In distant, distant times, there lived in a small village a poor widow with two daughters and a son. The daughters helped their mother in everything, working with her from dawn to dusk to earn food for the family. The son grew up both mischievous and slacker. And when his mother began to reassure him and exhort him to get down to business, he said to her:
“I’m not at all averse to getting down to business.” But for this I need at least three thousand ja. Give me money, I will find a suitable job and then I will surpass my sisters in diligence and hard work.
The mother grieved for a long time; She would be glad to give money to her son, but there’s nowhere to get it from. She thought and thought and finally decided to ask for a three thousand ja loan from a rich neighbor.
The mother began to equip her son for the journey. Reluctantly the young man collected his belongings. But the wallet was tightly stuffed with money, the food was packed into the knapsack, and he had no choice but to hit the road. No matter how long or short he walked, he suddenly sees: an angry crowd is mercilessly beating a cat.
– Why are you torturing the poor animal? - asks the young man.
“She got into the habit of stealing food from one house. What do you care? Go your own way!
And the young man again:
- I feel sorry for her!
“If it’s a pity,” they answer, “buy it.” You will be pleased, and it will be easier for us.
“Well, I’m happy,” says the young man. - How much will you take for it?
- Pay a thousand - and get your hands on it!
The young man counted out one thousand ja. And he moved on. And in his arms the cat purred affectionately.
The young man walked for not a day, not two, but only one evening he again saw a crowd on the road. This time a stray dog was beaten. “Poor dog,” thought the young man, “what kind and compassionate eyes he has. Let me help him!” He ran closer and began to ask:
- Stop abusing animals! After all, you will beat him to death.
“That’s good,” they answered him in the crowd. “I can’t save myself from this damned dog.” Before the chicken has time to lay an egg, she’s already right there!
“If you feed her better, she won’t steal.” After all, she is hungry.
The peasants got angry - look what a defender they found.
“Feed yourself,” they say, “if you want.”
- So this is not my dog. The crowd surrounded him on all sides.
- And you buy it. Lay out a thousand ja, and the dog is yours.
The young man did not argue, counted out a thousand ja, took the dog and moved on.
And the crowd laughs after him:
- Well, well! Paid a thousand ja for a stray dog!
The peasants divided the money among themselves and went home satisfied.
And the young man continued on his way. He walked and walked and one evening he came to some village. He sees that the street is full of people. It turns out that a snake charmer wandered into the village and was just about to start his performance. The young man also wanted to look at the snakes.
When the snake charmer played the pipe, several snakes appeared from the basket, wriggling as if in a dance. But one of them, barely rising, sank powerlessly to the bottom of the basket and never appeared again.
When the performance ended, the young man approached the snake charmer and asked:
-What happened to one of the snakes? Why didn't she dance?
“She’s very old, and I’m tired of feeding her for nothing.” Apparently she was completely weakened.
– Don’t you feel sorry for her? After all, she served you faithfully until old age. And now you want to starve her.
- Why on earth should I feel sorry for her! After all, she no longer brings me income.
“If you are so evil,” the young man was indignant, “then sell it to me.” “And he handed the snake charmer a thick wad of money.
The snake charmer took the money from him and was delighted - after all, there was a whole thousand ja in the packet! And the young man with the cat, dog and snake returned to his parents' house. The widow cried bitterly when her son told her how frivolously he had squandered the money he had earned through hard work! It seemed to the poor woman that all her troubles were to blame for the animals that he had bought and whose worries now consumed all his time. She constantly scolded them. The cat could not stand the reproaches of the mistress and one dark night ran away from the house. Soon, not far from the place where the cat had settled down for the night, she saw a gang of thieves hiding stolen goods in the ground. The cat ran home and told the dog about everything. Together they dug up the treasure hidden by the thieves and brought it to the young man. The widow was the most happy. Now she could rescue her daughters, who were working off a debt from a rich man. A cat and a dog have served me well, but what can you expect from a snake? “I’ll feed her well and let her go in peace,” the young man decided. “Her mother and sisters are very afraid.”
No sooner said than done. He fed the snake, put it in a basket, took it to the stream and released it into the wild. But the snake did not want to remain ungrateful, and she began to think about what she could do for her savior. She went to the land of dragons and, having obtained a magic ruby there, brought it to the young man. And the widow’s son became the most powerful man in the country: after all, with the help of a magic ruby, any desire could be fulfilled. And as you know, the more a person has, the more he wants. And in the end the widow’s son decided to marry the king’s daughter.
- Go to the king and woo his daughter for me! – he once turned to his mother.
“You gave me a difficult task, son.” Would a king want to intermarry with people of low birth? Wouldn't it be better for you to marry a simpler girl?
“No and no,” the son repeated. “I will only marry the king’s daughter!” Go to the king and give him this ruby as a gift from me.
“I’m afraid, son, that the king might be angry.” After all, you are no match for his daughter!
- Go, mother, and don’t be afraid of anything!
The mother succumbed to her son’s persuasion, put the ruby in a golden box and went to the palace.
And the entire royal retinue had just gathered in the royal palace. The widow knelt down in front of the throne, gave the king a box with a ruby and told about her son’s desire to marry his daughter. To the great surprise of the widow, the king did not get angry, but only smiled slyly and said:
“Don’t you know, venerable one, that only the one who builds a golden bridge to the gates of the palace will become my daughter’s husband?” And whoever undertakes to do this, but fails, will face a cruel punishment. Not only will he die, all his relatives, up to the seventh generation inclusive, will also be executed.
The saddened widow returned home and began to persuade her son to give up and forget the king’s daughter.
“Don’t be sad, mom,” the young man reassured her. – Tomorrow at dawn the bridge will be ready.
The young man called for help from a magic ruby and built a golden bridge overnight. The residents of the city gasped when they saw a beautiful bridge in the morning that stretched all the way to the royal palace. The king fulfilled his promise, married the widow's son to his daughter, elevated him above other close associates, appointing him a minister in his kingdom.
That's what kindness and love can do!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru