--- title: The Story of the Unlucky Days, part 1 — Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales · full text with trees description: The Story of the Unlucky Days, part 1, «Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales»: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: At the end of a village on the verge of the steppe dwelt two brothers, one rich and the other poor. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/) / The Story of the Unlucky Days, part 1 # The Story of the Unlucky Days, part 1 The Story of the Unlucky Days, part 1 of «Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales»: the whole text, 130 sentences and 2626 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself; 2 of them are in the tales treebank and were checked by a teacher model. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/page/2/) - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/1/) — At the end of a village on the verge of the steppe dwelt two brothers, one rich and the other poor. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/2/) — One day the poor brother came to the rich brother's house and sat down at his table; but the rich brother drove him away and said, "How durst thou sit at my table? - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/3/) — Be off! - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/4/) — Thy proper place is in the fields to scare away the crows!" - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/5/) — So the poor brother went into the fields to scare away the crows. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/6/) — The crows all flew away when they saw him, but among them was a raven that flew back again and said to him, "O man! in this village thou wilt never be able to live, for here there is neither luck nor happiness for thee, but go into another village and thou shalt do well!" - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/7/) — Then the man went home, called together his wife and children, put up the few old clothes that still remained in his wardrobe, and went on to the next village, carrying his water-skin on his shoulders. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/8/) — On and on they tramped along the road, but the Unlucky Days clung on to the man behind, and said, "Why dost thou not take us with thee? - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/9/) — We will never leave thee, for thou art ours!" - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/10/) — So they went on with him till they came to a river, and the man, who was thirsty, went down to the water's edge for a drink. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/11/) — He undid his water-skin, persuaded the Unlucky Days to get into it, tied it fast again and buried it on the bank close by the river. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/12/) — Then he and his family went on farther. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/13/) — They went on and on till they came to another village, and at the very end of it was an empty hut--the people who had lived there had died of hunger. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/14/) — There the whole family settled down. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/15/) — One day they were all sitting down there when they heard something in the mountain crying, "Catch hold! catch hold! catch hold!" - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/16/) — The man went at once into his stable, took down the bit and reins that remained to him, and climbed up into the mountain. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/17/) — He looked all about him as he went, and at last he saw, sitting down, an old goat with two large horns--it was the Devil himself, but of course he didn't know that. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/18/) — So he made a lasso of the reins, threw them round the old goat, and began to drag it gently down the mountain-side. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/19/) — He dragged it all the way up the ladder of his barn, when the goat disappeared, but showers and showers of money came tumbling through the ceiling. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/20/) — He collected them all together, and they filled two large coffers. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/21/) — Then the poor man made the most of his money, and in no very long time he was well-to-do. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/22/) — Then he sent some of his people to his rich brother, and invited him to come and live with him. - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/23/) — The rich brother pondered the matter over. " - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/24/) — Maybe he has nothing to eat," thought he, "and that is why he sends for me." - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/25/) — So he bade them bake him a good store of fat pancakes, and set out accordingly. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/26/) — On the way he heard that his brother had grown rich, and the farther he went the more he heard of his brother's wealth. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/27/) — Then he regretted that he had brought all the pancakes with him, so he threw them away into the ditch. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/28/) — At last he came to his brother's house, and his brother showed him first one of the coffers full of money and then the other. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/29/) — Then envy seized upon the rich brother, and he grew quite green in the face. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/30/) — But his brother said to him, "Look now! - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/31/) — I have buried a lot more money in a water-skin, hard by the river; you may dig it up and keep it if you like, for I have lots of my own here!" - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/32/) — The rich brother did not wait to be told twice. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/33/) — Off he went to the river, and began digging up the water-skin straightway. - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/34/) — He unfastened it with greedy, trembling hands; but he had no sooner opened it than the Unlucky Days all popped out and clung on to him. " - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/35/) — Thou art ours!" said they. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/36/) — He went home, and when he got there he found that all his wealth was consumed, and a heap of ashes stood where his house had been. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/37/) — So he went and lived in the place where his brother had lived, and the Unlucky Days lived with him ever afterward. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/38/) — THE WONDROUS STORY OF IVAN GOLIK AND THE SERPENTS - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/39/) — Somewhere, nowhere, in another kingdom, in the Empire of Thrice-ten, lived--whether 'twas a Tsar and a Tsaritsa, or only a Prince and a Princess, I know not, but anyhow they had two sons. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/40/) — One day this prince said to his sons, "Let us go down to the seashore and listen to the songs of the sea-folk!" - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/41/) — So they went. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/42/) — Now the prince wanted to test the wits of his two sons; he wanted to see which of the twain was fit for ruling his empire, and which should stand aside and make way for better men. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/43/) — So they went on together till they came to where three oaks stood all in a row. - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/44/) — The prince looked at the trees, and said to his eldest son, "My dear son, what wouldst thou make of those trees?" - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/45/) — "What would I make of them, dear father? - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/46/) — I would make me good barns and store-houses out of them. - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/47/) — I would cut them down and plane the timber well, and goodly should be the planks I should make of them." - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/48/) — "Good, my son!" replied the prince, "thou wilt make a careful householder." - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/49/) — Then he asked his younger son, "And what wouldst thou make out of these oaks, my son?" - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/50/) — "Well, dear father," said he, "had I only as much power as will, I would cut down the middle oak, lay it across the other two, and hang up every prince and every noble in the wide world." - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/51/) — Then the prince shook his head and was silent. - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/52/) — Presently they came to the sea, and all three stood still and looked at it, and watched the fishes play. - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/53/) — Then, suddenly, the prince caught hold of his younger son, and pitched him right into the sea. " - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/54/) — Perish!" cried he, "for 'tis but just that such a wretch as thou shouldst perish!" - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/55/) — Now, just as the father pitched his younger son into the sea, a great whale-fish was coming along and swallowed him, and into its maw he went. - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/56/) — There he found wagons with horses and oxen harnessed to them, all of which the fish had also gobbled. - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/57/) — So he went rummaging about these wagons to see what was in them, and he found that one of the wagons was full of tobacco-pipes and tobacco, and flints and steels. - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/58/) — So he took up a pipe, filled it with tobacco, lit it, and began to smoke. - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/59/) — He smoked out one pipe, filled another, and smoked that too; then he filled a third, and began smoking that. - [60](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/60/) — At last the smoke inside the whale made it feel so uncomfortable that it opened its mouth, swam ashore, and went asleep on the beach. - [61](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/61/) — Now some huntsmen happened to be going along the beach at that time, and one of them saw the whale, and said, "Look, my brethren! we have been hunting jays and crows and shot nothing, and lo! what a monstrous fish lies all about the shore! - [62](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/62/) — Let us shoot it!" - [63](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/63/) — So they shot at it and shot at it, and then they fell upon it with their axes and began to cut it to pieces. - [64](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/64/) — They cut and hacked at it till suddenly they heard something calling to them from the middle of the fish, "Ho! my brothers! hack fish if you like, but hack not that flesh which is full of Christian blood!" - [65](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/65/) — They fell down to the ground for fright, and were like dead men, but the prince's younger son crept out of the hole in the fish that the huntsmen had made, went out upon the shore, and sat down. - [66](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/66/) — He sat down there quite naked, for all his clothes had rotted and dropped off inside the fish. - [67](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/67/) — Maybe he had been a whole year in the whale without knowing it, and he thought to himself, "How shall I now manage to live in the wide, wide world?" - [68](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/68/) — Meanwhile the elder brother had become a great nobleman. - [69](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/69/) — His father had died, and he was lord over his whole inheritance. - [70](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/70/) — Then, as is the wont of princes, he called together his senators and his servants, and they counselled their young prince to marry; so out he went to seek a bride, and a great retinue followed after him. — checked by a teacher - [71](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/71/) — They went on and on till they came to where a naked man was sitting. - [72](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/72/) — Then the prince said to one of his servants, "Go and see what manner of man that is!" - [73](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/73/) — So the servant went up to the man, and said, "Hail!" - [74](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/74/) — "Hail to thee!" - [75](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/75/) — "Who art thou, prythee?" - [76](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/76/) — "I am Ivan Golik. - [77](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/77/) — \[29\] Who art thou?" - [78](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/78/) — \[29\] Naked. - [79](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/79/) — "We are from such and such a land, and we are going with our prince to seek him a bride." - [80](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/80/) — "Go, tell thy prince that he must take me with him, for he'll make no good match without me." - [81](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/81/) — So the messenger returned to the prince and told him. - [82](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/82/) — Then the prince bade his servants open his trunk and take out a shirt and pantaloons and all manner of raiment, whereupon the naked man went into the water and washed, and after that he dressed himself. - [83](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/83/) — Then they brought him to the prince, and he said to him, "If you take me with you, you must all obey me. - [84](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/84/) — If you listen to me, you shall remain in the land of Russia; but if not, you shall all perish." - [85](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/85/) — "Be it so!" said the prince, and he bade all his suite obey him. - [86](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/86/) — They went on and on till they overtook the hosts of the mice. - [87](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/87/) — The prince wanted to go hunting after the mice, but Ivan Golik said, "Nay, step aside and give place to the mice, so that not a single one of them lose a single hair!" - [88](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/88/) — So they turned aside, and the mice swept by in their hosts, but the hindmost mouse turned round and said, "Thanks to thee, Ivan Golik, thou hast saved my host from perishing; I will save thine also." - [89](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/89/) — Then they went on farther, and lo! the gnat was marching with his host, and so vast was it that no eye could take it all in. - [90](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/90/) — Then the lieutenant-general of the gnats came flying up and said, "Oh, Ivan Golik! let my host drink of thy blood. - [91](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/91/) — If thou dost consent, 'twill be to thy profit; but if thou dost not consent, thou shalt not remain in the land of Russia." - [92](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/92/) — Then he stripped off his shirt and bade them tie him up so that he could not beat off a single gnat, and the gnats drank their fill of him and flew off again. - [93](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/93/) — After that they went along by the seashore till they came to a man who had caught two pike. - [94](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/94/) — Then Ivan Golik said to the prince, "Buy those two pike of the man, and let them go into the sea again." - [95](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/95/) — "But wherefore?" - [96](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/96/) — "Ask not wherefore, but buy them!" - [97](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/97/) — So they bought the pike, and let them go into the sea again. - [98](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/98/) — But as they swam away, the pike turned round and said, "We thank thee, Ivan Golik, that thou hast not let us perish, and it shall be to thy weal and welfare!" - [99](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/99/) — Swiftly they moved on their way, but the story that tells thereof moves still swifter. - [100](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/100/) — They went on and on, for more than a month maybe, till they came to another land and to another tsardom, to the Empire of Thrice-ten. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/25/page/2/) - ← previous: [The Magic Egg](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/24/) - next →: [The Story of the Unlucky Days, part 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/26/) - ↑ back to [Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/)