Once upon a time there lived an old man named Abrosim, with his old
wife Fetinia: they were in great poverty and want, and had a son named
Ivanushka, who was fifteen years of age. One day the old man Abrosim
brought home a crust of bread for his wife and son to eat; but hardly
had he begun to cut the bread than Krutchina (Sorrow) sprang from
behind the stove, snatched the crust out of his hands and ran back. At
this the old man bowed low to Krutchina, and begged her to give him
back the bread as he and his wife had nothing to eat. Old Krutchina
answered: "I will not give you back the bread; but I will give you
instead a duck, which lays a golden egg every day."
"Well and good," said Abrosim; "at all events I shall go to bed
without a supper to-night; only do not deceive me, and tell me where I
shall find the duck."
"Early in the morning, as soon as you are up," replied Krutchina, "go
into the town and there you will see a duck in a pond; catch it and
bring it home with you." When Abrosim heard this, he laid himself
down to sleep.
Next morning the old man rose early, went to the town, and was
overjoyed when he really saw a duck in the pond: so he began to call
it, and soon caught it, took it home with him, and gave it to Fetinia.
The old wife handled the duck and said she was going to lay an egg.
They were now both in great delight, and, putting the duck in a bowl,
they covered it with a sieve. After waiting an hour, they peeped
gently under the sieve and saw to their joy that the duck had laid a
golden egg. Then they let her run about a little on the floor; and the
old man took the egg to town to sell it; and he sold the egg for a
hundred roubles, took the money, went to market, bought all kinds of
vegetables, and returned home.
The next day the duck laid another egg, and Abrosim sold this also;
and in this way the duck went on, laying a golden egg every day, and
the old man in a short time grew very rich. Then he built himself a
grand house, and a great number of shops, and bought wares of all
sorts, and set up in trade.
Now, Fetinia had struck up a secret friendship with a young shopman,
who did not care for the old woman, but persuaded her he did to make
her give him money. And one day, when Abrosim was gone out to buy
some new wares, the shopman called to gossip with Fetinia, when by
chance he espied the duck; and, taking her up, he saw written under
her wing in golden letters: "Whoso eats this duck will become a Tsar."
The man said nothing of this to Fetinia, but begged and entreated her
for love's sake to roast the duck. Fetinia told him she could not kill
the duck, for all their good luck depended upon her. Still the shopman
entreated the old woman only the more urgently to kill and cook the
duck; until at length, overcome by his soft words and entreaties,
Fetinia consented, killed the duck and popped her into the stove. Then
the shopman took his leave, promising soon to come back and Fetinia
also went into the town.
Just at this time Ivanushka returned home, and being very hungry, he
looked about everywhere for something to eat; when by good luck he
espied in the stove the roast duck; so he took her out, ate her to the
very bones, and then returned to his work. Presently after, the
shopman came in, and calling Fetinia, begged her to take out the roast
duck. Fetinia ran to the oven, and when she saw that the duck was no
longer there she was in a great fright, and told the shopman that the
duck had vanished. Thereat the man was angry with her, and said:
"I'll answer for it you have eaten the duck yourself!" And so saying
he left the house in a pet.
At night Abrosim and his son Ivanushka came home, and, looking in vain
for the duck, he asked his wife what had become of her. Fetinia
replied that she knew nothing of the duck; but Ivanushka said: "My
father and benefactor, when I came home to dinner, my mother was not
there; so, looking into the oven, and seeing a roast duck, I took it
out and ate it up; but, indeed, I know not whether it was our duck or
a strange one."
Then Abrosim flew into a rage with his wife, and beat her till she was
half-dead, and hunted his son out of the house.
Little Ivan betook himself to the road, and walked on and on,
following the way his eyes led him. And he journeyed for ten days and
ten nights, until at length he came to a great city; and as he was
entering the gates, he saw a crowd of people assembled, holding a
moot; for their Tsar was dead, and they did not know whom to choose to
rule over them. Then they agreed that whoever first passed through the
city gates should be elected Tsar.
Now just at this time it happened that Little Ivan came through the
city gates, whereupon all the people cried with one voice: "Here comes
our Tsar!" and the Elders of the people took Ivanushka by the arms,
and brought him into the royal apartments, clad him in the Tsar's
robes, seated him on the Tsar's throne, made their obeisance to him as
their sovereign Tsar, and waited to receive his commands. Ivanushka
fancied it was all a dream; but when he collected himself, he saw that
he was in reality a Tsar. Then he rejoiced with his whole heart, and
began to rule over the people, and appointed various officers. Amongst
others he chose one named Luga, and calling him, spoke as follows: "My
faithful servant and brave knight Luga, render me one service; travel
to my native country, go straight to the King, greet him for me, and
beg of him to deliver up to me the merchant Abrosim and his wife; if
he gives them up, bring them hither; but if he refuses, threaten him
that I will lay waste his kingdom with fire and sword, and make him
prisoner."
When the servant Luga arrived at Ivanushka's native country he went to
the Tsar, and asked him to give up Abrosim and Fetinia. The Tsar knew
that Abrosim was a rich merchant living in his city, and was not
willing to let him go; nevertheless, when he reflected that
Ivanushka's kingdom was a large and powerful one, fearing to offend
him, he handed over Abrosim and Fetinia. And Luga received them from
the Tsar, and returned with them to his own kingdom. When he brought
them before Ivanushka, the Tsar said: "True it is, my father, you
drove me from your home; I therefore now receive you into mine: live
with me happily, you and my mother, to the end of your days."
Abrosim and Fetinia were overjoyed that their son had become a great
Tsar, and they lived with him many years, and then died. Ivanushka sat
upon the throne for thirty years, in health and happiness, and his
subjects loved him truly to the last hour of his life.