Russian Fairy Tales (Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library)

by Afanas'Ev, Aleksandr

  Next morning her mother asked her: “Well, Marusia, did you see that young man?” “I did, mother,” she answered, but she did not tell her mother all that she had seen. When evening came, Marusia sat thoughtful, wondering whether or not to go to the party. “Go,” said her mother. “Make merry while you’re young.” She went to the party and the evil stranger was there. Again there were games, merriment and dancing; the girls did not suspect anything. At the end of the evening, the evil spirit said: “Marusia, will you walk a few steps with me?” She refused to go, she was afraid. All the girls pressed her: “What is the matter with you? Are you timid? Go and say farewell to the fine young man.” She had no choice but to go, putting her hope in God. As soon as they were in the street, the young man asked her: “Were you in the church last night?” “No.” “Did you see what I was doing there?” “No.” “Well, tomorrow your father will die.” Having said this, he vanished.

  Marusia returned home sad and listless; next morning when she awoke, her father was dead. They wept over him and put him in a coffin; at night the mother went to the priest and Marusia remained at home. She felt frightened and decided to join her friends. When she came, she found the evil one there. “Good evening, Marusia, why are you so sad?” the girls asked her. “How can I be merry? My father has died.” “Ah, poor girl!” Everyone grieved with her; so did the vampire, just as though it were not his work. The guests began to leave. The evil youth said: “Marusia, come walk a few steps with me.” She refused. The other girls pressed her, saying: “What are you, a little girl or a woman? Why are you afraid? Walk with him!” She went out with him. In the street he said: “Tell me, Marusia, were you in the church?” “No.” “Did you see what I was doing?” “No.” “Well, tomorrow your mother will die.” Having said this, he vanished.

  Marusia went home even sadder than before; next morning when she awoke, her mother lay dead. All day she wept; then the sun set, it began to grow dark, and she was afraid to stay alone, so she went to join her friends. “Good evening! What is the matter with you? You look quite pale!” they said. “How can I be merry? Yesterday my father died, and today my mother,” Marusia said. “Poor girl, unfortunate girl!” Everyone sympathized with her. The time came to go home. “Marusia, come walk a few steps with me,” said the evil spirit. She went out with him. “Tell me,” he asked, “were you in the church?” “No.” “Did you see what I was doing?” “No.” “Well, before tomorrow night you yourself will die.” Marusia spent the night with her friends; in the morning she got up and wondered what to do. She recalled that she had a grandmother, who was very, very old and had been blind for many years. She decided to go to her grandmother and ask her advice.

  She went to her grandmother. “Good day, grandmother,” she said. “Good day, little granddaughter! How does God favor you? How are your father and mother?” “They are dead, grandmother.” And she recounted everything that had happened to her. The old woman listened to her and said: “Ah, you poor girl! Go quickly to the priest, and ask him to see that when you die a hole is dug under the door sill, and that you are carried from your house not through the door but through that hole; and also ask him to bury you at the crossroads.” Marusia went to the priest and with tears in her eyes begged him to do everything that her grandmother had told her to ask for. She returned home, bought a coffin, laid herself in it, and died at once. The priest was called; he first buried Marusia’s father and mother, and then buried her. She was carried out through the hole under the door and buried at a spot where two roads met.

  Shortly afterward the son of a boyar happened to drive by Marusia’s grave; and he beheld a wondrous little flower growing on that grave, a flower such as he had never seen. The barin said to his servant: “Go and dig up that flower with its root; we will take it home, put it in a pot, and let it blossom in our house.” They dug up the flower, took it home, planted it in a glazed pot, and put it on the window sill. The flower began to grow and blossom gloriously. One night the servant somehow could not sleep. He looked out of the window and saw a miracle: the flower suddenly began to sway, fell to the ground, and turned into a lovely maiden. The flower was pretty, but the maiden still prettier. She went through the rooms, got herself food and wine, ate and drank, struck the floor, turned again into a flower, ascended to the window, and sat on the branch.

  Next day the servant told the barin about the miracle that he had seen during the night. “Ah, brother, why did you not rouse me? Tonight we will both keep watch.” At the stroke of twelve the flower began to stir: it flew from place to place, then it fell to the floor and a lovely maiden appeared. She got herself food and drink and sat down to sup. The barin ran to her, took her by her white hands and led her into his room; he could not feast his eyes enough upon her beauty. In the morning he said to his father and mother: “Give me leave to marry, I have found a bride for myself.” The parents gave him leave. Marusia said: “I will marry you only on condition that for four years we do not go to church.” “Agreed,” he said.

  They wedded, lived together one year, then a second, and had a son. One day visitors came to them; they made merry, drank, and began to boast of their wives. One said that his wife was good; the other said that his was better. “Well, say what you will,” said the host, “my wife is better than anyone’s.” “She is good, but she is an infidel,” answered the guests. “Why do you say so?” “She never goes to church.” The husband felt insulted by these words; the following Sunday he ordered his wife to get dressed to go to mass. “Don’t contradict me! Get ready without delay!” he commanded. They made ready and went to church; the husband went in and saw nothing, but she saw the vampire sitting on the window sill. “Aha, so you are here?” he said. “Do you remember what happened long ago? Were you in the church last night?” “No.” “Did you see what I was doing there?” “No.” “Well, tomorrow both your husband and your son will die.”

  Marusia rushed straight from the church to her grandmother. The old woman gave her one phial of holy water and another of the water of life, and instructed her as to what she was to do. Next day Marusia’s husband and her son died. The vampire flew to her and asked: “Tell me, were you in the church?” “I was.” “And did you see what I was doing?” “You were devouring a corpse.” When she had said this she sprinkled him with holy water and he turned into dust. Then she sprinkled her husband and her son with the water of life and they breathed again at once. From that time on they never knew distress nor separation, and they all lived together long and happily.

  THE BEGGARS’ PLAN

  TWO OLD BEGGARS, husband and wife, were walking along a road and approached a village. The old man said: “I will ask for some milk.” His wife answered: “And I will crumb some bread into the milk.” The man seized her and began to beat her, saying: “Don’t crumb bread into the milk, it will get sour; don’t crumb bread into the milk, it will get sour.” But when they came to the village no one gave them milk.

  WOMAN’S WAY

  MY DEAR HUSBAND, where are you going?” “I won’t tell you.” “Please, my dear, where are you going?” “To town, to the fair.” “My darling, take me along.” “I won’t.” “Please, my darling, take me along.” “Sit at the very edge of the cart.” “What do you have in the cart, my dear?” “I won’t tell.” “What, my dear, is in the cart?” “Apples.” “Give me an apple, my dear.” “I won’t give you one.” “Please, my dear, give me an apple.” “Take one.” “Where, my dear, shall we spend the night?” “I won’t tell you.” “Please tell me, my dear, where shall we spend the night?” “In the big village, in the priest’s hay barn.”

  THE FOOLISH GERMAN

  ON A CERTAIN BIG ESTATE there was a German steward who did not observe the holidays of the Russian folk and forced the peasants to work all the time. One day the village elder came to him and said: “Tomorrow we have a holiday; work is forbidden.” “What holiday have you thought up now?” “St. Nicholas’ day, little father.” “And who is he? Show him to me.” T
he elder brought him an icon. “Oh, that is just a wooden board,” said the German. “It can’t do anything to me; I shall work, and so will you.” So the peasants decided to play a trick on the German. Again the elder came to see him, saying: “Little father, tomorrow we have a holiday.” “What holiday?” “St. Hornet’s day.” “Who is he? Show him to me.” The elder brought him to a hollow tree, in which the hornets had a nest. “There he is,” he said to the steward. The German began to peep in through the cracks and heard the hornets humming and humming. “How he sings!” said the German. “He must have drunk some vodka! Well, I am not afraid of him, and will order you to work in any case.” As the German spoke, the hornets flew out and fell to stinging him. “Ai, ai!” he cried at the top of his lungs. “I swear I won’t order you to work, and I won’t work myself—I’ll even let the peasants take a whole week’s holiday!”

  THE ENCHANTED PRINCESS

  IN A CERTAIN KINGDOM in a certain land there lived a wealthy merchant who had a son by the name of Ivan. The merchant loaded his ships, left his house and shops in charge of his wife and son, and set out on a voyage to distant parts. He sailed the seas for one month, two months, and three months, cast anchor in foreign lands, bought their merchandise, and sold his own at a good price. During that time not a little misfortune befell Ivan, the merchant’s son; for all the other merchants and burghers became angry at him, saying: “Why is he so lucky? He has robbed us of all our customers!” They put their heads together, wrote a petition stating that such and such a merchant’s son was a thief and drunkard unworthy of belonging to their guild, and sentenced him to become a soldier. The poor young man had his head shaven and was sent to the regiment.

  Ivan served and suffered not just one year, but ten; then he wanted to visit his native town, asked for a six months’ furlough, and set out on his way. His father and mother were overjoyed at his return; he stayed with them through the appointed time, and then had to go back. His father led him to deep cellars filled with gold and silver and said to him: “My beloved son, take as much money as your heart desires.” Ivan, the merchant’s son, stuffed his pockets, received solemn blessings from his parents, said farewell to his family, and rode off to his regiment, for his father had bought him a magnificent horse. The separation filled the goodly youth with great sadness and sorrow. On his way he saw an alehouse, and stopped at it to drown his sorrow in wine; he drank one pint and it seemed not enough; he drank another pint, got drunk, and fell fast asleep.

  Out of nowhere came dissolute drunkards, who took all his money, down to the last penny. Ivan awoke to discover that he had been robbed clean; he grieved, but continued on his way. Dark night overtook him in a deserted place; he rode and rode, till he saw an inn. Near the inn was a post, and on the post was an inscription saying that whoever should spend the night in the inn must pay a hundred rubles. What could Ivan do? After all, he did not want to die of hunger, so he knocked at the gate. A boy ran out, led him to a room, and his horse to the stable. Ivan was given everything his heart desired; he ate and drank his fill, then looked thoughtful. “Mr. Soldier,” said the host, “why are you so sad? Is it because you have no money to pay me with?” “It isn’t that, host! But while I am sated, my faithful horse is hungry.” “No, Mr. Soldier! You can see for yourself that he has plenty of hay and oats.” “I know that, but our horses have this habit: if I am beside him he will eat, but without me he will not even touch his feed.” The innkeeper ran to the stable, looked in, and so it was: the horse stood there, his head hanging low, and he did not even glance at the oats. “What an intelligent horse!” thought the innkeeper. “He is attached to his master.” And he ordered the soldier’s bed to be prepared in the stable. Ivan went to sleep there, and on the stroke of midnight, when everything was quiet in the house, he saddled his horse and galloped off.

  Next day at sunset he stopped at an inn where the charge was two hundred rubles a night; here too he succeeded in cheating his host. The third day he came to an inn where lodging was even more expensive than in the two other inns; an inscription on the post stated that the charge for a night was three hundred rubles. “Well,” he thought, “I’ll take a chance here too.” He entered the inn, ate and drank his fill, then looked thoughtful. “Mr. Soldier, why are you so sad? Is it because you have no money to pay me with?” asked the host. “No, you have guessed wrong! What I am thinking is that although I am sated, my faithful horse is hungry.” “How can that be? I have given him hay and oats, and plenty of them.” “But our horses have this habit: if I am beside him, he will eat, but without me he won’t even touch his feed.” “Well, in that case, go to sleep in the stable.”

  Now that innkeeper’s wife was a sorceress; she consulted her magic books and learned at once that the soldier had not a penny on him. She set laborers to watch at the gate and gave them strict orders to prevent the soldier from sneaking away. On the stroke of midnight Ivan rose and made ready to take to his heels, when he saw that laborers were standing on guard. He lay down again and fell asleep. He awoke at daybreak, saddled his horse in a hurry, mounted him, and rode off. “Halt!” cried the guards. “You have not paid the host; give us the money.” “What money? Get out of my way!” cried Ivan, and he tried to gallop past them; but the laborers seized him and began to belabor him. They raised such a hubbub that the whole house was aroused. “Beat him, boys, beat him to death!” everyone shouted. “That’s enough!” said the host. “Let him live, let him stay three years with us and earn three hundred rubles.”

  There was nothing to be done, so Ivan, the merchant’s son, stayed at the inn; he lived there for one day, a second day, and a third day. The host said to him: “Mr. Soldier, I suppose you have learned how to fire a gun.” “Of course I have; that’s what we are taught in the regiment.” “Well, then go and shoot some game; there are all kinds of beasts and birds around here.” Ivan took a gun and went hunting. For a long time he wandered in the woods but did not meet any game. Only at nightfall he sighted a hare at the edge of the forest; he took aim, but the hare darted off as fast as he could. The hunter rushed after him and came to a broad green meadow. On that meadow stood a splendid castle built of pure marble and covered with a golden roof. The hare jumped into the courtyard and Ivan after him; but the hare had vanished without a trace. “Well,” he thought, “at least I will have a look at the castle.”

  He went in and walked in the chambers. Everywhere he found such magnificence as no mind can imagine and only a tale can tell of; and in one chamber the table was set with various viands and wines and splendid covers. Ivan drank a glassful from each bottle, ate a bit from each plate, and sat there reveling to his heart’s delight. Suddenly a carriage rolled up to the porch and a princess arrived. She was black, and her retinue was black, and her horses were black.

  Ivan remembered his military training, jumped up, and stood at attention at the door; the princess came into the chamber and he at once saluted her smartly. “Good evening, soldier!” the princess greeted him. “How have you come here, of your own will or by compulsion? Are you shirking a deed or trying to do one? Sit by my side, let us talk peacefully.” Then the princess begged him: “Could you render me a great service? If you do, you will be happy. It is said that Russian soldiers fear nothing. Now, evil spirits have taken possession of this castle of mine.” “Your Highness, I shall be glad to serve you to the last drop of my blood.” “Well, then, listen carefully. Until midnight, drink and make merry; but on the stroke of midnight, lie down on the bed that hangs by straps in the middle of the great chamber, and no matter what happens to you or what you fancy you see and hear, do not be afraid, but lie in silence.”

  Having said this, the princess took leave of him and went off. Ivan, the merchant’s son, drank and made merry, and on the very stroke of midnight lay down in the appointed place. Suddenly a storm began to roar; it clattered and thundered, as though the walls might collapse at any moment and sink into the ground. The chambers were filled with devils, who yelled and shouted
and began a hellish dance; and when they saw the soldier, they set themselves to frighten and torment him in every way possible. Out of nowhere Ivan’s sergeant appeared and said: “Oh, Ivan, merchant’s son, what have you done? You have been listed as a deserter; return to your regiment at once or you’ll be sorry.”

  After the sergeant came the lieutenant, after the lieutenant the captain, and after the captain the colonel. “You scoundrel,” said the colonel, “what are you doing here? I see that you want to run the gantlet! Hey, bring fresh sticks here!” The devils set to work and soon gathered a whole pile of fresh sticks, but Ivan lay still and did not say a word. “Ah, you rascal,” said the colonel, “so you aren’t afraid of sticks at all; you must have seen worse than that during your service! Send me a squadron of soldiers with loaded guns, let them shoot him!” As though out of the ground a squadron of soldiers appeared; the command rang out, the soldiers took aim, they were about to fire. But suddenly the cocks crowed, and everything vanished in a trice—gone were the soldiers, the officers, and the sticks.

  Next day the princess came to the castle; she was now white from her head down to her chest, and so also were her retinue and the horses. “Thank you, soldier!” said the princess. “You have seen terrors, but you will see worse. Mind you, do not take fright, serve me two nights more, and I will make you happy.” They ate and drank and made merry together; then the princess left, and Ivan, the merchant’s son, lay on his bed. At midnight a storm roared, there was a clatter and a thunder, the devils came running, they shouted and yelled. “Ah, brothers, the soldier is here again!” cried a lame, one-eyed little imp. “Isn’t he a nuisance! What’s your plan? Are you trying to drive us from this castle? Just wait, I’ll go tell our grandfather.” The grandfather came himself, ordered the devils to bring a forge, and to prepare red-hot iron rods. “Strike him with these hot rods to the very bones, that will teach him to intrude in other people’s houses!” The devils had no sooner prepared the forge than the cocks crowed, and everything vanished in a trice.