The Brave Monalisa And The Witch

Long ago, in a certain village in Russia there lived an old couple, who had just one daughter, named Monalisa. They lived in small cottage, but they were comfortably off. One day Monalisa's mother became very ill. So she called her daughter to her, and gave her a small doll. She said "Listen, my dear daughter," take great care of this little doll, and don't let anyone know about this doll. If you ever get into trouble, give the doll something to eat and ask her advice. She will eat the food and will help you in your trouble."

She gave Monalisa a last kiss, and soon after she died. Monalisa's old father mourned the loss of his beloved wife, after some time he married again, thinking he would find his daughter a second mother. But all he gave her was an unkind stepmother. The new wife had two daughters of her own, who were stupid and fussy, and not at all good-natured. Their mother was very fond of them, but she made Monalisa's life a misery. She was always scolding her, treating her unkindly, working her hard. And her daughters were just as bad. They did their best to make her look thin by overworking her, and to spoil her good looks by exposing her to the sun and the wind. All day the girl heard nothing but: "Get on with cooking the dinner, It is time you sweep out the home. Fetch some firewood, the fire is going out. Have you milked the cows yet? Do not stand there doing nothing, get a move on. You must work faster." Monalisa was very willing, she did everything they asked, was always trying to please them, and managed the work very well. And with every day she grew more and more good-looking. She was too beautiful to be described. And she found the little doll of great help. Early every morning she got some milk, shut herself away in the pantry, gave the doll the milk, and said to it:"Drink up, Dollie, and listen to my troubles." The doll drank the milk and comforted the girl, and did all the work for her. Monalisa would sit quietly somewhere in the shade, before anyone else was up, while the doll weeded the flower beds, fetched water, lit the stove, watered the cabbages. The doll even showed Monalisa certain herbs that would protect her from sunburn, and so the girl grew more beautiful than ever.

Then a day came when her father had to be away from home for some time. It was late autumn, and it was dark outside the cottage; rain was falling, and the wind was howling. So the stepmother and her daughters would not set foot outside the house. All around the village was a deep forest, and in the forest lived the witch: she ate people as if they were chicks.

The stepmother gave all the girls work to do; one of her daughters was to make lace, the second to knit stockings, while Monalisa was to spin. She put out all the lights except one small glimmer where the girls were working, and then lay down to have a sleep. But the birch splinter which the girls were using for light crackled and spluttered, and at last went out. "Now what are we to do?" the stepmother's daughters wondered. "There is not a light anywhere in the house, and we have our work to do. Someone must go to the witch  and get light."But I shall not go," the elder stepdaughter said. "I am knitting lace, and the crochet hook gives me all the light I need."And I shall not go either," the second stepdaughter said. "I am knitting stockings, and the needles give me all the light I need." And they both cried at once: Monalisa you must go for the light. Go to the witch and get the light. Saying so they pushed the girl out of the house. All around her Monalisa saw only the dark night and the deep forest, she heard only the angry wind. She burst into tears, and took the doll out of her pocket."My darling Dollie," she said, "they are sending me to the witch for light. And the witch eats people and crunches the bones."Do not worry," the doll told her. "I'm there to help you. So long as you have me no harm will touch you. Monalisa thanked dollie, for her kind words and she set out to go to the witch's hut. All around her the forest stood like a wall; she could not see any stars shining, and the bright moon did not rise. She walked along trembling, pressing the doll to her breast. Suddenly a horseman galloped past her; he was dressed in white, he was riding a white horse, and the horse's harness was bright. Dawn began to break. As Monalisa went on she stumbled, and hurt herself against a stump. Dew clung to her dress, her hands were icy with cold. Suddenly a second horseman galloped past; he was dressed in red, was riding a red horse, and the horse's harness was red. The sun rose. It caressed Monalisa warmed her, and dried the dew on her dress.

All day she walked on. Towards evening she came to a glade. She looked into the glade and saw a hut; all round it was a fence made from human bones. On the fence were human skulls; human legbones served instead of a gate, there were hands instead of bolts, and sharp teeth acted as the lock. At this sight the girl was terrified: she stood rooted to the ground. Suddenly a horseman rode past; he was dressed entirely in black, was riding a black horse, and the horse's harness, too, was black. He galloped up to the gate and vanished as if he had been swallowed into the earth. Night came on. And as darkness fell all the eyesockets of the skulls on the fence began to glow, and it grew as light as day in the glade. Monalisa trembled with fear. She could not move, her feet would not carry her away from the fearful spot. Suddenly she heard and felt the earth quivering and shaking as though rocked by an earthquake. It was the witch on her way home; she was riding in a mortar, using a pestle to urge it on, and sweeping away her tracks with a besom. She cried "Pfooh! Pfooh! The place stinks of a Russian soul. Who is here?" Monalisa went up to her, bowed very low, and spoke very humbly and said "It is Me , Grannie," Monalisa. "My stepmother's daughters have sent me to you to get a light."Ah, yes," the witch said. "Your stepmother's a relation of mine. Well, you can stay and work for me, and then we will see about the light." Then she shouted: "Hey, my powerful bolts, unfasten yourselves! My broad gates, open for me!. Monalisa followed her. By the gate a oak tree was growing; it tried to clasp Monalisa with its branches."Do not harm the girl, oak tree," the witch said. "I have brought her in. At the door steps a dog was lying; it tried to bite Monalisa."Do not touch her; I have brought her in," said the witch. In the porch a cat tried to scratch Monalisa. "Do not touch her, cat, I have brought her in," the witch said again. "As you see Monalisa," the witch said, "it is not easy for you to escape from me. If you do so the cat will scratch you, the dog will bite you, the oak tree will lash out your eyes and the gates will not open. Monalisa trembled with fear but she bravely went into the hut and sat on a bench. The witch came in after a while and called:"Hey, swarthy child, get me some food. A swarthy young girl ran in and began to feed the witch; she brought a soup made of beetroot soup, a bucket of milk, twenty young chicks, forty ducklings, and two pies, as well as endless quantities of bread, butter and jam. The witch ate and drank the lot. She gave Monalisa only a small piece of bread. "Well," the witch said, "Take this bag of millet and sort it out seed by seed. Take out all the black seed. And if you do not get it all done I will kill and eat you. After saying so the witch went to sleep. Monalisa took the piece of bread, fed her doll, and weepingly said:"Dollie, please eat the bread and listen to my troubles. The witch has given me a difficult task and she says she will kill me if I do not finish it. The doll replied "Do not cry Monalisa". Better go and lie down to sleep. You will feel better after a good sleep." As soon as Monalisa went to sleep the doll cried: "Little birdies, sparrows and doves, fly here my friends and save Monalisa from harm. At once all sorts of birds came flying up in great numbers. Trilling and cooing, they set to work to sort the millet, putting the good grain into a sack, and the black grains into their crops. They sorted out all the grain seed by seed, and cleansed it of all the weed seeds. Just as the task was finished a white horseman on a white horse galloped past the gates. The next day morning the witch woke up, and at once asked "Well my dear child Monalisa, have you done the work which I gave last night?"It is all done, Grannie," she answered. The witch became very angry as she was planning to eat Monalisa, but there was nothing she could do. "Well," she grumbled, "I have to go out now to fetch something. But take that sack over there; in it peas are mixed with poppy seed. Sort them all out, seed by seed, and put them into two heaps. And if you do not get it done I will eat you. She went out and whistled, and the mortar and pestle rolled up to her door. A red horseman galloped past. The sun rose. The witch seated herself in the mortar and rode out of the yard, using the pestle as a stick, and sweeping away her tracks with a besom. 
Monalisa immediately took a piece of bread, fed the doll, and said: "Have pity on me, Dollie dear. Help me. The doll replied in a loud voice: Dont worry and started shouting "Hurry to me, field mice, house mice, granary mice! The mice came running up in large numbers. And in an hour they had sorted all the peas from the poppy seeds. Late in the afternoon the swarthy child laid the table, and waited for the witch to return. A black horseman galloped past the gate. Night fell and the skulls the eye sockets began to burn, the trees creaked, the leaves rustled. The bony-legged witch was on her way home. The witch came inside and asked "Well, have you completed my task Monalisa?". "It is all done, Grannie," the girl answered. The witch was furious, but she could do nothing. "In that case," she said, "go to bed, and sleep and I need to take rest as well." Monalisa went to lie down behind the stove. But before she could get to sleep she heard the witch say:"Swarthy girl, make the stove really hot, get a blazing fire going. When I wake up I am going to cook Monalisa. Then she stretched herself out on a bench, covered her feet, and started to snore so loudly that she could have been heard all through the forest. Monalisa lay in her corner, weeping. But then she took out her doll and set a crust of bread before it. "My darling Dollie," she said. "Eat the bread and listen to my troubles." The doll ate the bread, and then told Monalisa that all she had to do was to escape from the witch. So the girl went to the swarthy child, and bowed to her. "Help me, swarthy child," she pleaded. "Do not burn the wood, but make it only smoulder by wetting it with water. Here, take my silk handkerchief as a present." "All right," the girl said, "I will help you. I will take a long time over lighting the stove, and tickle Witch"s feet to make her sleep more soundly. And you run away home, darling. Monalisa asked the swarthy child "But do you think one of the horsemen will catch me ? "Will they come back to catch me?". "Oh no," the girl answered. "The white horseman is the broad daylight, the red horseman is the golden sun, and the black horseman is the dark night. They will not hurt you." Monalisa ran out into the porch. The cat rushed at her and tried to scratch her. But Monalisa threw a piece of bread towards the cat , and it did not touch her. She ran down the steps. The dog jumped up and tried to bite her. But she threw him some bread. And the dog let her go. She ran through the yard. The oak tree tried to lash her eyes out. But she tied it with a ribbon, and the oak tree let her go. The gates wanted to swing shut against her. But she greased their hinges with grease, and they opened for her. But now the black horseman galloped past; in the forest it grew darker than dark. How could she ever find her way home without a light? Her stepmother would beat the life out of her if she returned without it. But once more the doll instructed her what to do. She took a skull off the fence, and set it on a pole. Then she ran through the deep forest, and the eye-sockets in the skull shone so brightly that the dark night was lit up like day. After a long sleep the old witch woke up and stretched herself. She went to catch Monalisa to cook her. The witch searched everywhere in the house but in vain and then she realised that Monalisa would have escaped. Thinking so she ran into the porch. "Snarling cat," she said. "The girl ran past you. Why did you not scratch her?" "I have served you for ten years, Oh witch, and you have never even given me a piece of bread. But she gave me bread to eat, so I let her go" replied the cat." Then the witch rushed into the yard and cried:"My faithful dog, why did you not bite the disobedient girl? But the dog answered: "I have served you all these years, and you have never even thrown me a bone. But she gave me bread, so I let her go." The witch screamed in anger:"Oak tree, my oak tree, why did you not lash out her eyes ?" "I have been growing in your yard for ten years, and you never tied up my branches even with string. But she bound me with ribbon, so I let her go." "My powerful gates, why did you not close and shut in the disobedient girl?"asked the witch. "We have served you so long, and you never even poured water on our hinges. But she greased them with grease, so we let her go. The witch was furious, and she started beating the dog, shaking the cat, chopping down the oak tree, breaking down the gate. But she did not try to go after. 
Monalisa meanwhile ran all the way home. When she arrived she saw there was still no light in the house. Her stepsisters ran out and shouted at her. "Why have you been so long bringing the light?" they demanded. "We simply cannot keep any light going in the house. We hope the light you have brought will stay alight. They carried the skull into the best room, and there the skull's eye-sockets glared at the stepmother and her daughters so fiercely that they were burnt with fire. They tried to hide from the skull, but wherever they ran the glare of the eye-sockets followed them and found them. By the morning they were burnt into ashes. The next day morning Monalisa took the skull and buried it in the ground, and a rose bush sprang up in the spot where she buried the skull. 
Monalisa did not feel that she wanted to remain in the house alone, so she went to the town and began to live with an old woman who was her mother's distant relative. One day she said to the old woman:"Grannie, I am bored with sitting here doing nothing. Buy me some flax, the very finest you can get. The old woman bought the flax, and Monalisa sat down to spin it. The work flew so fast in her hands that the spindle hummed. The thread came away even and fine, like a golden hair. Then she set to work to weave the thread, and she weave linen that could go through a needle eye just like a thread. Then she bleached the linen whiter than snow. "Now, Grannie," she said, "go and sell the linen and keep whatever money you get for it The old woman replied "No, I shall not sell it". "It is too good. Only a prince should wear such linen. I will take it to the prince. When the prince saw the linen he was astonished at its quality. "What do you want for it?" he asked."Such linen is without price," the old woman answered. "So I have brought it to you as a gift." The prince thanked the old woman and sent her home with presents. The servants wanted to make a shirt for him from the linen, but when they saw it no one would undertake the task: it was too fine for them to handle. So the prince sent for the old woman and said: "As you have been clever enough to weave such fine linen, now make me a shirt from it."It was not I who span and wove it, prince," the old woman answered. "It was the girl Monalisa. "Well then, let her make the shirt," he told her. The old woman went back home and told Monalisa what the prince had said. The girl made the shirt, trimmed it with silks, and decorated it with seed pearls. Then the old woman carried it back to the palace. Monalisa sat down at the cottage window to do some embroidering on a tambour. Suddenly she saw one of the prince's servants come running along the street. He hurried up to her window, and told her:"The prince requires you to go to the palace." So she went to the palace. And when the prince saw how beautiful she was he stood rooted to the spot. "I do not intend to let you go away," he said. I want you to be my wife. He took her white hands, seated her at his side, and there and then they celebrated the wedding. Soon after they had got married. Monalisa's father returned home from his travels and came to know about the whole story that took place in his absence from the villagers, and he went to live in the palace with his daughter. Monalisa took the old woman who had helped her into her service. And she always carried the doll in her pocket. Monalisa and the prince lived happily for ever.

The Nightingales Predictions

Long ago in a town in holy Russia, there lived a rich merchant along with his wife and  only son. The son was a very clever, and brave boy called Ryan. One lovely day Ryan sat at the dinner table with his parents. Near the window in the same room hung a cage, and a nightingale, a sweet-voiced, gray bird, was imprisoned within. The sweet nightingale began to sing its wonderful song with trills and high silvery tones. 

The merchant listened and listened to the song and said: "How I wish I could understand the meaning of the different songs sung by these beautiful birds! I would give half my wealth to the man, who could explain to me all the different songs of the different birds."

Ryan took his fathers words seriously and no matter where he went, no matter where he was, no matter what he did, he always thought of how he could learn the language of the birds. Some time after this Ryan happened to be hunting in a forest. The winds rose, the sky became clouded, the lightning flashed, the thunder roared loudly, and the rain poured heavily. Ryan took shelter near a large tree and saw a big nest in the branches. Four small birds were in the nest; they were quite alone, and neither father nor mother was there to protect them from the rain. The good Ryan pitied them, climbed the tree and covered the little ones with his "shawl,". The thunderstorm cleared and the small birds mother came flying and sat down on a branch near the nest and spoke very kindly to Ryan. "Dear Ryan, I'm Indeed thankful to you; since you protected my little children from the cold and rain and so I want to do something for you in return. Tell me what is u'r wish." Ryan answered; "As of now I have nothing to ask; I have everything for my comfort. But can you teach me the birds' language." "Stay with me three days and you shall know all about it" said the mother bird.

Ryan remained in the forest for three days. The mother bird taught Ryan the birds language. He understood well the teaching of the big bird and returned home more clever than before. One beautiful day Ryan was sitting with his parents when the nightingale was singing in his cage. His song was very sad, so very sad, that the merchant and his wife also started crying, and their son, their good Ryan, who listened and understood the song, was even more affected, and the tears came running down his cheeks. "What is the matter?" asked his parents; "what are you weeping about, dear son?" "Dear parents," answered the son, "it is because I understand the meaning of the nightingale's song, and because this meaning is so sad for all of us." "What then is the meaning? Tell us the whole truth; do not hide it from us," said the father and mother.

"Oh, father i cannot speak to you about the truth!" replied the son. "How much better would it be never to have been born!" "Do not frighten us," said the parents, alarmed. "If you really understand the meaning of the song, tell us at once." The nightingale says: 'The time will come when Ryan, the merchant's son, shall become Ryan, the king's son, and his own father shall serve him as a simple servant.'"

The merchant and his wife felt deeply troubled and began to ignore their son, their good Ryan. One night they gave him a drowsy drink, and when he had fallen asleep they took him to a boat on the wide sea, spread the white sails, and pushed the boat from the shore. For a long time the boat danced on the waves and finally it came near a large merchant vessel, which struck against it with such a shock that Ryan awoke. The crew on the large vessel saw Ryan and pitied him. So they decided to take him along with them and did so. High, very high, above in the sky they saw cranes. 

Ryan said to the sailors: "Be careful; I hear the birds predicting a storm. Let us enter a harbor or we shall suffer great danger and damage. All the sails will be torn and all the masts will be broken." But no one paid any attention and they went farther on. In a short time the storm arose, the wind tore the vessel almost to pieces, and they had a very hard time to repair all the damage. When they were through with their work they heard many wild swans flying above them and talking very loud among themselves. "What are they talking about?" inquired the men, this time with interest.

"Be careful," advised Ryan. "I hear the birds saying that the pirates, the terrible sea robbers, are near. If we do not enter a harbor at once they will imprison and kill us." The crew quickly obeyed this advice and as soon as the vessel entered the harbor the pirate boats crossed by and the merchants saw them capture several unprepared vessels. When the danger was over, the sailors with Ryan went ahead. Finally the vessel anchored near a town, large and unknown to the merchants. 

A king ruled in that town who was very much unhappy by three black crows. These three crows were all the time shouting and perching near the window of the king's chamber. No one knew how to get rid of them and no one could kill them. The king ordered notices to be placed at all crossings and on all prominent buildings, saying that whoever was able to relieve the king from the noisy birds would be rewarded by obtaining the youngest Anna, the king's daughter, for a wife; but the one who should have the daring to undertake but not succeed in delivering the palace from the crows would have his head cut off. Ryan attentively read the announcement, once, twice, and once more. 

One fine day Ryan went to the palace. He said to the servants: "Open the window and let me listen to what the birds are saying." The servants obeyed and Ryan listened to them for a while. Then he said: "Take me to your king." When he reached the room where the king sat on a high, rich chair, he bowed and said: "There are three crows, a father crow, a mother crow, and a son crow. The trouble is that they desire to obtain your royal decision as to whether the son crow must follow his father crow or his mother crow."

The king answered: "The son crow must follow the father crow." As soon as the king announced his royal decision the crow father with the crow son went one way and the crow mother disappeared the other way, and no one has heard the noisy birds since. The king gave one-half of his kingdom and his youngest daughter Anna to Ryan, and a happy life began for him.

In the meantime his father, the rich merchant, lost his wife and his fortune also. There was no one left to take care of him, so the old man went begging for his living. He went from one door to another, from one village to another, from one town to another, and one fine day he came to the palace where Ryan lived, begging humbly for charity. Ryan saw him and recognized him, ordered him to come inside, and gave him food to eat and also supplied him with good clothes, asking questions: "Dear old man, what can I do for you?" he said. "If you are so very good," answered the poor father, without knowing that he was speaking to his own son, "let me remain here and serve you as one of your faithful servants."

"Dear, dear father!" recognize me cried Ryan. I'm your son "Remember you doubted the true song of the nightingale, and now see that our fate was to meet according to the predictions of long ago." The old man was frightened and knelt before his son, but Ryan remained the same good son as before, took his father lovingly into his arms, and together they wept over their sorrow.

Several days crossed by and the old father felt courage to ask his son, the :"Tell me, my son, how was it that thou didst not perish in the boat?" Ryan laughed and said "I presume," he answered, "that it was not my fate to die at the bottom of the wide sea, but my fate was to marry the Anna, my beautiful wife, and to serve my beloved old father."

The Little Girl and Her Step Mother

Once upon a time, somewhere in Russia, there lived a stepmother with her two daughters. Among the two one was her stepdaughter and the other her own daughter. Her own daughter was very dear to her, and always praised her daughter and pet her; but there was no praise for the stepdaughter; who was beautiful girl with all good qualities, she had no other reward than reproach. The wicked woman never missed any chance to trouble her stepdaughter.

One bright cold day the stepmother told her husband: "Listen, old man, I want you to take your daughter away from my eyes. Take her into the wide, wide fields to the crackling frost and leave her there to die."

The old father grew very sad, after hearing his wife's and began to weep bitterly, but being helpless he had no other option left then to obey his wife's command. The Old man called his daughter and said " Come my dear let's go out for a ride". It was very cold outside and he wished to cover his daughter with a sheepskin in order to protect her from the cold; however, he did not do it. He was afraid; his wife was watching them out of the window. And so he went with his lovely daughter into the wide, wide fields; drove her nearly to the woods, left her there alone, and speedily drove away—he was a good man and did not care to see his daughter's death.

The sweet girl remained all alone in the fields. Broken-hearted and terror-stricken she repeated chanted all the prayers she knew. Father Frost, the almighty sovereign at that place, clad in furs, with a long, long, white beard and a shining crown on his white head, approached nearer and nearer, looked at this beautiful guest of his and asked: "Don't you know me?—me, the red-nosed Frost?"

The girl replied "Welcome, Father Frost,". "I hope our heavenly Lord has sent you to help me." "Are you comfortable, sweet child?" again asked the Frost. He was deeply pleased with the girls looks and good manners. "Yes I am," answered the girl, almost out of breath from cold. And the Frost, cheerful and bright, kept crackling in the branches until the air became icy, but the good-natured girl kept repeating: "I am very comfortable, dear Father Frost."

But Father Frost, knew the nature of human beings very well; he knew very well that few of them are really good and kind; but he knew no one of them even could struggle too long against the power of Frost, the king of winter. The kindness of the gentle girl charmed old Frost so much that he made the decision to treat her differently from others, and gave her a large heavy trunk filled with many beautiful, beautiful things. He gave her a rich "Winter coat" lined with precious furs; he gave her silk quilts—light like feathers and warm as a mother's lap. What a rich girl she became and how many magnificent garments she received! And besides all, old Frost gave her a blue "sarafan" (Russian Dress) ornamented with silver and pearls. Father Frost told the young girl to wear the dress and when the young girl put it on she became such a beautiful maiden that even the sun smiled at her. 

The stepmother presuming that her stepdaughter was dead was in the kitchen busy baking pancakes for the meal which it is the custom to give to the priests and friends after the usual service for the dead. "Now, old man," said the wife to the husband, "go down to the wide fields and bring the body of your daughter; we will bury her." The old man went to the fields in search of his daughters body. 

The old man's little dog sat in the corner of the kitchen wagged his tail and said: "Bow-wow! bow-wow! the master's daughter is on her way home, beautiful and happy as never before, and the old woman's daughter is wicked as ever before."

"Shut up! stupid beast!" shouted the stepmother, and struck the little dog. "Here, take this pancake, eat it and say, 'The old woman's daughter will be married soon and the old man's daughter shall be buried soon.'" 

The dog ate the pancake wagged his tail and started saying: "Bow-wow! bow-wow! the master's daughter is coming home wealthy and happy as never before, and the old woman's daughter is somewhere around as homely and wicked as ever before." The old woman became very angry at the dog, but in spite of pancakes and whipping, the dog repeated the same words over and over again.

Suddenly the old woman heard somebody opened the gate, voices were heard laughing and talking outside. She went to her window and looked out and sat down for a while in amazement. The stepdaughter was there like a princess, bright and happy in the most beautiful garments, and behind her the old father had hardly strength enough to carry the heavy, heavy trunk with the rich outfit.

The step daughter came in and told the whole story to the old woman. "Old man!" called the stepmother, impatiently; "Bring our best horses to our best sleigh, and drive my daughter to the very same place in the wide, wide fields." The old man obeyed as usual and took his stepdaughter to the same place and left her alone.

Father Frost was there; he looked at his new guest. "Art you comfortable, fair maiden?" asked the red-nosed sovereign. "Let me alone," harshly answered the girl; "can't you see that my feet and my hands are about stiff from the cold?". The Frost kept crackling and asking questions for quite a while, but obtaining no polite answer became angry and froze the girl to death.

The next day the old woman called her husband and said "Old man, go for my daughter; take the best horses; be careful; do not upset the sleigh; do not lose the trunk." The old man left for the fields to fetch her daughter.

At home the little once again wagged his tail and said: "Bow-wow! bow-wow! the old man's daughter will marry soon; the old woman's daughter shall be buried soon." "Do not lie. Here is a cake; eat it and say, 'The old woman's daughter is clad in silver and gold.'"

The gates opened, and the old woman went running to receive her daughter. She was shocked to see her daughter dead. she cried bitterly and kissed the stiff frozen lips of her daughter. She wept and wept, but there was no help, and she understood at last that through her own wickedness and envy her child had perished.

The Golden Mountain And The Greedy Merchant

Long ago in Russia there lived a rich merchant with his only son. The merchant's son had too much fun spending money, and the day came when he saw himself ruined; he had nothing to eat, nothing to drink. He took a shovel and went to the market place to see if perchance somebody would hire him as a worker.

A rich, proud merchant, worth many, many thousands, came along in a gilded carriage. All the fellows at the market place, as soon as they perceived him, rushed away and hid themselves in the corners. Only one remained, and this one was our merchant's son. "Are You looking for work, good fellow? Let me hire You," the very rich merchant said to him. 

"Yes I am looking for work replied the young man." "All right. To-morrow come to the landing place."said the rich merchant.

The next day, early in the morning, our merchant's son arrived at the landing; the very rich merchant was already there waiting. They boarded a ship and went to sea. For quite a long time they journeyed, and finally they perceived an island. Upon that island there were high mountains, and near the shore something seemed to be in flames. "Seems like something is on fire," said our merchant's son.

"No, it is my golden palace."replied the rich merchant. They landed, came ashore, and—looked there! the rich merchant's wife came to meet him, and along with their young daughter, the most pretty and lovely girl. The family met; they greeted one another and went to the palace. And along with them went their new work-man. They sat around the oak table and ate and drank and were cheerful. "One day does not count," the rich merchant said; "let us have a good time and leave work for to-morrow." 

Our merchant's son was a young, brave fellow, handsome and stately, and the merchant's lovely daughter liked him well. She left the room and made him a sign to follow her. Then she gave him a touchstone and a flint.  "Take it," she said; "when you are in need, it will be useful."

The next day the very rich merchant with his hired workman went to the high golden mountain. The young fellow saw at once that there was no use trying to climb or even to crawl up. "Well," said the merchant, "let us have a drink for courage." And he gave the fellow some drowsy drink. The fellow drank and fell asleep. The rich merchant took out a sharp knife, killed a wretched horse, cut it open, put the fellow inside, pushed in the shovel, and sewed the horse's skin together, and himself sat down in the bushes.

Seeing the dead horse all the crows came flying, black crows with iron beaks. They took hold of the dead horse, lifted it up to the top of the high mountain, and began to pick at it. The crows soon ate up the horse and were about to begin on the merchant's son, when he awoke, pushed away the crows, looked around and asked out loud: "Where am I?". The rich merchant below answered: "On a golden mountain; take the shovel and dig for gold."

And the young man dug and dug, and all the gold he dug he threw down, and the rich merchant loaded it upon the carts. "Enough!" finally shouted the master. "Thanks for your help. Farewell!"

"And what about me—how shall I come down?" asked the workman. "You will be pleased to know that Ninety Nine workmen like you have already been killed after coming here and with you the count will be rounded and you will  be the hundredth." 

The proud, rich merchant said this to the workman and went off. "What shall I do?" thought the poor merchant's son. ''Impossible to go down! But to stay here means death, a cruel death from hunger."

The poor fellow stood upon the mountain all alone, while above the black crows were circling, the black crows with iron beaks, as if they were ready to prey the poor workman. The fellow tried to think how it all happened, and he remembered the lovely girl and what she said to him in giving him the touchstone and the flint. He remembered how she said: "Take it. When you are in need of it and it will prove useful." "I fancy she had something in mind; let us try." thought the poor workman and took out stone and flint, struck it once and lo! two brave fellows were standing before him. "What is your wish? What are your commands?" said they. 

"Take me away from this mountain down to the seashore." And at once the two took hold of him and carefully brought him down.

The workman was wandering around the sea and there he saw a huge ship sailing near the island. "Ahoy! good people! take me along!" the workman asked the sailors. "No time to stop!" said the sailors and they went sailing by. But the winds arose and the tempest was heavy. "It seems as if this fellow over there is not an ordinary man; we had better go back and take him along," decided the sailors. They turned the ship toward the island, landed, took the merchant's son along with them and brought him to his native town.

It was a long time, or perhaps only a short time after—who could tell?—that one day the merchant's son took again his shovel and went to the market place in search of work. The same very rich merchant came along in his gilded carriage; and, as of old, all the fellows who saw him coming rushed away.

The merchant's son remained alone. "Will you be my workman?"asked the rich merchant. "I will work but at the cost of two hundred rubles a day. If so, let us to work." "A rather expensive fellow." "If too expensive go to others; get a cheap man. There were plenty of people, but when you appeared—they saw you and they left." "Well, all right. Come to-morrow to the landing place."

They met at the landing place, boarded a ship and sailed toward the island. The first day they spent rather gayly, and on the second, master and workman went to work. When they reached the golden mountain the rich, proud merchant treated his hired man to a tumbler. "Before all, have a drink." "Wait, master! said the workman, Let me treat you this time."

The young man had already prepared some of the drowsy stuff and he quickly mixed it with the wine and presented it to the master. The proud merchant drank and fell sound asleep.The workman killed a miserable old horse, cut it open, pushed his master and the shovel inside, sewed it all up and hid himself in the bushes.

All at once black crows came flying, —black crows with iron beaks; they promptly lifted up the horse with the sleeping merchant inside, bore it to the top of the mountain, and began to pick the bones of their prey.

When the merchant awoke he looked here and looked there and looked everywhere. "Where am I?" he shouted. "Upon the golden mountain replied the workman. Now if you want to come down safely, do not lose time; take the shovel and dig. Dig quickly and I'll teach you how to come down."

The proud, rich merchant had to obey and dug and dug. Twelve big carts were loaded. "Enough!" shouted the workman. "Thank you, and farewell!" "And what about me shouted the rich merchant?". There are already ninety and nine fellows perished before thee; and with you there will be a hundred." said the workman.

The workman took along with him the twelve heavy carts with gold, arrived at the golden palace and married the lovely girl; the rich merchant's daughter became mistress of all her father's wealth, and the merchant's son with his family moved to a large town to live.

And the rich merchant, the proud, rich merchant? He himself, like his many victims, became the prey of the black crows, black crows with iron beaks. Well, sometimes it happens just so.

The Wicked Witch And The Two Children

Once upon in a time somewhere in vast Russia, there lived a farmer with his wife and they had twins — a son and daughter. One day the wife became very ill and died. The husband mourned over her very sincerely for a long time. The farmer used to take care of his two children but was unable to give them mothers love which the children needed. After few years the man thought, "If I marry again possibly it would turn out all right." 

He married once again. The stepmother was jealous of the stepson and daughter and began to treat them hardly. She scolded them without any reason, sent them away from home as often as she wished, and gave them scarcely enough to eat. Finally she wanted to get rid of them altogether. Do you know what it means to allow a wicked thought to enter one's heart?

The wicked thought grows all the time like a poisonous plant and slowly kills the good thoughts. A wicked feeling was growing in the stepmother's heart, and she determined to send the children to the witch, thinking sure enough that they would never return.

"Dear children," she said to the orphans, "go to my grandmother who lives in the forest in a hut on hen's feet. You will do everything she wants you to, and she will give you sweet things to eat and you will be happy."

The orphans started out. But instead of going to the witch, the sister, a bright little girl, took her brother by the hand and ran to their own old, old grandmother and told her all about their going to the forest.

"Oh, my poor darlings!" said the good old grandmother, pitying the children, "my heart aches for you, but it is not in my power to help you. You have to go not to a loving grandmother, but to a wicked witch named Baba yaga. Now listen to me, my darlings," she continued; "I will give you a hint: Be kind and good to everyone; do not speak ill words to any one; do not despise helping the weakest, and always hope that for you, too, there will be the needed help."

The good old grandmother gave the children some delicious fresh milk to drink and to each a big slice of cake. She also gave them some cookies and when the children departed she stood looking after them for a long time.

The obedient children arrived at the forest and, oh, wonder! there stood a hut, and what a curious one! It stood on tiny hen's feet, and at the top was a rooster's head. With their shrill, childish voices they called out loud:

"Beautiful little hut! turn your back to the forest and your front to us!" The hut did as they commanded. The two orphans looked inside and saw the witch resting there, her head near the threshold, one foot in one corner, the other foot in another corner, and her knees quite close to the ridge pole. "Who is there!" exclaimed the witch; "I feel the Russian spirit."

The children were afraid, and stood close, very close together, but in spite of their fear they said very politely: "Ho, grandmother, our stepmother sent us to you to serve you." "All right; I am not opposed to keeping you, children. If you satisfy all my wishes I shall reward you; if not, I shall eat you up." Without any delay the witch ordered the girl to spin the thread, and the boy, her brother, to carry water in a sieve to fill a big tub. The poor orphan girl wept at her spinning-wheel and wiped away her bitter tears. At once all around her appeared small mice squeaking and saying: "Sweet girl, do not cry. Give us cookies and we will help thee." The little girl willingly did so. "Now,"gratefully squeaked the mice, "go and find the black cat. He is very hungry; give him a slice of cake and he will help you."

The girl speedily went in search of the cat and saw her brother in great distress about the tub, so many times he had filled the sieve, yet the tub was still dry. The little birds, flying near by, and chirped to the children: "Kind-hearted little children, give us some bread crumbs and we will advise you."The orphans gave the birds some crumbs and the grateful birds chirped again: "Get us some clay and water, children dear!" Then away they flew through the air.

The children understood the hint, spat in the sieve, plastered it up with clay and rilled the tub in a very short time. Then they both returned to the hut and on the threshold met the black cat. They generously gave him some of the good cake which their good grandmother had given them, petted him and asked: "Dear Kitty-cat, black and pretty, tell us what to do in order to get away from your mistress, the witch?"

"Well," very seriously answered the cat, "I will give you a towel and a comb and then you must run away. When you hear the witch running after you, drop the towel behind your back and a large river will appear in place of the towel. If you hear her once more, throw down the comb and in place of the comb there will appear a dark wood. This wood will protect you from the wicked witch, my mistress."

The witch came home just then. "Is it not wonderful?" she thought; "everything is exactly right." "Well," she said to the children, "today you were brave and smart; let us see to-morrow. Your work will be more difficult and I hope I shall eat you up."

The poor orphans went to bed, not to a warm bed prepared by loving hands, but on the straw in a cold corner. Nearly scared to death from fear, they lay there, afraid to talk, afraid even to breathe. The next morning the witch ordered all the linen to be woven and a large supply of firewood to be brought from the forest.

The children took the towel and comb and ran away as fast as their feet could possibly carry them. The dogs were after them, but they threw them the cookies that were left; the gates did not open themselves, but the children smoothed them with oil; the birch tree near the 

path almost scratched their eyes out, but the gentle girl fastened a pretty ribbon to it. So they went farther and farther and ran out of the dark forest into the wide, sunny fields. The cat sat down by the loom and tore the thread to pieces, doing it with delight. The witch returned.

"Where are the children?" she shouted, and began to beat the cat. "Why did you let them go, you stupid cat? Why didn't you scratch their faces?" The cat answered: "Well, it was because I have served thee so many years and thou hast never given me a bite, while the dear children gave me some good cake."

The witch scolded the dogs, the gates, and the birch tree near the path. "Well," barked the dogs, "You are  certainly our mistress, but you have never done us a favor, and the orphans were kind to us."The gates replied: "We were always ready to obey you, but you did neglect us, and the dear children smoothed us with oil."

The birch tree replied, "you have never put a simple thread over my branches and the little darlings adorned me with a pretty ribbon." The witch understood that there was no help and started to follow the children herself. In her great hurry she forgot to look for the towel and the comb, but jumped astride a broom and was off. The children heard her coming and threw the towel behind them. At once a river, wide and blue, appeared and watered the field. The witch hopped along the shore until she finally found a shallow place and crossed it.

Again the children heard her hurry after them and so they threw down the comb. This time a forest appeared, a dark and dusky forest in which the roots were interwoven, the branches matted together, and the tree-tops touching each other. The witch tried very hard to catch them, but in vain, and so, very, very angry, she returned home.

The orphans rushed to their father, told him all about their great distress, and thus concluded their pitiful story: "Ah, father dear, why mother never loves us?". The father was touched and became angry. He sent the wicked stepmother away and lived a new life with his good children. From that time he watched over their happiness and never neglected them any more.

The Giantbird and Prince Ryan

Long ago in Russia there was a King named Mark, who had three sons. The King's palace was very huge and was surrounded by a beautiful orchard, and among all the trees in the orchard there stood a beautiful apple-tree which bore golden apples. The King always counted his apples and his soldiers guarded the tree safely. One day the King discovered that few apples were missing so he understood that someone was getting into the orchard and stealing his golden apples. He became very angry, and sent his guards to catch the thief. But though they watched all night they were quite unsuccessful.

The King was so upset at the loss of his golden apples that he stopped taking his food. His sons tried to comfort him, and the eldest told him: "I will go and guard the orchard against the thief tonight, father. And he went off to the orchard. He wandered in the orchard for a while, he saw no one. So he lay down on the ground to take some rest and soon fell asleep. Next morning his father asked him: "Well, do you have any  good news for me? Did you see the thief?". "No, father," his son answered. "I was awake the whole night, I did not even close my eyes. But I saw no one."

The following night the king's second son went to guard the orchard. But he, too, slept all night, and next morning he told his father that he too  saw no sign of a thief, although he had not closed his eyes.

The youngest son of the king, Prince Ryan, had to guard the orchard. And he was so anxious not to miss the thief that he was afraid even to sit down, let alone to lie down. When he felt he was getting drowsy he washed his face with dew, and this made him wide-awake again. About halfway through the night he thought he saw a light in the orchard. It grew brighter and brighter, until all the trees were lit up. Then he saw that the light was coming from a bird, which was sitting on the apple-tree and pecking at the golden apples. So he crept up very quietly to the tree and caught hold of the bird by the tail. But the bird spread its wings and flew away, leaving only one tail feather in Prince Ryan's hand.

Next morning, when he went to inform his father, the king asked him: "Well, Ryan, did you see the thief?" "Dear father," Ryan answered, "I was unable to catch the thief however, I saw the one who is eating our apples. And I have brought you a tail feather in proof. It is the  Giantbird." The King took the feather and looked at it, and no longer felt sorrowful; but he thought a great deal about the Giantbird.

One fine day the king called his three sons and told them: "My dear children, I want you to travel into the world to see whether you can find and bring back the Giantbird." The young men bowed to their father, sat on their horses, and set out on their travels: the eldest in one direction, the second son in another, and Prince Ryan in a third direction.

Prince Ryan rode near and far, high and low, along by-paths until he came to a wide, open field, a green meadow. And there in the field stood a pillar, and on the pillar these words were written: "Whosoever goes from this pillar on the road straight before him will be cold and hungry. "Whosoever goes to the right side will be safe and sound, but his horse will be killed. And whosoever goes to the left side will be killed himself, but his horse will be safe and sound." 
Prince Ryan read the instructions written on the pillar and went to the right, thinking that although his horse might be killed, he himself would remain alive and would in time get another horse. He rode one day, then a second day, then a third. Suddenly an enormous gray wolf came toward him and said: "Ah, so it's you, young lad, Prince Ryan! You saw the instruction's on the pillar that warned you that your horse would be killed if you came this way. Why then have you come here?" 

After saying so the wolf tore prince Ryan's horse into pieces ate it and went away. Prince Ryan mourned on the loss of his horse; he shed bitter tears and then continued on foot. He walked a whole day and was utterly exhausted. He was about to sit down and rest for a while when all at once the gray wolf appeared before him and said: "I am sorry for you, Prince Ryan, because you are tired from walking; I am also sorry that I ate your good horse. Tell me why you have come so far, and where you are going" 

Prince Ryan replied "My father has sent me to travel through the world until I find the Giantbird." "Even if you travel on your horse for several years you can never find the Giantbird for only I know where it lives. Since I ate your horse, now I will serve you faithfully and well. Sit on my back and hold me tight." said the wolf.

Prince Ryan seated himself on the grey wolf, and they flew past the green forests, and the huge lakes. At last they came to a very big palace. There the grey wolf told Ryan: "Listen to me, and remember what I say. Climb over the wall and do not be afraid; all the guards are asleep. In the palace you will see a small window; in the window hangs a golden cage, and in that cage is the Giantbird. Take the bird and hide it under your coat; but remeber not to touch the cage."

Prince Ryan climbed over the palace wall and saw the window. And, just as the wolf had said, near the window a golden cage was hanging, and the Giantbird was there in the cage. He took out the bird and put it under his coat. But as he looked at the golden cage he could not help touching it. It was made of precious gold; how could he leave it behind? He completely forgot what the wolf had told him. But as soon as he touched the cage the alarm sounded all through the palace; drums rolled and trumpets blared and the guards woke up, captured Prince Ryan and took him to the King Peter. 

The King was angry on prince Ryan for he tried to steal the Kings bird and cage. he asked the prince: "Who are you, and where do you come from?" "I am Prince Ryan, the son of King Mark," Ryan replied. "Shame on you! The son of a King coming here to steal!" the King exclaimed. "I regret my doings," the prince retorted. "But your bird flew to our orchard and stole the golden apples."

The King cried "If that was the reason you should have come to me and asked me for the Giantbird and I would have given it to you out of respect for your father. But now you shall be punished for your behavior! And in order to earn my forgiveness you will have to enter my service. A certain King named Kusman has a horse with a golden mane. Bring that horse to me, and I will give you the Giantbird and the cage."

Prince Ryan was deeply worried after hearing the task given by the King. He went to tell the grey wolf what had happened. But the wolf said to him: "I told you not to touch the cage. Why did you disobey me?" "I know I did wrong; but forgive me, grey wolf." "It is easy enough to ask forgiveness," the wolf answered. "All right, get on my back again. We will not turn back now."

Once more the grey wolf flew off with Prince Ryan on its back. And at last they came to the Palace where the horse with the golden mane was stabled. Then the wolf told Ryan: "Climb over the wall; do not be afraid, the guards are asleep. Go to the stable and bring out the horse. But be sure not to touch the bridle you will see hanging there."

The prince climbed over the wall into the fortress, and saw that the guards were asleep. He went straight to the stable and found the horse with the golden mane. But his eyes fell on a bridle hanging up; it was of gold and studded with precious stones: the only bridle fit for a horse with a golden mane. And he put out his hand to take it. But at once the alarm was sounded all through the fortress; drums rolled and trumpets blared, the guards woke up, took the prince a prisoner and led him before King Kusman.  "Who are you, and where are you from ?" the King asked Ryan. "I am Prince Ryan."

"How dare you attempt to steal my horse! Even a peasant would not try to do that. But I will forgive you, Prince Ryan, if you agree to enter my service. A certain King named Solomon has a daughter, the beautiful Kate. Carry her off and bring her to me, and then I will give you the golden-maned horse and the golden bridle."

Hearing the verdict Prince Ryan was even more worried than before. Again he went to see the grey wolf. But the wolf said: "I told you not to touch the bridle. You did not obey my orders." "Nevertheless, forgive me, forgive me, grey wolf," the prince pleaded. "It is all very well, saying “forgive”. All right, get on my back."

Once more the grey wolf flew off with Prince Ryan on his back, until they came to King Solomon's fortress. But this time the grey wolf said to the prince: "I am not going to send you but I am going myself. You return back to King Kusman; I will soon catch up."

Prince Ryan obediently started to go back, while the grey wolf sprang over the fortress wall and into the garden. In the garden the beautiful Kate was walking with her maids. The wolf sat behind a bush and watched them, and the moment the princess fell a little way behind her maids the wolf seized her, flung her over his back, and flew away. 

Ryan was on his way to  when the grey wolf caught up with him, bringing the beautiful Kate sitting on its back. The prince was glad to see the wolf, but the wolf said: "Quick, get on my back, in case we are followed." The prince sat on the wolf's back behind the princess, and the wolf rushed away with them, past the green forests and the huge rivers and lakes. At last they arrived at King's Kusman fortress. But the prince seemed very sad, so the wolf asked: "Why are you silent, Prince Ryan? Are you sad?"  "Have I not good reason to be, grey wolf? How can I part with this beautiful princess? How can I exchange her for a horse?" "I promise you that you are will not be parted from her," the wolf promised. "We will hide her somewhere, then I will turn myself into the beautiful Princess Kate, and you can take me to the King."

So Prince Ryan hid the princess in a forest hut. Then the grey wolf uttered a magic spell and at once became her living image. Prince Ryan took her to King Kusman. The King was delighted and said: "Thank you, Prince Ryan, for getting such a beautiful woman for my wife. Take the golden-maned horse and the bridle." The prince bridled the horse, mounted it, and rode off to the hut where the true Kate was hidden. He seated her behind him on the horse, and they rode away.

King Kusman made all the required arrangements for his wedding, feasted all day and half the night, and, when he came to his chamber at night to see the princesses he was shocked to see a grey wolf in place of his wife. He was terrified and fled, and the wolf slipped away and out of the fortress. When the wolf caught up with Prince Ryan it noticed that he was looking sad again, so it asked: "Why are you so thoughtful, prince?" "I have good reason to be. I am sad to think I have to give up the golden-maned horse in exchange for the Giantbird." "Do not be sad; I will help you," said the wolf. 

When they arrived at King Peter's palace the wolf said: "You go and hide the horse and the princess. Then I will turn myself into the golden-maned horse and you can take me to King Peter." So they hid Kate and the horse in the forest. The grey wolf uttered a magic spell and became a golden-maned horse, and Ryan led the horse to the King. King Peter was delighted to see the golden horse, and gave Ryan the Giantbird and the golden cage as well. The prince carried the cage with the bird into the forest, seated the princess on the golden-maned horse, and rode off on his journey back to his native country.

Meanwhile, King Peter tried to mount the golden horse but suddenly it turned into a grey wolf. The King was so frightened that he fell to the ground, while the grey wolf  escaped and soon overtook Prince Ryan. "Now I must say goodbye; I cannot come any farther," it told the prince. So Ryan dismounted from his horse and bowed very low three times, thanking the grey wolf respectfully. But the wolf said: "Do not bid goodbye forever to me. I shall yet be of service to you." "How can you be of any further service to me?"Ryan thought. "All my wishes have come true."

Prince Ryan mounted the golden horse and rode towards his palace with beautiful Kate and the Giantbird. He arrived in his Kingdom, but as he still had some way to go to reach home he decided to have a rest at midday. So they ate some food, drank water from a spring, and lay down to rest. No sooner had the prince fallen asleep than his brothers happened to ride past, and saw him. They had travelled far and wide in search of the Giantbird, but of course they had not found it. When they saw their brother lying asleep and noticed that he had the Giantbird, the horse with its bridle, and even a beautiful girl, they plotted to kill their brother and take everything for themselves.

The two wicked brothers killed Prince Ryan, seated themselves on the golden-maned horse, put beautiful Kate on another, and threatened her: "You must not say a word to anyone when we get home." Then they rode oft, with the horse, the princess, and the Giantbird, to their father. They left Prince Ryan lying dead, with the crows already gathering above him. But suddenly the grey wolf ran up and caught one crow with its young chick. "Crow, you must fly away and bring back to me some sparkling water and some still water," the wolf told the crow. "If you bring back the two sorts of water I will let your young one go."

The crow agreed, to the grey wolf and flew off, while the wolf watched over the chick. In due time the crow flew back with both the sparkling and the still water. Then the wolf sprinkled Ryan's wounds with the still water, and the wounds healed; it sprinkled him with the sparkling water, and the prince revived. "I have had such a deep sleep," he yawned. "Yes, you were sleeping very soundly," the grey wolf said. "But for me you would never have awakened. Your own brothers killed you and carried off all you had gained. Now get on my back, quick!"

The wolf flew off to catch the two elder brothers, and soon caught up with them. It tore them to pieces and scattered them over the field. Prince Ryan bowed and thanked the grey wolf once more, and said goodbye to it forever. He mounted the golden-maned horse, and rode home with the princess. He had obtained the Giantbird for his father, and beautiful Kate as a wife for himself.

King Mark was delighted to see his son Ryan along with the Giantbird, and asked him to tell of all his adventures. Prince Ryan  told his father how the grey wolf had helped him to win the Giantbird, the horse, and the beautiful Kate, how his brothers had killed him while he was asleep, and how the wolf had restored him to life and then torn them to pieces.

  

The King cried over the loss of his two sons, but he was soon comforted, by the wedding of Prince Ryan and the beautiful Princess Kate, and they lived happily ever after.