Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/78

62

upon a time there lived an old peasant, who had three sons. Two of these were supposed to be very clever, while the third, the youngest of the three, was said to be so dreadfully stupid that people nicknamed him Ivan the Stupid, or just simply the Stupid; while others, less polite, and not so choice in their language, called him the "Fool." Whether it was to keep up his reputation among his friends or not, I cannot say, but Ivan would spend all his time when at home lying on the stove doing nothing.

A very great feast was to be held at the king's palace, and was to last for three days; to this feast everybody was invited, the rich and poor, great and small; and among them were Ivan's brothers.

When the first great day arrived, the two brothers began putting on their Sunday's best, and making themselves generally smart.

"I wish you would take me with you," said Ivan from the stove, as he looked at his brothers dressing.

"Take you with us!" they cried. "What next? Do you wish to frighten the people? Where can you go to? You are only fit to lie on that stove and growl!"