University of Virginia Library

8.
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 per-
formed 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 re-
warded; and if the lucky person should prove
to be a single man he would give her in mar-
riage 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 pres-
ence. 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.