The gypsies were driving in a camp through the forest, looking for a place to spend the night.
They ended up in the possession of a forester.
The Gypsies hear: singing comes from behind. The gypsies look around - there is no one.
“It’s strange,” they thought, “after all, it’s as if they can hear songs, very close by, and who is singing, God knows!” The gypsies stopped, began to make tents, lit a fire, and set out tea. And the songs are heard and heard.
“Come to the fire,” the gypsies shout, “let’s sit together, drink tea, and we’ll sing you our songs!”
No answer.
The night has passed. The next morning a gypsy went to the village to change his horse. The gypsy has a large family - a wife and plenty of children. He has to feed his family, so he went about his gypsy business. As soon as he drove away from the camp, he saw an old man sitting on a stump by the road, with a beard up to his elbows, he was small, and he was belted with a rope.
The old man sits and grins:
-Where are you going, gypsy?
“I’m going to the village to change my horse,” the gypsy answers.
“Don’t go today, gypsy,” says the old man, “you won’t succeed.”
You won't have any change today. You’ll lose your horse and won’t bring any money home.
- What are you saying, old man? Damn you! - the gypsy swore. – I have a family, children run around a little less, everyone wants to eat. Why do you think they should be hungry?
“Don’t go, they tell you, don’t go, if you go, you’ll get into trouble.”
The gypsies spat in anger, turned the shafts and went back to the camp.
He arrives, and there they are waiting for him:
- Well, did you bring some bread?
-What kind of bread? – the gypsy became furious and started beating his wife. Beat her up and says:
“Some old man is sitting on the road, he won’t let me in, he says, don’t go change today, otherwise there will be trouble.” I should have approached him, pushed him hard so that he would fly off, and whipped him with a whip, but I hesitated... And he sits and sits. So I came back. You see, Ivan went and changed his horse and got some bread, but I didn’t have to. Now you sit here hungry. Well, if I’m driving tomorrow and he comes across me on the road, I’ll overwhelm him.
The next morning, the gypsy harnesses the horse and again rides on the gypsy business. He sees: by the road again the same old man is sitting in the same place. The old man says to the gypsy:
“Oh, you gypsy, you beat your wife and threatened to beat me.” Yes, I’ll just lift a finger and you’ll be gone, and you’re still trying to get somewhere with your whip.
- What are you doing, old man? - The gypsy was scared. - Why are you being naughty? Are you crazy?
After all, I have twelve children, all hungry, all screaming, all asking for food, but you won’t let me in.
“Okay,” the old man agreed, “go here and there, change your horse, and when you go back, you’ll buy me a gift.”
And indeed, the gypsy replaced his horse, and not just replaced it, but in return he took such a trotter - a sight for sore eyes, and bought all sorts of food for his family, and he didn’t forget the old man, he bought the promised gift.
The gypsy returns home and again meets this old man by the road.
- Well, did you change your horse?
- Replaced, father, replaced, look what he took in return!
– What did I tell you? – the old man grinned. – Did you bring me a gift?
- I brought it, I brought it. Here you go.
- Well, that's another matter. So listen to what I tell you: never cross me again. Do you know who I am? I am a forest dad. I am the owner of this entire forest. If you ever scold me again, you will never get another horse into your shafts. And if you start a horse, it will die immediately. Just know that.
“Forgive me, grandfather,” the gypsy begged, “I will never scold you again, and whatever you tell me, I will do.”
- Well, okay, I liked you, gypsy. Here I give you three hairs, take them and sew them into your pocket. They will bring you happiness.
The gypsy thanked the forest owner, and he again:
- But look, gypsy, you won’t have to live with your wife, the forest mermaids will drag her away.
Did you hear them singing near the camp? They were waiting for your wife.
The gypsy fell to his knees in front of the forest man:
- Lesovoy dad, why are you calling such trouble on me? Why did you give me three hairs for luck? How can I be happy without my beloved wife? And what will I do alone with a bunch of small children? If you have pity on me, take pity on my family, don’t let your wife go to waste.
- A! Now I understand where happiness is?! – the forest man laughed. - Keep in mind that if you beat your wife, even if you hit her once, she will go to the mermaids of the forest.
This is the last time I'm warning you.
The forest father said so, and then he grew taller than the birches, laughed, clapped his hands and walked through the forest. And from that time on, the gypsy began to live peacefully and happily with his wife.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru