The Violet Fairy Book Read Online Free Page B

then he
agreed. Mark counted out the money, wrapped the baby up in a fox
skin, laid it in the sledge beside him, and drove back towards
home. When he had driven some miles he drew up, carried the
child to the edge of a steep precipice and threw it over,
muttering, 'There, now try to take my property!'
    Very soon after this some foreign merchants travelled along that
same road on the way to see Mark and to pay the twelve thousand
crowns which they owed him.
    As they were passing near the precipice they heard a sound of
crying, and on looking over they saw a little green meadow wedged
in between two great heaps of snow, and on the meadow lay a baby
amongst the flowers.
    The merchants picked up the child, wrapped it up carefully, and
drove on. When they saw Mark they told him what a strange thing
they had found. Mark guessed at once that the child must be his
godson, asked to see him, and said:
    'That's a nice little fellow; I should like to keep him. If you
will make him over to me, I will let you off your debt.'
    The merchants were very pleased to make so good a bargain, left
the child with Mark, and drove off.
    At night Mark took the child, put it in a barrel, fastened the
lid tight down, and threw it into the sea. The barrel floated
away to a great distance, and at last it floated close up to a
monastery. The monks were just spreading out their nets to dry
on the shore, when they heard the sound of crying. It seemed to
come from the barrel which was bobbing about near the water's
edge. They drew it to land and opened it, and there was a little
child! When the abbot heard the news, he decided to bring up the
boy, and named him 'Vassili.'
    The boy lived on with the monks, and grew up to be a clever,
gentle, and handsome young man. No one could read, write, or
sing better than he, and he did everything so well that the abbot
made him wardrobe keeper.
    Now, it happened about this time that the merchant, Mark, came to
the monastery in the course of a journey. The monks were very
polite to him and showed him their house and church and all they
had. When he went into the church the choir was singing, and one
voice was so clear and beautiful, that he asked who it belonged
to. Then the abbot told him of the wonderful way in which
Vassili had come to them, and Mark saw clearly that this must be
his godson whom he had twice tried to kill.
    He said to the abbot: 'I can't tell you how much I enjoy that
young man's singing. If he could only come to me I would make
him overseer of all my business. As you say, he is so good and
clever. Do spare him to me. I will make his fortune, and will
present your monastery with twenty thousand crowns.'
    The abbot hesitated a good deal, but he consulted all the other
monks, and at last they decided that they ought not to stand in
the way of Vassili's good fortune.
    Then Mark wrote a letter to his wife and gave it to Vassili to
take to her, and this was what was in the letter: 'When the
bearer of this arrives, take him into the soap factory, and when
you pass near the great boiler, push him in. If you don't obey
my orders I shall be very angry, for this young man is a bad
fellow who is sure to ruin us all if he lives.'
    Vassili had a good voyage, and on landing set off on foot for
Mark's home. On the way he met three beggars, who asked him:
'Where are you going, Vassili?'
    'I am going to the house of Mark the Merchant, and have a letter
for his wife,' replied Vassili.
    'Show us the letter.'
    Vassili handed them the letter. They blew on it and gave it back
to him, saying: 'Now go and give the letter to Mark's wife. You
will not be forsaken.'
    Vassili reached the house and gave the letter. When the mistress
read it she could hardly believe her eyes and called for her
daughter. In the letter was written, quite plainly: 'When you
receive this letter, get ready for a wedding, and let the bearer
be married next day to my daughter, Anastasia. If you don't obey
my orders I shall be very angry.'
    Anastasia saw the