I
An elder sister came to visit her younger sister in the country. The
elder was married to a tradesman in town, the younger to a peasant in
the village. As the sisters sat over their tea talking, the elder began
to boast of the advantages of town life: saying how comfortably they
lived there, how well they dressed, what fine clothes her children wore,
what good things they ate and drank, and how she went to the theatre,
promenades, and entertainments.
The younger sister was piqued, and in turn disparaged the life of a
tradesman, and stood up for that of a peasant.
"I would not change my way of life for yours," said she. "We may live
roughly, but at least we are free from anxiety. You live in better style
than we do, but though you often earn more than you need, you are very
likely to lose all you have. You know the proverb, 'Loss and gain are
brothers twain.' It often happens that people who are wealthy one day
are begging their bread the next. Our way is safer. Though a peasant's
life is not a fat one, it is a long one. We shall never grow rich, but
we shall always have enough to eat."
The elder sister said sneeringly:
"Enough? Yes, if you like to share with the pigs and the calves! What do
you know of elegance or manners! However much your good man may slave,
you will die as you are living-on a dung heap-and your children the
same."
"Well, what of that?" replied the younger. "Of course our work is rough
and coarse. But, on the other hand, it is sure; and we need not bow to
any one. But you, in your towns, are surrounded by temptations; today
all may be right, but tomorrow the Evil One may tempt your husband with
cards, wine, or women, and all will go to ruin. Don't such things happen
often enough?"
Pahom, the master of the house, was lying on the top of the oven, and he
listened to the women's chatter.
"It is perfectly true," thought he. "Busy as we are from childhood
tilling Mother Earth, we peasants have no time to let any nonsense
settle in our heads. Our only trouble is that we haven't land enough. If
I had plenty of land, I shouldn't fear the Devil himself!"
The women finished their tea, chatted a while about dress, and then
cleared away the tea-things and lay down to sleep.
But the Devil had been sitting behind the oven, and had heard all that
was said. He was pleased that the peasant's wife had led her husband
into boasting, and that he had said that if he had plenty of land he
would not fear the Devil himself.
"All right," thought the Devil. "We will have a tussle. I'll give you
land enough; and by means of that land I will get you into my power."