Page:RussianFolkTales Afanasev 368pgs.djvu/273

Rh : I will burrow into the ground and do without any izbá."

Then the Goose said, "I will sit in the middle of this spruce, lie on one wing, and cover myself over with the other, and the cold cannot touch me. That is how I shall pass the winter." Then the Cock said, "I shall do the same."

Then the Ox saw he could not do any good: every man must do as he likes. "Well," he said, "as you wish. I am going to build an izbá."

So he built himself an izbá, and he lived in it.

Then the cold time came, and earth began to feel the frosts. And the Ram, who could not help himself, came to the Bull and said, "Brother, let me in."

"No, Ram, you have a warm shúba; that is how you are going to pass the winter! I shall not let you in."

"But if you do not let me in, I shall run up and will dislodge the joists of the izbá and you will feel much colder."

So the Bull thought, and on second thoughts said, "Very well, I will let you in. Otherwise I might freeze." And he let the Ram in.

Soon the Pig felt frozen, and came to the Bull and said, "Brother, let me in."

"No, Pig, I will not let you in. You need only burrow down in the ground: that is how you are going to pass the winter!"

"But if you will not let me in, with my snout I will drill all of your uprights and will knock your izbá down."

Well, there was no help for it, and the Bull had to let Piggy in.

Then the Goose and the Cock came to the Bull and said, "Brother, we want to come in and warm ourselves."

"No, I will not let you in: both of you have two