used, the
owner saying: "We have enough of that already and do not want any more."
He next went to a fish-woman to buy some herring, when she, too, refused
to accept his gold in return for fish, saying: "I do not wish it, my
dear man; I have no children to whom I can give it to play with. I have
three pieces which I keep as curiosities only."
He then went to a peasant to buy bread, but he also refused to accept
the gold. "I have no use for it," said he, "unless you wish to give it
for Christ's sake; then it will be a different matter, and I will tell
my baba [old woman] to cut a piece of bread for you."
The old devil was so angry that he ran away from the peasant, spitting
and cursing as he went.
Not only did the offer to accept in the name of Christ anger him, but
the very mention of the name was like the thrust of a knife in his
throat.
The old devil did not succeed in getting any bread, and in his efforts
to secure other articles of food he met with the same failure. The
people had all the gold they wanted and what pieces they had they
regarded as curiosities. They said to the old devil: "If you bring us
something else in exchange for food, or come to ask for Christ's sake,
we will give you all you want."
But the old devil had nothing but gold, and was too lazy to work;
and being unable to accept anything for Christ's sake, he was greatly
enraged.
"What else do you want?" he said. "I will give you gold with which you
can buy everything you want, and you need labor no longer."
But the fools would not accept his gold, nor listen to him. Thus the old
devil was obliged to go to sleep hungry.
Tidings of this condition of affairs soon reached the ears of Ivan. The
people went to him and said: "What shell we do? This nobleman appeared
among us; he is well dressed; he wishes to eat and drink of the best,
but is unwilling to work, and does not beg for food for Christ's sake.
He only offers every one gold pieces. At first we gave him everything he
wanted, taking the gold pieces in exchange just as curiosities; but
now we have enough of them and refuse to accept any more from him. What
shall we do with him? he may die of hunger!"
Ivan heard all they had to say, and told them to employ him as a
shepherd, taking turns in doing so.
The old devil saw no other way out of the difficulty and was obliged to
submit.
It soon came the old devil's turn to go to Ivan's house. He went there
to dinner and found Iva
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