Once upon a time there lived a husband and wife. They had been married for fifteen years, but they had no children. The husband and wife constantly repeated: “God, give us a son, we ask for nothing more, just one son, even if he is no taller than a boot.”
And in the end God gave them what they asked for. Fifteen years and nine months later, the wife gave birth to a boy half an arshin long, and he did not grow an inch more. That's why his parents called him Boot.
The time has come for Boots to earn a piece of bread. There was no boy smarter and more agile than him, but not a single owner wanted to take such a short man as a worker. Finally, Boot was hired to herd cows by a farmer who was as angry as hell and as stingy as a moneylender. Stale bread and lean soup, straw instead of bed, frequent beatings and not a penny's salary - that's what the poor shepherd received for his work. But he was still full of hope and thought to himself: “Patience! After the rain the sun will come out.” Once Boot guarded the cows, lying under a willow on the bank of the Zher River. On the other bank, he saw an old woman half his height, black as soot, as old as a road.
“Shepherd,” cried the old woman, “come here and carry me across the river.”
- Willingly, grandmother.
The boot undressed. Fortunately, it was in the fall, after the harvest. The river became so shallow that even the short shepherd had water up to his waist.
- Well, here you are on this shore, grandmother.
- Thank you, shepherd. Debt is worth paying - here's a pipe for you, don't part with it day or night. All you have to do is put it to your lips, and everyone who hears it, people and animals, will dance against their will and will dance until you stop playing.
Thank you, grandma. The old lady left, and Boot put the pipe to his lips and began to play. At that same moment, the bulls, cows, and calves began to dance and galloped until the shepherd stopped playing.
Soon a justice of the peace passed by, a hot-tempered and angry man like a hundred devils in hell. When he reached the thickets of thorns and thorny brambles, the shepherd took off his hat.
— Hello, Mr. Justice of the Peace.
The judge walked by and didn’t answer, didn’t even touch his hat.
- Mister Judge, I greet you politely. You could respond in kind.
The judge waved his stick.
Then Boot raised his pipe to his lips. And at that very moment the judge, willy-nilly, had to start dancing. He danced, danced in the thicket of black thorns and brambles, which tore his dress and body, danced until the little shepherd stopped blowing his trumpet.
Boot and the herd returned to the manor. On this day, the owner and his family feasted gloriously; for dinner there was cabbage soup, crow's feet, roast turkey, cheese and good wine.
“Master, won’t you let me try these delicious things too?”
- Look, what a delicacy! Get lost! Moldy crusts are too good for you. Get away, or I'll give you a beating!
Then Boot started playing the pipe. Immediately the owner and his family began to dance against their will. They danced and danced among overturned benches and chairs, among broken plates, dishes and bottles, which wounded their legs and bled. They danced and danced until the baby stopped playing.
After this, Boot returned to his parents, and the magistrate and the farmer sued him.
And then three days later the shepherd was sentenced to hang.
When the red-robed judges, the priest, the executioner and his assistants led Boots to the gallows, he glanced at the justice of the peace and the farmer standing in the crowd and died laughing.
The executioner put a noose around Boot's neck.
But Boot raised his pipe to his lips. And immediately the judges in red robes, the priest, the executioner, his assistants - everyone began to dance against their will. They jumped above the gallows, risking breaking their necks every time they fell to the ground. They danced until the short shepherd decided to stop playing.
- Well, good people, do you still want to hang me?
- No, Boot, go wherever you want. Nobody will touch you.
- Good people, this is not enough for me. I want the magistrate and my master to be hanged now!
- Boot, this is not in our power.
Then Boot took up the pipe, and the judges in red, the priest, the executioner, and his assistants again had to start dancing. They danced, jumped higher than the gallows, fell to the ground and almost broke their arms and legs.
They danced until Boot stopped playing.
“Good people, I want the justice of the peace and my master to be hanged without any pity.” Well, is it still not in your control?
- Okay, Boot, we agree. Executioner, do your job.
The executioner and his assistants hanged the judge and the farmer to the gallows.
“And now, good people, for the fact that you have offended me so much, count me out a thousand pistoles each.”
- Boot, we can’t afford this.
Then Boot raised the pipe to his lips. And the judges, the priest, the executioner, his assistants - everyone started dancing. They danced and jumped higher than the gallows, risking breaking their necks every time they fell to the ground. They danced until the baby stopped playing.
“Good people, for the offense you have caused me, count me one hundred pistoles each.” Is this affordable for you?
- Yes, Boot. But we don't have any money with us.
“Then send someone after them.” Otherwise, watch out for the pipe to start playing again!
No sooner said than done. After this, the Boot, loaded with gold, returned to his father and mother, and they lived happily ever after.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru