The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories
can be conquered,” replied Simeon.
This information greatly surprised Ivan, who said: “Well, why did you
not tell me about this before? I can make as many as you want.”
Ivan then took his brother to the barn, but he said: “While I am
willing to create the soldiers, you must take them away from here; for
if it should become necessary to feed them, all the food in the village
would last them only one day.”
Simeon promised to do as Ivan wished, whereupon Ivan proceeded to
convert the straw into soldiers. Out of one bundle of straw he made an
entire regiment; in fact, so many soldiers appeared as if by magic that
there was not a vacant spot in the field.
Turning to Simeon Ivan said, “Well, is there a sufficient number?”
Beaming with joy, Simeon replied: “Enough! enough! Thank you, Ivan!”
“Glad you are satisfied,” said Ivan, “and if you wish more I will make
them for you. I have plenty of straw now.”
Simeon divided his soldiers into battalions and regiments, and after
having drilled them he went forth to fight and to conquer.
Simeon had just gotten safely out of the village with his soldiers when
Tarras, the other brother, appeared before Ivan—he also having heard of
the previous day’s performance and wanting to learn the secret of his
power. He sought Ivan, saying: “Tell me the secret of your supply of
gold, for if I had plenty of money I could with its assistance gather
in all the wealth in the world.”
Ivan was greatly surprised on hearing this statement, and said: “You
might have told me this before, for I can obtain for you as much money
as you wish.”
Tarras was delighted, and he said, “You might get me about three
bushels.”
“Well,” said Ivan, “we will go to the woods, or, better still, we will
harness the horse, as we could not possibly carry so much money
ourselves.”
The brothers went to the woods and Ivan proceeded to gather the oak
leaves, which he rubbed between his hands, the dust falling to the
ground and turning into gold pieces as quickly as it fell.
When quite a pile had accumulated Ivan turned to Tarras and asked if he
had rubbed enough leaves into money, whereupon Tarras replied: “Thank
you, Ivan; that will be sufficient for this time.”
Ivan then said: “If you wish more, come to me and I will rub as much as
you want, for there are plenty of leaves.”
Tarras, with his _tarantas_ (wagon) filled with gold, rode away to the
city to engage in trade and increase his wealth; and thus both brothers
went their way, Simeon to fight and Tarras to trade.
Simeon’s soldiers conquered a kingdom for him and Tarras-Briukhan made
plenty of money.
Some time afterward the two brothers met and confessed to each other
the source from whence sprang their prosperity, but they were not yet
satisfied.
Simeon said: “I have conquered a kingdom and enjoy a very pleasant
life, but I have not sufficient money to procure food for my soldiers;”
while Tarras confessed that he was the possessor of enormous wealth,
but the care of it caused him much uneasiness.
“Let us go again to our brother,” said Simeon; “I will order him to
make more soldiers and will give them to you, and you may then tell him
that he must make more money so that we can buy food for them.”
They went again to Ivan, and Simeon said: “I have not sufficient
soldiers; I want you to make me at least two divisions more.” But Ivan
shook his head as he said: “I will not create soldiers for nothing; you
must pay me for doing it.”
“Well, but you promised,” said Simeon.
“I know I did,” replied Ivan; “but I have changed my mind since that
time.”
“But, fool, why will you not do as you promised?”
“For the reason that your soldiers kill men, and I will not make any
more for such a cruel purpose.” With this reply Ivan remained stubborn
and would not create any more soldiers.
Tarras-Briukhan next approached Ivan and ordered him to make more
money; but, as in the case of Tarras, Ivan only shook his head, as he
said: “I will not make you any money unless you pay me for doing it. I
cannot work without pay.”
Tarras then reminded him of his promise.
“I know I promised,” replied Ivan; “but still I must refuse to do as
you wish.”
“But why, fool, will you not fulfill your promise?” asked Tarras.
“For the reason that your gold was the means of depriving Mikhailovna
of her cow.”
“But how did that happen?” inquired Tarras.
“It happened in this way,” said Ivan. “Mikhailovna always kept a cow,
and her children had plenty of milk to drink; but some time ago one of
her boys came to me to beg for some milk, and I asked, ‘Where is your
cow?’ when he replied, ‘A clerk of Tarras-Briukhan came to our home and
offered three gold pieces for her. Our mother could not resist the
temptation, and now we have no milk to drink. I gave you the gold
pieces for your pleasure, and you put them to such poor use that I will
not give you any more.’”
The brothers, on hearing this, took their departure to discuss as to
the best plan to pursue in regard to a settlement of their troubles.
Simeon said: “Let us arrange it in this way: I will give you the half
of my kingdom, and soldiers to keep guard over your wealth; and you
give me money to feed the soldiers in my half of the kingdom.”
To this arrangement Tarras agreed, and both the brothers became rulers
and very happy.
CHAPTER VIII.
Ivan remained on the farm and worked to support his father, mother, and
dumb sister. Once it happened that the old dog, which had grown up on
the farm, was taken sick, when Ivan thought he was dying, and, taking
pity on the animal, placed some bread in his hat and carried it to him.
It happened that when he turned out the bread the root which the little
devil had given him fell out also. The old dog swallowed it with the
bread and was almost instantly cured, when he jumped up and began to
wag his tail as an expression of joy. Ivan’s father and mother, seeing
the dog cured so quickly, asked by what means he had performed such a
miracle.
Ivan replied: “I had some roots which would cure any disease, and the
dog swallowed one of them.”
It happened about that time that the Czar’s daughter became ill, and
her father had it announced in every city, town, and village that
whosoever would cure her would be richly rewarded; and if the lucky
person should prove to be a single man he would give her in marriage to
him.
This announcement, of course, appeared in Ivan’s village.
Ivan’s father and mother called him and said: “If you have any of those
wonderful roots, go and cure the Czar’s daughter. You will be much
happier for having performed such a kind act—indeed, you will be made
happy for all your after life.”
“Very well,” said Ivan; and he immediately made ready for the journey.
As he reached the porch on his way out he saw a poor woman standing
directly in his path and holding a broken arm. The woman accosted him,
saying:
“I was told that you could cure me, and will you not please do so, as I
am powerless to do anything for myself?”
Ivan replied: “Very well, my poor woman; I will relieve you if I can.”
He produced a root which he handed to the poor woman and told her to
swallow it.
She did as Ivan told her and was instantly cured, and went away
rejoicing that she had recovered the use of her arm.
Ivan’s father and mother came out to wish him good luck on his journey,
and to them he told the story of the poor woman, saying that he had
given her his last root. On hearing this his parents were much
distressed, as they now believed him to be without the means of curing
the Czar’s daughter, and began to scold him.
“You had pity for a beggar and gave no thought to the Czar’s daughter,”
they said.
“I have pity for the Czar’s daughter also,” replied Ivan, after which
he harnessed his horse to his wagon and took his seat ready for his
departure; whereupon his parents said: “Where are you going, you
fool—to cure the Czar’s daughter, and without anything to do it with?”
“Very well,” replied Ivan, as he drove away.
In due time he arrived at the palace, and the moment he appeared on the
balcony the Czar’s daughter was cured. The Czar was overjoyed and
ordered Ivan to be brought into his presence. He dressed him in the
richest robes and addressed him as his son-in-law. Ivan was married to
the Czarevna, and, the Czar dying soon after, Ivan became ruler. Thus
the three brothers became rulers in different kingdoms.
CHAPTER IX.
The brothers lived and reigned. Simeon, the eldest brother, with his
straw soldiers took captive the genuine soldiers and trained all alike.
He was feared by every one.
Tarras-Briukhan, the other brother, did not squander the gold he
obtained from Ivan, but instead greatly increased his wealth, and at
the same time lived well. He kept his money in large trunks, and, while
having more than he knew what to do with, still continued to collect
money from his subjects. The people had to work for the money to pay
the taxes which Tarras levied on them, and life was made burdensome to
them.
Ivan the Fool did not enjoy his wealth and power to the same extent as
did his brothers. As soon as his father-in-law, the late Czar, was
buried, he discarded the Imperial robes which had fallen to him and
told his wife to put them away, as he had no further use for them.
Having cast aside the insignia of his rank, he once more donned his
peasant garb and started to work as of old.
“I felt lonesome,” he said, “and began to grow enormously stout, and
yet I had no appetite, and neither could I sleep.”
Ivan sent for his father, mother, and dumb sister, and brought them to
live with him, and they worked with him at whatever he chose to do.
The people soon learned that Ivan was a fool. His wife one day said to
him, “The people say you are a fool, Ivan.”
“Well, let them think so if they wish,” he replied.
His wife pondered this reply for some time, and at last decided that if
Ivan was a fool she also was one, and that it would be useless to go
contrary to her husband, thinking affectionately of the old proverb
that “where the needle goes there goes the thread also.” She therefore
cast aside her magnificent robes, and, putting them into the trunk with
Ivan’s, dressed herself in cheap clothing and joined her dumb
sister-in-law, with the intention of learning to work. She succeeded so
well that she soon became a great help to Ivan.
Seeing that Ivan was a fool, all the wise men left the kingdom and only
the fools remained. They had no money, their wealth consisting only of
the products of their labor. But they lived peacefully together,
supported themselves in comfort, and had plenty to spare for the needy
and afflicted.
CHAPTER X.
The old devil grew tired of waiting for the good news which he expected
the little devils to bring him. He waited in vain to hear of the ruin
of the brothers, so he went in search of the emissaries which he had
sent to perform that work for him. After looking around for some time,
and seeing nothing but the three holes in the ground, he decided that
they had not succeeded in their work and that he would have to do it
himself.
The old devil next went in search of the brothers, but he could learn
nothing of their whereabouts. After some time he found them in their
different kingdoms, contented and happy. This greatly incensed the old
devil, and he said, “I will now have to accomplish their mission
myself.”
He first visited Simeon the soldier, and appeared before him as a
_voyevoda_ (general), saying: “You, Simeon, are a great warrior, and I
also have had considerable experience in warfare, and am desirous of
serving you.”
Simeon questioned the disguised devil, and seeing that he was an
intelligent man took him into his service.