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SLAV TALES

[Illustration]

[Illustration: _From "The Plentiful Tablecloth," p. 351._]




Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and Herdsmen

From the French of Alex. Chodsko

Translated and Illustrated by Emily J. Harding


London: George Allen
156 Charing Cross Road

1896


Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.
At the Ballantyne Press




NOTE BY THE PUBLISHER


Very few of the twenty fairy tales included in this volume have been
presented before in an English dress; this will doubtless enhance
their value in the eyes of the young folk, for whom, principally, they
are intended. It is hoped that older readers will find some additional
interest in tracing throughout the many evidences of kinship between
these stories and those of more pronounced Eastern origin.

The translation has been carefully revised by a well-known writer, who
has interfered as little as possible with the original text, except in
those instances where slight alterations were necessary.

The illustrations speak for themselves, and are what might have been
expected from the artist who designed those for the "Lullabies of Many
Lands," issued last Christmas.

_November 1895._




CONTENTS


  THE ABODE OF THE GODS--
      I. THE TWO BROTHERS
     II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS
    III. THE TWELVE MONTHS

  THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSEVEDE

  KOVLAD--
      I. THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM
     II. THE LOST CHILD

  THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD

  THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON

  THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD

  THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING,
        AND THE SMITING CLUB

  THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME

  THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR, THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT

  THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES

  THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND

  IMPERISHABLE

  OHNIVAK

  TEARS OF PEARLS

  THE SLUGGARD

  KINKACH MARTINKO

  THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND,
        THE SASH THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


  FRONTISPIECE

  THE ABODE OF THE GODS--
      I. THE TWO BROTHERS.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
     II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
    III. THE TWELVE MONTHS.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_

  THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSEVEDE.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  KOVLAD--
      I. THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
     II. THE LOST CHILD.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_

  THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING,
        AND THE SMITING CLUB.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR, THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_

  THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_
  IMPERISHABLE.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_
          _Half-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  OHNIVAK.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  TEARS OF PEARLS.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE SLUGGARD.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_

  KINKACH MARTINKO.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_

  THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND,
        THE SASH THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET.
          _Heading_
          _Half-page design_




THE ABODE OF THE GODS

    I. THE TWO BROTHERS
   II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS
  III. THE TWELVE MONTHS




[Illustration: The Two Brothers]

Once upon a time there were two brothers whose father had left them
but a small fortune. The eldest grew very rich, but at the same time
cruel and wicked, whereas there was nowhere a more honest or kinder
man than the younger. But he remained poor, and had many children, so
that at times they could scarcely get bread to eat. At last, one day
there was not even this in the house, so he went to his rich brother
and asked him for a loaf of bread. Waste of time! His rich brother
only called him beggar and vagabond, and slammed the door in his face.

The poor fellow, after this brutal reception, did not know which way
to turn. Hungry, scantily clad, shivering with cold, his legs could
scarcely carry him along. He had not the heart to go home, with
nothing for the children, so he went towards the mountain forest. But
all he found there were some wild pears that had fallen to the ground.
He had to content himself with eating these, though they set his teeth
on edge. But what was he to do to warm himself, for the east wind with
its chill blast pierced him through and through. "Where shall I go?"
he said; "what will become of us in the cottage? There is neither food
nor fire, and my brother has driven me from his door." It was just
then he remembered having heard that the top of the mountain in front
of him was made of crystal, and had a fire for ever burning upon it.
"I will try and find it," he said, "and then I may be able to warm
myself a little." So he went on climbing higher and higher till he
reached the top, when he was startled to see twelve strange beings
sitting round a huge fire. He stopped for a moment, but then said to
himself, "What have I to lose? Why should I fear? God is with me.
Courage!"

So he advanced towards the fire, and bowing respectfully, said: "Good
people, take pity on my distress. I am very poor, no one cares for me,
I have not even a fire in my cottage; will you let me warm myself at
yours?" They all looked kindly at him, and one of them said: "My son,
come sit down with us and warm yourself."

[Illustration]

So he sat down, and felt warm directly he was near them. But he dared
not speak while they were silent. What astonished him most was that
they changed seats one after another, and in such a way that each one
passed round the fire and came back to his own place. When he drew
near the fire an old man with long white beard and bald head arose
from the flames and spoke to him thus:

"Man, waste not thy life here; return to thy cottage, work, and live
honestly. Take as many embers as thou wilt, we have more than we
need."

And having said this he disappeared. Then the twelve filled a large
sack with embers, and, putting it on the poor man's shoulders, advised
him to hasten home.

Humbly thanking them, he set off. As he went he wondered why the
embers did not feel hot, and why they should weigh no more than a sack
of paper. He was thankful that he should be able to have a fire, but
imagine his astonishment when on arriving home he found the sack to
contain as many gold pieces as there had been embers; he almost went
out of his mind with joy at the possession of so much money. With all
his heart he thanked those who had been so ready to help him in his
need.

He was now rich, and rejoiced to be able to provide for his family.
Being curious to find out how many gold pieces there were, and not
knowing how to count, he sent his wife to his rich brother for the
loan of a quart measure.

This time the brother was in a better temper, so he lent what was
asked of him, but said mockingly, "What can such beggars as you have
to measure?"

The wife replied, "Our neighbour owes us some wheat; we want to be
sure he returns us the right quantity."

The rich brother was puzzled, and suspecting something he, unknown to
his sister-in-law, put some grease inside the measure. The trick
succeeded, for on getting it back he found a piece of gold sticking to
it. Filled with astonishment, he could only suppose his brother had
joined a band of robbers: so he hurried to his brother's cottage, and
threatened to bring him before the Justice of the Peace if he did not
confess where the gold came from. The poor man was troubled, and,
dreading to offend his brother, told the story of his journey to the
Crystal Mountain.

Now the elder brother had plenty of money for himself, yet he was
envious of the brother's good fortune, and became greatly displeased
when he found that his brother won every one's esteem by the good use
he made of his wealth. At last he determined to visit the Crystal
Mountain himself.

"I may meet with as good luck as my brother," said he to himself.

Upon reaching the Crystal Mountain he found the twelve seated round
the fire as before, and thus addressed them:

"I beg of you, good people, to let me warm myself, for it is bitterly
cold, and I am poor and homeless."

But one of them replied, "My son, the hour of thy birth was
favourable; thou art rich, but a miser; thou art wicked, for thou hast
dared to lie to us. Well dost thou deserve thy punishment."

Amazed and terrified he stood silent, not daring to speak. Meanwhile
the twelve changed places one after another, each at last returning to
his own seat. Then from the midst of the flames arose the
white-bearded old man and spoke thus sternly to the rich man:

"Woe unto the wilful! Thy brother is virtuous, therefore have I
blessed him. As for thee, thou art wicked, and so shalt not escape our
vengeance."

At these words the twelve arose. The first seized the unfortunate man,
struck him, and passed him on to the second; the second also struck
him and passed him on to the third; and so did they all in their turn,
until he was given up to the old man, who disappeared with him into
the fire.

Days, weeks, months went by, but the rich man never returned, and none
knew what had become