Russian Folktales

A Hut in the Forest

Outside in the forest there was deep snow. It had crusted the branches of the pine trees, and piled itself up them till they bent under its weight. Now and then wolves howled of far away.

Little Maroosia heard them, and thought of them out there in the dark as they galloped over the snow. She sat closer to her brother Vanya, and they were both as near as they could get to the door of the stove, where the red fire was burning, keeping the whole hut warm. The stove filled a quarter of the hut, but that was because it was a bed too. There were blankets on it, and in those blankets Vanya and Maroosia rolled up and went to sleep at night. It was cosy and warm.

The hut was made of pine logs cut from the forest. The grandfather of Maroosia and Vanya lived alone with them in the hut in the forest. Maroosia and Vanya could hardly remember their dead parents. They were happy with their grandfather. He was kind to them and did all he could to keep them warm and well fed. He let them help him in everything. Besides old Peter and Maroosia and Vanya there were a cat and a grey dog, Vladimir and Bayan. Just now their cat was lying in Vanya's arms fast asleep.

When the dog was in the hut he usually lay underneath the table, because that was the only place where he could lie without being in the way. But just now he was out with their old grandfather.

Vladimir stirred suddenly in Vanya's lap, and a minute later they heard the scrunch of boots in the snow, and stamping feet. The door opened, and the grey dog pushed his way in and shook himself. He was pleased to be home. And old grandfather came in after him. He shook himself in his own way, and the snow flew off like spray. He did this every time he came inside.

Their grandfather took off his big coat and lifted down the samovar [1] from the shelf. The samovar had a redhot fire in the middle of it to keep the water in it heated. It hummed as steam rose in a little jet from a tiny hole in the top. The boiling water could be tapped at the bottom.

Old Peter threw in lighted sticks and charcoal, and then set the samovar on the table with the little fire crackling in its inside. Then he cut some big lumps of black bread, emptied a saucepan of soup into a big wooden bowl and fetched three wooden spoons, deep like ladles. One big spoon was his, two smaller spoons were for his grandchildren.

While their grandfather was getting supper ready he was answering questions and joking, and Vanya and Maroosia danced about the hut and chuckled.

Then they had supper, all three dipping their spoons in the big bowl together, and eating much black bread. There were scraps for Vladimir the cat and a bone for Bayan the dog.

After that they had tea with sugar but no milk: they liked it that way.

Then their grandfather made another glass of tea for himself. They were young and would not sleep if they drank tea too near bedtime, he said. He threw a log of wood into the stove, lit a short little pipe. He puffed, the smoke got in his eyes, and he wiped them with the back of his hand. All the time he was doing this his grandchildren were snuggling together close by the stove.

"Well, what is it to be?" said old Peter, "Would you like a story you've never heard before?" He was combing his great grey beard with his fingers and looking at the children with twinkling eyes from under bushy eyebrows. "Have I ever told you the story of 'The Silver Saucer and the Transparent Apple'?"

"No, never," cried the children at once.

Old Peter took a last pull at his pipe, and Vanya and Maroosia wriggled with excitement. Then he drank a sip of tea and began.

Words

Samovar: A metal container that is designed to be heated and boil water. The heated water is often used to make tea. [WP, "Samovar"]