HOME AGAIN
It was already dark when they reached home, though it was not late, for
January days are very short. There had been no children at the station,
only men, and the walk home had seemed very long to the little boy. The
men were talking very loudly, sometimes even angrily--they did not
seem to be pleased with what the little boy's father told them about
the zemstvo. It had not done what the people of the village wanted.
"Well, God and the mir for us all!" said the little boy's father as
they reached the house.
All the family were gathered to meet them--the grandmother, the
oldest brother and his wife, and the brother and sisters who lived at
home. They were glad to see the little boy, but they all seemed more
interested in what the father had to say about the zemstvo, and the
little boy could not understand that at all. Though his grandmother
held him by the hand and occasionally patted him on the head, she
hardly spoke to him. Presently, however, she went to her own room,
taking the little boy with her, and then it was his turn! His little
tongue ran fast as he told her all about the journey and the other
grandmother and the stories she had told him.
"You never told me about the Vilas, little grandma," he said.
"Did I not tell you that the stories of her mir are not the same
as the stories of our mir?" replied the grandmother. "I do not know
those Vila stories."
"But you know other stories, very nice stories, little grandmamma,"
said the little boy. Then, after a pause, "Please tell me one now!"
Then the grandmother told the story of
PRINCE HEDGEHOG
Once upon a time there was an Emperor and an Empress who for many
years had been childless. One day the Empress wished for a son, were
he no bigger than a hedgehog. The proverb says, "What one wishes for,
that one gets," and so it was with her, for she shortly gave birth
to a son who looked exactly like a hedgehog and was covered all over
with sharp spines.
Far and wide the news was spread abroad through the world, and the
parents were much ashamed of such a son. Nevertheless, they had him
educated in all useful knowledge, and he had so clever a head that
by the time he was fourteen he knew all knowledge through and through.
By this time his parents could no longer endure him near them, and
they assigned to him a great forest as a place of abode, feeling
certain that he would then fall a prey to a wolf or a fox or some
sort of a beast. They strictly commanded him not to return before
the expiration of seven years. They gave him permission, however,
to take with him anything that he especially cared for; but he would
take nothing with him except a Sow and a great Cock upon which he
was wont to ride. With these he went away into the forest.
Year out, year in, Prince Hedgehog remained in the forest, and he
raised so many swine that at last they were too many for even him
to count. Finally he thought to himself, "My seven years are up;
I will go back home." So he quickly gathered his swine together and
drove them to the city of his parents.
When they perceived afar off the immense drove of swine, they thought,
"Here comes a wealthy swine-drover." But soon they recognized their
son, who was riding upon his Cock behind the swine and making straight
for the imperial castle. So they received him into the castle and
showed him the best of hospitality, dividing his swine among different
pens, for they filled every swine-pen in the city.
While they were at table they asked their son how he enjoyed himself
in the forest, and said that if he wished to go back there they would
give him a goat this time. But he declared that he was not going back,
for he had made up his mind to marry.
The astonished parents replied, "Why, what maiden would love you
and take you for a husband?" The poor youth knew no answer to this
question, so he mounted his Cock and rode away.
Now the parents thought he would never come back again. But he was a
clever fellow, and he went as a suitor to the King of of a neighboring
country who had three unmarried daughters.
When he found himself near the city the Cock flew up with him to
the window of the room in which the company were assembled enjoying
themselves. The Cock crowed with all his might, until the chamberlain
went to the window and asked what he wanted. The Hedgehog answered,
"I come a-wooing."
Then the King permitted him to come into the room, and offered him
the welcome-cup, according to ancient manner and custom. Then the King
again asked him what business brought him, and Hedgehog, the imperial
Prince, answered him shortly and to the point, "I come a-wooing."
The King immediately assured him that he had only to choose one of
the three unmarried daughters. The Hedgehog chose the youngest, but
she would not have him for a husband until her father threatened to
have her shot unless she gave a cheerful consent.
She saw no help for it, and thought to herself, "I can never get
out of this scrape; come what may, I'll take him. We have gold and
treasure in abundance, and we shall easily get along through life."
When the Hedgehog had received her consent he went back to his parents
and told them what had happened to him. His parents would not believe
him, and sent the chamberlain to inquire if it was true that the
Emperor's son, the Hedgehog, was to marry the King's daughter. When
the chamberlain returned and told the Emperor that his son had
spoken the truth, the Emperor ordered his horses to be harnessed,
and went with his wife to visit the King, riding in their carriage,
while their son rode behind on his Cock.
When they arrived they found everything ready for the wedding. But,
according to custom, the bridal party were obliged to go to the church
a few days before the marriage to pray and confess to the pop. When
the young lady came to confession she asked the pop how she might
manage to get rid of the Prince and not be obliged to marry him.
The pop gave her a sound scolding, and said in conclusion, "Just
keep quiet and all will end well. Mark what I say, and remember it
well. When you are come into the church and are taking your place in
the sacristy, do you follow close behind the others. When you get to
the high altar sprinkle your bridegroom thrice with holy-water, and
be careful to prick yourself each time with one of his spines. Then
three drops of blood will trickle out of your hand, and you must let
these also fall upon him."
After confession the bridal pair went home to breakfast. The next
day--it was a Sunday--the bridal party went at half-past eleven
into the church, and the bride did in every respect as the pop had
counselled.
And, behold, the Hedgehog was transformed into a beautiful youth
whose like was not to be found in all the world. Then the bridal
party sat down upon the benches and heard Mass, and the pop united
them and preached them a sermon how they should cleave to each other
all their lives long.
After that they went back to the house, and the wedding-feast lasted
until late in the night. The wine was very good. I sat at the head
of the last table, drank yellow wine out of a painted cup and ate
half a swine all by myself.
"Some stories end that way, don't they, grandmother?" asked the
little boy.
"Yes," said the grandmother, "some of them do."