strawberries under the snow

TALES OF THE JAPANESE ISLANDS

Brother and sister

(Tale of Tanegashima Island)

It happened in the old days, in the distant old days.

There lived in a mountain village a sister and a brother, complete orphans.

My sister's name was Sekihime. She was not yet twelve years old, and already she was in charge of the whole household and looked after her younger brother.

He gets up early, early in the morning, and brings water, and cleans the house, and prepares breakfast - all on time. Will wake up younger brother Wakamatsu, his sister will wash him and dress him, and amuse him with a fairy tale.

And then he will begin to weave the canvas for sale. Until evening, the loom knocks: kirikara ton-ton-ton, kirikara ton-ton-ton. The weft quickly runs along the warp, and behind it a long thread hurries ... Sekihime was a good spinner. Works and sings a song.

And at the other end of the street stood a large beautiful house. There lived a rich village man. He had many servants and household members, but no one in that house sang merry songs.

Wealth and joy do not always follow the same path.

The evil rich man had a son, Jiro, the first fighter and offender in the village. Everyone at school was afraid of him.

One day Wakamatsu was walking past the school. Meanwhile, the students were playing in the yard. And Jiro also ran there. Substitute one leg, give the other a slap. He saw little Wakamatsu and let's tease him and taunt him:

Hey Wakamatsu! You are already seven, but you are completely stupid ... You don’t go to school ... Well, tell me, how much will it be: one crow and one dog? You do not know? And which road is longer: from Kyoto to Osaka or from Osaka to Kyoto? Are you silent?.. Shoo-shoo, stupid boy!

Wakamatsu blushed in shame. He became redder than a scarlet poppy, redder than a ripe pepper, and weeping, he ran home.

His sister came out to meet him:

What happened to you? Why are you crying? Who hurt you?

The boys tease, they call me ignorant. You know how embarrassing...

Sekihime smiled and lightly patted her brother on the shoulder.

Complete, complete, don't cry! This problem is easy to fix. Tomorrow you will go to school. Go to bed early.

In the morning, Sekihime gave her brother a box of black ink and a beautiful brush. She took the boy by the hand and took him to school.

Affectionately met his teacher:

It's good, Wakamatsu, that you wanted to study. From the legs, the traces will be erased, but from the brush remain.

I don’t know anything yet, I don’t know how ... - the boy complained.

It's not a problem! After all, they start building a high tower from the very bottom. Stone after stone is laid, and it rises to the very clouds. Sit here, here is your seat.

Wakamatsu began to study. He was a smart boy, he grasped everything on the fly. He soon overtook all the other schoolchildren in learning.

And the rich man's son, Jiro, was envious. He went to complain to his father:

Are you going to let that little Wakamatsu get the better of me? Everyone will laugh at me. After all, he is no higher than a fungus in the forest.

It is to spite you that he studies so well, - the rich man decided. - Here's how you do it...

And he taught his son what to say.

Hey friends! Jiro said to the students. We all learn, we learn, and we have to have fun. Let's have a fan match tomorrow morning. Whoever brings the best fan will be the first among us, well done!

The boys agreed.

Wakamatsu went home sad, sad. There was not a single fan in their poor house. The sister began to console him:

Don't be sad, brother. This evening I will go into town and buy you a fan.

And the way to the neighboring city is not close. You have to go through three bamboo thickets, climb three mountains, and descend from three mountains. It became dark. Sekihime is walking, lighting the way with a lantern.

It's scary in the mountains at night. Now the owl hoots, then the bushes rustle ...

And as if distant trees are talking to their neighbors:

"Shuh-shush, who's going there? Shuh-shoo, who's going there? Shuh-shush, the good sister is coming. Move apart, branches, part, rocks!”

It was well past midnight when Sekihime arrived in the city. She found the fan maker's shop and knocked on the door.

A heavy bolt rumbled. The master of fans came out to her, rubbing his eyes.

What do you need, girl? Why bother people at night? Couldn't you have waited until morning?

Then Sekihime told why she needed a fan and why she came from the village at night.

The master was surprised

It can be seen that you love your brother deeply, if you were not afraid to go through the mountains alone in the dark. All right, I'll give you the best fan of my work and I won't take any money from you. Here he is, hold on! In appearance, this fan is unsightly, but it has one wonderful property.

The master taught the girl how to handle a fan. Sekihime thanked the good master and joyfully set off on her return journey.

And it seems to her that the trees are rustling:

“Shuh-shuh, branches, make way! Shuh-shush, stones, roll away!”

The morning had just dawned, and Sekihime was already at home. woke up little brother collected for school. And at parting, she ordered him sternly:

Here's a fan for you, Wakamatsu, but be careful not to open it on the way. Open only at school.

And when they say “no,” then curiosity takes over. The boy can't wait to see what kind of fan his sister gave him.

In appearance, it is nondescript, made of the simplest paper ... But, maybe, it has a beautiful picture on it?

“Let me open the fan just a little, just a little, and take a look,” thinks Wakamatsu.

He moved one plank of the fan to the side.

Looks, a little horse is drawn. Sides in apples, tail fluttering in the wind. Suddenly - what a miracle! The horse is alive. How she swings her front hooves, how she kicks with her hind hooves, and how she neighs: “Wow!” And suddenly she stopped, she didn't move.

Wakamatsu was frightened and quickly slammed the fan.

Here is the school. There were already many students in the courtyard. Each holds an open fan in his hands. So it seems that a lot of colorful butterflies have flown into the yard.

Everyone has paper fans, but Jiro has a silk one with a gilded handle. Flowers are painted on silk as if alive. Among the flowers, beauties walk in rich outfits.

Here, have you seen it? Jiro boasts. - I have the most beautiful fan! And you, Wakamatsu, what did you bring? Oh, what a poor fan! Cheap! That's right, there is no picture on it.

Slowly, slowly, Wakamatsu began to open his fan. Moved one bar. Here is the horse in the apples.

Eh, nothing to see. Lame nag - what a failure! Jiro chuckles.

Wakamatsu opened the fan a little wider. A second bay horse appeared. Stands, nibbling grass.

Suddenly the horse raised its head, shook its mane, and how it neighs: “Hoo!” She neighed so loudly that a horse in the next yard called back.

The boys opened their mouths like that.

Wakamatsu raised another bar. A new picture has appeared.

Ah, what a glorious black horse!

The black horse reared up and went to jump and gallop. But suddenly he heard the neighing of a horse in a neighboring yard. He stopped, set his ears, and in response he neighed: “Wow!”

And then he fell silent and froze.

The boys were watching. No, the picture does not move!

One after another, Wakamatsu moved the bars, and each time a new miracle! Eight horses were drawn on a fan, and they all came to life and neighed. Except the very first one.

Jiro came to his senses and said:

That's unseen, found something to marvel at! Fan something with a flaw. One horse appears to be dead. So it didn't come to life.

It's my fault," Wakamatsu mourned. - My sister did not tell me to open the fan on the way. But I didn’t listen, I slightly opened it ... The horse came to life, neighed, but at the wrong time.

You did not do well, Wakamatsu, disobeying your sister,” the teacher said. - But still your fan is the best. Others don't even compare.

It happened a long time ago.

A widow lived in a village. And she had two daughters: the eldest, o-Chiyo, is a step-daughter, and the youngest, o-Khana, is her own.

The native daughter went about in smart dresses, and the stepdaughter - in tatters. The share of the native daughter was given to caress and pampering, and to the share of the stepdaughter - mallets and menial work. The stepdaughter carried water, and washed, and cooked dinner, and wove, and spun, and sheathed the whole house.

And my own daughter was lazy. She did not like to weave and spin, but she loved to feast on her heart's content.

Once a stepmother had a fight with a neighbor.

The neighbor began to shout:

Don't tell me, teach your own daughter better! Look how lazy and picky she is! The time will come - any groom will marry your stepdaughter, but no one will take your daughter. Your daughter, before she lifts a finger, will think three times, and then she will change her mind anyway.

The stepmother never loved her stepdaughter, and after these words she hated her so much that she decided to get out of the world.

Here comes the cold winter . The stepdaughter works in the yard, and the stepmother and o-Khana warm themselves by the hearth.

Once o-Khana got tired from the heat and said:

Oh, how hot I got! I would like to eat something cold now.

Do you want some snow?

Snow doesn't taste good, but I want something cold and tasty.

O-Khana thought, and suddenly she clapped her hands:

Strawberries, I want strawberries! I want red, ripe berries!

O-Hana was stubborn. If she wants anything, give it to her. She raised a loud cry:

Mom, give me strawberries! Mom, give me strawberries!

O-Chiyo, O-Chiyo, come here! - the stepmother called her stepdaughter.

And she was just washing clothes in the yard. He runs to the call of his stepmother, on the go he wipes his wet hands with an apron.

Her stepmother told her:

Hey, you lazybones, go quickly into the forest and collect ripe strawberries in this basket. And if you don’t pick up a full basket, don’t come back home. Understood?

But, mother, do strawberries grow in the middle of winter?

It doesn’t grow, but you remember one thing: if you come empty-handed, I won’t let you into the house.

The stepmother pushed the girl out the threshold and locked the door behind her tightly. She stood, stood and went to the mountains.

It's quiet in the mountains. Snow falls in flakes. Around the pines, like white giants, stand.

O-Chiyo is looking for strawberries in deep snow, and she herself thinks: “It’s true, my stepmother sent me here to perish. I will never find strawberries in the snow. I'll freeze here." The girl cried, she wanders, not understanding the road. Either he will climb, stumbling and falling, up a mountain, then he will slide into a hollow. Finally, from fatigue and cold, she fell into a snowdrift. And the snow fell thicker and thicker and soon covered a white mound above her.

Suddenly, someone called o-Chiyo by name. She raised her head. She opened her eyes. Sees: bent over her old grandfather with a white beard.

Tell , O-Chiyo, why did you come here in this cold?

Mother sent me, ordered me to collect ripe strawberries, - the girl answered, barely moving her lips.

Doesn't she know that strawberries don't grow in winter? But don't worry, I'll help you. Come with me.

O-Chiyo got up from the ground. She suddenly felt warm and happy.

The old man walks on the snow easily, easily. O-Chiyo runs after him. And here's a miracle: just before she fell into a loose snowdrift up to her waist, and now a strong, good road is spreading in front of her.

There are ripe strawberries in the clearing, - says the old man. - Collect what you need, and go home.

She looked at O-Chiyo and couldn't believe her eyes. Large red strawberries grow in the snow. The whole glade is strewn with berries.

Oh strawberries! O-Chiyo screamed. Suddenly he looks: the old man has disappeared somewhere, only pines are standing around.

“It can be seen that it was not a person, but a spirit - the guardian of our mountains,” O-Chiyo thought. - That's who saved me!

Thank you, grandfather! she shouted and bowed low, low.

O-Chiyo picked up a full basket of strawberries and ran home.

How did you find strawberries?! - the stepmother was amazed.

She thought that the hated stepdaughter was no longer alive. The stepmother grimaced and squinted in annoyance and gave her own daughter a basket of berries.

O-Khana was delighted, sat down at the very hearth and let's put handfuls of strawberries in her mouth:

Good berries! Sweeter than honey!

Come on, come on, give it to me! - the stepmother demanded, but the stepdaughter was not given a single berry.

Tired o-Chiyo crouched by the hearth and dozed off. She didn't have long to rest.

She hears someone shaking her shoulder.

Oh-chiyo, oh-chiyo! - shouts her stepmother in her ear. - Hey, you, listen, o-Khana doesn't want red berries anymore, she wants purple ones. Go quickly to the mountains, collect purple strawberries.

But, mother, it's already evening in the yard, and, gosh, there are no purple strawberries in the world. Don't drive me to the mountains, mother.

Aren `t you ashamed! You are the eldest, you should take care of your little sister. You found red berries, you will find purple ones too!

She pushed her stepdaughter out into the cold without any pity, and the door slammed shut behind her.

O-Chiyo wandered into the mountains. And there was more snow in the mountains. Takes one step o-Chiyo - falls to the waist and cries, cries. Yes, that's enough, was it in a dream that she was picking fresh strawberries here?

It became quite dark in the forest. Somewhere, wolves howled. She hugged the tree with her hands, pressed herself against it.

O-Chiyo! - suddenly a quiet call was heard, and, out of nowhere, a familiar grandfather with a white beard appeared in front of her. As if a dark tree suddenly came to life. - Well, O-Chiyo, did your mother like red strawberries? the old man asked her kindly.

O-Chiyo's tears flowed like a stream.

Mother sent me to the mountains again. He tells me to bring purple strawberries, otherwise he won’t let me go home.

Here the old man's eyes flashed with an unkind gleam.

I took pity on you, that's why I sent red berries to your stepmother, and what did this villain come up with! Okay, I'll teach her! Follow me!

The old man took long strides forward. It goes - as if it flies through the air. The girl can hardly keep up with him.

Look, O-Chiyo, here is a purple strawberry.

Indeed, all the snow around glows purple lights. Large, beautiful purple strawberries are scattered everywhere.

She timidly plucked the first berry from O-Chiyo. Even at the bottom of the basket it shone with a lilac sheen.

O-Chiyo picked up a full basket and ran home as fast as she could. Then the mountains parted by themselves and in an instant were far behind, and in front of the girl, as if from under the ground, native home increased.

Knocked on the door o-Chiyo:

Open, mother, I found purple strawberries.

How? Lilac strawberry?! gasped the stepmother. - It can't be!

She thought the wolves had eaten her stepdaughter. And what! O-Chiyo not only returned alive and well, but also brought strawberries, which does not exist in the world. Reluctantly, the stepmother unlocked the door and could not believe her eyes:

O-Khana snatched the basket from her sister's hands and let's eat the berries as soon as possible.

Ah, delicious! You can swallow your tongue! Purple strawberries are even sweeter than red ones. Try it too, Mom.

O-Chiyo began to dissuade her sister and stepmother:

Mother, sister, these berries are too beautiful. So they sparkle like lights. Don't eat them...

But o-Khana shouted angrily:

I ate, right, in the forest to satiety, but it’s not enough for you, you want everything to go to you alone! Found the fool!

And suddenly, how it barks, barks. He sees o-Chiyo: his stepmother and o-Hana have grown sharp ears and long tails. They turned into red foxes and so with barking and fled to the mountains.

O-Chiyo was left alone. Eventually, she got married and lived happily ever after. She gave birth to children. They collected a lot of red, ripe berries in the forest, but in winter no one else found strawberries under the snow - neither red nor purple.

Grandfather Tsveti-Sad has come! I am Grandfather Flower Garden!

Reported to the prince.

The prince went out into the garden with his wife. Servants and warriors fled in a crowd. Everyone opened their eyes wide. Waiting for a miracle to happen.

And the old man seems to be not the same, - the prince doubted. - Not the former Grandfather Tsveti-Sad. Well, anyway, let him show his art.

The neighbor began to pour ashes in handfuls. Ashes flew in the wind, powdered the eyes of the prince, and his wife, and court ladies, and soldiers, and servants. The ashes covered silk clothes, stuffed into the nostrils and ears.

The prince became angry with terrible anger. Yelled:

Drive away this cheater! Drive with sticks! Beat him like a dog!

The neighbor came back barely alive, limping, in a tattered dress.

The kind old man took pity on him and gave him a new robe.

Since then, the neighbor has ceased to shamelessly beg.

Once Grandfather Tsveti-Sad went to the mountains. And towards him comes, as if flying, a stranger. He says to the old man in a gentle voice:

The trees in my valley bloomed well when you sprinkled them with ashes. You made me happy, decorated my house, thank you.

Grandfather Tsveti-Sad understood that he had a mountain spirit in front of him. The old man was shy and didn't know what to say.

Give me here a rag with a handful of ashes, - commanded the mountain spirit. - Richly the prince rewarded you, but what is his reward against mine! I will return your friend, and there is nothing more valuable in the world than a true friend.

The owner of the mountains poured ashes from a rag onto a roadside bush. The bush did not bloom with flowers, but suddenly a familiar barking was heard and Snowball jumped out of the bush.

And the mountain spirit disappeared, as if melted into the air.

The old man and the old woman rejoiced so much that if they could share their joy among all people, then everyone would have enough and a little more would be left.

strawberries under the snow

It happened a long time ago.

A widow lived in a village. And she had two daughters: the eldest o-Chiyo is a step-daughter, and the youngest o-Khana is her own.

The native daughter went about in smart dresses, and the stepdaughter - in tatters. Caress and pampering fell to the share of the native daughter, and mallets and menial work fell to the share of the stepdaughter. The stepdaughter carried water, and washed, and cooked dinner, and wove, and spun, and sheathed the whole house.

And my own daughter was lazy. She did not like to weave and spin, but she loved to feast on her heart's content.

Once a stepmother had a fight with a neighbor.

The neighbor began to shout:

Don't tell me, teach your own daughter better! Look how lazy and picky she is! The time will come - any groom will marry your stepdaughter, but no one will take your daughter. Your daughter, before she lifts a finger, will think three times, and then she will change her mind anyway.

The stepmother never loved her stepdaughter, and after these words she hated her so much that she decided to get out of the world.

Here comes the cold winter. The stepdaughter works in the yard, and the stepmother and o-Khana warm themselves by the hearth.

Once o-Khana got tired from the heat and said:

Oh, how hot I got! I would like to eat something cold now.

Do you want some snow?

Snow doesn't taste good, but I want something cold and tasty.

O-Khana thought, and suddenly she clapped her hands:

Strawberries, I want strawberries! I want red, ripe berries!

O-Hana was stubborn. If she wants anything, give it to her.

She raised a loud cry:

Mom, give me strawberries! Mom, give me strawberries!

O-Chiyo, O-Chiyo, come here! the stepmother called her stepdaughter.

And she was just washing clothes in the yard. She runs to the call of her stepmother, on the go she wipes her wet hands with her apron.

Her stepmother told her:

Hey you, lazybones, quickly go into the forest and collect ripe strawberries in this basket. And if you don’t pick up a full basket, don’t come back home. Understood?

But, mother, do strawberries grow in the middle of winter?

It doesn’t grow, but you remember one thing: if you come empty-handed, I won’t let you into the house.

The stepmother pushed the girl out of the door and locked the door behind her tightly. O-Chiyo stood for a while in the yard, took a basket and went to the mountains. In winter, strawberries do not grow. Yes, there is nothing to do, O-Chiyo is afraid of disobeying his stepmother.

It's quiet in the mountains. Snow falls in flakes. Around the pines, like white giants, stand.

O-Chiyo is looking for strawberries in deep snow, and she herself thinks: “It’s true, my stepmother sent me here to perish. I will never find strawberries in the snow. I'll freeze here."

The girl cried, she wanders, not understanding the road. Either he will climb, stumbling and falling, up a mountain, then he will slide into a hollow. Finally, from fatigue and cold, she fell into a snowdrift. And the snow fell thicker and thicker and soon covered a white mound above her.

Suddenly, someone called o-Chiyo by name. She raised her head. She opened her eyes. He sees: an old grandfather with a white beard is leaning over her.

Tell me, O-Chiyo, why did you come here in such a cold?

Mother sent me, ordered me to collect ripe strawberries, - the girl answered, barely moving her lips.

Doesn't she know that strawberries don't grow in winter? But don't worry, I'll help you. Come with me.

O-Chiyo got up from the ground. She suddenly felt warm and happy.

The old man walks on the snow easily, easily. O-Chiyo runs after him. And here's a miracle: just before she fell into a loose snowdrift up to her waist, and now a strong, good road is spreading in front of her.

There are ripe strawberries in the clearing, - says the old man. - Collect what you need, and go home.

She looked at O-Chiyo and couldn't believe her eyes. Large red strawberries grow in the snow. The whole glade is strewn with berries.

Oh strawberries! O-Chiyo screamed.

Suddenly he looks: the old man has disappeared somewhere, only pines are standing around.

“It can be seen that it was not a person, but a spirit - the guardian of our mountains,” O-Chiyo thought. - That's who saved me!

Thank you, grandfather! she shouted and bowed low, low.

O-Chiyo picked up a full basket of strawberries and ran home.

How did you find strawberries?! - the stepmother was amazed.

She thought that the hated stepdaughter was no longer alive. The stepmother grimaced and squinted in annoyance and gave her own daughter a basket of berries.

O-Khana was delighted, sat down at the very hearth and let's put handfuls of strawberries in her mouth:

Good berries! Sweeter than honey!

Come on, come on, give it to me! - the stepmother demanded, but the stepdaughter was not given a single berry.

Tired o-Chiyo crouched by the hearth and dozed off. She didn't have long to rest.

He hears someone shaking his shoulder.

Oh-chiyo, oh-chiyo! - shouts her stepmother in her ear. - Hey you, listen, o-Khana doesn't want red berries anymore, she wants blue ones. Go quickly to the mountains, collect blue strawberries.

But, mother, it's already evening in the yard, and, gosh, there are no blue strawberries in the world. Don't drive me to the mountains, mother.

Aren `t you ashamed! You are the eldest, you should take care of your little sister. You found red berries, you will find blue ones too!

She pushed her stepdaughter out into the cold without any pity, and the door slammed shut behind her.

O-Chiyo wandered into the mountains. And there was more snow in the mountains. O-Chiyo takes one step - falls to the knees, takes another - falls to the waist and cries, cries. Yes, that's enough, was it in a dream that she was picking fresh strawberries here?

It became quite dark in the forest. Somewhere, wolves howled. She hugged the tree with her hands, pressed herself against it.

O-Chiyo! - suddenly a quiet call was heard, and, out of nowhere, a familiar grandfather with a white beard appeared in front of her. As if a dark tree suddenly came to life.

Well, O-Chiyo, did your mother like red strawberries? the old man asked her kindly.

O-Chiyo's tears flowed like a stream.

Mother sent me to the mountains again. He orders to bring blue strawberries, otherwise he won’t let me go home.

strawberries under the snow

TALES OF THE JAPANESE ISLANDS

Brother and sister

(Tale of Tanegashima Island)

It happened in the old days, in the distant old days.

There lived in a mountain village a sister and a brother, complete orphans.

My sister's name was Sekihime. She was not yet twelve years old, and already she was in charge of the whole household and looked after her younger brother.

He gets up early, early in the morning, and brings water, and cleans the house, and prepares breakfast - all on time. The younger brother Wakamatsu will wake up, his sister will wash him and dress him, and amuse him with a fairy tale.

And then he will begin to weave the canvas for sale. Until evening, the loom knocks: kirikara ton-ton-ton, kirikara ton-ton-ton. The weft quickly runs along the warp, and behind it a long thread hurries ... Sekihime was a good spinner. Works and sings a song.

And at the other end of the street stood a large beautiful house. There lived a rich village man. He had many servants and household members, but no one in that house sang merry songs.

Wealth and joy do not always follow the same path.

The evil rich man had a son, Jiro, the first fighter and offender in the village. Everyone at school was afraid of him.

One day Wakamatsu was walking past the school. Meanwhile, the students were playing in the yard. And Jiro also ran there. Substitute one leg, give the other a slap. He saw little Wakamatsu and let's tease him and taunt him:

Hey Wakamatsu! You are already seven, but you are completely stupid ... You don’t go to school ... Well, tell me, how much will it be: one crow and one dog? You do not know? And which road is longer: from Kyoto to Osaka or from Osaka to Kyoto? Are you silent?.. Shoo-shoo, stupid boy!

Wakamatsu blushed in shame. He became redder than a scarlet poppy, redder than a ripe pepper, and weeping, he ran home.

His sister came out to meet him:

What happened to you? Why are you crying? Who hurt you?

The boys tease, they call me ignorant. You know how embarrassing...

Sekihime smiled and lightly patted her brother on the shoulder.

Complete, complete, don't cry! This problem is easy to fix. Tomorrow you will go to school. Go to bed early.

In the morning, Sekihime gave her brother a box of black ink and a beautiful brush. She took the boy by the hand and took him to school.

Affectionately met his teacher:

It's good, Wakamatsu, that you wanted to study. From the legs, the traces will be erased, but from the brush remain.

I don’t know anything yet, I don’t know how ... - the boy complained.

It's not a problem! After all, they start building a high tower from the very bottom. Stone after stone is laid, and it rises to the very clouds. Sit here, here is your seat.

Wakamatsu began to study. He was a smart boy, he grasped everything on the fly. He soon overtook all the other schoolchildren in learning.

And the rich man's son, Jiro, was envious. He went to complain to his father:

Are you going to let that little Wakamatsu get the better of me? Everyone will laugh at me. After all, he is no higher than a fungus in the forest.

It is to spite you that he studies so well, - the rich man decided. - Here's how you do it...

And he taught his son what to say.

Hey friends! Jiro said to the students. We all learn, we learn, and we have to have fun. Let's have a fan match tomorrow morning. Whoever brings the best fan will be the first among us, well done!

The boys agreed.

Wakamatsu went home sad, sad. There was not a single fan in their poor house. The sister began to console him:

Don't be sad, brother. This evening I will go into town and buy you a fan.

And the way to the neighboring city is not close. You have to go through three bamboo thickets, climb three mountains, and descend from three mountains. It became dark. Sekihime is walking, lighting the way with a lantern.

It's scary in the mountains at night. Now the owl hoots, then the bushes rustle ...

And as if distant trees are talking to their neighbors:

"Shuh-shush, who's going there? Shuh-shoo, who's going there? Shuh-shush, the good sister is coming. Move apart, branches, part, rocks!”

It was well past midnight when Sekihime arrived in the city. She found the fan maker's shop and knocked on the door.

A heavy bolt rumbled. The master of fans came out to her, rubbing his eyes.

What do you need, girl? Why bother people at night? Couldn't you have waited until morning?

Then Sekihime told why she needed a fan and why she came from the village at night.

The master was surprised

It can be seen that you love your brother deeply, if you were not afraid to go through the mountains alone in the dark. All right, I'll give you the best fan of my work and I won't take any money from you. Here he is, hold on! In appearance, this fan is unsightly, but it has one wonderful property.

The master taught the girl how to handle a fan. Sekihime thanked the good master and joyfully set off on her return journey.

And it seems to her that the trees are rustling:

“Shuh-shuh, branches, make way! Shuh-shush, stones, roll away!”

The morning had just dawned, and Sekihime was already at home. I woke up my little brother, collected him for school. And at parting, she strictly ordered him:

Here's a fan for you, Wakamatsu, but be careful not to open it on the way. Open only at school.

And when they say “no,” then curiosity takes over. The boy can't wait to see what kind of fan his sister gave him.

In appearance, it is nondescript, made of the simplest paper ... But, maybe, it has a beautiful picture on it?

“Let me open the fan just a little, just a little, and take a look,” thinks Wakamatsu.

He moved one plank of the fan to the side.

Looks, a little horse is drawn. Sides in apples, tail fluttering in the wind. Suddenly - what a miracle! The horse is alive. How she swings her front hooves, how she kicks with her hind hooves, and how she neighs: “Wow!” And suddenly she stopped, she didn't move.

Wakamatsu was frightened and quickly slammed the fan.

Here is the school. There were already many students in the courtyard. Each holds an open fan in his hands. So it seems that a lot of colorful butterflies have flown into the yard.

Everyone has paper fans, but Jiro has a silk one with a gilded handle. Flowers are painted on silk as if alive. Among the flowers, beauties walk in rich outfits.

Here, have you seen it? Jiro boasts. - I have the most beautiful fan! And you, Wakamatsu, what did you bring? Oh, what a poor fan! Cheap! That's right, there is no picture on it.

Slowly, slowly, Wakamatsu began to open his fan. Moved one bar. Here is the horse in the apples.

Eh, nothing to see. Lame nag - what a failure! Jiro chuckles.

Wakamatsu opened the fan a little wider. A second bay horse appeared. Stands, nibbling grass.

Suddenly the horse raised its head, shook its mane, and how it neighs: “Hoo!” She neighed so loudly that a horse in the next yard called back.

The boys opened their mouths like that.

Wakamatsu raised another bar. A new picture has appeared.

Ah, what a glorious black horse!

The black horse reared up and went to jump and gallop. But suddenly he heard the neighing of a horse in a neighboring yard. He stopped, set his ears, and in response he neighed: “Wow!”

And then he fell silent and froze.

The boys were watching. No, the picture does not move!

One after another, Wakamatsu moved the bars, and each time a new miracle! Eight horses were drawn on a fan, and they all came to life and neighed. Except the very first one.

Jiro came to his senses and said:

That's unseen, found something to marvel at! Fan something with a flaw. One horse appears to be dead. So it didn't come to life.

It's my fault," Wakamatsu mourned. - My sister did not tell me to open the fan on the way. But I didn’t listen, I slightly opened it ... The horse came to life, neighed, but at the wrong time.

You did not do well, Wakamatsu, disobeying your sister,” the teacher said. - But still your fan is the best. Others don't even compare.

Jiro heard this and, out of vexation, broke his rich fan into small pieces.

What fans! he says. - An empty case of a fan. And tomorrow we will arrange a new competition more fun! Let's launch boats. Let's see who has the best boat. Probably the smartest one. And the most stupid will have the worst.

Wakamatsu went home with his head bowed.

Are you so unhappy? Sekihime asks.

Tomorrow all my school friends will be sailing boats on the river. And I don't have one. They will shame me, they will laugh at me.

Don't be sad, Wakamatsu. This problem is easy to fix. I will go to the city again, I will buy you a boat.

Sekihime set out on her journey towards evening. It soon became quite dark. A girl is walking along a steep path. The lantern in her hands barely shines. And all around the trees whisper:

“Shuh-shuh, the good sister is coming. Shuh-shush, the good sister is coming. Take care of her, take care of her. Chase the witch, scare the wolf!

At midnight, Sekihime reached the city. It's dark on the streets, all the lights in the houses are out. Sekihime wandered around the city for a long time until she found the house of the toy master.

The master came out at her knock, angry, sleepy.

It happened a long time ago.
A widow lived in a village. And she had two daughters: the eldest, o-Chiyo, is a step-daughter, and the youngest, o-Khana, is her own.
The native daughter went about in smart dresses, and the stepdaughter - in tatters. Caress and pampering fell to the share of the native daughter, and mallets and menial work to the share of the stepdaughter. The stepdaughter carried water, and washed, and cooked dinner, and wove, and spun, and sheathed the whole house.
And my own daughter was lazy. She did not like to weave and spin, but she loved to feast on her heart's content.
Once a stepmother had a fight with a neighbor.
The neighbor began to shout:
- Do not tell me, teach your own daughter better! Look how lazy and picky she is! The time will come - any groom will marry your stepdaughter, but no one will take your daughter. Your daughter, before she lifts a finger, will think three times, and then she will change her mind anyway.
The stepmother never loved her stepdaughter, and after these words she hated her so much that she decided to get out of the world.
Here comes the cold winter. The stepdaughter works in the yard, and the stepmother and o-Khana warm themselves by the hearth.
Once o-Khana got tired from the heat and said:
- Oh, how hot I got! I would like to eat something cold now.
- Would you like some snow?
- Snow is not tasty, but I want something cold and tasty.
O-Khana thought, and suddenly she clapped her hands:
- Strawberries, I want strawberries! I want red, ripe berries!
O-Hana was stubborn. If she wants anything, give it to her. She raised a loud cry:
- Mom, give me strawberries! Mom, give me strawberries!
- Oh-Chiyo, oh-Chiyo, come here! the stepmother called her stepdaughter.
And she was just washing clothes in the yard. He runs to the call of his stepmother, on the go he wipes his wet hands with an apron.
Her stepmother told her:
- Hey, you lazybones, quickly go into the forest and collect ripe strawberries in this basket. And if you don’t pick up a full basket, don’t come back home. Understood?
- But, mother, do strawberries grow in the middle of winter?
- It doesn’t grow, but you remember one thing: if you come empty-handed, I won’t let you into the house.
The stepmother pushed the girl out the threshold and locked the door behind her tightly. She stood, stood and went to the mountains.
It's quiet in the mountains. Snow falls in flakes. Around the pines, like white giants, stand.
O-Chiyo is looking for strawberries in deep snow, and she herself thinks: “It’s true, my stepmother sent me here to perish. I will never find strawberries in the snow. I'll freeze here." The girl cried, she wanders, not understanding the road. Either he will climb, stumbling and falling, up a mountain, then he will slide into a hollow. Finally, from fatigue and cold, she fell into a snowdrift. And the snow fell thicker and thicker and soon covered a white mound above her.
Suddenly, someone called o-Chiyo by name. She raised her head. She opened her eyes. He sees: an old grandfather with a white beard is leaning over her.
“Tell me, O-Chiyo, why did you come here in such a cold weather?”
“Mother sent me, ordered me to collect ripe strawberries,” the girl answered, barely moving her lips.
- Doesn't she know that strawberries don't grow in winter? But don't worry, I'll help you. Come with me.
O-Chiyo got up from the ground. She suddenly felt warm and happy.
The old man walks on the snow easily, easily. O-Chiyo runs after him. And here's a miracle: just before she fell into a loose snowdrift up to her waist, and now a strong, good road is spreading in front of her.
“There are ripe strawberries in the clearing,” says the old man. - Collect what you need, and go home.
She looked at O-Chiyo and couldn't believe her eyes. Large red strawberries grow in the snow. The whole glade is strewn with berries.
- Oh, strawberries! O-Chiyo screamed. Suddenly he looks: the old man has disappeared somewhere, only pines are standing around.
“It can be seen that it was not a person, but a spirit - the guardian of our mountains,” O-Chiyo thought. - That's who saved me!
- Thank you, grandfather! she shouted and bowed low, low.
O-Chiyo picked up a full basket of strawberries and ran home.
- How did you find strawberries?! - the stepmother was amazed.
She thought that the hated stepdaughter was no longer alive. The stepmother grimaced and squinted in annoyance and gave her own daughter a basket of berries.
O-Khana was delighted, sat down at the very hearth and let's put handfuls of strawberries in her mouth:
- Good berries! Sweeter than honey!
- Come on, come on, give it to me! - the stepmother demanded, but the stepdaughter was not given a single berry.
Tired o-Chiyo crouched by the hearth and dozed off. She didn't have long to rest.
She hears someone shaking her shoulder.
- O-Chiyo, o-Chiyo! - shouts her stepmother in her ear. - Hey, you, listen, o-Khana doesn't want red berries anymore, she wants blue ones. Go quickly to the mountains, collect blue strawberries.
- But, mother, it's already evening in the yard, and there are no blue strawberries in the world. Don't drive me to the mountains, mother.
- Aren `t you ashamed! You are the eldest, you should take care of your little sister. You found red berries, you will find blue ones too!
She pushed her stepdaughter out into the cold without any pity, and the door slammed shut behind her.
O-Chiyo wandered into the mountains. And there was more snow in the mountains. Takes one step o-Chiyo - falls to the waist and cries, cries. Yes, that's enough, was it in a dream that she was picking fresh strawberries here?
It became quite dark in the forest. Somewhere, wolves howled. She hugged the tree with her hands, pressed herself against it.
- O-Chiyo! - suddenly a quiet call was heard, and, out of nowhere, a familiar grandfather with a white beard appeared in front of her. As if a dark tree suddenly came to life. - Well, O-Chiyo, did your mother like red strawberries? the old man asked her kindly.
O-Chiyo's tears flowed like a stream.
- Mother again sent me to the mountains. He orders to bring blue strawberries, otherwise he won’t let me go home.
Here the old man's eyes flashed with an unkind gleam.
- I took pity on you, that's why I sent red berries to your stepmother, and this villain came up with something! Okay, I'll teach her! Follow me!
The old man took long strides forward. It goes - as if it flies through the air. The girl can hardly keep up with him.
- Look, O-Chiyo, here is a blue strawberry.
Indeed, all the snow around glows with blue lights. Large, beautiful blue strawberries are scattered everywhere.
She timidly plucked the first berry from O-Chiyo. Even at the bottom of the basket, it shone with a blue sheen.
O-Chiyo picked up a full basket and ran home as fast as she could. Then the mountains parted by themselves and in an instant were far behind, and in front of the girl, as if from under the ground, her home grew.
Knocked on the door o-Chiyo:
- Open, mother, I found a blue strawberry.
- How? Blue strawberry?! gasped the stepmother. - It can't be!
She thought the wolves had eaten her stepdaughter. And what! O-Chiyo not only returned alive and well, but also brought strawberries, which does not exist in the world. Reluctantly, the stepmother unlocked the door and could not believe her eyes:
- Blue strawberries!
O-Khana snatched the basket from her sister's hands and let's eat the berries as soon as possible.
- Ah, delicious! You can swallow your tongue! Blue strawberries are even sweeter than red ones. Try it too, Mom.
O-Chiyo began to dissuade her sister and stepmother:
- Mother, sister, these berries are too beautiful. So they sparkle like lights. Don't eat them...
But o-Khana shouted angrily:
- I ate, it’s true, in the forest to satiety, but it’s not enough for you, you want everything to go to you alone! Found the fool!
And suddenly, how it barks, barks. He sees o-Chiyo: his stepmother and o-Hana have grown sharp ears and long tails. They turned into red foxes and so with barking and fled to the mountains.
O-Chiyo was left alone. Eventually, she got married and lived happily ever after. She gave birth to children. They collected a lot of red, ripe berries in the forest, but in winter no one else found strawberries under the snow - neither red nor blue.