Once upon a time there lived in our area a poor peasant, and he had a son. A son like a son, the boy is not stupid, but ordinary peasant work was not to his heart. So the father decided to take his son to the city: let him have a look, learn, and choose some craft he likes.
Planned and done. And one fine morning they came together to the city. There the father introduced his son to various hard-working people: carpenters and masons, potters and blacksmiths... However, looking at them, the boy only sighed sadly:
- No, father, this is not my calling...
“Oh, my bitter grief...” the father lamented.
They spent the whole day searching, but they didn’t find anything enviable. And when evening came, we headed back. It was then that a large gloomy house on the outskirts of the city caught their eye.
- What kind of dominatrix is this? - the son asked.
- ABOUT! Everyone avoids this house, because the sorcerer himself lives in it... - the father whispered with fear.
- A sorcerer?! - exclaimed the boy. - If only I could learn his craft! Just the right activity for me.
“Hmm... Maybe so...” the father said thoughtfully. “But I don’t have enough money.” You should ask how much he will charge for training.
They knocked on the door - no answer. They knocked again - again silence. Only the third time the door opened, and the owner of the house himself appeared before them. He looked at the timid peasant, then at the boy’s smart face and understood everything. Before the peasant could open his mouth, the sorcerer raised his hand and said imperiously:
“I won’t demand money from you, but I will set one condition: in exactly a year and one day you must come here to my house and recognize your own son among my other students.” Just keep in mind: both your son and all the disciples will appear before you in some other form - either an animal or a bird. Well... If you recognize your son, you will take him with you, if not, he will stay with me.
The peasant scratched the back of his head. What to do, what to do? It’s a very tempting offer, but I’m afraid of losing my son. He hesitated for a long time, but his son finally begged him. The peasant waved his hand - they say, come what may! - and agreed.
That's how the boy remained in the sorcerer's house.
And I must say that in a year and one day the boy could visit his parent three times. When he came to his father in the village for the first time, the peasant asked him:
- How are you, son? Do you like your future craft?
“I like it very much, but I’m just afraid, father, that you won’t recognize me during the test.” After all, I myself still don’t really know what and how I can help you. Well, it’s okay, there’s no need to despair yet. Wait and see.
On the second visit, the son said to his father:
- Let's hope, father, for the best. Now, of course, I’m not very strong in all sorts of wisdom, but I already know how to do something. Wait a little longer, and I will tell you how you can recognize me.
Finally, on his third and last visit, he joyfully announced to his father:
“Now, father, I am as strong in sorcery as my teacher.” I read all his books, found out all his secrets. And I’ll tell you what: on the day of your arrival, he will turn me and all my comrades into roosters - red and green. At first, red roosters will pass in front of you three times in a circle, followed by green roosters. Know: I will be among the green ones. And when we walk in a circle, I stumble, as if by accident. By this sign you will recognize me. But remember: if you don’t recognize me, you will lose me forever. Then, whether you like it or not, I will have to serve my master forever.
And then the appointed time expired, and the peasant came to the sorcerer. The sorcerer looked him over from head to toe, smiled unkindly and said:
- So, you came to me for your son... Well, okay... Now let's see if you recognize him.
The sorcerer clapped his hands, and there was a peasant in the middle of a large circle, and red roosters walked importantly and proudly around the circle. The peasant looked at them, looked and, remembering his son’s order, said to the sorcerer:
- No, master, I don’t see my own son among them.
- Oh, I can’t see, you say... Good. Look further.” And the sorcerer clapped his hands again.
The red roosters have disappeared here, and green ones have appeared in their place, and let’s also walk around in a circle. Passed once, twice...
- Look, dad, better. “It won’t be long until you miss your son,” the sorcerer laughs.
The peasant did not answer him. And what should he answer if he had no time for laughter? He peered until his eyes hurt at these roosters and could not discern his own son among them.
- Ugh, the abyss! After all, they are like two peas in a pod! — the peasant was confused. “Look, we’ve already gone around the third circle.” Well, now my son is gone for nothing! Oh, my stupidity, why did I give it to the sorcerer!
But suddenly he noticed how one rooster caught his spur in his homespun canvas pants.
- A... a... a!.. Here he is! - the peasant screamed at the top of his lungs. - Here he is!
The sorcerer was incredibly surprised, but did not show it and, stopping laughing, muttered through his teeth:
“Your happiness, you village creature... Take your offspring and get away before I change my mind!”
Mad with joy, the peasant picked up the green rooster in his arms and rushed with it into the street, away from the terrible owner.
So the former student of the sorcerer returned to his home. He returned and, oddly enough, began to help his father in his difficult peasant work.
Some time passed, and one day, when the two of them were stirring up hay, the father asked his son:
“Why don’t you show me your cunning art?” Is it really of no use to you?
“I’ll be happy to show you, father.” True, until now there seemed to be no need for it. But if you want to see what I’m capable of, please do so. Tomorrow morning you will go to the barn and see a well-fed pig there. Throw a rope around her neck and take her to the fair. Sell it there, take the money and return home. Just remember to remove the rope.
- Say it for mercy! - the father laughed. - What a joker you are, son! What kind of pig are you talking about if we don’t have a trace of one?
- No, it will be so. In short, it’s not your concern. There is only one thing required of you: to do as I told you.
The father shook his head, but did not object to his son. And the next morning I looked into the barn and actually saw a fattened pig there. “Gee!” - he was amazed and, throwing a rope around the pig’s neck, led it to the fair. Not even an hour had passed since he sold his animal and, cheerfully jingling his gold crowns, set off on his way back.
Meanwhile, the pig trotted along the forest road ahead of the dealer, who was very pleased with his purchase. They walked and walked, when suddenly a pig darted into the bushes - and remember what their name was. A dealer here and there, but how can you find her in such a thicket? So he was left with his nose, and the pig, without leaving the forest, turned into the peasant’s son.
The son came home and asked his father:
- Well, father, are you satisfied with my art?
- Of course! You don’t know your own worth!
- I know, father, how could I not know. If you want, we'll do the same trick at the next fair.
- Well, I’m not averse!
- That's good. This time you will sell the bull, just don’t forget to take back the rope.
The girl who was sitting near the stove with her groom saw the golden ring. I was delighted and put it on my finger.
But the sorcerer did not give up. He did not want to let go of his prey. He took on the guise of a wandering musician and started playing various funny melodies on the street.
The bride and groom heard the music and left the house to listen to it. The sorcerer saw them, came closer and, as if by chance, exclaimed:
- What a lovely ring! Sell it to me or better yet, trade with me.
And he showed the girl another ring, so beautiful that the girl could not take her eyes off it. She took the gold ring off her finger and was about to hand it to the sorcerer, when it suddenly slipped out of her hand and, turning into a flax seed, was lost among many others scattered throughout the yard.
The sorcerer grunted in frustration and, turning into a rooster, began to eagerly peck the seeds. But the student did not yawn: he instantly turned into a fox, rushed at the rooster, strangled him and ran away. And then he turned onto the road to his parents’ house. He came and said to his father:
- Well, the sorcerer gave me a hard time by your grace! No,
Father, I don’t like this kind of life. I'm tired of being cunning, dodging and fooling people... So I'll stop being a sorcerer!
He told his father about his amazing misadventures and from that time on he forgot even to think about witchcraft, except occasionally, when he wanted to play a trick on a neighbor or, for example, get a dowry for a poor girl. And the rest of the time he diligently helped his father in the field.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru