him the raiment of a
Tsar. And the angel said further, "Go now into the inner apartments.
There the courtiers of the Tsar are sitting and making merry, and none
will recognize in thee the vagabond old man. May God help thee always
to do good!" And when the angel had said this he was no more to be
seen, and only his clothes remained on the floor.
Then the Tsar prayed gratefully to God, and went to the merry-making
of his courtiers, and henceforth he ruled his people justly, as the
angel had bidden him.
THE STORY OF IVAN AND THE
DAUGHTER OF THE SUN
There were once upon a time four brethren, and three of them remained
at home, while the fourth went out to seek for work. This youngest
brother came to a strange land, and hired himself out to a husbandman
for three gold pieces a year. For three years he served his master
faithfully, so, at the end of his time, he departed with nine gold
pieces in his pocket. The first thing he now did was to go to a
spring, and into this spring he threw three of his gold pieces. "Let
us see now," said he, "if I have been honest, they will come swimming
back to me." Then he lay down by the side of the spring and went fast
asleep. How long he slept there, who can tell? but at any rate he woke
up at last and went to the spring, but there was no sign of his money
to be seen. Then he threw three more of the gold pieces into the
spring, and again he lay down by the side of it and slept. Then he got
up and went and looked into the spring, and still there was no sign of
the money. So he threw in his three remaining gold pieces, and again
lay down and slept. The third time he arose and looked into the
spring, and there, sure enough, was his money: all nine of the gold
pieces were floating on the surface of the water!
And now his heart felt lighter, and he gathered up the nine gold
pieces and went on his way. On the road he fell in with three
_katsapi_[22] with a laden wagon. He asked them concerning their
wares, and they said they were carrying a load of incense. He begged
them straightway to sell him this incense. Then they sold it to him
for the gold pieces, and when he had bought it and they had
departed, he kindled fire and burnt the incense, and offered it up
to God as a sweet-smelling sacrifice. Then an angel flew down to
him, and said, "Oh, thou that hast offered this sweet-smelling
sacrifice to God, what dost thou want for thine own self? Dost thou
want a tsardom, or great ri
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