MOTHER'S-MOTHER
The happy day had come. The little boy was all ready for the journey,
dressed in a colored shirt hanging over his full trousers--the white
shirt must be kept clean for Sunday, you know--his kaftan well belted
down and with a small fur collar at the neck, and on his head a high
kolpak, or fur hat, just like his father's. His legs were covered
by onontchi, well wrapped around and cross-gartered with colored
strings, and on his feet he had fur-lined shoes, for third-class cars
are very cold. The little boy's mother had on all her warm clothes,
with a long fur overcoat, just like that the father wore, over all
her other wraps; and the father, besides his great fur overcoat,
had on his fur kolpak and high fur-lined boots, into the wide tops
of which his full trousers were tucked. He had a great basket in his
hand, containing food for the journey and a pair of fowls and some
other things for the mother's-mother whom they were going to visit. In
his inside pocket the father had the papers of the mir which he must
carry to the zemstvo. So they were all ready.
All the men and children of the village accompanied them to the
station, which was in the midst of a wide plain a quarter of a league
beyond the last house. There was a good while to wait; the train
was not due for half an hour, but that did not matter. The grown
folk had a deal of talking to do--all the privileges that they hoped
the starosta would secure from the zemstvo for the commune. As for
the children! Well, this was the chance of their lives, for their
station had a playground, with swings, wooden horses, and giant's
strides, and it was not often they had such privileges, especially
the uniformed school-children. For when once a Russian child puts on
the school uniform, play is pretty nearly over for him for the rest
of his life. So they made the most of their opportunity. It was not
a cold day for January, and if it had been they would not have minded.
When the train came lumbering in, as it did after a while, half a
dozen more children jumped down from the second and third class cars
and ran to the playground. The other children made way for them,
for station playgrounds are for travelling children, and they had
the first right. Yet there was room for them all. But the little
boy was impatient to be on his travels, so he ran to his mother, and
was very glad when the men of the commune had said their last words
to their representative, and the starosta led his wife and little
boy to a good place in a compartment where there was room for the
samovar. Presently the first warning was given. The children came
running from the playground; there was a chorus of good-bys. The
second warning sounded, and the train jolted away. The little boy
was a travelling child at last!
At every stop where there was a playground--there was not one at every
station--he would run out and have a swing, his mother going with
him, for he was a little boy to be among strangers. After a while
he was hungry, and then his mother unpacked her basket and set the
samovar a-going, and gave a lump of bread and a big piece of sausage
to each, with unlimited cups of scalding tea that made them nice and
warm. After that the little boy leaned his head against his mother,
and then--most wonderful!--they were already at the capital, and the
stars were shining. Where had the afternoon gone?
He had not time to ask, for his father had swung him upon his shoulder
and was carrying him through the crowd, and there, outside the wicket,
was a little old woman, with such a nice face, who fell upon his
mother's neck and kissed her again and again.
"That is your other grandmother," said his father. "Your mother has
not seen her since she was married, and that is many years ago."
And then the other grandmother caught the little boy from his father's
arms and kissed him and cried over him, till the little boy did not
know whether he ought to cry or not.
He became very well acquainted with the other grandmother the next
day. She did not seem like his own dear little grandmother at home,
but she was very nice. He called her mother's-mother, because she
was not his real grandmother, he thought; and the other grandmother
laughed and said that would do very well.
In the afternoon, when his father had gone back to the zemstvo, and
his mother was clearing up after dinner, which she said her mother
was not to do while she was there, the little boy went and stood by
his other grandmother's chair.
"Mother's-mother," he said, "little grandmamma told me that you knew
some nice stories."
"Yes," said mother's-mother, "I suppose I do. They are not like
your little grandmamma's stories. The stories of this commune
are different. They are more about the Vilas than those of your
commune are. Yours are mostly about Reinecke and the other beasts,
are they not?"
"I like Reinecke and the beasts," said the little boy. "But I should
like the Vilas, too, mother's-mother."
"Then I will tell you about them," said the other grandmother. "Sit
down on that stool--it was your mother's when she was a little
girl. That is right. Now I will tell you about
"THE VILA OF MUHLENBERG"
Once upon a time there was an aged widow who had only one son, whom
she watched and cherished in her old age. Now there was a great war
at that time all over the world; every man who could bear arms was
forced to go into the army, and among others the widow's son. There
he so distinguished himself for bravery on every occasion that he
was promoted to be Captain.
Now it happened one time that they suffered a defeat. Among the
wounded was our Captain, and as he lay on the ground he prayed God
to spare his life, at least until he had seen his old mother. He was
in the greatest danger, for all around him the enemy was killing the
wounded. Suddenly an aged dame stood before him and asked him what
he was praying for, promising him that she would grant his wish.
Without taking time to think, he answered, "Give me a horse, that I
may escape before the enemy murder me."
Upon this she struck upon the earth with the staff that was in her
hand, and softly murmured a few words. Suddenly a noble steed stood
before him, all saddled and bridled; he had only to mount it. He
looked around to thank the old dame, but she had vanished.
The Captain sprang into the saddle, gave the horse the spur, and
flew from the spot like an arrow from the bow. He rode on for a long
time without noticing in what direction the horse was carrying him,
when suddenly it stopped.
He looked around and saw before him a great city with many
church-towers which shone so brightly that they fairly dazzled his
eyes. He rode into the city, and was overcome with astonishment, for
all around him was nothing but stone. Men, women, animals, everything
he set his eyes upon was turned to stone, for this was an enchanted
city. And the horse was a Vila, and had vanished from under him as
soon as he had entered the precincts of the city.
Perhaps he himself would have remained the whole day upon the spot,
as if turned to stone, had he not suddenly beheld before him a maiden
with golden hair. When she saw him she uttered a cry and hastened up
into the golden castle.
He followed close upon her footsteps, but before the castle-gate he met
the same old woman who had given him the horse. He greeted her prettily
and asked her what was all this about--the golden-haired maiden and
the enchanted city. Hereupon the old dame told him the following story:
"Many, many years ago this city was the greatest and the most
beautiful in the whole world. An Emperor lived here, who was so
benevolent and such a lover of justice that whenever he heard that
any one had done his neighbor a kindness he rewarded him so richly
and with such distinction that he could live to his dying day in
peace and happiness. On the other hand, he was unmercifully severe to
evil-doers and caused every one who was guilty of any sort of crime
to be put to death at once.
"For this reason some wicked men killed him and his only son. But as
they were murdering the son they heard an awful voice, which said:
"'Miserable wretches! you have killed him who was your benefactor and
father. Be accursed, therefore, for a thousand years, until a youth
shall come and loose you from this ban!'
"But the Emperor's daughter, whom the Lord God had given to me,
remained alive, for God said, 'She shall be the reward of him who frees
you.' Meantime, however, she was turned to stone until the moment
when you entered the city. Then she awoke, cried, 'The Liberator is
come!' and brought the news to me. You yourself have seen her."
So spoke the old dame, and, full of joy, the young man asked her what
he was to do in order to loose the city from the spell. She answered:
"I can give you no counsel, but you will soon find that out above. And
now, as you have no more need of me, farewell, in God's name! But
first I will tell you who I am. I am a Vila. If ever you should fall
into any trouble, you have only to call, 'Vila, stand by me!' and
you shall be helped." She spoke, and was already gone.
The young man and the maiden were now in doubt as to what they ought to
do. They would gladly have wedded each other, but where find a priest,
or even any one else? So they went into a church to pray to God; and
the maid said to the youth, "From this hour you are my husband and I
am your wife till death. But go at least and set the bells a-ringing,
that our nuptials may be celebrated in some way."
Hardly had the first note pealed forth from the bells when everything
breathed and lived--the men, the beasts, everything, in short, which
had been turned to stone. Then all the people broke out into the cry,
"God save our Liberator, now and evermore!"
The first thing was to celebrate a magnificent wedding, when the
pop united the pair forever in the presence of the whole assembled
people. Every one rejoiced, eating and drinking as if they never
meant to leave off.
The young couple lived for several years in joy and happiness, until
at last the King was overcome with an ardent longing to see his dear
mother. He confided this wish to his wife, whereupon she led him into
the royal stables and presented him with four horses, saying:
"Here, I give you these four horses. You must know that they are
Vilas, and they will take you to your home, for you have no idea how
far away it is. But if any one there asks you where you have been
and what you have been doing all this time, beware of telling them
the truth, for if you relate your adventures the Vilas will vanish,
and you will never be able to come back to me again."
He promised her everything that she asked and set out for home. When
he arrived he found his dear mother no longer living. His heart was
wrung with sorrow, for there he stood alone in the world, brotherless,
sisterless, without a single relative.
The people questioned him incessantly, until at last in a moment
of weakness he yielded to their importunities and told them his
story. But the words had hardly passed his lips when the horses
vanished. He was inconsolable for their loss, for he loved his wife
more than his own soul.
He therefore determined to seek her out, even if it cost him his
head. So he travelled on and on and on until he came to the Moon. There
was no one at home but the Moon-mother, for the Moon had just gone
out. When the Moon-mother saw the young man she was full of pity for
him, and said:
"Do you not know, unhappy one, that my son will tear you in pieces
as soon as he gets home? But come, I will hide you!" And she hid him
in a chest.
When at last the Moon came home, tired and cross, he called out in a
thundering voice, "Woman, there is a Christian soul staying here! Out
with him!"
His mother besought her son to spare the young man's life, and finally
she succeeded in mollifying him.
"Well, then, I won't do him any harm," said the Moon; "only let him
show himself."
Upon this the old mother opened the chest and brought the young man
before her son. The youth drew near to the Moon, bowed low before him,
and said:
"Mighty Moon! you shed your mild rays over the whole earth; tell me
if you know anything of a city called Muhlenberg."
The Moon replied, "I indeed shine over the whole round earth, but I
have never heard of any Muhlenberg. Therefore, I counsel you, seek
out my brother the Sun; perhaps he can tell you something about it."
The young man thanked the Moon, and went to the Moon's brother, the
Sun, and said, "Your brother the Moon sends greeting, and says, in
case you know anything about the city Muhlenberg, you are to tell me."
The Sun replied that he knew nothing of any such city, and sent him
to the North-wind, saying, "This wind blows everywhere and searches
out the most hidden corners; perhaps he knows the city."
But the North-wind sent him to the East-wind, and the East-wind sent
him to the West-wind, and the West-wind sent him to the South-wind,
the most fearful of all the winds. [3]
When the young man appeared before the South-wind, he bowed low and
said, "I bring you greetings from all your relatives, the Sun, the
Moon, the North-wind, the East-wind, and the West-wind, and you are
to give me some information about the city Muhlenberg."
Said the South-wind, "I have just come from Muhlenberg. There will soon
be grand doings in that city, for the Queen is going to be married."
Then the young man implored the South-wind to take him there. The
South-wind answered:
"It is pretty far from here, and you don't know the way; but take
this apple, and wherever it rolls do you follow it, and you will come
to Muhlenberg."
The young man bade the South-wind adieu and followed the apple, going
on for a long, long time. Suddenly he came upon some robbers. He went
up to them as if they were old acquaintances, exclaiming, "Good-day
to you, brothers! Are you right well? Here I am with you at last!"
They really believed that he was one of themselves, so they took him
with them, and showed him a coat which had the power of rendering
invisible the person who wore it. Next they showed him a pair of boots
that would enable one to put a mile behind him at every step. He put
on both the coat and the boots, as if to test the truth of the story,
and immediately made off. The robbers could not even think of trying
to follow him, since they could not see him.
So he rolled the apple again along the ground before him, and at last
he arrived at Muhlenberg. He heard music in every part of the city,
cannons were thundering, and above all swept the South-wind.
When the South-wind saw him he went down and greeted him, saying,
"So here we are, at last, in Muhlenberg!"
The young man now went into the city, and, being still invisible,
he helped himself to all the food and drink he wanted, and refreshed
himself with his gossip, the South-wind. Then, taking leave of him, he
made his way into the royal palace which had once been his own. There
he saw the Queen beside the newly chosen spouse whom she was about
to marry, and heard her sigh:
"Just seven years ago to-day my beloved husband deserted me!"
Upon this he began to sing a song which he used to be always singing
when he was king. She recognized it at once, and, full of joy, cried
out, "That is my husband, my first good fortune! My wedding-guests,
drink the foaming wine and take your leave. I have no need to marry,
for my husband has come home again, my only joy and bliss!"
And from this time they lived long and happily together. And the Queen
bore to her husband a son with a mole like a golden sword upon his arm,
and a beautiful golden-haired daughter.
So ends the story.
"I should like to go to the Moon," observed the little boy.
"They don't go nowadays," said the other grandmother. "That was long
ago, before my great-grandmother was born."