The armless girl

Very long time ago, it is a lot of years there lived-were the brother and sister ago.

Sister was very lovely blond girl, with kind heart. There was it as a solar ray, and called her is Лусик, that on-armjanski and means - a ray of light.

Brother Lusik married and has resulted in the house the wife. And the wife, having seen, that all around admire, respect and love Лусик, has beared to its fierce malice. Black envy has lodged in its heart. It has started to dismiss any hearings, fables and dirty gossips about Лусик, every day leading up it it to tears.

Brother Lusik as could, supported sister. Never he came back home with empty hands: that will bring Лусик flowers will buy to it a new dress still any gift.

And Лусик it became good on a shower. It became again the cheerful and happy girl-beauty, and all around admired to it, respected and loved it. And the daughter-in-law during such moments simply pined with envy and rage.

Also she has conceived to get rid from Лусик. Once, when her husband has left for work, it has turned upside down all furniture in the house, has interrupted all ware and kitchen utensils which only could be broken. And itself has risen at an entrance door, has crossed hands on a breast and began to wait for returning of the husband home.

Having seen, that it goes, it in despair has broken hands and has started to shout:

- Grief, grief to us! Everything, that was at us, - your favourite little sister upside down has turned all, all ware has interrupted!

- Do not cry so bitterly, the wife expensive. We can buy all these things.

You will think - the plate has broken. We another take. But if we break heart Лусик another us not to find.

The wife has understood, that its spiteful plan has failed. Then, for other day when the husband has left for work, it took its favourite horse and has taken away on distant meadows.

There she also has thrown a horse. And itself has come back home, has risen in doors, having crossed hands on a breast, and a camp to wait returnings of the husband.

- Grief, grief to us! Your beloved sister took mouths of favourite your horse and has lost it on distant meadows. She simply wishes to disorganise ours with you the house!

- It it doesn't matter - answers the husband. Is only a horse. If it was gone, I will work even more, I will earn money and the purchase of another. And unless it is possible to buy other sister?

When malicious sister has understood, as its this plan has not worked, it has come to indescribable fury. The rage has overflowed it and it has gone on an awful crime. In one of nights it has killed the own child who has slept in a cradle, and a blood-stained knife has hidden among things Лусик. Then it has begun to tear on herself hair and to howl:

- About, a grief to me! My child, my innocent child beloved!

The brother and sister have woken up and have seen, that the child is killed in a cradle. Their hearts hardly were not broke off from a grief. But who could make such monstrous act?

- Who has made it? - The wife shouted. - was nobody in the house. Let's look around, can, we will find the tool of a crime and we will guess, who the murderer!

All have agreed and have begun searches. At last, in the things belonging Лусик, have found out a blood-stained knife. It was improbable, but it was so!

- А-а! It is all your beloved sister! - the malicious wife has cried, shedding tears.

It tore on herself hair, tore apart nails the person to blood and howled through tears not the voice:

- About, my child, кровиночка mine! About, unique my child!

In the morning terrible news has flown about all vicinities. People have been revolted and offended so by a heinous crime. Raised, they demanded punishment for the murderer. Mother of the lost child sobbed and appealed to justice. Unfortunate, innocent Лусик have imprisoned.

When the court the sentence which has been taken out by the judge, howled such is has taken place: to chop off Лусик both hands.

After a while after sentence reduction in execution after wounds have cicatrised, Лусик have brought to distant wood. There it also have left.

Began Лусик to wander on a wood thicket, wandering between huge trees.

Being torn through bushes and windbreaks, it has torn up to pieces all clothes in shreds.

Mosquitoes mercilessly bit Лусик, wood bees painfully stung, - it after all did not have now hands to drive away them. At last, Лусик has found to itself a refuge in a hollow trunk of the big tree.

And happens so, that just in these places the imperial son hunted. Its hunting dogs have surrounded a tree in which hid Лусик, and have lifted bark. A tsarevitch and its retinue have thought, that dogs have imposed any wild animal. They began to give them commands to expel him outside.

- Do not set dogs on me, my master, - the girl has cried. - I the person, instead of an animal.

- If you the person then leave, - have told a tsarevitch.

- I cannot, I absolutely naked, am a shame to me.

Tsarevitch has jumped off from a horse, has thrown off from itself a raincoat and has given its to one of the servants that that has carried it to a tree.

Having dressed a raincoat, Лусик left the refuge. It was so is fine, that any man would forget all on light, having seen such beauty. A tsarevitch has been fascinated.

- Who you, the fine maiden and why you hide here, in a hollow trunk of this tree?

- I the most ordinary girl. I remained on a this world absolutely alone. And earlier I had a house. I had a brother, but his wife has banished me.

- I will not throw you in such trouble, - a tsarevitch has told.

It took Лусик with itself(himself), and to the parents has told, that very much loves it and has asked to prepare them all for wedding ceremony.

- And if you do not bless us, - he has told, - that I am not responsible for myself, I will make any recklessness.

- The sonny, - speaks to it the tsarina. - on a this world there are so much wonderful girls, the daughter of princes, ministers and ambassadors. All of them also are rich and beautiful.

Why you wish to marry the girl who does not have either hands, or house, clothes?

- Yes, you are right mum. But after all it is that girl whom I will love all life.

The tsar and the tsarina have called wise men from all kingdom and have asked to give them its advice: whether they can allow to marry to the son this armless girl or not? Wise men have answered, that the love between the man and the woman is born in their hearts:

- It seems to us, that the love of your son to this girl has ignited divine fire of their heart. Means, to the God угоден their union.

Having heard this council, the tsar and the tsarina have agreed with it. They have blest wedding of the son and Лусик.

The wedding feast lasted seven days and seven nights. A tsarevitch and Лусик became the husband and the wife.

Some time to a tsarevitch was necessary to go later to far-away countries. During its absence at Лусик the beautiful boy with golden hair was born. The tsar and the tsarina were so are glad, as if it have presented the whole world. They have written the joyful letter and have given to its messenger that that has brought the letter to a tsarevitch.

Having gone to a way, the messenger has been compelled to stay the night in that village where there lived brother Lusik and his wife. Happens so what exactly in their house it has stopped on a lodging for the night. Having got to talking with owners, he also has told it about with what commission goes to the tsarevitch and how a tsarevitch with своею the wife has got acquainted. The malicious daughter-in-law has thought at once, about whom is dressed speech.

At midnight it has risen from a bed, has pulled out at the messenger from a pocket the letter and has thrown it in fire. And itself has written new which has put back in a pocket. In the letter it was spoken: <After you have left the house, your wife has given birth to a monster. We are disgraced before all people and the whole world. Write to us what to do?>.

This letter the messenger also delivered to a tsarevitch. When that has read it, it as if with a lightning has amazed. He has written to the parents: <my destiny is Probably that.

That the God gives to me, also mine. Do not speak anything to bad my wife, do not offend her. Wait for my returning>. It has given the letter to the messenger and has sent it back.

On a way it again had to stop off at the house of brother Lusik and his wife. The malicious daughter-in-law and this time at midnight has crept to things of the messenger, has taken out from a pocket the reciprocal letter, has read it and has broken off in shreds. Instead of it she has put the letter in which it was spoken: <to Whoever has given birth my wife, adhere the child to its breast and expose away. When I will return, I do not wish it to see in the house. If you do not make how I ask you to be to a trouble>.

When the tsar and the tsarina have received the letter, they have begun to cry. It was very a pity to them Лусик and the grandson, but they felt, that should arrive how their son asked. Having adhered the child to a parent breast, crying as if on funeral, they have deduced Лусик from a palace.

Heart-broken mother began to wander about the the child. She went through woods and through heathlands and, at last, has come in fruitless desert.

There she has absolutely become exhausted. It would like to eat, she was tormented by thirst. Suddenly looks Лусик, and on its way there is a well. It has approached to it, has glanced - water absolutely nearby. But as soon as it has bent to it to have a drink, her son was untied and has fallen in a well. Has bitterly, bitterly cried Лусик as has suddenly heard, that someone behind her back speaks:

- Be not afraid, the child, be not afraid, expensive. Get the child from a well, rescue it.

Having turned back, Лусик has seen the old man with the big grey-haired beard to a belt.

- As I will rescue the baby, the father - have begun to sob Лусик. - I do not have hands!

- You will pull out it therefrom! You can make it. Is! There are at you hands.

Get!

Лусик has bent down and - about, a miracle! The hands has got the child from a well.

She has turned back to thank the old man, and that as well as did not happen.

Tsarevitch has come back home, in the meantime, and has learnt all how affairs actually were. He has refused to enter into a palace of the father, and instead has rushed on searches of the wife and the son. All who met to it on a way, a tsarevitch asked on them. At last, one traveller has met to it:

- Good afternoon, - its tsarevitch has greeted.

- Let the Lord stores you, - the stranger has answered.

- Where you hold a way?

- I search for sister.

- And I search for my wife and our son. Give we will be engaged in searches together.

So they began to search native together. They wandered on the different countries and not year, both not two and not three. But and have found those for whom searched.

Even on a trace their misfortune could not: there are no about them news either bad, or good.

They have somehow stopped in one inn. And there was it in those edges where nearby there was a village of brother Lusik. And while a tsarevitch had a rest in hotel, its partner, - and it and was brother Lusik - descended in village for the wife. They have returned back with belongings and have lodged in hotel, in hope, that here, from travellers of lodgers will hear any news.

In the meantime, in the same hotel one poorly dressed woman with the little boy has stopped. This woman knew many different histories. Lodgers, gathering in the evenings, asked it to tell something, - so time more cheerfully ran. Here a tsarevitch also speaks to the companion:

- Give we will talk to this woman and its child. Perhaps, something also we learn.

This idea very much was not pleasant to the wife of the companion of a tsarevitch. She grumbled, that lodged in hotel mother and its child take too much place.

And in general, they very much to it stir and let supposedly they from here are cleaned away.

Nevertheless, a tsarevitch has insisted on the and they have called the woman and its child.

Having entered into a room, it has modestly sat down at a wall. Near to it its sonny was arranged. A tsarevitch also speaks:

- The sister is not slept to us today. Perhaps, you know any fairy tales or legends. If you want, tell to us, and we with pleasure will listen to you.

And the woman answers:

- I know fairy tales, but I will tell to you быль. It has occurred today and it is very instructive history. If you not against be going to listen.

- Yes, of course, tell to us this history.

And нищенка has begun the story:

- As I have already told, this history has happened during our times. And so, there lived-were the brother and sister. The brother married and has resulted in the house the wife who has appeared very malicious and envious woman.

At this moment the person of the wife of the partner of a tsarevitch has flinched. She has jumped from a place and has exclaimed:

- Well and a nonsense! What for foolish history?

- What it with you? Why you interrupt the story? - Brother Lusik has stopped the wife.

And having addressed further to the storyteller, continued:

- I ask you, tell further.

Нищенка continued:

- Sister was the girl kind. All respected her and loved. And the brother, coming home, each time brought to sister any gift - a bunch of flowers, fruit or something from a new thing. It was always very kind to it. The daughter-in-law left itself with envy. She has started to machinate.

- What for foulness you here to us tell? - The wife of the companion of a tsarevitch has again interrupted the storyteller.

- Yes that it with you, really? Give we will listen to this history up to the end.

And you, the sister, do not pay attention, continue the story.

Нищенка continued:

- The malicious daughter-in-law was very inventive in the malicious affairs. So, once, it has turned in the house upside down all furniture, has interrupted ware, and of all it has accused sister of the husband. Another time it has lost on distant meadows of the best horse which was at her husband.

- Close the mouth, the impudent liar. What it at you for быль the such? Who will believe in fairy tales what mother has killed the own child? - The woman has angrily interrupted the storyteller once again.

- Again you interrupt, - her husband was indignant. - let tells, I very much would like to learn, that was further.

Нищенка continued the story:

- The court has taken place. The innocent girl have sentenced to cutting off of hands.

Helpless, it have thrown in wood far from the native house. Heart-broken, suffering from a pain, she wandered on a wood thicket. Happens so, that in those places the imperial son hunted. He has met this girl in wood.

- Give, be brief with the story. It is enough to stir any nonsenses.

I not only do not wish you to listen more, I you cannot already see! - the wife of the brother on Лусик has spitefully cried.

- The brother, ask to keep silent the wife. Allow to listen further - history very interesting - a tsarevitch has asked.

Нищенка continued:

- The imperial son, having received the letter, has been heart-broken. He, in turn, has written to parents the letter in which asked to wait necessarily its returnings home and to care of the wife and about the child. Coming back, the messenger has again stopped in that house. The malicious daughter-in-law has changed the letter.

- By what line it here does? Be cleaned away! - the wife has shouted.

- There is enough! - both have shouted at it is both the husband, and a tsarevitch. - and you, the sister, continue, tell, that was further, - they have addressed to the storyteller.

Нищенка has renewed the story:

- When a tsarevitch has come back home, he has learnt all truth. It also has gone on searches of the wife and the son. During these searches it has met the brother of this armless girl who searched for sister. They have started to wander together, but and have found the girl.

- You lie! - the wife has shouted.

And her husband and the imperial son have concealed breath, expecting the history termination.

And нищенка has finished the story:

- Hungry, in рубище, the poor thing wandered on the world with the золотоволосым the son. Having become exhausted, томимая thirst, she has approached to the door the big roadside inn. Here, in hotel, her brother and her husband have taken pity over it. They have invited her to themselves.

The wife of brother Lusik was hammered in a hysterics.

- Лусик, expensive, it you? - A tsarevitch has exclaimed, its cheeks flared.

- Лусик, the babe... - her brother has begun to cry.

- Yes, I Лусик. And you to me the brother and the husband. And near to me mine золотоволосый the boy. And this woman - that malicious daughter-in-law.

Also such pleasure what and to describe has come it is impossible. After long searches they have found each other.

And the malicious daughter-in-law have adhered to a tail of not travelled mare and have expelled her in the field.....

People tell, that when in those places innocent blood has spilt, - prickles yes dogroses have expanded. When bitter tears have spilt, - the lake was formed. If to look at it it is attentive, to get accustomed, in the heart of its waters it is possible to see sometimes the child sleeping in a cradle and a knife, laying at a pillow.

Still tell, that in those places there is a monastery in which, kneeling, all prays and prays one woman.