Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/77

Rh the cart. Angry words did not remain long unuttered by the mother's lips.

"What have you done to them, you wicked, wicked man? My poor little darlings, they were the delight of my life. My Pasha, my Masha, what shall I do without them? my darling little doves. What did you do to them, you horrid old wretch? Tell me this instant."

"Leave off talking that nonsense, this is no time for scolding. You told me to take the girls to the forest; you thought of nothing but riches all the time, and this is what you get for it. You can't find fault with me, I did what you told me to do, and these are the thanks I get."

The woman after a little more scolding and howling came to herself again, and actually forgave her husband, who had done nothing. After that they lived happily for many a long year, not forgetting, however, to bury Pasha and Masha. As for Martha, she soon married a rich and handsome young man, and lived happily ever after, as people always do in Fairy Tales.