82 COSSACK FAIRY TALES.

Then the young man ran home and said to his
father: “Dad, give me a silver ruble!”—* Where-
fore, my son?”—“T would buy a holy image,” said
he, and he told oe how he had seen that
heathen beating

            

“Nay, my son, whence
shall we who are poor find a silver ruble to
give to him who is so rich ?”— —“‘Nay, but give it
me, dad!” and he begved and prayed till he got it.
Then he ran back as quickly as he could, paid
the silver ruble to the rich man, and got the holy
image. He washed it clean and placed it in the
midst of sweet-smelling flowers. And so they lived
on as before.

Now this youth had three uncles, rich merchants,
who sold all manner of merchandise, and went in
ships to foreign lands where they sold their goods
and made their gains. One day, when his uncles
were again making ready to depart into SEs lands,
he said to them: “Take me with you !°—" Why
shouldst thou go?” said they: “we have wares to
sell, but what hast thou?”— Yet take me,” said
he—* But thou hast nothing.”—“TI will make me
laths and boards and take them with me,” said he.—
His uncles laughed at him for imagining such wares
as these, but he begged and De ed them till they
were wearied. “ Well, come,” they said, “though
there is nought for thee to do; only take not much