheek burns? Look back, dear Raduz, and see if +there is any one following us." + +Raduz turned and looked. "There's nothing following us but a gray +cloud in the sky." + +"A gray cloud? That's the old man on the gray horse that rides on the +clouds. But don't be afraid. Only have ready a cunning answer." + +Ludmila struck her hat with the wand and changed it into a chapel. +Herself she changed into a fly that attracted a host of other flies. +She changed Raduz into a hermit. All the flies flew into the chapel +and Raduz began preaching to them. + +Suddenly the gray cloud descended on the chapel with a flurry of snow +and such cold that the shingles of the roof crackled. + +The old man alighted from the gray steed and entered the chapel. + +"Hermit," he said to Raduz, "have you seen two travelers go by here, a +girl and a youth?" + +"As long as I've been preaching here," Raduz said, "I've had only +flies for a congregation. But I do remember that while the chapel was +building two such people did go by. But now I must beg you, good sir, +to go out, for you are letting in so much cold that my congregation is +freezing." + +At that the old man mounted his steed and flew back home on the gray +cloud. + +Old Yezibaba was waiting for him. When she saw him coming she called +out: + +"Again you bring no one, you good-for-nothing! Where did you leave +them this time?" + +"Where did I leave them?" the old man said. "How could I leave them +when I didn't even see them? All I saw was a little chapel and a +hermit preaching to a congregation of flies. I almost froze the +congregation to death!" + +"Oh, what a booby you are!" Yezibaba cried. "Raduz was the hermit and +Ludmila one of the flies! Why didn't you bring me just one shingle +from the roof of the chapel? I see I'll have to go after them myself!" + +In a rage she mounted the third magic steed and flew off. + +In the meantime Raduz and Ludmila were hurrying on. Suddenly Ludmila +said: + +"I wonder why my left cheek burns? Look back, dear Raduz, again, and +see if there is any one following us." + +Raduz turned and looked. "There's nothing following us but a red cloud +in the sky." + +"A red cloud? That must be Yezibaba herself on the steed of fire. Now +indeed we must be careful. Up to this it has been easy enough but it +won't be easy to deceive her. Here we are beside a lake. I will change +myself into a golden duck and float on the water. Do you dive into the +water so that she can't burn you. When she alights and tries to catch +me, do you jump up and get the horse by the bridle. Don't be afraid at +what will happen." + +The fiery cloud descended, burning up everything it touched. At the +edge of the water Yezibaba alighted from her steed and tried to catch +the golden duck. The duck fluttered on and on just out of her reach +and Yezibaba went farther and farther from her horse. + +Then Raduz leaped out of the water and caught the horse by its bridle. +At once the duck rose on its wings and flew to Raduz and became again +Ludmila. Together they mounted the fiery steed and flew off over the +lake. + +Yezibaba, helpless with rage and dismay, called after them a bitter +curse: + +"If you, Raduz, are kissed by woman before you wed Ludmila, then will +you forget Ludmila! And you, ungrateful girl, if once Raduz forgets +you then he shall not remember you again until seven long years have +come and gone!" + +Raduz and Ludmila rode on and on until they neared Raduz' native city. +There they met a man of whom Raduz asked the news. + +"News indeed!" the man said. "The king and his three older sons are +dead. Only the queen is alive and she cries night and day for her +youngest son who went out into the world and has never been heard of +since. The whole city is in an uproar as to who shall be the new +king." + +When Raduz heard this he said to Ludmila: "Do you, my dear Ludmila, +wait for me here outside the city while I go quickly to the palace and +let it be known that I am alive and am returned. It would not be +fitting to present you to my mother, the queen, in those ragged +clothes. As soon as I am made king I shall come for you, bringing you +a beautiful dress." + +Ludmila agreed to this and Raduz left her and hurried to the castle. +His mother recognized him at once and ran with open arms to greet him. +She wanted to kiss him but he wouldn't let her. The news of his +return flew abroad and he was immediately proclaimed king. A great +feast was spread and all the people ate and drank and made merry. + +Fatigued with his journey and with the excitement of his return, Raduz +lay down to rest. While he slept his mother came in and kissed him on +both cheeks. Instantly Yezibaba's curse was fulfilled and all memory +of Ludmila left him. + +Poor Ludmila waited for his return but he never came. Then she knew +what must have happened. Heartbroken and lonely she found a spot near +a farmhouse that commanded a view of the castle, and she stood there +day after day hoping to see Raduz. She stood there so long that +finally she took root and grew up into a poplar tree that was so +beautiful that soon throughout the countryside people began talking +about it. Every one admired it but the young king. He when he looked +at it always felt unhappy and he supposed this was because it +obstructed the view from his window. At last he ordered it to be cut +down. + +The farmer near whose house it stood begged hard to have it saved, but +the king was firm. + +Shortly after the poplar was cut down there grew up under the king's +very window a pretty little pear tree that bore golden pears. It was a +wonderful little tree. No matter how many pears you picked in the +evening, by the next morning the tree would again be full. + +The king loved the little tree and was forever talking about it. The +old queen, on the other hand, disliked it. + +"I wish that tree would die," she used to say. "There's something +strange about it that makes me nervous." + +The king begged her to leave the tree alone but she worried and +complained and nagged until at last for his own peace of mind he had +the poor little pear tree cut down. + +The seven years of Yezibaba's curse at last ran out. Then Ludmila +changed herself again into a little golden duck and went swimming +about on the lake that was under the king's window. + +Suddenly the king began to remember that he had seen that duck before. +He ordered it to be caught and brought to him. But none of his people +could catch it. Then he called together all the fishermen and +birdcatchers in the country but none of them could catch the strange +duck. + +The days went by and the king's mind was more and more engrossed with +the thought of the golden duck. "If no one can catch it for me," he +said at last, "I must try to catch it myself." + +So he went to the lake and reached out his hand after the golden duck. +The duck led him on and on but at last she allowed herself to be +caught. As soon as she was in his hand she changed to herself and +Raduz recognized her as his own beautiful Ludmila. + +She said to him: "I have been true to you but you have forgotten me +all these years. Yet I forgive you, for it was not your fault." + +In Raduz' heart his old love returned a hundredfold and he was +overjoyed to lead Ludmila to the castle. He presented her to his +mother and said: + +"This is she who saved my life many times. She and no one else will be +my wife." + +A great wedding feast was prepared and so at last Raduz married the +faithful Ludmila. + + + + +THE STORY THAT NEVER ENDS + +[Illustration: {A ram}] + + +THE STORY THAT NEVER ENDS + +(_To be told very seriously_) + +Once upon a time there was a shepherd who had a great flock of sheep. +He used to pasture them in a meadow on the other side of a brook. One +day the sun had already set before he started home. Recent rains had +swollen the brook so that he and the sheep had to cross on a little +footbridge. The bridge was so narrow that the sheep had to pass over +one by one. + +Now we'll wait until he drives them all over. Then I'll go on with my +story. + +(_When the children grow impatient and beg for a continuation of the +story, they are told that there are many sheep and that up to this +time only a few have crossed. A little later when their impatience +again breaks out, they are told that the sheep are still crossing. And +so on indefinitely. In conclusion:_) + +In fact there were so many sheep that when morning came they were +still crossing, and then it was time for the shepherd to turn around +and drive them back again to pasture! + +[Illustration: {A dragon flies past a castle}] + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +Minor printer errors have been repaired. + +The frontispiece illustration has been moved to follow the title page. +Other illustrations have been moved where necessary so that they are +not in the middle of a paragraph. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Czechoslovak Fairy Tales, by Parker Fillmore + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CZECHOSLOVAK FAIRY TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 32217.txt or 32217.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/1/32217/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Sam W. and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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