Once upon a time there lived four brothers. The youngest went hunting, the middle two looked after the livestock and goods, and the older brother brought firewood from the taiga.
One day, the elder brother went far into the taiga and looked at a large birch tree. The guy cut it down, wanted to split it for firewood, but admired the whiteness of the tree. He carved a doll from a birch tree.
He tied a bundle of firewood, loaded it on his mighty shoulders and went home, taking with him a birch doll.
The second brother saw the doll and dressed it in his festive robe.
The third brother placed food next to the doll and moistened its lips with fresh milk.
A beautiful doll sits near the yurt, just like a living girl.
The younger brother Biche-Ool came home from hunting in the evening and fell in love with the birch tree girl. He looked and looked at her - he couldn’t stand it and kissed her on the lips. And suddenly he saw: the doll came to life, opened her eyes, laughed with a silver laugh and tenderly hugged Biche-Ool.
The brothers saw this and began to argue.
Senior says:
“It was I who carved it out of birch.” She's mine.
Second brother says:
-No, mine. I dressed her.
Third brother says:
- And I fed her.
Only Biche-Ool is silent, sits next to the girl and does not take his eyes off her.
The brothers argued for a long time. Finally the elder brother suggested:
- let the girl decide for herself who did more for her. Whoever she chooses will be her husband.
The birch girl thought and said:
“My older brother carved me out of a birch tree.” He is my father. The second brother dressed me. He is my mother. The third brother fed me. He is my brother. And Biche-Ool revived me - he caressed me like a groom would a bride. He must be a husband.
The brothers marveled at the girl’s wise answer and agreed.
Biche-Ool lived happily with his wife. They say they still live and do not grow old.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru