St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-04
PRETTY VASILISSA.
The Village Beauty Loved by a
King.

man, and had but one child VaSiliSSa the
fair. The mother died when the child was
s years old. On her deathbed the merchants
wife called her little daughter, took from
under the bed clothes doll, and said,
Listen, Vasilissa, dear. am going to
die. And, with my maternal blessing, l
beQueath to you this doll. Keep it always
by you, and never let anybody see it; an d
whenever any misfortune comes to you,
give the doll food and ask its advice. When
it has eaten it will tell you cure for your
troubles" Then the mother kissed her
child and died.
The merchant mOuTned fitting time for
his wife, and then began to consider a sec
Ond marriage. A certain widow took his
fancy more than all others. She was mid
dle-aged and had two daughters of about
the same age as Vasilissa. She must needs
be both good housekeeper and an expert
enced mother.
The merchant married the widow but
found that he had been deceived in her; for
he did not find in her kind mother for his
NaSilissa. Vasilissa was the prettiest girl
in the village. but her step-mOther and her
Step-SiSterS were jealous of her beauty, and
laid every possible sort Of toll on her, that
tanned by the sun and the wind. But she
bore it all with resignation, and grew
plumpy and prettier, while the step mother
and her daughters lost flesh and grew sal
low from their own spite, Notwithstanding
that they always sat with folded hands like
fine ladies.
The truth is that Vaslissa's doll was her
secret helper. The girl never ate all her
share of Il meal, but kept the most delicate
mOrsel for her doll, and at night, when all
were at rest, she would shut herself up in
her narrow chamber and feast her doll, say
ing:
There, dolly, feed. help me in my need!
l live i'll my fathers house, but know no
pleasure. My evil step-mother tries to
drive me out of the world. Teach me how
to live and what to do"
Then the doll would eat and give advice
any comfort her in her sorrow, and the
next day would do all VaSilisSa's work for
her. She had only to take her ease i'll a
shady place. and yet all i'll good time, the
beds were weeded, the pals were filled, the
cabbageS were Watered and the stove was
heated. Moreover, the doll showed her
herbs which prevented her from getting
5unburnt. Happily did she and her doll
live together.
Several years went by, and Vasilissa was
Did enough to be married. Every marriage
able young man in the town made her an
offer. while not a soul so much as looked
at her step-mother's daughters. Her step
mother grew more savage than ever, and re-
piled to each sutton:
The younger must not marry before her
cider sisters"
And after the suitOrs had been packed
OFF she would beat VaSilSSa from spite.
IT l9nnpDad now that tho merchant had
to be away on business for long time.
ThereupOn the step-mother moved to an
other house by dense forest. In a clear
ing in that forest lived a Bahia Yaga. She
never let any one come near her dwelling,
and she ate up people like so many chick
ems.
The merchants wife kept sending her
hated VasilisSa into the forest on one pre-
text or another But the girl always got
home safe and sound; the doll used to show
her the way, and never let her go near the
Bahia Yaga'S dwelling.
One evening the Step-mother gave work
to the three girls; one she set to lace-mak-
ing, anothertO knitting socks, and VaSilissa
to weaving, and each an allotted amount 10
do. She put out the lights i'll the house.
leaving only one candle alight where the
girls were working, and went to bed The
girls worked and worked. Presently the
candle wanted shutting; one Of the step
daughters took the shutters, as if to clear
the wick. but, Obeying her mothers orders
she Snutted the candle out, pretending to do
SO by accident.
What shall we do?" said the girls.
''There isn't spark of fire in the house,
and our tasks are not done. We must 90 to
the Bahia YagaS for light"
My pins give me light enough" said
the lace-maker. Il shan't 60"
Neither shall t. said the lnitter.
''My knitting-needles give me light
enough"
''Vasilissa, you must go for the light, -
they both cried together; ''be off to the
Bahia Yaga's."
Vasilissa went to her closet, set before the
doll a supper, and said;
''Now, dolly, feed, and listen to my need.
I'm sent to the Bahia Yaga's for a light.
The Bahia Yaga will eat me.''
The doll fed, and its eyes glowed like a
pair of candles.
Never fear" it said. $50 where YOU
are sent. Only keep me always by you.
AS long as I'm with you, no harm will come
TO you at the Bahia Yaga's.''
So NasiliSsa put her doll into her pocket,
crossed herself and went out into the forest.
AS she walks she trembles. Suddenly a
horseman galIops by. He is white, and is
dressed in white; under him is a white
horse with white trappings- the day
begins TO break. She goes a little further,
and a second rider gallops by. He is red,
is dressed in red, and rides a red horse
and the sun rises.
Thus Vasilissa walks all night and all the
next day. Toward evening she reached
the clearing where stood the dwelling of
the Bahia Yaga. The fence around it was
made of dead mems bones; on the top of
the fence were stuck human skulls with
eyes i'll them; instead of uprights at the
gates were mems legs; instead of bolts were
arms; instead of a lock was mouth with
sharp teeth.
Suddenly there rode past another horse
man. He was dark, dressed all i'm black,
and rode a black horse. He galloped up to
the Bahia Yaga's gate and disappeared as
If he had sunk into the ground-and night
fell. But the darkness did not last long.
The eyes of all the skulls on the fence be-
gan TO shine, and the whole clearing be-
came as bright as if it had been midday.
Vasilissa shuddered with fear, but knew
not which way to turn.
Soon there was heard in the forest a ter
rible roar. The trees cracked, the dry
leaves rustled; out Of the forest came the
Bahia Yaga, riding in a mortar, urging it Oh
with pestIe, sweeping away her traces
with broom. She drove to the gate
stopped short, and, snufing the air around
her, cried;
''Faugh! I smell Russian flesh! Who's
there?"
Vasilissa, in terrible fright, went up tC
the nag, bowed low before her, and said:
1T is l, granny. My step-sisters have
sent me to you for light"
s.Very good. said the Bahia Yaga: 90