Folk-lore and Legends: Russian and Polish 7

Folk-lore and Legends: Russian and Polish 7

Ivan was thus left alone on the mountain, and did not know how he could

get down. He walked about very sorrowfully, and happening to pass the

magic wand from one hand to the other, a man suddenly appeared before

him, and said—

 

“What is your will, Ivan Czarewitch?”

 

Ivan was much astonished to see the man, and asked him who he was, and

how he had come on the mountain.

 

“I am a spirit,” replied the man, “and was the servant of him whom you

have overcome. As you have now his magic stick, and as you have passed

it from one hand to the other, as you always must when you want me, I

have come to perform what you wish.”

 

“That is well,” said Ivan to the spirit. “Do me your first service,

then, and carry me into my own country.”

 

Scarcely had he finished these words before he found himself in his

father’s city.

 

He wanted to first know what was going on in the palace, so instead of

going straight in he went and began work in a shoemaker’s shop, for he

thought no one would quickly recognise him there. The next morning the

shoemaker went into town to buy some leather, and came home in the

evening very drunk. So tipsy was he that he could not see to the shop,

so he left all to his new man. Ivan knew nothing about the work, so he

called the spirit to assist him, and told him to set to and make some

shoes while he himself went to sleep. When the master awoke early the

next morning he went to see what work his man had done, and when he

found him still fast asleep, he was very angry, and said—

 

“Ah! you lazy fellow, do you think I took you into my service to sleep?”

 

“Do not blame me,” replied Ivan, stretching himself, “go first into the

work-room, and see what you find there.”

 

The shoemaker went off, and how much was he astonished to find there a

number of shoes all finished. He went to them and took up a shoe to look

at the work, but he was more astonished still, and began to disbelieve

his eyes, for there was not a single stitch in the shoes, but they were

all of one piece. He took some of the shoes and set off to sell them,

and every one who saw the wonderful shoes bought them eagerly. His fame

spread, and in a short time the shoemaker became so noted that they sent

for him to the palace. There he saw the princesses, who ordered him to

make them some dozens of shoes, adding that they must all be ready by

the next morning. He told them that it was impossible for him to do what

they asked, but they said that if he did not do what they told him he

should have his head cut off, for they declared they well knew he made

his shoes by some magic means.

 

The poor shoemaker left the castle, thinking he was as good as a dead

man, went into the city, bought some leather, and went a-drinking to

drive off care. Towards evening he came home, and throwing the leather

down upon the floor, said to his new man—

 

“Listen, you wretched fellow, to what you have done with your magic

work.”

 

So he told him all that had happened with the princesses, and how he was

to be put to death if he did not do what they commanded.

 

“Don’t be put out,” said Ivan; “lie down and go to sleep. The morning

will bring us good luck.”

 

His master thanked him for what he said, laid himself down on a bench,

and very quickly began to snore. Then Ivan called upon his spirit,

ordered him to make all ready, and went to sleep himself.

 

Though the shoemaker had been very drunk, when he awoke early in the

morning he remembered that he was to have his head cut off that day. So

he went to his man and said—

 

“Let us have a bottle together, so that I may be more courageous when I

am under the axe.”

 

“Do not fear,” answered Ivan; “go into your workshop. You will find that

all is finished, and ready to be taken to the palace.”

 

The shoemaker walked off to the workshop, not believing what Ivan said;

but when he saw all the shoes ready, he was so delighted that he did not

know what to do. He embraced Ivan and called him his saviour.

 

He took the shoes and set off to the palace; and when the princesses saw

the shoes, they felt sure that Ivan must be in the town, so they said to

the shoemaker—

 

“You have well performed what you were ordered, but you must do

something more for us. This night there must be built opposite our

palace a golden castle. There must be a porcelain bridge from the one

palace to the other, and this must be covered with velvet.”

 

The shoemaker was confounded at this, and said—

 

“I am only a poor shoemaker, how can I do such a thing?”

 

“If you do not do what we tell you,” said the princesses, “your head

shall be cut off.”

 

The shoemaker went at once from the castle, weeping bitterly. He turned

in at an alehouse to drown his care, got drunk, and when he reached home

told Ivan what he had been commanded.

 

“Go to sleep,” said Ivan; “to-morrow will bring us good luck.”

 

The shoemaker laid himself down on a bench and went to sleep, and Ivan,

calling the spirit to him, told him to get everything ready as the

shoemaker had been commanded. After that he lay down, and went to sleep

also.

 

Early the next morning Ivan woke his master, and putting the wing of a

goose in his hand, said—

 

“Go at once to the bridge and dust it.”

 

Ivan himself went into the golden palace. The Czar and his daughters

woke very early, and came out on the balcony, and from there they saw

everything. The princesses were beside themselves with joy, for they

were now sure that Ivan was in the town, and soon after they saw him

standing at a window in the golden castle. Then they begged the Czar and

his wife to go with them into the castle, and as they were about to go

up the steps of the palace, Ivan came out to meet them. His mother and

the princesses ran forward to embrace him, and said—

 

“This is he who rescued us.”

 

His brothers were ashamed, and looked down on the ground, and the Czar

was thunderstruck, so astonished was he. His wife, however, soon

explained everything to him, and then the Czar was so angry with his

eldest sons that he would have put them to death. Ivan threw himself at

his feet, and said—

 

“My dear father, if you wish to reward me for my labour, grant me the

lives of my brothers, and I shall be satisfied.”

 

Then his father raised him up, kissed him, and said—

 

“They are really unworthy of thee.”

 

So they all went back to the castle.

 

The following day three weddings were celebrated. The eldest son,

Vasili, wedded the princess of the copper kingdom. Fedor, the second

son, married the princess of the silver kingdom, and Ivan saw them

settled in their dominions. He himself and his princess took possession

of the golden kingdom. He took the shoemaker with him, and there they

all lived for many years prosperous and happy.

 

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THE DUCK THAT LAID GOLDEN EGGS.

 

 

THERE lived once an old man and his wife. The man was called Abrosim,

and his wife Fetinia. They were very poor and miserable, and had a son

named Little Ivan, who was fifteen years old. One day old Abrosim

brought a crust of bread home for his wife and son. He had scarcely

begun to eat, however, when Krutschina (Sorrow) sprang up from behind

the stove, seized the crust out of his hand, and ran away behind the

stove again. The old man made a bow to Krutschina, and begged her to

give him the crust back again, as he and his wife had nothing else to

eat.

 

“I will not give you the crust again,” said Krutschina, “but instead of

it I will give you a duck which lays a gold egg every day.”

 

“Very well,” said Abrosim. “I shall be supperless to-night. Do not

deceive me, but tell me where I shall find the duck.”

 

“Early to-morrow morning,” said Krutschina, “when you are up, go into

the town; there you will see a duck in a pond, catch it, and carry it

home.”

 

When Abrosim heard this he lay down and went to sleep.

 

The next morning he rose early, and went to the town, and was very much

pleased to see the duck swimming about on a pond. He called it to him,

carried it off to his home, and gave it to his wife Fetinia. They were

both delighted, and put the duck in a big basin, placing a sieve over

it. In an hour’s time they went to look at it, and discovered that the

duck had laid a golden egg. Then they took the duck out, and let it walk

a little on the floor, and the old man, taking the egg, set off to town.

There he sold the egg for a hundred roubles, took the money, and, going

to the market, bought different kinds of vegetables and set off home.

 

The next day the duck laid another egg like the first, which Abrosim

sold in the same manner. So the duck went on laying a golden egg every

day, and the old man became, in a short time, very rich. He bought a

large house, a great many shops, all kinds of wares, and set up in

business.

 

His wife Fetinia made a favourite of a young clerk in her husband’s

employ, and used to supply him with money. One day when Abrosim was away

from home, buying some goods, the clerk called to have a talk with

Fetinia, and it chanced that he then saw the duck that laid the golden

eggs. He was pleased with the bird, and, examining it, found written

under its wing in gold letters—

 

“Whoever eats this duck will be a Czar.”

 

He did not say anything to Fetinia about what he had seen, but asked her

to roast the duck for him. Fetinia said she could not kill the duck, for

all their fortune depended on it, but the clerk begged her so earnestly

that she at last consented and killed it, and put it in the oven. The

clerk then went off saying he would return soon, and Fetinia also went

out in the town. While they were gone in came little Ivan. He felt very

hungry, and, looking about him for something to eat, he chanced to see

the roast duck in the oven, so he took it out and ate all of it but the bones. Then he went off again to the shop.