Silvery skin

That winter to snow has dropped out much. Extreme to поскотине log huts has swept up to the pipes. You will leave in the field - the horse sticks in a snowdrift, not only the cart, and empty дровнишки hardly pulls out. In former winters, happened, in aspen forests and in birch колках all snow is stitched by traces: here to you and the hare track, and Горностаева a stitch, and a mouse-polevushki small вязь, and a black black grouse a web-footed gait. And this time under snowdrifts all living creatures were hid, wood has become empty. Hungry wolves have started to run every night in village.

There, you see, where the small river flows, under the slope of a hillock, there was court yard Емели Куяна. Мужичонка it was poor though knew everyone craft. Пимы will roll. Boots протачает. A basket will weave. An arch will bend and it is ljubo-is expensive as will adorn. And on riches талану was not. Избенка was lop-sided. Wattle fences stood, as drunk. Itself winter and summer in a fragmentary sheepskin coat went. To drink did not drink, it is sweet did not eat, and the earned copecks as water in решете, did not keep.

It Емели Куяна had little son Fedot. The guy as the guy. By growth and health has not been offended, and character all in the father. Other fellows, happened, in the street in a ball or in the grandma play, and it at home sits, something makes.

All joy at it only in that also was, that from Curls to potter.

Well, it is necessary to tell, such dog as Кудря, not in everyone ре you will find. Speech everyone it understood, just books тать and humanly could not talk. A cap though in wood carry away, hide, it will find and home will bring. Under the nose meat put and tell: "to Touch do not dare!" - it with hunger will die, instead of will touch. A muzzle on paws will put, will turn away, that a smell in a nose not strongly struck, and guards.

Here this winter as there were wolves in village похаживать, Федотко a dog has not saved. Somehow at night Кудря has begun to whimper, the wool ощетинила has begun to roar, and the fellow take and let out it in a court yard. Has counted upon force. Thought, Кудря wolves will overcome. And them it has appeared not one and not two. The dog has not had time to open a mouth how wolves have fallen down it, on a hillock have dragged off and have devoured. Only the tail from Curls remained.

Федотко, likely, for about a week grieved. And then somehow speaks to the father:

- Тятя, give me yours фузею.

- And what for to you? - Yemelyan asks.

- For wolves I will watch. I Кудрю so will not leave it!

- Look, as though they have not eaten you.

- Will not eat. You only case-shots in a charge put.

Clearly, the loss from one charge has some. "All right", - the muzhik has thought. Has put in a gun a gunpowder handful yes a buckshot handful, properly a ramrod пыжи has hammered and кремень has adjusted.

For form's sake the guy has warned, that when will shoot, the butt is stronger to a shoulder pressed, and that from feet will fly.

Федотко in a kitchen garden an ambush has arranged. Has dug out in snow a pole, from above чащой has thrown, hay притрусил, фузею has put on a tripod, has aimed it at a hillock on which wolves Кудрю have torn to pieces, and began to wait.

One night in an ambush has stayed, then the second and the third. Nights stood the dark. Sometimes will seem, like a shade it was threw, and will peer - there is nobody. Wanted there was a guy already all this invention to throw. But for the fourth night the sky has a little cleared up, in ruptures of clouds month has started to look out. As will look out, on snowdrifts as if needles насыплет and their sparks will shine.

In this snow haze beginning Федотку to seem: here as if-hillock has begun to move, the smoke was lighted, and something similar to an animal was then designated. And an animal of any wonderful: a muzzle вострая, ears upright, a trunk low and long, a tail fluffy. And on a skin from a head to a tail tip silver sparks that die away, flash. Has shaken Федотко a head, eyes has wiped. No! And really the animal on a hillock sits: a muzzle has lifted, there-here it drives, to different smells sniffs.

- Aha! - the hunter was delighted. Is you, likely, and has devoured ours Кудрю yes again has come. Here I to you now ladies!

It was put to фузее, a cock has clicked, has caught an animal on a front sight and ka-and-ak бахнет! The whole sheaf of fire has taken off, in wood as if hundreds woodcutters axes have begun to knock, to a shoulder a butt has given, as if a shaft has struck.

He has waited a little, has looked round and sees: the animal on a hillock lays, means, knowingly фузея to it talked.

Next morning on all village, from a log hut in a log hut, hearing has run. Muzhiks, women, kiddies have gathered in a court yard to Емеле Куяну a wonderful animal to look. Hands on each side clapped: what for an animal, whence such was? To a wolf it is not similar, brushes away most of all to a fox. But in our places of a fox all red, and at this colour dark: as a cloud, a skin fluffy and soft, as if down, tips of hair everything, as one, white, silvery.

One only grandma Darya has not praised Федотка. Has examined a skin, has grumbled a little, a head has shaken and asks:

- Well, Федот where you теперича невидаль will put this?

- Cap I will sew, - answers Федотко.

- Not on yours одеже the cap will be.

- Then, so, mittens излажу.

- Mittens warm leave. However in vain only the goods you will spoil. The Skin to see, not the simple. One never knows, will get to you for this skin from Снеговушкн.

The old woman has puzzled the fellow. Has scratched Федотко in a nape, was not how to answer. Grandma Darya knew stuff, with it will not argue.

Till the evening the guy of a place to itself did not find. For four nights wished on полатях to sleep off, and here and the dream was gone. Has acquired, заботушку. As though, and it is true, the harm did not leave.

In the meantime the father with лисички has removed a silvery skin, has cleared yes присолил and sat now, on fingers estimated:

- Perhaps, for it the fellow can пимешки celebrate And if not пимы, шубенку. If not a fur coat, trousers and a shirt бумазеевую.

Федотко гюбоялся about бабкиных words to the father to tell. Батько was on a hand abrupt, fast, that and look, will become angry, will rustle. Therefore also the beginnings it little by little to dissuade. The Skin-de to sell there is nothing. She to drink is does not ask, in wood will not escape, let while at home will stay. To me, say, пимов, fur coats uselessly, well and in old шубенке winter I run.

Yemelyan has listened to it, has thought also a hand has waved:

- All right, we will not sell: can, in an economy it is useful.

Have brought a skin in a log hut, have hung up on a wall, on a nail. After a supper has climbed Федотко - on полати, an old sheepskin coat has taken cover. Like and to sleep hunting, instead of is slept. Words of grandma Darya in any way from mind do not go. Снеговушка probably jokes to joke not begins. Something not to hear, that it kindly to people did.

The guy lays, with a side sideways turns.

Mother ухватом погремела, ware has washed up also the beginnings on the furnace to sleep to keep within. Here and the father to a self-garden was smoked, nakashljal - and has settled. Лучинка in треножке has burnt down, its rests have fallen in таганчик with water, and there has come such darkness, it's pitch dark. Only on a wall where the skin is hung up, blue sparkles flash.

Soon the first cocks have sung. Means, time is close by midnight. Laid-laid Федотко and has dozed off. But only has dozed off, suddenly hears, as if someone calls him: "Федотко! Fedotush-to!"

It has lifted a head, has listened. In a log hut it is silent, and from street, and it is true, someone his name names.

It has come off with полатей, has approached to a window, by an ear was put to glass and has again heard: "Fedotushko!"

As if far somewhere shout.

Well, Федотко and to deliberate did not become. Probably another's person during a such time will not call. Perhaps someone went yes from road has got off.

There was it in a court yard, from a court yard - in a kitchen garden, a kitchen garden - on a hillock near small river. And night stood the deaf person, any asterisk in the sky not to see. Only month because of a cloud has looked out, I have grinned again have hidden.

Goes Федотко without a way-road, it is direct on snowdrifts. The same voice calls all and calls. Here поскотину passed, here already and Марьино a bog. Around a cane, тальники yes birches naked.

Suddenly from nowhere the ice house before it appeared. A roof above birches, instead of windows stones-semi-precious stones are inserted, and burn, and play, as an arch-rainbow! The breeze will blow - hand bells on turrets ring. On the bottom step of a porch two watchmen stand, o-ba growth arshin with a vershok, beards to toe.

Has stopped Федотко, the mouth has opened: whence here, on Марьином a bog, such хоромина has appeared?

At itself has looked also itself has not learnt: пимы on it new, a fur coat new, дубленая, wide trousers плисовые. Faugh well, as the groom, elegant!

On a wide field, on a snow cover the breeze has flown, a blizzard завихрилась, the drifting snow has run, and after that on a house porch mistress Snegovushka has appeared.

Федотко, happened, as to grandfather Matveju will go to spend the night, all night long дедовы to fairy tales about Снеговушку listens. The grandfather spoke time and again: if the drifting snow.по to a field стелется, you can be sure of that, it Снеговушка runs; if the blizzard завихрилась, Снеговушка to dance has gone.

Only anybody it never saw. And it what: young, ruddy, growth high, a dress on it white as at the bride, on hands rings, in star hair are twisted.

Has beckoned Снеговушка Федотку to itself:

- I you called it. Well, kindly, that has come. From a guilty head to demand less. Tell ell to me how you лисоньку from фузеи have shot it who to it has advised you?

The guy was frightened. If grandma Darya the truth has told, will get now from Снеговушки! Also it is glad home to escape, yes feet do not go. It is glad a word to utter, yes language as if to a teeth has frozen on.

- Speak, be not afraid,-has laughed Снеговушка. - I to you will not make a harm.

Федотко also has told, how business happens, and about Кудрю has told, and about wolves. Has concealed nothing.

Has listened to it Снеговушка, speaks:

- If so it is fine. It is visible, itself Серебрушка it is guilty, it was not kept. And it is a pity it. This лисонька was at dark night from snow born, a moonlight washed. Одежка on it without-price.

- I will give its skin to you, - have told Федотко, and about myself thinks: "Will receive - probably, about me will not become angry".

- Has taken hold, so use, - said in answer Снеговушка. - At me and without it riches will suffice, to give not передарить, carts to carry not to transport. You want, itself look!

It has given up as a bad job - in ice хоромине all doors have wide open opened. In each room there are chests shod, silver and stones-semi-precious stones up to the top filled. Floors in rooms too are laid out by semi-precious stones, as if the sky is cut by tiles and on a floor настлано.

Федотко even eyes with a sleeve has covered.

And ear Snow has laughed and give the riches handfuls in the sky to throw. As will throw - so in the dark sky the fiery column will rise, or the fiery road will lay down. People on villages поди look and think: what it for light such? Also will not guess, that it Снеговушка plays.

Here this miracle so a miracle! Such in a dream you will not see!

Натешилась Снеговушка also speaks:

- Well, has understood now?

- All has understood, - has answered Федотко.

- So a skin to itself leave. Also remember: it not simple, but treasured. Who will own it, that for all life will receive happiness. In memory of this лисичке any desire I will execute. Only desire not at once state. At first think, to the heart consult, and then speak. Once I will execute, on second time do not ask.

Федотко something wished to learn from it, but here across the field the drifting snow has run, a blizzard завихрилась, the ice house has disappeared, as if it did not happen at all. Neither month in the sky, nor asterisks. One naked wood around yes snowdrifts. In village, in court yard, dogs have begun a bark, cocks - have started singing. Шубенка on Федотке again old there was and пимешки old, a patch on a patch.

Has returned Федотко to a log hut. The father still sleeps, in a dream something mutters. Behind an oven cockroaches rustle. A skin on a wall серебрится. He has touched her hands, has sighed: has acquired-de with you care. Villages then on a bench also has started to think: what to do? It after all only to tell easily that with heart to consult yes to wish something. Podi understand, which desire is better, which is worse. An accordion, whether that, at Снеговушки to elicit? The same accordion, as at Алехи, with two колокольцами. To learn on it to play yes songs to sing. You will sing however while young, and under an old age, perhaps, you will not want. So, it is not necessary an accordion. And can, with money Снеговушка will award? Nuzh-dishki at home loads and loads. A log hut old, a roof, that also look, will fail. For the summer it is necessary again in поскотину to go, дерно to tear up, a roof anew to block. Прясло in a kitchen garden too has collapsed. Not otherwise, as it is necessary on itself to a pole from wood to drag. Podi потаскай: While two poles dragging on a hump проволочешь, the shirt not once will get wet. At mother пониток all thin, a small shawl - a hole on a hole. Just right money would have. Only here a trouble: how many they are necessary? To ask - нуждишку not to correct a little. It is a lot of to ask, it is as though thin does not happen. Тятька йкак spoke: "the Money then is good and joyful, when it is extracted by the hands, and to whom the money will easily come, from that it easily and will leave, or for all century on hands and feet will connect". Efim Pester because of money all family замордовал: both the old woman, and the daughter - in-law, and sons. Two крестовых houses has constructed, in a rick barn stand for two years немолоченными, and in the house fresh шанежки you will not see. All village curses it. Where here pleasures to wait from gratuitous money? Better without them to live. If truly Сиеговушка desire will execute, it is necessary to ask for it new одежки and, and the father with mother.

Perhaps, Федотко so also has solved, but at this time heart as if on an ear has started to whisper to it: "Эх, Федот, Федот! Will buy to you пимешки - you will wear out, will buy new wide trousers - you will tear. Old clothes in a kitchen garden you will throw out and you will forget. Not in одеже after all happiness! In new одежу it is possible to dress also a stub, it will be more beautiful, nevertheless пеньком and remains. Yes what else pleasure it is necessary to you? You the guy healthy, are at you the father with mother. You will not be lazy - одежу you will buy, a log hut to yourself new you will construct".

While so thought, yes about itself judged-rjadil, on a court yard absolutely it is light. Mother an oven истопила, the father behind a fencing snow has cleaned, to a cow of hay has thrown. Anything Федотко could not think up. Wished to tell to the father, but has not dared: will not believe about Снеговушку.

Has got from a shelf sewed, a waxed thread and villages пимешки to repair.

At this time hears, mother speaks to the father:

- It would be necessary, Емеля, to humpbacked Donne to descend, a pie to carry. How many years the girl from a place does not descend, pleasure since the childhood at all did not see.

- Well, send the little son, let will carry, - the father has answered. - we from one pie will not grow poor.

Here Федотко also has thought: if truly Снеговушка said, what a silvery skin treasured, to whom how not Donne, to own it?

Years to five there was it the little girl справная, and then suddenly something has happened: the beginnings on a waist to complain, see became badly. Year through two the hump has grown at it on a back, feet were took away, eyes with dark water has filled in. Parents to its priest carried, sorcerers resulted. Yes after all these priests and sorcerers on one arshin меряны, to it only from the muzhik полушку to break last, and there though the grass not to grow. So Дуня also there was a life бедовать.

Here the guy when Дуню has recollected was delighted!

Took it from mother a pie with cabbage квашеной, passing business and a silvery skin for a bosom has put.

You would look, what Дуня was: small, as a pod, dry yes the lean. And the big pain has lodged in this small little body. Feet ache, on a hump as if cats scrape. At night the little girl shout shouts, shouts in the afternoon, any to rest to it is not present.

Has stopped before it Федотко, the pie has submitted.

- It to you, Дуняша, mum has sent.

And it hands waves:

- It is not necessary to me... It is necessary nothing...

- Yes you though bite off, try a pie.

- I do not want. You to me would freshen grasses has brought in hands is better to take, to the person to put. Or to colour from a bird cherry... Or would allow an oriole to listen in wood. Измаялась I...

Федотку and without that it it was a pity, and here at it tears on eyes were screwed.

- All right, Дуняша! - he has told in the answer. - there will be a grass, there will be a white colour from a bird cherry. Here to you my gift.

Has taken out a silvery skin and on Дуню has thrown.

As soon as the fluffy fur to it on shoulders has fallen, as if the sun on her face has run. For how many years the first time has smiled Дуня, has seized a gift both hands, to a cheek has pressed.

- Well as...

And Федотко here also has added:

- I want, Снеговушка that Дуняша for all century healthy and cheerful became that краше it on all village was nobody.

Knowingly Снеговушка the promise has given. As soon as Федотко desire has stated, at once it and was executed.

Has come off Дуня bed, about хворь has forgotten, has looked at itself in a mirror: where to you, what beauty!

To live now Donne till an old age, some uniform tear not to spill!

Old men as if Федотко then Дуняшу for themselves высватал, and as if steams on all are happier affected sew to village never happened.