Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and Herdsmen

Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net





SLAV TALES

[Illustration]

[Illustration: _From "The Plentiful Tablecloth," p. 351._]




Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and Herdsmen

From the French of Alex. Chodsko

Translated and Illustrated by Emily J. Harding


London: George Allen
156 Charing Cross Road

1896


Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.
At the Ballantyne Press




NOTE BY THE PUBLISHER


Very few of the twenty fairy tales included in this volume have been
presented before in an English dress; this will doubtless enhance
their value in the eyes of the young folk, for whom, principally, they
are intended. It is hoped that older readers will find some additional
interest in tracing throughout the many evidences of kinship between
these stories and those of more pronounced Eastern origin.

The translation has been carefully revised by a well-known writer, who
has interfered as little as possible with the original text, except in
those instances where slight alterations were necessary.

The illustrations speak for themselves, and are what might have been
expected from the artist who designed those for the "Lullabies of Many
Lands," issued last Christmas.

_November 1895._




CONTENTS


  THE ABODE OF THE GODS--
      I. THE TWO BROTHERS
     II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS
    III. THE TWELVE MONTHS

  THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSEVEDE

  KOVLAD--
      I. THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM
     II. THE LOST CHILD

  THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD

  THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON

  THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD

  THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING,
        AND THE SMITING CLUB

  THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME

  THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR, THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT

  THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES

  THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND

  IMPERISHABLE

  OHNIVAK

  TEARS OF PEARLS

  THE SLUGGARD

  KINKACH MARTINKO

  THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND,
        THE SASH THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


  FRONTISPIECE

  THE ABODE OF THE GODS--
      I. THE TWO BROTHERS.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
     II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
    III. THE TWELVE MONTHS.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_

  THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSEVEDE.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  KOVLAD--
      I. THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
     II. THE LOST CHILD.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_

  THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING,
        AND THE SMITING CLUB.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR, THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_

  THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_
  IMPERISHABLE.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_
          _Half-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  OHNIVAK.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  TEARS OF PEARLS.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_
          _Full-page design_

  THE SLUGGARD.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_

  KINKACH MARTINKO.
          _Heading_
          _Full-page design_

  THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND,
        THE SASH THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET.
          _Heading_
          _Half-page design_




THE ABODE OF THE GODS

    I. THE TWO BROTHERS
   II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS
  III. THE TWELVE MONTHS




[Illustration: The Two Brothers]

Once upon a time there were two brothers whose father had left them
but a small fortune. The eldest grew very rich, but at the same time
cruel and wicked, whereas there was nowhere a more honest or kinder
man than the younger.