Page:RussianFolkTales Afanasev 368pgs.djvu/317

Rh "What was it, then?"

"I don't know," said the wife. "Sing. I will listen."

So he went on singing by himself, and again the two voices were heard. So he stayed still, and said, "Sorrow, are you aiding me to sing?"

And Sorrow answered: "Yes, I am aiding you."

"Now, Sorrow, we will go on together."

"Yes, I will ever remain with you."

So the peasant went home. But Sorrow called him into the inn.

He said: "I have no money."

"Never mind, Hodge; what do you want money for?" Why, you still have half of a fur; what is the use of it? It will soon be summer, and you will be no longer requiring it. We will go into the inn and drink it up."

So the peasant and Sorrow went into the inn, and they drank up the half-fur. Next day Sorrow groaned and said he had a headache, a fearful headache, owing to last night's treat. And he enticed the peasant once more to bib wine.

"But I have no money!"

"There is no need of money. Take your sleigh and your carriage; that will be sufficient for us!"

It was not any good. The peasant could not escape Sorrow. So he took his sleigh and his carriage, drove them to the inn, and drank them with Sorrow. And in the morning Sorrow groaned yet further, and reduced the master to further drinking; and the peasant drank away his ploughshare and his plough. One month had gone by, and he had drunk all his property away, pledged his izbá to a neighbour, and spent all the money in the inn. Then Sorrow came to him once more. "Let us go to the inn!"

"No, Sorrow, I have no more."