He
was harsh by nature, this Dimian, and wanted everything to go his own way. If
anyone talked or acted against him, Dimian's fists were soon prepared for
answer.
Sometimes,
for instance, he would invite one of his neighbors and treat his guest with
fine things to eat and to drink. And the neighbor in order to maintain the old
custom would pretend to refuse. Dimian would at once begin the dispute:
"Thou
must obey thy host!"
Once
it happened that a shrewd fellow called on him. Our moujik Dimian covered the
table with the very best he had and rejoiced over the good time he foresaw.
The
fellow guest speedily ate everything up. Dimian was rather amazed, but brought
out his kaftan.
"Take
off thy sheepskin," said he to the guest; "put on my new
kaftan."
In
proposing it he thought within himself:
"I
will bet that this time he will not dare accept; then I will teach him a
lesson."
But
the fellow quickly put on the new kaftan, tightened it with the belt, shook his
curly head and answered:
"Have
my thanks, uncle, for thy gift. How could I dare not take it? Why, one must
obey his host's bidding."
Dimian's
temper was rising, and he wanted at any rate to have his own way. But what to
do? He hastened to the stable, brought out his best horse, and said to his
guest:
"Thou
art welcome to all my belongings," and within himself he thought, "He
certainly will refuse this time, and then my turn will come."
But
the fellow did not refuse, and smilingly answered:
"In
thy house thou art the ruler," and quickly he jumped on the horse's back
and shouted to Dimian, the peasant:
"Farewell,
master! no one pushed thee into the trap but thyself," and with these
words the fellow was off.
Dimian
looked after him and shook his head.
"Well,
I struck a snag," said he.
-------------------------
From: FOLK TALES
FROM THE RUSSIAN
ISBN: 978-1-907256-XX-X
A percentage of the
profits will be donated to UNICEF.
