FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 306, 23 December 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS

r Thr story brloir is one or a number specially translated from a volume of f v th.: best Rust-tan Wonder Talcs, selerted hi; command of the Czar for the use of. a his oiai children.] c 1 .nifca^

Before our grandfathers had learned •.nything, before their grandfathers were born, there was. in the Court of the Czar of a far empire, a young bowman named Taraban, who was the cleverest of all the royal archers. Each day he went huz'ing in the fens and marshes for wild swans for the palace table, and one evening, as he wandered with hi? bow and arrow-, he saw seven white ducks with silver wings resting beneath a tree. >o beautiful were they that he would Dot shoot them, but when they flew away followed them afoot, thinking: "Perhaps when they alight again 1 may catch one alive."' The ducks alighted on the shore of the ocean, and there they laid aside their silver wing?, and. becoming trans formed into lovely maidens, threw themselves into the water and began to bathe. The archer crept noiselessly near, and, wii-hout being seen, took the silver wings of the one he thought the most beautiful, and hid himself. Presently the damsels finished their bathing and, coming from the water, ran to put on their silver wings, and behold one pair was missing. Then she who owned them called to the others, and said: "Fly abroad, my little sisters! Fly abroad and linger not for mc! 1 must stay and search tor my wings.' The six maidens thereupon put on their silver wings, and, turning again to white ducks, flew away over the ocean, while the one who remained began to weep. Weeping, she cried: "Show yourself, 1 pray, you who have evilly taken my silver wings. If yon are a girl. 1 will be a 6ister to you. If warrior or lady, 1 will be your daughter. And if a yonxn. I will be your wife. Only give mc back my silver wings'." When Taraban heard her words he was filled with pity. anJ. showing himself at once, gave her the wings. " 1 would not cause you grief or sorrow, damsel," he said, "Take them and be free for .ill of mc. And for your tears 1 a=k your for giveness."' Then the maiden looked on him wonderingly and said: "You speak right kindly, -hough I have been taught '-ha: men were hard and cruel. Nevertheless. a word g:\en cannot be recalled, and M you are so minded 1 will marry you." The archer rejoiced, and kissed and caressed her. and he took her to the capital and they were married. Then Taraban bethought himself of his duty, ant went to the palace and prostrated him self before the C;:ar. "Health to you. my best bowman!'' said the Czar. " What would you ask? "0 your Majesty." he sail. "I am guilty before you! I have wedded a wife without your ro;. ai permi.-sion." "Well." said the C/.ar. "your fault L, not a great one. Lome hither tomorrow . however, and Lrinz your wife, that she may salute inc." So next day Taraban brought his wife to the palace, and her beauty was such that it made the other ladies of the court look like cruws. The '.zar civ.ii not gaze sufficiently at her. and the instant she had gone felt himself seized with a violent love for ber. He sent in hot haste for his Court Ministers, hiBoyars. and his great general-, and said: " Her-' are the key- of my royal treasury. Take as much gold as you require to searcii throughout the four corner- of th ■ world. Only fet h rat', to become my Czarina, such another beauty as the wife of my archer!" The Boyars and Councillors had. perforce, to co upon the highway to search. While they we>-,. thus engaged a ragged beggar approached them. " Why are yon so ea-'. dawn, 0 Bear- and gentlemen?" he asked. "Get you gone!" they said. "best net to drive mc away." th beggar replied. "Rather give mc a piece of gold, and I will point you out the road of cleverness." Then upon onr of them gave him a piece of gold, when he eroded him-elf and -aid: "ii I; .\ar- and "enlle-neii well do 1 kn ,w your ,:,„.-;. ' However', another ni i; :• :i a- hn-lv as t: c w i- ~ Tarabtn. i! :. ;..'.-• w',l! ~.,- ,'in i in the wh"l' » -. ; - e,,r will b, ~r 1gro« upon 111- pa - ■:;.., r :,,,„:-. 1: is oi no iks, ; , ~, at h : .; : , •. ~ i ~ • :,, Czar will be sjtisfk',l with noth ng ie-s yorr heads wili pay lor your faibir.-. i. back, th-re.'ore. to the I zar and !,..) hi:: command the ar-her n journey acros three times nine lands, to the little fores' monster Muzhichek, who is as hi~h a

la man's knee, with moustaches seven , miles Inn™, and to bring h'tber his in- . I \isihle servant. Schmat-Razum. who lives I in liv master's pocket and docs all that 1 ; h- orders him Hid the tzar demand I j :i,:- of tii" archer, and he shall hive hi- , ; will. Foj while Muzhichek indeed exists. 1 [J no man ran find his dwelling nor per-j i reive his invisible servant, and Taraban I J -n, ill wander all his life long, thoutrh h-j 1 j live for ever, without accomplishing the' i : task, and the Czar may have bin beauti - The Boyars and Ministers were re-1 . joiced. They loaded the bpg?T with gold, and. reluming to the palace, adi vised the Czar to act upon this o lis.'. i and he. beinr; cruel and wicked of heart. , . did so. lie summoned the archer and , I s-iid: — '"Taraban, my well-beloved bowman. land best of my archers! On account of i yoi r loyalty 1 have chosen you for an ' I especial service. Across three timet; nine | lands dwells the forest monster. Muzhi- ! chek. who is as high as a man's knee. ' j with moustaches seven miles long. Bring" ; ■> to mc his servant. Schmat-Razum. who . lives in his pocket, and you shall be] chief of all my Boyars. But as you love j j your life, mind you return not without rjhim!" ' I v ! The archer went home in "Teat distress j 1 ■ and bis wife, noticing his sorrowful look. 1 I asked: "What lias saddened you? Have i you had an unfriendly word from the I Czar? Or. perchance, do I no longer ! I please you '.'" 1 " You please mc only too well, my dearest wife." he answered; "but your beauty now lias brought ruin upon mc." r She besought him to tell what had be c fallen, and when he had told her, she said: "The Czar is indeed your prime enemy, and has set you a grievous task, ' and there is no one in the world who can 1 aid you. unless it be my little mother. i- I will send you to her for advice."' Then -in- gave Taraban a crystal ball and a -ilken handkerchief. " After you arc well out of the city." • -lie -aid. " th'ow this ball upon the ' ground, and follow whither it rolls. Tt will lead you to my little mother. As - for the handkerchief, a- often as you t wish, dry your face upon it and upon I t in ether.'" " ' j c s o the archer hade her farewell, and' i" 5,.. out. lie threw down the ball, which | rolled a!wa\,s before him, and it led him j across three times nine countries, till he I had journeyed for the space of a whole j year. ,\,,w. when he had been absent three; 1 month- ihe Czar called his Ministers and said: "The archer has geeu gone a fourth part of a year, and no doubt he will never return. 1 see not why I nhould i wait lojijrpi'. Co, therefore, and bring hi- " ife in the palace." " ! ■\ They went a-cordingly. and brought 1 ! ! hci to him. and lie straightway began to speak endearing words to her; but | she repulsed him and cried out upon him. I hough you are a great Czar, yet I ! lam a wife, and Taraban. your archer, is; ( ! in.x husband, and I will have no other!" : Ii >"ii will not love mc willingly. j thi't, will 1 compd you!" swore the Czar. ! '.and hade them build ;, square tower be- • . -i !,■ the ocean. ,:nd. shutting her within: -'| n. locked its i,...,r with t-even locks, and j surrounded it with soldiers and with ■,-hips till ?hr should look kindly upon. i him. " i As for the archer, when he had jour--1 neyed a year, following the crystal ball. lie reached a vast and splendid "palace, to 1 whose gate the ball led him. He entered. , and there met him six lovely damsels. . who greeted him kindly, and. seeing that : he -,va,- travel-worn and wearied, gave . him fo,„i and drink, and made him lie 1 , d iwn and rest. | When he rose they brought him a . golden washbasin and an embroiJere I . towel, but the tone! he would not use drying his face on the handker.hef In . carried with him. No sooner did In show this, however, than they looked at I it and cried: "This handkerchief wi t know! Where did you obtaUn it?" "it was given m P by mv wife" lie replied. " Th, n you hive wedded our little sister!" they exclaimed, and led him to i their mother, where -:,,. sat in a silver ' ch.i.r. lo her he recounted how he had won hie wife, and how th v had lived happily together till the Czar had sent ,i nun on h s present quest f The old mother said: ■■ ~- „„„. '■ i";I'"*1 '"*- I have lived ni,„-„ , ,„' lnv r. .1.--' on tin- ,-anh. and I imbed know of ,; *•»?;'*!«•*. the forest niuu-ter. l,m wlier.- ---' !" "'V'" ' " ;!, " ! l '' ll - mid never ha\e 1 •: '.',"''['' v \ ■■'■- -"•van- S-I,mm-H.w„ ra .! however. I may di-cover f, , r V od j " "■'/'• he may „, ~„,„,,;• ■,■,,„„ - ( *; :. JZV " h "' !l "veiiookci th,. lan.i. : ' ~' '' '"' w ' lh a piping , ,;,.,.. .. ~ , a, a.i vo peasis an ,i rr ,,.. n . n „ ,- k- ---. • "'"• rl ' ' i'-ng i hing.-! ( 0n,,. - li:th,_r. And at once ther,- came hasten ! - in - lrom a " "dcs every kind of b--ast 13 and reptile till the ground was black

with them. "0. ye. my friends, who run - and creep evcrywh in all lands." she , cried, "have ye ever heard of S.hmat- ] Razum?" And" all answered in one voice: . " Xo. we have never heard of him." She sent them away to their jungles'; and thicke's. when an aged frog, who,, from lanienc-. had arrived behind the other, hopped forward and -aid: "1 , have hoard "i Schmat-Kazum. the scr rant of Muzhi.-hek. tiie fore-; monster. , His master lives on a mountain in a forest in the Knipire of Czar Zni.y. and the forest 1 know well. Hut it a- at the very end of the world, and 1 cannot travel so far in les.- than ."ill years." j The old mother made her daughter.* fetch a jar of milk and put into it the frog and gave it to the archer. "Take; this with yon." she said, "and the frog | will show'von the i,,ad." So Taraban ■ took the jar and came at length to the, empire of tzar Zmev. where was a mourn i tain covered with a forest. He ascended the mountain, and at it- very top was an iron door. -Now. good youth.' said the frog, "this door is the entrance to the cavern which i- the abode of Muzhichfk. As to Schniat-lta/.um. his ervaut. go with Co,:, for 1 cannot aid you!" ( The archer thanked the frog, -et the jar on the sott moss. and. openine; the iron door, entered the cavern. Within i: was dark enough to put one's eyes out. Groping about, li" found un.br a table an empty chest in which he hid himself and waited to see what would happen. He lay ther le hour, lie waited in other, and a third, when suddenly there came a rumbling from without, the dour was nearly torn from it- hinges, and it) came the forest monster. II" was a.s high as a man's knee, had -wine's br -ties for hair, anil his moustaches, so\en mile,. long, tloated far out of the cavern behind him. Muzhichek cat himself down at the table and thundered: " Ho! SchmatRazum! Out of ;nv po.ket and fetch mc my supper!" 'in-tairly lamps 1 1 themselves on tin w ills, pi it *. laid themsehes on th • table cowic! with eoo'-u 1 tle-h and flowl of ewr\ d.-crl; ton. a- d bottle- of wine appealed .i\\<\ poured ! their contents into goblets, Th • forest monster ate and drank ; i suite :. mak itlg a noi-e like a mill, '.ill ther" »a - i nothing' leit. Then he di uted: " II,.: Sclunat Razuml ( 1.-ar mv table!" An I I immcili itely tile empty plates and •_',,:• j lets di-appoarcl. ami the lamps on the walls went out. Mu/.hi hek then bide him remain and keep hi- h -u-e for him till his reti'rn. and ru-hed away d'Wn the mountain. ; The archer crept on: of th- chest, and seating himself at the table, shouted: " Ho! Schmat-Kaziim! Ilrin- nic tuu.l and drink!" At one- flu- lam;.- reap pcarcd. and the tab],- wa- -pr.-ad as before. Then he -aid: " II,,! S.-hina ■ I Kazum: Yon ,-h.nil,l be huiig-y. too. H; down and eat and dr nk with mc." I Tli, ii. though Tar'ban -aw nn one. a voice answet(-,| hiaj .»td riaidT;;4*iyVlh fi c come you. good youth, for three times nine years have I serve,l my master here. and never has j,c asked mc to sup with him as you do!" " Ne\ ertheli'ss. Sehmat-R-izum." said I the archer. ' -it down. IVrhip- I like your company better than voiir master | doe,"

villages, flying past. Presently he per- ' ceived far beneath him the waves of the blue sea, and there their pace slackened, aud Schmat-Razum said: "Master, will you not bid mc here make you a restingplace?'' j "Do so,"' said Taraban; and at once there was a mighty whirlpool in the sea below, and a green island appeared clothed with a fragrant wood. At its, was a garden full of flowers of seven colours and glowinj shubbery. and in the garden was a golden summer-house, with silken awning,- uf many hue-, and windows looking out over the sea. They descended, and Schmat-Razum paid: , " Rest here, master. I pray you. and re fresh yourself for some days, and then we will resume our journey." So there they rested. Next day a merchant vesr-el came sailing by. and the ship"- master saw the island and put in near shore and east anchor. Taraban welcomed him. took him into his golden summer-house, and brought him a stool to -it upon. " Abide here," he said, " and divert yourself with mc for a season, for there is no one with mc save my servant here." The shipman said: "But T see no servant." "You shall presently understand." said the archer, and called: '' Ho! Schiuat-Razimi! hriiif; hither wine and savoury meats!" and immediately a tablewar; spread with all kinds uf delicacies. The master of the -hip was much aston ished. and admired greatly the invi-ible servant, and for The space of a wh"l" day bei-oiiL'ht the archer to sell hm offering fur him a creat store of gold. When Taraban would not. he fetched from his ship a little crystal casket. He raised its lid. and immediately the wind began to blow and the waves rose, till the level of the water was 10ft higher than before; he closed the lid. and the waves srew -till and th" water nub .-'dcd. In addition to hi* gold, the shp-nia.-ler offered this ca-ket in exehang f ••!■ Schmat-Uazum. but the archer would not. The next day a second r.'.dp came sail ins across the ocean and stopped at the '-land. It carried a rich merchant, who had him* If rowed ar-hore. in a skiff, and. Ike the iir-t. wa- .\el-omed by Taralan. lie. too. ile-ired the invi-ible servant, and fur two days tried to persuade the ar he,- to sell liiin. lie offered for him a heap of precious stun"-without number ami at length, returning to hvi i-hip, i brought an earthen bowl, which he : offered in exchange, lie tapped the bowl's -ide. md it produced a full ri rired shipofwar. with all its sailors and tiirhting men. lie tapped •">•> time-, and with etch tap it brought forth a like ship, with sails spread and mariner* and soldiers in their places, fill a Meet of .",0 lay off the island. Then lie turned the bowl ups'de down, and -hip- and men at once disappeared. I'.ut the archer would not exchange S.hmat Kazum for the magic bowl. While both -hip- lay at anchor there came a third yen-el. bearing a trader from a distant kingdom. So much did 1 he desire to p,>s-,-- the archer's servant that, after he had bir'ja tied fur the space of three days, he offered Taraban the value of hi- whole ship's cargo; and when

lie began to eat and drink, and opposite him the plates and wineglasses emptied themselves, so that be knew the invi-ible servant was al.-o eating and drinking. When the meal was finished. the archer said: "llo! Schm.it ll'izum! it seems to mc your master, ihe forest monster, doc- not use vm tun well. Will you be my servant instead': I will not use you worse." " 1 will." answered ihe other. "' 1 am rigiit tired of this eaxcrn. 1 sec you are a good companion lxi-ddes." "Come with mc at once, then." sail the archer. " for my home is far away." lie left the cavern, picked up the jar with the iron, and shouted '-"r his -ervant. " Here 1 am. Miai-tor." -aid a voice at his elbow. " You cannot see mc. yei T shall be ever by you to execute your commands.'' Taraban set out. and made such good speed that, even had Muzhichek known what direction his servant hid taken, h would have had trouble enough to overtake him. Tiny came to Cue deserted land where stood the splendid palace, and isted tin-re three weeks, and S limit Kazum feasted the archer and his mother-in-law and her -ix daughters every day. Taraban left there the aged frog, whom the old moth* promised f r her service- three jars of fitt-h milk every nine days for ever. Then, with hiinvisible servant, Taraban »et out again for hii- own empire. He journeyed six months without stoppine:, and at the en I of that lime was so wearied that he could scar.ely set one foot before the oth r. and at hnglh he -auk d.i wn ~:i tin- ground, r.lying: " Schmat-B.izuiii. my faithful sir.ant! You niusl tiiid another master, for 1 am ul'.erlv exhaii-tod. and I feu- in- 1 -hall never -ec my own empire and rr.v don' n ife ag ..in!" " W by did \ nil No! tell Die \ti;| \v. IV wearied?" r-aid Scliin v Kazmn:' " I wil .•arr\ yoil c- far :u,| a- swiftly a- you ■ Ii -if!" Aim in«l.iptly Taraii :n'f ;l lii.n- -•'''" oiled :;>. i; !.: a whirlwind, and i'ornc through the air w i t ii .-m !i , x eel ing twifiuc-.- tm t he cmid s-are Iv -cc the rivera and forests, the towru" and

that did not suffice, he drew from his • pocket a golden horn, which he offer.'.l •in addition. He blew into one endoor, r it, i and instantly a gnat host appeared. both horsemen and footmen, with spear,, and armour shining like gold. The ollicers of the ho-t waved their br'g'it i-wopl- and the musicians played warlike miirie. ami the fool soldiers marched and the trooper,- galloped past; then the , trader blew into it- other end. and all in an instant vanished. But neither fur the wonderful horn would Taraban give up his servant Schmat-Razum. Now, the three vessels prepared to put out to sen. and presently S-11111,t l!-iz"in came to the archer and said: "Master, your three guests, the captain, the merchant, and the trader purpose to do you . ill. Just now i heard them plotting together how they may slay you. because you will not trade mc to them. Now 1 exchange mc. I pray you. for the c itsket. 1 the bowl, and the horn, and let them take mc away. For at any moment you desire mc 1 will return." Accordingly Taraban went to the three men and said: "Your wonders se-med to mc to be less than mine, but it has occurred to mc that with fleets and hosts J [ can take high service under some Czar, and lighting is my trade. So. if you will agree to give mc your three wondi rs in exchange for him. you mar have my servant." j The three conferred together. "It is j much." they said: " but. after all. we arc • merchantmen!, and of what use to us are i high titles, host.-, and ships of war? With i Schmal-Uazum. however, we may live toi gether in plenty all our lives, and have whatever our hearts desire." So they gave the archer the casket, i tile bowl, and the horn, and he bade I Schmat-Razum go with them, and they ■' I".aided one of their vessels and sailed ..way i;i company acro-s the bine sea. I-'nr tiii'i'p days thy rega'ed th- i: crew.-, and themselves fea.-ti d royally i drinking thiir fill each night and slcVpiri,. - heavily, while the archer sat alone in':h 1 golden summer-house on the island (in the :o;irth evening. Tarabin. fi ding • ionelincs. sit !:e.!\ily upon h.m, si.he! 1 and uaid to himself;

"Oh, Schmat-Razum. my faithful servant! How long will it be before I hear your voice again?" And at that moment Schmat Razum re plied at his elbow: "Here 1 am, master; I only waited your call." The archer rejoiced. "It it time for us to go to my own empire." he said. An I in a twinkling island and summer-houm vanJshed. and the whirlwind lifted him and bore him away. Next morning the captain, the nier chant, and the trader awoke on the vessel. "Ho! Schmat-Razum!" the cried. "Bring us a cooling drink! Hut there was no answer, and the service was not rendered. They ran hither and thither, and shouted and bawled, but th" inviei-ble servant was gone. In anger tho.i put about and returned to 'he plat-' where the archer's island had been, hut no trace of it could they find. Then they ' said to one another: " This was a j magician, and he has cheated and fouled | us! May the devil take him!" And ! weeping and lamenting they spread their sails and departed, each in a d fferent direction. Meanwhile, the archer was carried by the whirlwind acrot-s th" ocean lo his own kingdom, and ther i the slur \ he perceived the square tower which the] Czar had built, -urrounded by its sh p- I and soldiers. " Leave mc here, Srhniit Razum," in' said, "and go and -<•• who is guarded in that lower." He felt himself -el gently on the sea beach, and pre-entlv S.hnat Kazum r<- j turned and said: "Master some Invol prince.-.- -it- in tin- tower'- upper ham her. beii'o mini: the absen ■■ of h"r h s i band, whom the l'/jr has sent a.-io.-,-thrce times nine land-, beeau-c he de-ires to possess her himself." " It is doubtless my own loveli wife!" the arclie,- exclaimed, and -cut hi- -er ia.it to her with a mes-ago h,,ldi:,g he; be ~f g 1 , heer. Thou he , r-iered S-i'iiut Kazum to take him in th- izir",palace, and at once was set down nude. the royal windows. There he lifted his voice and cried: "0 wicked tzar! You steal r of \oui subjects' wises! Come out to mc that I. your ariher. may tell you to y.ur ia-e what you are!" The captain of the guard, hearing thithought him mad. and sent a soldier lo seize him, but th ■ su'.lier S hmat Razum overthrew in an in-t.int The capta'ii sent a sipiad, and them al.-o he stretch'd on the ground like -heaves of barley while the archer did not so much a- 1 fi a hand, but continued to -hout tigaiiu; the Czar. Hearing the uproar, the Czar himself at length came to the window, and see ing the archer, and hearing his words. waxed exceed ingh wroth. "Will ion suffer this iu.-oleiit bowman." he cried, "to rev ilo mc be iv ibv own palace?" And he in ha-te for bis r-oldicrs They a-sembbd, but as they came the archer took hi,- gulden horn and blew it and at oiuv the invincible host appeared horse and foot. glittering in bright armour. He began lo rap on hi- .•.,, then bowl, and in.-lantly ship- ..;' nar ... pea red along all th,. ~,-t. ||,- opened hi-cry.-t.il cn-ket. and Ihe waic- rose an I the water lifted Hut. so that the -hipcame sailing up to the yen walls of 111 v capital. The watchman sitting on the (z.us watch low ci,. cru-,1 to tho-c beu, al'i Cat a hundred warships bad nrrii.d under sail and wet- coining to attack ihe capital, and th,i hastened to tell th • Czar. Furious, he mounted hi- horse and rode out at th, head of ail hi- arm;,, and bade then, open battle. Taiaban c.ilcl the captains of h - h-.-t and gaie ihem order-. The in':, i iaiis bcg.ui In ph.i . and ihe horses to chair and [unie tin drummers bat llieir drums, and the horsemen and footmen moved forward like a great ri.er. No thing could -top them. The enchanted swords cut down Cue Czar'- men like grain, and the gleaming -pears pierce 1 through their armour, .-,, that -hoi ill hi- army was in flight. The I zar him.-, If was caught between th" two forces, dashed from his horse, and trampled to death in an instant. Then the archer called together hi.host. while the Ministers and Knar-, terroristricken. ties,night him to spare their lives and rule the empire, lie cm scnlid. and. marching to ihe tower, brought hi- wife in all honour to the palace, uhi re. v. lieu all had lc-,'l hehand a- (heir Czarina, he or lore.l a gr at festival. for three week- the whole realm foa-tcil. till the nival bin- wire empty and the cellar.- ran dry. while the ' host encamped round about the capital 'and the ships of war llueked under its ', walls. j ( In the t weiil \ lir I in 'hi. ai midnight. , . Taraban went 'to hi- ,li imber. turned | upside down the earthen bowl, blew into , ; the golden horn, and , I 1 ; he ca-ket. I and at the same inn'm ut the --a reccl, d. , I Ihe great lust and the licet of war-nip- , I vanished, and all wa- .is belore. ' So Taraban. the archer, began hi- reign, and his rule wa- wi-e and terrible. lie subdued oilier king,l mis and hid many children, an,! liinl in juy all th ■ d i.iof his life, with his Czarina and hi.- faithful sen ant, s. imi.it Kazum.

"Th, :<■ l.r lined hi., , ~. ,:.,,' ,•,-„./: '.) xriclcd C ar.' J"o« ...tealcr of uour .sub I jeets' wives.!' "