Once upon a time there lived seven sisters, seven royal daughters. The sisters grew up in the palace, not knowing care and grief. No wonder the proverb says: to the rich and happy, a candle shines like the sun.
But as soon as the eldest daughter turned twenty-one, and the youngest, Santina, turned fifteen, happiness left the royal family. The kingdom was attacked by an enemy army. The king lost his army, then his throne, and then he himself was taken prisoner. And the queen and her seven daughters had to flee to a foreign kingdom and take refuge in a deep forest, in a dark hut in which a coal miner once lived.
Now the royal family has learned the second half of the proverb - for the poor and the unfortunate, the sun smokes like a tallow candle. Instead of soft down jackets and satin blankets, they had bare boards, barely covered with dry grass. Instead of gold and silver dishes, there is one earthenware bowl and eight wooden spoons. What's in the bowl? Sometimes it’s vulture stew, and sometimes it’s nothing at all. That's how we lived.
One evening the Queen Mother came out of the hut to sit on the threshold. Then an old, old old woman approached her with a basket in her hands and asked:
- Would you buy some wine berries from me?
“Oh, good woman,” the queen answered, sighing, “not long ago I could have bought at least a hundred such baskets from you.” But now I don’t have a single soldo. Take this comb and give me seven wineberries for it for my seven daughters.
“I don’t need a comb,” said the old woman, “I’ll give you berries anyway.” Tell me about your grief. Maybe I can help.
The queen told the old lady about everything that had happened to them over the past year.
The old woman listened, shook her head and said:
- Poor queen! One of your daughters has an evil fate. All your misfortunes come from this. While the girl Sfortuna is with you - the girl Failure - do not expect luck.
- Which of my daughters has an evil fate? - asked the queen.
“The one who sleeps with her arms crossed over her chest,” answered the old woman. - Drive her away, and everything will go well.
Then she picked up the basket from the ground and disappeared behind the trees.
The queen entered the hut, lit a candle and bent over her eldest daughter. She was sleeping with her arms outstretched. The second daughter threw them behind her head, the third put her palms under her cheeks, the fourth - under the pillow, the fifth covered her eyes with her hand, and the sixth's hand hung down. And every time the queen sighed with relief. But then the mother brought the candle to her youngest daughter, Santina, and almost screamed - the youngest daughter was sleeping with her arms crossed over her chest.
The Queen knelt by her bed and wept bitterly. Tears were dripping from her eyes. One hot tear fell on the girl’s cheek. She woke up and heard her mother talking.
- Oh, my daughter! You are so loving and affectionate, can you really bring misfortune! No, no, my poor Sangina, I will never call you Sfortuna, no matter what the old woman says. I will never drive you away. It’s better that we share with you everything that your evil fate brings.
It was bitter for the young princess to hear this, but she lay quietly, like a mouse, and did not show in any way that she had woken up.
When her mother, having cried, dozed off, Santina got up, tied her belongings into a bundle - an old dress, a comb and a wooden spoon, looked one last time at her sleeping sisters and mother and left the hut.
She walked through the forest until dawn, and when the sun rose a little, she came out onto the plain. Wherever you look, there is not a hill or a bush, only one house rises on the plain. The princess approached the house and looked out the window. She saw three women sitting at looms and weaving. One wove with gold threads, the other with silver, and the third wove with scarlet thread on a blue base. Under the skillful fingers of the craftswomen, the threads formed such beautiful patterns that the princess could not take her eyes off.
Suddenly the one who wove gold raised her head and noticed the girl. The weaver got up and opened the door.
- Would you like to come in? she asked.
“If you allow me,” answered the princess.
- What's your name?
The princess thought: “If I really bring bad luck, let me be called Failure - Fortuna.” So she told the weavers, and then added:
“Leave me in this house, and I will serve you.” If you don’t leave me, I’ll move on.
“Well,” said the weavers. - Stay.
And Sfortuna got to work. She swept the floor, lit a fire in the hearth and began to cook.
By noon lunch was ready. The weavers ate, praised the skillful cook, and sat down at their camps again.
When the sun began to set, the eldest of the craftswomen, the one who wove blue and scarlet patterns, said:
- Today we are invited to visit. The path there is not close, and we will return only in the morning. Guard the house well without us. After all, our yarn is made of silver, gold and silk, and the fabrics that come from our camps were ordered by the king himself for the bride’s wedding dresses. Bolt the door behind us, and we'll put a big padlock on the outside. The weavers put on their festive dresses and left.
Sfortuna tidied everything up, washed the dishes, then put the straw mattress in the corner and, blowing out the candle, fell asleep.
She woke up exactly at midnight. It seemed to her as if someone was walking around the room. Something tinkled and rustled.
-Who's there? - the girl screamed.
In response, a creaky old woman’s voice was heard from the darkness:
- It’s me, your destiny. In the morning you will see what a nice gift I have prepared for you. - And fate chuckled shrilly.
Then everything became quiet. Sfortuna thought: “The door is tightly locked from the inside and outside, no one can enter the house. That’s right, I’m dreaming about it.”
I thought so, turned on the other side and closed my eyes.
In the morning the weavers returned and knocked loudly on the door.
The princess jumped up and opened it to the hostesses. A ray of sunshine burst into the room. Sfortuna turned pale, and the weavers gasped. Expensive yarn was tangled and torn, and gold and silver fabrics were cut into pieces. This is what the evil fate of Sfortuna has done.
- Oh, you scoundrel! - the weavers shouted at the poor girl. - So you pay for our kindness! Get out!
Kicks and pushes rained down like hail. And here again the young princess wanders, not knowing where.
In the evening she came to some village. Friendly lights were already shining in all the windows. At this hour, the family gathers around the fire for dinner after a day spent at work. But none of these houses has room for Sfortuna. She never dared to knock on any door. Sfortuna walked to the square and sat down on the stone step of the porch of a rich house.
Soon the owner came out to close the shutters and saw the girl.
- What are you doing here? he asked.
“I no longer have the strength to walk,” answered Sfortuna. - Please don't send me away.
- You, girl, apparently don’t know who you’re dealing with. After all, I supply wine to the king himself. I can't let you sit here on the steps. Get up and enter the house.
Sfortuna entered.
“Climb onto these barrels of wine and sleep,” said the owner. “They won’t do anything, it’s just wine.” And what is prepared for the king’s wedding is sealed in ten barrels and stored here in the cellar.
And the owner knocked boastfully on the hatch door in the floor.
Tired Sfortuna fell fast asleep. In the morning she had an amazing dream. It's like she's sitting over a stream. The stream runs over the pebbles, gurgles and babbles like a child. I would like to listen to his song and listen to him, but for some reason Sfortuna is scared.
Then she woke up in fright and suddenly heard someone muttering in a creaky voice:
- Ten red streams, get ready for the lake! I know my stuff, but the girl can’t get rid of me.
Poor Sfortuna realized that her evil fate had caused trouble again. The princess shouted loudly:
- Help! Help!
The sleepy owner came running with a candle. And what did he see? There is no one in the shop except the girl. The hatch cover is open. The wine is splashing in the cellar. Ten empty barrels float on top.
What could poor Sfortuna say! She endured the abuse and beatings in silence.
Having shouted enough, the owner pushed her out the door.
Bursting with bitter tears, Sfortuna again wandered wherever her eyes looked. By noon, she went to the river bank and saw a woman washing clothes.
“Eh,” said the woman, “an assistant came to see the laundress Francisca.” Isn't that right, girl?
“If you allow,” answered Sfortuna, “I will willingly help you.”
“Well, then get down to business,” said the laundress Francisca. - I will soap, and you rinse.
Their work went briskly. The sun was not yet tired of being hot, and the laundry was already all hung up. As soon as it dried, Sfortuna sat down on the grass and began to mend the holes. Francisca also began to help her, but things turned out much worse for her.
“Just think,” said the washerwoman, “for twenty years I’ve been washing and darning our young king’s linen, and I’ve always thought that no one in the world can do it better than me.” And now I see that I am fit to be your apprentice. That's it, child, stay and live with me.
“Oh, good woman,” answered the girl, “I don’t even dare cross the threshold of your house.” It’s not for nothing that I’m called Sfortuna. My evil fate sends misfortunes upon me and upon the house into which I enter.
- Well, it’s nothing! - Francesca said. - Fate, of course, is especially important. But man is not a weather vane, to turn in whichever way the wind blows. You can turn against the wind, you can make evil fate kinder. Sit here, I'll be back soon.
Less than an hour had passed before the washerwoman returned. She brought two large brown pretzels.
“Take these pretzels,” she said to Sfortuna, “and go down the river.” The river will lead you to the sea. Stand on the seashore and call my destiny.
- How can you call fate? - Sfortuna was surprised.
- Yes, very simple. Shout louder: “Wow!
The fate of Francisca-ee!” And so three times. This is where my destiny will appear. You should treat her more politely, well, yes, however, you don’t need to be taught this. . . Give my destiny one pretzel, bow from me and ask her how to find your destiny. Give the second pretzel to your destiny.
Sfortuna walked and walked and came out to the seashore. She called upon Francesca's destiny three times, and she appeared before her.
- Signora fate Franchiska! Francesca sends her regards and this pretzel. And also, if your mercy pleases, teach me how to find my destiny.
“I can teach you,” said Francisca’s fate. “But you won’t be happy about this meeting.” Your fate, you despicable old woman. But if you want, listen. Do you see the pack path leading to the mountains? Walk on it. When you reach the gorge, turn into the first cleft between the rocks. There is a stove in the darkest corner, and an old woman is busy at the stove. This is your destiny. And talk there, as you yourself know, because even the devil himself cannot come to an agreement with her. Sfortuna thanked Francisca’s fate and went to look for her fate.
Here is the gorge, here is the crevice, here is the stove. And here is the fate of Sfortuna. Oh, what a look she had! Her gray hair hung in dirty tufts, her hooked nose was stained with soot, her dress was torn to shreds. The young princess was already almost sixteen years old, and one could swear that in all these years her fate had never washed away.
- Why did you come? - the old woman grumbled when she saw Sfortuna. “When I need you, I’ll find you myself.” For now, get away.
“I’ll leave now, dear signora, my destiny.” Just take this pretzel as a gift.
- I really need your gifts! - said fate and turned her back to the girl.
But it seemed to Sfortuna that the old woman’s voice became a little softer.
The girl put the pretzel on the stove and quietly left.
Meanwhile, the washerwoman Francisca took the linen to the king. The young king looked at the linen and exclaimed:
— Nya Francisca.
The king called the washerwoman Nya Francisca - godfather Francisca - because as long as he could remember, he remembered her, because she also washed his diapers. So, when he saw the linen, he exclaimed:
“Nya Francisca, you’ve never done better laundry than you did today.” How white it is! And the darning! They are more beautiful than the lace on my shirts. Here's ten crowns over your wages.
Francisca was very happy and bought all sorts of things with this money - a dress for Sfortuna, shoes for Sfortuna, and a black lace shawl for her head.
Sfortuna lived with the washerwoman Francisca for a whole week. Sunday passed, Monday came, and on Mondays Francisca always had a big royal wash. The two of them set to work. By noon everything was washed, and then Sfortuna spent the night darning and ironing.
The next morning, when the washerwoman brought linen to the king, he said:
- Eh, Nya Francisca, every time you become more and more skillful. How smooth the folds are! And white collars rise like sea foam.
And the king gave the washerwoman as much as twenty crowns over and above the required wages. Nya Francisca thanked the king and went shopping again. This time she again bought a dress, shoes, and a beautiful headscarf. But that's not all, she bought soap, a sponge, a comb and a whole bottle of precious rose oil.
The washerwoman brought the purchases home and said to Sfortuna:
- Look what gifts I have prepared for your destiny. Now I will bake a pretzel, and you will go visit her. Dress her in everything new, and wash her thoroughly first.
Sfortuna's fate was as dirty as before, but she met the girl friendlier.
— Did you bring the pretzel? - she asked, seeing Sfortuna.
“Of course, my dear lady, my destiny brought it.” And she handed the old woman a pretzel.
As soon as fate approached Sfortuna, the girl grabbed her hands tightly and dragged her to the stream. Well, the old woman screamed when Sfortuna rubbed her with a soapy sponge.
- I don’t want to wash! I don't want to wash! - she screamed, breaking free.
But Sfortuna did not pay attention to her screams. She washed her destiny clean, combed her hair, put on a new beautiful dress, put on new squeaky shoes and poured the entire bottle of rose oil on her.
Oh, what a sweet, kind old lady now stood in front of her! And she smelled like ten rose bushes. It’s a well-known fact that all women, even the oldest ones, love new outfits. Fate couldn't stop looking at itself. Every now and then she straightened the frills on her skirt, creaked her new shoes, and tried on her shawl.
“You’re so clever,” she said to Sfortuna. “It just so happens: if a person has an evil fate, all he knows is that he complains and curses it.” So she becomes even angrier. It would never occur to anyone that they should try to make their destiny more beautiful. You, my little dove, did just that. Now everything will go well for you. Thank you for the gifts, please accept a gift from me.
And fate gave Sfortuna a small box. The girl kissed the old woman on both cheeks and pulled her closer to Francisca.
Together with Francesca, they opened the box. And what was there? Just a piece of galloon, the length of a finger.
“Your fate is not very generous,” said Francisca and put the box in the chest of drawers.
Well, on Monday, as always, Sfortuna and Francesca washed the linen, and on Tuesday the washerwoman carried it to the palace.
This time the king did not even look at the linen, he was so preoccupied.
“Your Majesty,” said the laundress, “Nya Francisca dares to ask you what is bothering you?”
“Ah, Nya Francisca, I have a thousand troubles and a hundred troubles.” You see, the advisors have found a bride for me in an overseas kingdom. I have never even seen the bride and I don’t want to marry her at all. But if the advisers get something into their heads, they will never give up. I agreed.
- What's wrong with that? - Francesca said. - A wedding is a fun thing.
- Well, I’m not having fun at all. First of all, I don’t have wine for the wedding. Some girl wandered into my supplier and released all the best wine from the barrels...
- It’s not a problem yet! - Francesca said. “When the guests are dancing, they don’t know what wine they use to quench their thirst.”
“Secondly,” the king continued, “the bride demanded that I give her three dresses - made of gold, silver and blue-scarlet brocade.” Three weavers wove brocade. And some girl wandered in and cut up all the precious fabrics.
“Eh, Your Majesty,” said Francesca, “the most beautiful outfit for a bride is a white dress.”
- That's what I decided myself. The white silk dress is already ready. It was lined with galloon along the hem. But woe! Imagine; Nya Francisca, there wasn't enough braid. A very small piece, about the length of a finger. And there is no such braid anywhere else in the entire state.
- Your Majesty! - the washerwoman cried. - Wait, I'll be right back.
Francesca ran home, rummaged through the chest of drawers and brought the king a box of galloon. It was indistinguishable from the braid that was used to trim the bride’s dress.
- Well, nya Francisca! - exclaimed the king. “You saved me from shame in front of an overseas queen.” For this I will give you as much gold as your braid weighs.
They began to weigh a piece of galloon. First on small scales, then on medium ones, then on the largest ones. But no matter how much gold was poured, the galloon turned out to be heavier.
“Nya Francisca,” asked the king, “tell the truth: whose galloon is this?”
Francisca spoke about Sfortuna. The king wanted to look at the girl.
And so Sfortuna came to the palace in her new dress. As soon as the king and Sfortuna saw each other, they immediately fell in love. And there is nothing to be surprised here, because both of them were young and beautiful.
The king immediately called his advisers and said:
“You were looking for a bride for me overseas.” And I found her in my own kingdom. If any of you likes the overseas princess better, let him marry her himself.
And the king ordered everything to be prepared for the wedding.
Then he ordered to call three weavers and a wine supplier. They froze when they saw the king’s bride.
The king paid them for the cut brocade and spilled wine and sent them away in peace.
Now no one called the princess Sfortuna, because she was no longer a failure girl. She was now called by the name that her father and mother gave her - Santina.
Three days before the wedding, Santina said to her fiance:
“Oh, Your Majesty, how I would like to know about my dear mother and sisters, about my unfortunate father.”
“Calm down, dear Santina,” answered the king, “on the day when I first saw you, I sent messengers to the neighboring kingdom.” Today the messengers returned and brought good news. The king, your father, escaped from captivity, gathered an army and regained his throne. The queen, your mother, and the princesses, your sisters, are now on their way. They are coming here.
Santina's joy knew no end.
The wedding day has arrived. At the magnificent table, in the place of honor, the young people sat, and on the sides were Santina’s father, mother and six sisters. Nya Francisca was there, of course.
And behind the bride’s chair stood another guest. She nodded happily every time she heard Santina laugh. But no one saw this guest except the young princess, because this was her own destiny.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru