In the Niol mountains, where it rains so rarely, where the heat causes the stones to crumble into sand and the earth becomes hard as stone, the houses of a small village cling to the slopes. The peasants in this village lived poorly, although they worked hard. If they worked like that somewhere in the valley, they would probably live happily ever after. And yet even this barren land somehow fed them.
But then a difficult year began in the Niol Mountains. If drops of moisture fell on the ground, it was only sweat that flowed down the faces of the peasants, exhausted by futile work. And there was no rain all summer. Famine began in the village. The most hungry was the old peasant, who had twelve sons and not a single bag of flour in stock. One day he said:
“It’s bitter for me to part with you, children, but it’s even more bitter to see you starving.” Go seek your happiness in other lands.
“Okay,” answered the eleven sons, “just let your younger brother, Francesco, stay with you.” We have strong legs, we will walk quickly, where can he, the lame one, keep up with us.
Then the father said:
“You guys are tall and your legs are healthy, but you’re not very smart.” Francesco was not tall enough and was lame, but his head and heart were golden. As long as he is with you, I will not worry about you. Take care of Francesco, you yourself will be healthier.
The elders did not dare to contradict their father. All twelve bowed to their home and left.
They walked for a day, two, three. The lame Francesco could not keep up with his brothers and trailed far behind. He caught up with them only at a halt. But it turned out like this: only Francesco would get to them, and the brothers had already rested, got up and moved on. Poor Francesco hobbles after him again. I was completely exhausted and almost collapsed from fatigue.
On the third day the elder brother said:
- Why do we need such a burden? Let's move forward quickly. Then Francesco won't catch up with us.
So they did. We didn’t stop anywhere else and never looked back.
They came to the seashore and saw a tied boat. One of the brothers says:
– What if you get on this boat and go to Sardinia? There, they say, the region is rich, people ask for money.
“Okay, let's go to Sardinia,” said the others. The brothers looked - there was only room for ten people in the boat, there was no room for the eleventh.
“That’s it,” ordered the older brother, Angelo, “let one of you, at least you, Lorenzo, wait here on the shore.” I'll come back for you later.
- Well, no! - Lorenzo shouted. “I’m not such a fool as to wait for you to come back.” Stay here yourself.
- No matter how it is! – answered Angelo. “To stay so you can leave me like Francesco.” ..
And he jumped into the boat. The others, pushing and cursing, followed him. We set sail from the shore and swam.
At this time, the wind blew, caught up with clouds, and raised a wave in the sea. The overloaded boat does not listen to the rudder; its crests overwhelm it. Then a huge wave came, hit the boat on the reefs and smashed it into pieces. All the brothers, one after another, sank to the bottom.
And Francesco the lame man hurried as best he could. So he made it to Lake Krenskoye. I looked around - the grass was soft, the trees were shady, the water in the lake was cold and clear. You won't find a nicer place to relax. However, the brothers are nowhere to be seen.
Then Francesco realized that he had been abandoned and began to cry bitterly.
- Eh, brothers, brothers, why did you do this! I, the lame one, feel bad without you, and you won’t feel any better without me. If only I had healthy legs, such a disaster would not have happened!
Francesco cried and fell asleep.
And as soon as he fell asleep, the fairy of Krenskoye Lake came out from behind a tree. She heard everything from the first to the last word.
The fairy approached the sleeping young man and touched his sore leg with her magic wand. She touched it and again hid behind a thick tree trunk. I began to wait.
Exhausted Francesco slept for a long time, but finally woke up.
He jumped up and couldn’t believe himself. What a miracle! Both legs are firmly on the ground, as if he had never been lame! If you want to run, if you want to dance!
- What a wonderful doctor cured me! I am ready to find him even to the ends of the earth to say thank you! - Francesco exclaimed.
Then the fairy appeared to him. Francesco even closed his eyes, she was so beautiful. The braids seem to be woven from the sun's rays, the eyes are blue like lake water, the cheeks are like two petals of a rose hip.
- Why don’t you say thank you to me? – the fairy said smiling. “You don’t even have to take a step for this.”
But the young man could not utter a word.
- Listen, Francesco. Before you is the fairy of Krenskoye Lake. I liked you, and I decided to fulfill your three wishes. One thing has already been accomplished - your sore leg has become healthy. There are two more left. Tell me what you want.
Francesco replied:
“You fulfilled not one, but two of my wishes.” When I was a little boy and listened to fairy tales, I always wanted to see a fairy. So I saw a fairy.
“Well then, you still have one more wish left,” the fairy laughed.
“Well,” said Francesco. – If a fairy from a fairy tale came to me, then my desire will be like in a fairy tale: it would be nice to have a magic bag and a magic club. Whatever I want, let it instantly end up in the bag, and the club, whatever I order, let it do it.
The fairy waved her wand. And - bang! – the bag and club lie at Francesco’s feet.
Francesco was delighted, and the fairy said to him:
“A man who wields such a bag and such a club can do a lot of evil and a lot of good.” See, Francesco, that I don't have to regret my gift.
Having said this, the fairy disappeared.
And Francesco tied the bag to his belt, put the club under his arm and set off. But before that he took a proper bite. Firstly, he was hungry, and secondly, he was eager to try the fairy’s gift. The bag turned out to be exactly what a magic bag should be. Francesco only gave orders, and the sack, without hesitating for a minute, treated him to fried partridge, sheep’s cheese, hot round bread, and a bottle of golden wine. Well, Francesco didn’t test the club. If the first gift is good, then the second one is no worse.
Francesco walks cheerfully, singing song after song.
The sun had passed midday when Francesco saw a poor hut in the forest. A boy sat on the threshold and cried.
Francesco decided to cheer him up.
- Hey, buddy! - he shouted. - Apparently, shedding tears is your job. How much do you charge for a dozen salty drops?
“I’m not laughing, dear sir,” answered the boy.
-What happened to you?
“My father is a woodcutter,” said the boy, “and he feeds the whole family alone.” Today he fell out of a tree and sprained his arm. I ran to the city to get a doctor, but he didn’t want to talk to me. The doctor knows that you can’t pick an orange from a dry tree, and you can’t get rich from a poor man.
- Well, it’s all nothing! - said Francesco. - I will help your father.
-Are you a doctor? - the boy cried.
– What do I have to do with it? – Francesco was surprised. - Do you need a doctor? He will be here now. What's his name?
- Doctor Pancrazio.
- Wonderful! – exclaimed Francesco and slapped the bag. - Hey, Doctor Pancrazio, in the bag!
Before the boy could blink away a tear, something buzzed in the air. It was the fat doctor rushing from the city into the bag. Bam! And the doctor is in the bag. Wow, how heavy he was - Francesco bent down. It’s good that he thought of untying the bag from his belt. The doctor fell to the ground and screamed:
– I am the famous scientist Doctor Ignazio Pancrazio and I will not allow various poor people to dispose of my important person. Since I said that I wouldn’t go to the woodcutter, that means I won’t go.
“So you don’t need to go,” said Francesco, “you’re already there.” All that remains is to cure the patient.
“I won’t treat,” the doctor answered from the bag.
“I see,” said Francesco, “that Doctor Ignazio Pancrazio himself is seriously ill and his illness is called stubbornness and greed.” We'll have to treat him first. Hey, club, let's get to work!
The baton didn't have to ask twice. She began drumming on the doctor's thick back.
- I'm already healthy! - the doctor shouted. -Where is the patient? Take me to the patient.
While the doctor was setting the woodcutter’s sprained arm, Francesco ordered the bag to deliver supplies for a whole month. He put it all at the threshold and walked on.
After some time, Francesco came to the city.
It was late afternoon, and the first thing Francesco did was find a hotel. The innkeeper served him dinner, and then said:
- Oh, son, son, I feel sorry for losing such a good guest. However, listen to my advice: spend the night, and leave the city early in the morning.
- Is there a plague in the city? – asked Francesco.
“The plague is not a plague, but it’s no better than the plague,” the talkative hostess began to explain. - Three months ago, some stranger settled with us - so that he would be torn into four parts! He confused all the young men. And what would you think? A game of dice. Now the game goes on from morning to evening and from evening to morning. And whoever loses completely never comes home again. Twelve young men, modest and obedient, like doves, disappeared, as if they had fallen through the ground. And there is neither a rumor nor a breath about them.
“Thank you, good woman, for warning me,” said Francesco, and he thought: “Eh, it seems that in this city there is work for the sack and the club!” At eight o’clock in the morning, Francesco asked the sack for rich clothes and a hundred thousand gold crowns. At ten o'clock in the morning the whole city was already saying that Prince Santo Francesco, known everywhere for his nobility and wealth, had arrived to them. And at noon, a man in a long cloak and a hat with feathers knocked on Francesco’s room.
“Signor Santo Francesco,” he said, “I have only lived in this city for three months, but I have already managed to make acquaintance with the best young people.” It would be a great honor if you visit my home. I heard rumors that you are an excellent dice player. Here you can show your art.
“To tell the truth,” answered Francesco, “I don’t even know how to hold the bones in my hands.” But in order to get to know such a kind gentleman better, I am ready to play from morning to evening. I will, of course, make rapid progress with such an experienced teacher.
The guest was very pleased. He began to bow so earnestly that, having forgotten, he put his right leg out from under his cloak. And what did Francesco see? Do you think a shoe with a bow? No matter how it is! He saw a black furry hoof.
“Hey-hey! – Francesco thought. “It turns out that the devil himself visited me.” That’s good, he’ll find a loaf of bread here that’s just right for his teeth.”
That evening, Signor Santo Francesco played dice with Signor the Devil. He made rapid progress and lost twenty thousand crowns.
On the second evening, Francesco learned to play even better and lost thirty thousand crowns.
Well, on the third evening he mastered the game perfectly and therefore lost fifty thousand crowns.
Then the devil decided that he had completely beaten the young man.
“Dear Signor Santo Francesco,” he said in an insinuating voice. – I’m very sorry that my lessons cost so much. But I can help you. I'll refund half of your losses so you can recoup.
– What if I don’t win back? – asked Francesco.
“And if you don’t get even, we’ll consider that you belong to me with all your guts, soul and other trifles.”
- Oh, you damn devil! - Francesco exclaimed. “Now I know where the twelve best young men in the city went.” Come on, get into my bag!
The devil didn’t even have time to come to his senses before his head was already in the bag, and his hooves were dangling in the air. A moment later, the hooves also disappeared into the bag.
Then Francesco said:
- This cheerful gentleman loves to joke. We'll joke too. Dance, baton, a couple of nice dances.
The baton started with the tarantella. And Francesco found that she danced beautifully. But the devil didn’t like the club dance at all.
- I will give you, Signor Francesco, half the loss for free! - the devil yelled. “No, I’ll give you all the loss.” Okay, I'll give all the money I won in this city!
Meanwhile, the club finished the tarantella and began to dance the cheerful peasant dance of the trescon. The devil begged:
“For the devil’s sake, make her stop!” Tell me, finally, what do you want from me?
“Rest a little,” Francesco ordered the baton. - So, listen to me, damn it. First of all, release the twelve youths whom you dragged into the underworld. Then get lost yourself, so that your spirit will not be on earth.
“Everything will be done,” the devil shouted, “just let me out of the bag!”
Francesco untied the bag, and the devil jumped out of there, like a cat that has been splashed with boiling water. He stamped his hoof, jumped and fell through the ground with a crash. And twelve young men appeared from under the ground.
“Well,” Francesco told them, “maybe we can play some dice?”
- What are you, what are you! - all twelve shouted at once. “Now we don’t even want to look at this damn game.”
- This is the case! – Francesco praised the young men. “The one who wins the most is the one who doesn’t play at all.” Here's a thousand crowns for you and run to please your parents. While waiting for you, they cried with all their eyes.
The young men thanked their savior and went home.
And Francesco tied a bag to his belt, put the club under his arm and left the city.
No matter where Francesco stopped, there was a sack and a club to deal with. Because everywhere there were offended people who needed to be helped, and offenders who needed to be taught a lesson.
There are countless roads in Italy; Francesco passed through many, but his feet finally led him to his native village.
Then Francesco learned that the famine in the Niol Mountains had become even worse. Francesco decided to help his fellow villagers. He opened a tavern. It was an amazing tavern - they fed you to your fill, but didn’t require payment. All the time the baton lay idle, but the bag had more than enough trouble!
- Hey, chicken on a spit, in the bag! Hey, three round loaves of bread - in the bag! Hey, bottle of wine, put it in the bag! - the owner of the tavern shouted every now and then.
This went on for three years, while famine lasted in the Niol Mountains. Finally, the land became tired of idleness, and in the fourth year it gave the peasants a rich harvest.
Every house smelled of baked bread, circles of cheese lay on the shelves in the pantries, and sheep bleated in the courtyards. But the doors to the tavern still did not close.
“Eh,” said Francesco, “it’s time for my bag to rest.” It's enough for him to be a cook. Feeding the well-fed means feeding them not with bread, but with laziness.
And he closed the tavern.
Soon Francesco suffered grief. The old father was ill for a short time and died.
Here Francesco began to miss his brothers. Although they once abandoned him alone in the middle of the road, Francesco has long ceased to be angry with them - after all, they are brothers.
And then one evening he said:
- Angelo, my elder brother! I don’t want to offend you, but otherwise we won’t meet. Come into my bag.
Immediately the bag became heavier. Francesco looked in and recoiled. There were only half-decayed bones lying there. Francesco realized that Angelo had died long ago.
“Giovanni, my brother,” he called his second brother. And again there were only bones in the bag.
And so all eleven times. Francesco learned that he was left alone in the world. Then he said:
- Well, my faithful assistants - a bag and a club, let's go with you to travel along the roads. To whom I do good, he will call me brother.
Francesco walked from village to village, sometimes along mountain paths, sometimes along roads, and sometimes without paths or roads at all. And ahead of him was rumor. Hearing the news of Francesco's approach, evil bosses, greedy moneylenders, and cunning monks trembled at night. But those who were unhappy and offended rejoiced. They really called Francesco brother.
The years passed. And then the time came when people, turning to Francesco, no longer called him brother, but father. And ten years later they began to call him grandfather. Francesco's hair turned white, his back was bent, his face was covered with wrinkles. But he still wandered around Italy with his faithful assistants - a sack and a club.
One evening, Francesco, breathing heavily, climbed up the mountain. Suddenly he heard footsteps behind him. Francesco looked back and saw that Death was catching up with him. She breathed even harder than Francesco, because she was very old. As old as the world is old. In addition, she was pushing a wheelbarrow covered with matting in front of her.
Death came up and said:
– Finally, I caught up with you! I'm completely exhausted. Am I a girl, or what, to run after you along a hundred roads! Just admire how many shoes you've worn out.
And Death threw the matting away from the wheelbarrow. There were indeed torn and torn shoes piled up on the wheelbarrow.
Francesco saw the junk the old woman was carrying around and smiled.
Death grumbled again:
“It’s good for you to walk lightly, but I can’t leave the car until I catch up with you.” Well, Francesco, you have traveled a lot of roads, now get ready for the farthest, last road.
“Well,” answered Francesco, “it’s not for nothing that the proverb says: a person cannot say yes or no twice - when it’s time for him to be born and when it’s time to die.” But, you see, I need to say goodbye to someone first.
Death laughed, as if rusty iron was creaking.
- Eh, my dear, you seem to be bargaining, and I don’t like that.
And Death extended its bony hands to Francesco. But Francesco managed to shout:
- Death - in the bag!
Oh, and the bones rattled when Death fell into the bag!
Francesco threw the bag on his back and went where he wanted. His path lay to the shores of Lake Krenskoye.
So he came to Lake Krenskoye, released Death from the bag and told her:
- I feel sorry for you, old woman! That's right, your bones hurt as much as mine. The grass here is soft, sit down and rest while I finish my business.
Death was so frightened that he did not dare to contradict Francesco. She stepped aside and sat down under a tree, groaning.
And Francesco went to the shore of the lake and shouted:
– Fairy of Lake Krenskoye, show yourself to me again!
And the fairy appeared. She was as beautiful and young as many years ago, when Francesco himself was young.
“You called me and I came,” she said affably.
“I want to tell you what I did with your gifts.”
“There’s no need to tell,” the fairy interrupted Francesco. “I see your face, it’s the face of a kind person.” Your lips hide a kind smile, and the wrinkles on your forehead speak of wisdom. I'm glad I wasn't mistaken about you.
“I did what I could,” Francesco replied. “But the time has come to give you your gifts.” You see, there, by the tree, Death is waiting for me.
“It’s good that you thought about this,” said the fairy. – After all, even a magic bag and a magic club cannot do anything on their own, only the person who owns them can. If they end up with an evil person, their evil deeds will be innumerable. But the fairies do not take their gifts back. Build a fire and burn the bag and club. Farewell Francesco!
The fairy kissed the old man and disappeared, as if she had melted.
Francesco collected brushwood, lit a large fire and threw the gifts of the fairy of Lake Krensko into the fire. He moved closer to the fire to warm his chilled hands and fell into deep thought.
“It’s time, Francesco,” Death called him quietly. Francesco did not move. As he grew older, he began to hear poorly. Then Death came up behind him and touched his shoulder with his hand.
At this time the rooster crowed. A new day has begun. But Francesco no longer saw him.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru