It was spirit day. The gypsies went to the village to tell fortunes and beg for food.
And now all the gypsies are unlucky, but one is lucky and lucky, and there is nothing to put food in, but everyone is serving it. A gypsy woman comes into a woman’s hut, sees that she lives poorly, and says:
“Listen, dear, I’ll help you, I’ll do it to you so that you won’t know grief.” Take some pies for your children and give me a basket.
The woman gave her a basket. The gypsy put food in it and left. She meets with the other gypsies: one has everything, the others have nothing.
“It’s time, my dears, to return to the camp,” says the lively gypsy, “otherwise it will soon get dark, and the men will get drunk.” Who will take us across the river?
- Ay, ay, ay!.. We can’t return empty-handed. We didn't collect anything at all.
“Okay,” says the lively gypsy, “I’ll bring it to you myself, and you stay here.”
She ran around half the village, picked up all sorts of food, distributed it to the gypsies, and they went back to the camp. The man transported them across the river, and then they had to go through the forest. It was then that evening caught up with the gypsies.
And it was autumn: the leaves were falling and rustling underfoot, every step was heard from afar. Suddenly the lively gypsy stopped, and it seemed to her that someone was walking ahead. She got scared and asked the gypsies:
-Didn't you hear anything?
- What should I hear?
- Yes, it looks like someone is walking ahead...
- What are you talking about, my dear, you imagined it out of fear.
Okay, let's move on. The lively gypsy walked a few more steps:
- Yes, I’m telling you that someone is coming. I feel like some huge person.
Do you hear how big the steps are?
The gypsies listened: indeed, someone was coming. And then it began to rain, and the steps became closer and closer. The gypsies were scared. What to do? You can't go forward, there's nowhere to go back. They let us go to the left. And steps are heard from behind. The gypsies have fallen into the very thicket, and they no longer have the strength to run. The gypsies prayed to God and called on anyone for help. Finally they fell exhausted to the ground. “Well, that’s it,” thinks the lively gypsy, “our end has come.” And the steps are getting closer and closer. Then the lively gypsy woman stood up and started scolding the forester.
Whatever she called him...
What is it? I listened. The steps are getting quieter and quieter. Finally they disappeared completely.
And then dawn came. The gypsies did not remember how they returned to the camp, as if someone had taken them out of the forest and brought them to their destination.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru