Виктор Мазанов – Tales of Wisdom. Insights from Russian Folklore (страница 17)
– Alright, said the old man and went to the stove; the old woman added:
– Tomorrow get up early, hitch the mare to the sled and take Nastenka with you; and you, Nastenka, gather your belongings and dress nicely: tomorrow you’ll go to visit!
Kind‑hearted Nastenka was delighted at the prospect of being taken somewhere and slept sweetly all night. At dawn she washed, gathered everything, and dressed up. She looked as beautiful as a bride.
It was winter, and the frost cracked loudly outside.
The old man, before sunrise, harnessed the horse to the sled; everything was ready. The old woman set the table, poured sour cabbage soup, and said to the step‑daughter:
– Come, dear, eat and get out of my sight! I’ve had enough of you! Old man, take Nastenka to her fiancé; go straight on the road, then turn right at the pine on the hill and hand Nastenka over to Father Frost.
The old man’s eyes widened, his mouth opened, and he stopped eating; the girl froze in amazement, tears welling up.
– What a pity! The fiancé is handsome and rich! Look at his wealth: all the firs and birches are silver; his life is enviable, and he’s a strong man!
The old man began to protest, but the old woman, scolding him, forced him to agree, as long as the light stands, and he reluctantly set off, his heart heavy.
He packed the belongings, told his daughter to dress warmly, and set out. After a while he began to regret leading his daughter to certain death.
Better let the old woman lead me than leave my daughter out in the frost, he thought, turned the horse around, and hurried home.
Nastenka sensed her father’s change of mind. She’ll lead you away, she thought, and silently slipped from the sled, heading exactly as the step‑mother had instructed – straight to the tall pine and sat beneath it, accepting her fate.
The old man rode on without looking back and arrived home, only then noticing the empty sled. A deep sorrow seized him. Where could he now find his daughter in the forest? He mourned, entered the house, and sat down.
Nastenka sat shivering under the pine; a chill ran through her bones. She tried to move but had no strength; only her teeth chattered. Suddenly she heard, not far away, Father Frost cracking on a fir tree, hopping from one tree to another, clicking his tongue. He appeared on the very pine under which the girl sat and spoke from above:
– Are you warm, girl? Are you warm, red‑cheeked?
– Warm, father, warm, Father Frost!
Father Frost descended lower, crackling louder, and asked again:
– Are you warm, girl? Are you warm, red‑cheeked?
Nastenka, barely breathing, answered:
– Warm, Father Frost! Warm, father!
Father Frost’s crackling grew even louder, and he asked once more, with all his might:
– Are you warm, girl? Are you warm, red‑cheeked? Are you warm, dear?
Nastenka was completely frozen; her lips turned blue, but she whispered:
– Oh, warm, father Father Frost!
She fell weakly to the ground.
Seeing her plight, Father Frost took pity, wrapped the girl in furs, and warmed her with blankets. Nastenka opened her eyes and thanked Father Frost for his kindness.
The next morning the old woman scolded her husband:
– Look, you took Nastenka away, and the floors are still un‑swept! The water isn’t poured! Fool! You took your own daughter into the forest in such a frost! Go quickly, find her, maybe Father Frost hasn’t taken her as his wife yet.
The old man harnessed the horse and set off. He rode for a long time, wondering where in the forest he could find her. He decided to go to the very pine where Nastenka had gone.
He arrived and indeed found her alive, wearing a sable coat, with chests of rich gifts beside her. Without a word, the old man loaded everything onto the sled, sat with his daughter, and rode home.
When they reached the house, the girl immediately bowed to the step‑mother. The old woman was astonished to see her step‑daughter alive, in a new coat, with chests of gifts.
In an instant the old woman began to scold her husband:
– Fool! What are you standing there for! Take my daughter and put her back in the same place! Otherwise she’ll stay without gifts!
She dressed her daughter warmly, fed her well, gave her food and hot drink, and sent her on her way.
The old man took her back to the forest, to the same spot where he had found her, left her under the same fir, and left.
The step‑mother’s daughter (Marfa) sat shivering, ate her mother’s food until it cooled, while Father Frost was nowhere to be seen.
Soon, Marfa heard the crackling in the forest and saw Father Frost hopping from one fir to another, clicking his tongue, and looking at her:
– Are you warm, girl? Are you warm, red‑cheeked?
She answered:
– Oh, it’s cold! Don’t click, don’t crack, Father Frost…
Father Frost descended lower, crackling louder:
– Are you warm, girl? Are you warm, red‑cheeked?
– My hands and feet are frozen! Go away, Father Frost…
He went even lower, struck harder, and shouted with all his strength:
– Are you warm, girl? Are you warm, red‑cheeked? Are you warm, dear?
– I’m completely chilled! Leave, disappear, Father Frost!
Father Frost became angry and froze Marfa completely.
The next morning the old woman said to her husband:
– Hurry up and harness the horse, fool! Otherwise my Marfa will be completely frozen!
The old man, without even having a bite to eat, was already on the road. He arrived and gasped: Marfa lay in the snow, barely alive. He put her on the sled, covered her with a blanket, gave her hot drink, and took her home.
He carried her into the house, and the old woman, seeing her daughter, gasped and rushed to her.
– Oh, daughter! What happened, dear? Where are the chests of gold and silver?
– Go away, you fool! the old man said, surprised by his own boldness. Look what your daughter has become, almost crazy! And you, bring her silver and gold! You’ve gone mad with greed!
The old man placed Marfa on the hot stove to warm her faster, while Nastenka helped. The old woman stood with her mouth open, not knowing what to say or do.
A few months later a good young man asked Nastenka’s hand, and they were married. Nastenka forgave her step‑mother and stepsister and invited them to the wedding, then moved to live with her husband.
At first life was hard without Nastenka, but Marfa began to pull herself together, started to work and not be lazy. It was not easy – everything seemed to fall from her hands. Yet Nastenka visited, helped, and taught her sister how to do things properly. Marfa became industrious and helped her parents with the household.
Kindness and selfishness
– Nastenka cared for the household and, despite difficulties, remained kind.
– Marfa was rude and lazy.
Parental responsibility
– The old woman constantly spoiled her own daughter, almost leading to her death.
– The old man was too weak and did nothing against the cruelty toward his own daughter.
Power of words
– Nastenka’s politeness moves Father Frost.
– Marfa’s rudeness turned against her.