Once upon a time there lived a miller. He had three sons. The miller grew old and felt that it was time for him to die. He called his eldest son and said:
- I'm dying. What will you leave as an inheritance - wealth or fatherly guidance?
“Of course, wealth!” answered the eldest son. “You won’t be satisfied with instructions alone.”
- Fine. “I’ll give you the mill as an inheritance, half of my money, and live as you want,” said the father.
The father called his middle son and told him:
- I'm dying. What will you leave as an inheritance - wealth or fatherly guidance?
- Leave me the wealth, father. You cannot live in the world with one instruction.
- Fine. When I die, you will receive my house, half the money, and live as you wish,” said the father.
The father called his youngest son and said to him:
- I'm dying, son. What will you leave as an inheritance - wealth or fatherly guidance?
“If you die, father, how will I live without your guidance?” said the youngest son, saddened. “I don’t need wealth.” Leave me your fatherly instructions, it will help me in life.
“You are a good son!” said the father. “So listen to my father’s instructions: when I die, come to my grave for three nights; there you will find out what to do next.
The son began to cry, feeling sorry for his father, and left in tears. That same night the father died. The two eldest sons cried, buried the old man and hastened to divide the inheritance. The younger brother got nothing; now he didn’t even have a place to live. Elder brother says:
- Well, live with me for now. Middle says:
- If you want, live with me.
The younger brother thanked his older brothers and answered them like this:
“I don’t want to live with you as a parasite.” Let me shepherd your flocks. And he became a shepherd for his brothers.
On the very first night after his father’s death, before dawn, when it was still completely dark, the youngest son went to his father’s grave. He remembered his father kindly and cried bitterly, regretting his death. Suddenly he heard a horse neighing, turned around and saw: standing in front of him was a beautiful black horse with a lush mane and a long tail. The saddle on it is golden, the harness is silver, and there are wings on the sides.
“Get in the saddle, we’ll fly wherever you want!” said the horse.
- I can’t fly away. I am a shepherd, I must tend the flock.
“Pull a bunch of hair out of my mane, hide it and take care of it.” If you ever need me, take one hair from the bun and burn it - I will immediately fly to you.
The young man pulled a tuft of hair from the horse's mane, tied it in the corner of his belt scarf, and the horse disappeared.
On the second night, before dawn, the youngest son again went to his father’s grave, remembered him kindly and cried bitterly, regretting his death. Suddenly he heard the horse neighing again. He turned around and saw: standing in front of him was a bay horse with a lush mane and a long tail. The saddle on it is golden, the harness is silver, and there are wings on the sides.
“Get in the saddle, we’ll fly wherever you want!” said the horse.
- I can't fly. “I must tend the flocks of my brothers,” said the youngest son.
“Pull a bunch of hair out of my mane, hide it and take care of it.” And as soon as you need me, take one hair from the bun and burn it - I will immediately fly to you.
The young man pulled out a tuft of hair from the bay horse's mane, and the horse disappeared.
On the third night, before dawn, the youngest son again went to his father’s grave. He remembered his father and cried bitterly, regretting his death. Suddenly he heard the neighing of a horse again. He raised his head and saw: standing in front of him was a beautiful white horse with a long fluffy mane and a long tail. The saddle on it is golden, the harness is silver, and there are wings on the sides.
“Get in the saddle, we’ll fly wherever you want,” said the horse.
“I can’t fly away, I’m tending my brothers’ flocks,” said the youngest son.
“Then pluck a bunch of hair from my mane and take care of it.” When you need me, burn one of my hairs - I will immediately fly to you.
The young man tore a tuft of hair from the white horse's mane, and the horse disappeared with a slight neigh.
How long or how long did the younger brother work as a shepherd for his older brothers? Every day, early in the morning, he drove the herd out into the field, and in the evening he drove it home. He lived in a barnyard, ate separately from his brothers and did not complain about his fate.
One evening he drives the herd home and hears a herald running through the streets of the city and shouting:
— The padishah wants to find out who is the best rider in his country! The padishah will make the one who at full gallop up the forty steps of the palace stairs the commander of his army and give him the most beautiful girl of his kingdom as his wife!
The best riders from all over the country began to gather at the padishah's palace. Everyone wanted to show their skills, become the commander of the army and get a beautiful wife.
On the day of the competition, the entire population of the city came running to the square in front of the palace. Both older brothers ran there too. And the younger one slowly drove the cattle into the barn, washed himself and went to his father’s grave. There he remembered his father kindly, cried for him, then untied his belt, took out the hair of a black horse and burned it. A black horse immediately appeared in front of him. Rich clothes lay on the golden saddle of the horse.
“Get ready quickly!” said the horse.
In beautiful clothes, riding a black horse, a young man appeared on the streets of the city. The streets were full of people. On the flat roofs of houses, musicians blew karnai, played surnai and greeted the horsemen hurrying to the competition.
The square in front of the padishah's palace was full of elegant, festive robes of horsemen who arrived on the best horses, decorated with expensive harness. But the appearance of the shepherd was noticed by the people. Everyone's eyes turned to the young rider who was prancing on a black horse.
Many have already managed to show their skills, but no one has yet climbed half the high ladder.
The line was behind the rider on the black horse. Everyone was watching him. His horse easily ran up the steps. But, having reached the middle of the stairs, the black man tripped, could not run any further and returned back.
The first day of the competition is over. The riders dispersed, upset by the failure. The people went home, animatedly talking about tomorrow.
The youngest son galloped to his father's grave. He got off his horse, changed into his old dress and ran home, hurrying to return before his brothers.
The brothers returned home cheerful. Interrupting each other, they told the younger one about an unknown rider on a beautiful black horse who climbed the stairs above everyone else.
The next day the brothers again went to the palace square. And the younger brother drove the herd home early, washed himself and ran to his father’s grave. There he remembered his father kindly and cried, regretting his loss. Then he untied his belt, took out the hair of the bay horse and burned it. Immediately a beautiful bay horse with a golden saddle and silver harness appeared in front of him. On the saddle lay clothes even more beautiful and richer than yesterday.
“Get ready quickly!” said the horse.
Riding a bay horse, the young man rushed to the palace square. Again the streets were crowded with people. The music was playing again. They immediately recognized the handsome rider, loudly greeted him and were even more amazed than yesterday at his beauty and the beauty of the bay horse in expensive harness.
Many riders tried to climb the stairs that day as well. In vain! No one could get to the middle of it.
The rider on the bay horse arrived later than everyone else and therefore had to ride last. His horse galloped quickly and easily up the steps of the stairs. Now he has already reached the middle and is jumping further. There was a sigh of joy in the crowd. But on the thirtieth step the bay horse stumbled, could not go further and turned back. The stairs were very high!
The competition ended so unsuccessfully on the second day.
Again, the older brothers vied with each other to tell the younger brothers about the competition and especially admired the unknown rider, whose horse was even more beautiful and brave today.
On the third day, having driven the herd home early, the younger brother washed himself and again went to his father’s grave. He remembered his father and cried for him. Then he took out the hair of the white horse and burned it. Immediately a horse appeared in front of him, white as cotton. On his back he had a golden saddle, and all his harness was silver. On the saddle lay clothes more luxurious than those of the padishah himself.
The younger brother changed his clothes, jumped on his horse and rode into the city. The streets were full of people. The music played even louder, the people were noisy and worried.
The padishah declared this day the last day of the competition.
The rider on the white horse was even more magnificent today than before. His white horse walked, dancing, beautifully arching his neck. The people greeted the rider with cheerful shouts.
The horsemen lined up on the palace square and rode up the stairs one by one. But even today none of them could even reach the middle of the stairs.
The last to gallop was the younger brother. His horse rushed up the steps easily and quickly. Now he has reached the middle and jumps further. Just a few steps left...
Cheers of encouragement came from everywhere. The young rider spurred his horse. The horse flew up like a bird. In one breath he jumped over the last steps and, rooted to the spot, stopped at the top, on the wide landing of the stairs. The shouts of the people rushed to the sky. The musicians blew loudly on their karnais and surnais. The padishah came out to the landing of the stairs and announced to the people that he was appointing the winner as the commander of his army and giving him the best beauty of the country as his wife. But there was no trace of the winner. He flew down the stairs like a whirlwind and galloped to his father's grave. There he disguised himself as a shepherd, released his horse and went home.
The older brothers vied with each other to tell him about the lucky man who had climbed a staircase of forty steps on a horse, and were surprised at his disappearance.
The next day, early in the morning, at dawn, the shepherd brother drove the flock out to pasture, and he himself ran to his father’s grave. He remembered the old man kindly, cried over the grave, regretting his loss. Then he took a hair from the mane of the white horse and burned it. The white horse appeared to him again. On his golden saddle lay clothes even more beautiful than in the first days.
The young man changed his clothes, jumped on his horse and rode into the city.
On this day, from early morning, a review of the Padishah’s army was announced. Thousands of soldiers flocked to the palace square. But then yesterday's winner appeared. His horse seemed to be flying through the air. Driving past his older brothers, the young man stopped his horse, smiled at them and waved his hand. They recognized him and shouted:
- Brother?!
- Yes, it's me! Don’t forget to bring your herd home in the evening!” the younger brother shouted to them and galloped towards the army.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru