Once upon a time there lived two sisters. One was called Mina, and the other was Vina. Their mother died long ago, and their aunt took them in.
The eldest of the sisters, Mina, was a sharp and rude girl, always dissatisfied with something. And the youngest, Vina, is kind and sympathetic.
Vina once said to her older sister:
“Sister, we haven’t seen our father, or even our brother and sister-in-law, for a long time.” They are working a lot in the field now and are probably very tired. Let's go to them and help them harvest.
“That’s right, my clever girl,” her aunt praised her. “Go, children, to your father and help him.”
“No way!” Mina blurted out. “I won’t go anywhere in this heat.” Let Vina go to the old man, she loves to do good, and for this she will become a princess in her future life,” she added with a grin.
Vina cried a little out of resentment, then tied a piece of bread and vegetables into a scarf and went to her father.
She walked and walked and looked at a wild plum tree growing by the road.
“Dear girl,” the tree turned to her, “I see you have a kind heart.” “Pick the thorns from my branches, they hurt me, and rest a little in my shade.”
“Oh, what sharp thorns you have!” exclaimed Vina and began to tear them off, pricking her hands until they bled.
Then I slept a little in the shade and moved on. He looks at a small fireplace, and the fire is barely glowing in it. I saw her fire and prayed:
- Vina, Vina, rake away the ashes under my logs. I really want to get hot so the food can cook faster. Soon the housewives will come from the field, they are so hungry.
“Of course, of course,” the girl answered with a smile, “I’ll do it now.” But tell your housewives not to forget about you, because the ash may completely extinguish you, and the food will not be ready when they arrive. And they will reproach you.
A little further she saw a large ficus.
“Oh, good Vina!” he turned to her. “I beg you, tie up the branch that the monkeys broke off from me, otherwise I will wither.”
Vina took pity on the ficus, tore a strip from her scarf and tied the broken branch with it. He goes further, looks - a stream is running.
“Come to me, kind girl,” the stream gurgled. “You see, mud and leaves have almost clogged my bed.” Please cleanse me of them, then people and animals will be able to drink clean water.
“Yes, yes,” agreed Vina, “everyone needs clean water.” And she cleared the stream.
The water in it sparkled and ran further.
By evening, Vina finally reached her father’s hut. The old man was delighted with his daughter, and she prepared him such a nice dinner as he had not eaten for a long time.
The next day, Vina helped her father in the field, and when she got ready to go home, her satisfied father handed her a buffalo, a spinning wheel, several copper vessels and some grain from the new harvest. Vina was delighted with these gifts, realizing that it would be a good dowry for her wedding. She went home and, crossing the stream, saw that a piece of bright silk was rinsing in it.
“Vina, my dear,” the stream stopped her, “take this silk for yourself.” The girl who swam here forgot it, and I saved it for you.
Vina thanked the stream for the gift, hung the silk on the buffalo’s back to dry, and moved on.
And here is her friend ficus. Lo and behold, on the branch she tied up, hanging, sparkling, a pearl necklace.
“Dear and glorious Vina,” the ficus leaves rustled, “take these pearls for yourself.” We took it off the turban of the prince who recently passed through here and kept it for you.
The happy girl took the pearl necklace, put it around her neck and walked on.
There’s a fire in the hearth, so strong and bright. And in the frying pan on it lies such a wonderful sweet cake.
“Vina, I’m so grateful for your help.” Take this cake, eat it yourself and treat your sister.
Vina took the cake, divided it into two parts, set one aside for her sister, and ate the other herself, thanked the fire and moved on.
From a distance she saw a plum tree, so generously covered with golden fruits that even the leaves were not visible.
- Guilt! — the tree rejoiced. “All these plums are for you, kind soul.” Thank you for freeing me from thorns.
The girl picked the drain, ate it herself and collected some for her sister.
Here is the house at last. Mina came out to meet her and opened her mouth in surprise: next to Vina stood a buffalo loaded with copper vessels and a spinning wheel, and her sister’s hem was full of juicy plums and a piece of delicious cake.
-Where did you get all this from? - asked the older sister with envy.
“My father gave all this to me,” answered Vina.
- No, this cannot be. You probably stole it all somewhere. Tomorrow I will go to my father and tell him everything, may he kick you out of the house forever! - Mina screamed.
The next day she went to her father, with the secret hope of receiving even more generous gifts from him. She approached the plum and heard:
- Hello, dear sister! There are still a few thorns left on me, please pick them off.
Mina turned away from the tree arrogantly.
- By the time I take care of your thorns, I will have already walked halfway. Better ask the camel about it.
“But he can eat all the plums,” remarked the tree.
- So what does it matter to me? - Mina answered mockingly and hurried on.
Soon she saw a fire in the hearth.
“Girl, girl, rake away my ash, it almost extinguished me,” the fire asked.
- Tell your mistresses about this, let them shake out the ashes from under you. And I don't want to get my clothes dirty.
She ran further and looked - the ficus was growing.
- Dear sister, help me. The other day, one girl tied a branch that my monkeys had broken, but the wind broke it off again. Tie it tight.
“I can’t,” Mina answered. “I don’t have time, I’m in a hurry.” — And turned her back to the ficus.
Here is the stream.
“They recently cleared me of dirt and leaves,” he told Mina. “And today the boys threw stones at me.” Help me, clear my riverbed, because I must water the peasant fields.
“Everyone has their own business,” Mina answered arrogantly. “The next time the children start throwing stones at you, take them and drown them.”
So, without stopping anywhere, she got to her father.
- Yeah, so you showed up here! - shouted her brother, who lived with his wife with his father.
- Why do you come here?! — the brother’s wife entered. “Vina was here yesterday and took with her almost half of our property.” And she also took the buffalo with her.
And today you will probably beg the old man for the rest.
- No, no! It was the thief Vina who stole everything you are talking about,” answered the cunning Mina. “And I’m not going to steal.”
- Get out of here before the stupid old man comes. We have already given your aunt a lot of dowry for you. But no one will marry you anyway because of your bad character.
Having achieved nothing, Mina was forced to turn back.
- So I’ll complain about you to my father! - she shouted. - Drive your daughter out of her home!
It was already getting dark when she started on her way back. Here is the stream sparkling in the twilight. He looks and sees a piece of silk rinsing in the water, even better than what Vina brought. She went into the water, trying to get him, but couldn’t resist, splashed down and almost drowned. Wet to the skin, she barely made it to the shore and moved on in the darkness.
“What is that hanging on the ficus tree, isn’t it a pearl necklace?” she thought, coming closer. And just as she was reaching out to him, a branch fell on her head and hit her hard. And she wasn't wearing any necklace.
It became cold, and Mina was very cold. Lo and behold, the fireplace is glowing by the road, and the housewife is baking pies on it.
- Auntie, auntie! “I’m so hungry, give me the pie, it smells so delicious,” Mina asked.
- No way! The fire complained to me that you did not want to clear it of ash when it was dying out. Go and ask someone else for a pie.
It became completely dark, and, stumbling over stones, she moved on. Here is a plum tree, and plums are barely visible on it. Mina reached for them, pricked her hands on the thorns, but was still unable to get anything. One plum fell to the ground, but is it possible to find it in the dark?
Hungry, tired, barely dragging her feet, she made it home. Vina was horrified by her appearance, put her to bed, washed her feet and brought her curdled milk with a large piece of pie.
“Yes,” Mina muttered, having warmed up a little, “perhaps I was wrong.” You're really not a thief.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru