University of Virginia Library

6.
CHAPTER VI.

THE brothers, having finished their houses,
moved into them and lived apart from their
father and brother. Ivan, when he had com-
pleted his plowing, made a great feast, to which
he invited his brothers, telling them that he had
plenty of beer for them to drink. The broth-
ers, however, declined Ivan's hospitality, say-
ing, "We have seen the beer moujiks drink,
and want none of it."

Ivan then gathered around him all the peas-
ants in the village and with them drank beer
until he became intoxicated, when he joined the

Khorovody
(a street gathering of the village boys
and girls, who sing songs), and told them
they must sing his praises, saying that in return
he would show them such sights as they had

never before seen in their lives. The little
girls laughed and began to sing songs praising
Ivan, and when they had finished they said:
'Very well; now give us what you said you
would."

Ivan replied, "I will soon show you," and,
taking an empty bag in his hand, he started for
the woods. The little girls laughed as they
said, "What a fool he is!" and resuming their
play they forgot all about him.

Some time after Ivan suddenly appeared
among them carrying in his hand the bag,
which was now filled.

"Shall I divide this with you?" he said.

"Yes; divide!" they sang in chorus.

So Ivan put his hand into the bag and drew
it out full of gold coins, which he scattered
among them.

"Batiushka," they cried as they ran to gather
up the precious pieces.

The moujiks then appeared on the scene and
began to fight among themselves for the pos-

session of the yellow objects. In the mêlée
one old woman was nearly crushed to death.

Ivan laughed and was greatly amused at the
sight of so many persons quarrelling over a few
pieces of gold.

"Oh! you duratchki" (little fools), he said,
"why did you almost crush the life out of the
old grandmother? Be more gentle. I have
plenty more, and I will give them to you;"
whereupon he began throwing about more of
the coins.

The people gathered around him, and Ivan
continued throwing until he emptied his bag.

They clamored for more, but Ivan replied:

"The gold is all gone. Another time I will
give you more. Now we will rsum our
singing and dancing."

The little children sang, but Ivan said to
them, "Your songs are no good."

The children said, "Then show us how to
sing better."

To this Ivan replied, "I will show you peo-

ple who can sing better than you." With that
remark Ivan went to the barn and, securing a
bundle of straw, did as the little devil had di-
rected him; and presently a regiment of sol-
diers appeared in the village street, and he
ordered them to sing and dance.

The people were astonished and could not
understand how Ivan had produced the stran-
gers.

The soldiers sang for some time, to the great
delight of the villagers; and when Ivan com-
manded them to stop they instantly ceased.

Ivan then ordered them off to the barn, tell-
ing the astonished and mystified moujiks that
they must not follow him. Reaching the barn,
he turned the soldiers again into straw and went
home to sleep off the effects of his debauch.