Russian Wonder Tales; With a Foreword on the Russian Skazki (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1912. Excerpt: ... MARTIN THE PEASANT'S SON MARTIN THE PEASANT'S SON LONG time ago, not in our day, beyond the trackless woods, beyond the desert sands, in a certain far Tzardom of a certain Empire, there lived an old peasant and his wife, who had one son called Martin. Time passed, and the peasant fell ill and died, and Martin and his mother grieved much and wept more than a little. Tears, however, could not avail, since they cannot bring back the dead, so the old woman began to plan by what means she and her Son could live. Now the peasant had left to his wife the sum of two hundred roubles, and though she disliked to begin so soon to spend it, they could not die of starvation. So when in a week's time they had eaten all the bread they had in store, she took a half of the sum and gave it to her son, saying: "There, my son, are a hundred roubles. Go to the neighbor's and borrow a horse and drive to town to buy bread. With it we may somehow drag through the winter, and when spring comes we can search for work." Martin borrowed the horse and went to town. There, as he passed a butcher's shop, he saw the street full of people and heard a great noise of scolding. He stopped and found that the butchers had caught a hunting-dog with drooping ears, and having tied it to a post, were beating it with a stick, while the poor dog, whining and crying, was struggling to tear himself free. Martin ran to the butchers and stayed their hands. "Brothers," he said, "why do ye treat so unmercifully this poor dog?" The butchers answered: "Why should we not beat the wretched brute? He has spoiled for us a whole side of beef " And again they began belaboring him. "Enough " said Martin. "There is no profit for you in that. Better sell him to me." The butchers thought this an excellent jest. "Very good," they replied. "Buy h...