Chapter I. INTRODUCTORY, part 6 · page 21 2 3101"Ah, moujik, Marko the Rich has wished us farewell;[59] he's only just dead."102"The kingdom of heaven be his!103If you'll allow me, mistress, in return for my copeck I'll do him a last service--just give his mortal remains a wash."104So saying he laid hold of a pot full of boiling water and began pouring its scalding contents over Marko the Rich.105Marko, his brows knit, his legs contorted, was scarcely able to hold out.106[60]107"Writhe away or not as you please," thought the poor man, "but pay me my copeck!"108When he had washed the body, and laid it out properly, he said:109"Now then, mistress, buy a coffin and have it taken into the church; I'll go and read psalms over it."110So Marko the Rich was put in a coffin and taken into the church, and the moujik began reading psalms over him.111The darkness of night came on.112All of a sudden a window opened, and a party of robbers crept through it into the church.checked by a teacher113The moujik hid himself behind the altar.114As soon as the robbers had come in they began dividing their booty, and after everything else was shared there remained over and above a golden sabre--each one laid hold of it for himself, no one would give up his claim to it.115Out jumped the poor man, crying:116"What's the good of disputing that way?117Let the sabre belong to him who will cut this corpse's head off!"118Up jumped Marko the Rich like a madman.119The robbers were frightened out of their wits, flung away their spoil and scampered off.120"Here, Moujik," says Marko, "let's divide the money."121They divided it equally between them: each of the shares was a large one.122"But how about the copeck?" asks the poor man.123"Ah, brother!" replies Marko, "surely you can see I've got no change!"124And so Marko the Rich never paid the copeck after all.125We may take next the large class of stories about simpletons, so dear to the public in all parts of the world.126In the Skazkas a simpleton is known as a _durak_, a word which admits of a variety of explanations.127Sometimes it means an idiot, sometimes a fool in the sense of a jester.128In the stories of village life its signification is generally that of a "ninny;" in the "fairy stories" it is frequently applied to the youngest of the well-known "Three Brothers," the "Boots" of the family as Dr. Dasent has called him.129In the latter case, of course, the hero's _durachestvo_, or foolishness, is purely subjective.130It exists only in the false conceptions of his character which his family or his neighbors have formed.131[61] But the _durak_ of the following tale is represented as being really "daft."132The story begins with one of the conventional openings of the Skazka--"In a certain _tsarstvo_, in a certain _gosudarstvo_,"--but the two synonyms for "kingdom" or "state" are used only because they rhyme.133THE FOOL AND THE BIRCH-TREE.134[62]135In a certain country there once lived an old man who had three sons.136Two of them had their wits about them, but the third was a fool.checked by a teacher137The old man died and his sons divided his property among themselves by lot.138The sharp-witted ones got plenty of all sorts of good things, but nothing fell to the share of the Simpleton but one ox--and that such a skinny one!139Well, fair-time came round, and the clever brothers got ready to go and transact business.140The Simpleton saw this, and said:141"I'll go, too, brothers, and take my ox for sale."142So he fastened a cord to the horn of the ox and drove it to the town.143On his way he happened to pass through a forest, and in the forest there stood an old withered Birch-tree.144Whenever the wind blew the Birch-tree creaked.145"What is the Birch creaking about?" thinks the Simpleton. "146Surely it must be bargaining for my ox?147Well," says he, "if you want to buy it, why buy it.148I'm not against selling it.149The price of the ox is twenty roubles.150I can't take less.151Out with the money!"152The Birch made no reply, only went on creaking.153But the Simpleton fancied that it was asking for the ox on credit. "154Very good," says he, "I'll wait till to-morrow!"155He tied the ox to the Birch, took leave of the tree, and went home.156Presently in came the clever brothers, and began questioning him:157"Well, Simpleton! sold your ox?"158"I've sold it."159"For how much?"160"For twenty roubles."161"Where's the money?"162"I haven't received the money yet.163It was settled I should go for it to-morrow."164"There's simplicity for you!" say they.165Early next morning the Simpleton got up, dressed himself, and went to the Birch-tree for his money.166He reached the wood; there stood the Birch, waving in the wind, but the ox was not to be seen.167During the night the wolves had eaten it.168"Now, then, neighbor!" he exclaimed, "pay me my money.169You promised you'd pay me to-day."170The wind blew, the Birch creaked, and the Simpleton cried:171"What a liar you are!172Yesterday you kept saying, 'I'll pay you to-morrow,' and now you make just the same promise.173Well, so be it, I'll wait one day more, but not a bit longer.174I want the money myself."175When he returned home, his brothers again questioned him closely:176"Have you got your money?"177"No, brothers; I've got to wait for my money again."178"Whom have you sold it to?"179"To the withered Birch-tree in the forest."180"Oh, what an idiot!"181On the third day the Simpleton took his hatchet and went to the forest.182Arriving there, he demanded his money; but the Birch-tree only creaked and creaked. "183No, no, neighbor!" says he. "184If you're always going to treat me to promises,[63] there'll be no getting anything out of you.185I don't like such joking; I'll pay you out well for it!"186With that he pitched into it with his hatchet, so that its chips flew about in all directions.187Now, in that Birch-tree there was a hollow, and in that hollow some robbers had hidden a pot full of gold.188The tree split asunder, and the Simpleton caught sight of the gold.189He took as much of it as the skirts of his caftan would hold, and toiled home with it.190There he showed his brothers what he had brought.191"Where did you get such a lot, Simpleton?" said they.192"A neighbor gave it me for my ox.193But this isn't anything like the whole of it; a good half of it I didn't bring home with me!194Come along, brothers, let's get the rest!"195Well, they went into the forest, secured the money, and carried it home.196"Now mind, Simpleton," say the sensible brothers, "don't tell anyone that we've such a lot of gold."197"Never fear, I won't tell a soul!"198All of a sudden they run up against a Diachok,[64] and says he:--199"What's that, brothers, you're bringing from the forest?"200The sharp ones replied, "Mushrooms."1 2 3← previousChapter I. 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