"It doesn't amount to much."
_Moujik_, a peasant: his duties are those of a farm laborer,
yet this phrase would not be a fair translation. This word, which is
rendered "tiller of the soil," has no exact equivalent in English.
_Korolevitch_, from _korol_: king. The endings
_evitch_ and _evna_ show descent, korolevitch meaning son of
a king; korolevna meaning daughter of a king.
_Dutch trumpet_, i.e., an imported trumpet. Anything foreign
is "Dutch" to the Russian peasant.
_Honey drink_, a drink made by fermenting honey and water. It
is quite common in Russia, and is about the same as our mead.
Russian and other Slavonic tales often have queer endings, similar
to the one here given by the story-teller at the end of the story,
which is no part of the tale. To the Russian they give a poetic touch,
a little sense of confusion and mystery which is certainly delightful.
The Language of the Birds
_Holy Russia_. To the Russian his country is sacred;
everything outside is profane by comparison. The phrase suggests the
_Holy Roman Empire_ of history, or the _Celestial Kingdom_
of the Chinese.
Ivanoushka the Simpleton
In the peasant's house there is often a large stove of brick or
tile on which the family sleep in cold weather.
_A day in and an equal day out_, the Russian idiom. Observe
how very like our own.
Woe Bogotir
_Kabak_, a drinking saloon.
The _ruble_ is the principal coin of Russia, as the dollar
is in the United States. It is equal to 100 copecks, and at this time
(1903) is worth only about 50 cents.
_Honey to drink_, i.e., fermented honey, or mead.
Baba Yaga
_Baba_, a peasant woman, or grandmother; granny.
_Yaga_, witch. _Baba Yaga_, therefore, is the familiar
"Grandmother Witch."
_Izba_, a hut. _Izboushka_, a tiny hut.
Father Frost
_Schouba_, a large fur-lined cloak.
_Sarafan_, the Russian national costume for women.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]