Far beyond three times nine lands, in a kingdom far removed from ours, there once lived a poor old man and his wife. They had two young sons who were still too small to help with the hard work of the fields.
The old man had to do nearly everything himself. He supervised labourers, worked wherever he could and struggled to earn enough money to feed his family. Even after all his efforts, his earnings amounted to little more than a few coins.
One day, while returning home, he encountered a drunken fellow carrying a hen.
“Would you like to buy my hen, old man?” the stranger asked.
“How much do you want for it?”
“Fifty kopeks.”
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The old man shook his head. He had very little money, but he offered the man the few coins he had earned that day.
“Take these instead. You can buy yourself something to drink on your way home.”
The drunkard accepted the offer, handed over the hen and went on his way.
When the old man arrived home, his family was desperately hungry. There was not even a piece of bread in the house.
“Look what I have brought you,” he announced, presenting the hen to his wife.
His wife was furious.
“What madness is this? Our children have nothing to eat, and instead of bringing home bread, you have bought another mouth to feed!”
“Do not be so angry,” the old man replied. “A hen does not eat much. She will lay eggs, and eventually we shall have chicks to sell. Then we can buy food.”
He made a little nest and placed the hen beneath the stove.
The following morning, he went to check on the bird. To his astonishment, there was no ordinary egg in the nest. Instead, the hen had laid a magnificent jewel with brilliant natural colours.
He hurried to tell his wife.
“Other people’s hens lay eggs, but ours lays precious stones! What are we to do with such a gift?”
His wife advised him to take the jewel into the city and see whether anyone would buy it.
The old man went from one inn to another, showing the extraordinary stone to merchants. They gathered around it, examined its beauty and argued over its value. Eventually, one of them purchased it for five hundred roubles.
This was the beginning of an extraordinary change in the family’s fortunes.
The hen continued laying precious stones, and the old man became a wealthy merchant. He joined the merchants’ guild, opened a shop, employed apprentices and acquired ships to transport his valuable goods to distant countries.
Before embarking on one of his trading journeys, he gave his wife a serious warning.
“Take great care of the hen. Guard her more carefully than your own eyes. If anything happens to her, you will answer for it with your life.”
He then departed, leaving his wife in charge of their growing household.
The Secret Beneath the Hen’s Wing
After her husband left, the old woman grew increasingly close to one of the young apprentices working for the family.
One day, the apprentice asked her where the precious stones came from.
“Our hen lays them,” she explained.
Curious about the bird, he picked it up and examined it carefully. Beneath its right wing, he discovered a mysterious message written in gold.
It revealed that whoever ate the hen’s head would become a king, while whoever ate its liver would acquire the ability to spit gold.
The apprentice immediately saw an opportunity to gain even greater riches and power.
“Prepare that hen for my supper,” he ordered the old woman.
She hesitated, knowing her husband would punish her terribly if he discovered what she had done.
But the apprentice refused to listen to her objections.
The following day, the old woman instructed the cook to slaughter the hen and roast it with its head and liver intact.
The cook prepared the bird and placed it inside the oven before leaving the kitchen.
Unfortunately for the apprentice, the family’s two young sons happened to return from school while the hen was roasting. They saw the food inside the oven and, tempted by hunger, decided to take a taste.
The elder boy ate the hen’s head, while his younger brother ate its liver.
Neither boy knew anything about the magical writing beneath the bird’s wing.
When supper was served, the apprentice immediately noticed that the head and liver were missing. Enraged, he quarrelled with the old woman and stormed away.
She followed him, begging him not to abandon her. But he made a cruel demand.
“If you want me to have anything more to do with you, bring me your children. Their brains and livers must be prepared for my supper!”
The old woman, overcome by her wicked attachment to the apprentice, agreed.
That night, after the boys had gone to bed, she summoned the cook and ordered him to carry the sleeping children into the forest, kill them and prepare their brains and livers.
The cook obeyed, taking the boys deep into the woods.
When they arrived at a secluded spot, he began sharpening his knife. The noise awakened the children.
“Grandfather, why are you sharpening that knife?” they asked.
The cook told them the terrible truth. Their mother had ordered him to kill them and prepare their bodies for the apprentice’s supper.
The boys were horrified.
“Please, grandfather, do not kill us. We will give you all the gold you could ever want. Just spare our lives!”
The younger brother filled his garment with gold, and the cook, persuaded by the payment, released them.
The boys disappeared into the forest, while the cook returned home.
Fortunately for him, he soon encountered a female dog with two puppies. He killed the puppies, prepared their brains and livers and served them to the apprentice in place of the children.
The apprentice ate everything, believing he had finally obtained the magical ingredients he desired.
But instead of becoming a king or gaining the power to produce gold, he became nothing more than a fool.
The Brothers Take Separate Roads
Having escaped death, the two brothers continued through the forest until they reached a broad road.
They travelled for some distance before arriving at a place where the road divided into two directions. A pillar stood nearby, bearing an inscription that read:
“Whoever takes the right road shall receive a kingdom.
Whoever takes the left shall encounter much suffering and sorrow, but shall marry a beautiful princess.”
The brothers considered the message and agreed to follow separate paths.
The elder brother chose the road to the right, while the younger brother went to the left.
The elder travelled until he reached the capital of an unfamiliar kingdom. The city was crowded, but its people appeared miserable. Everywhere he looked, he saw sadness and mourning.
He approached an elderly widow and asked whether she could offer him shelter for the night.
“I would gladly welcome you,” she replied, “but my little house is already so crowded that I scarcely have room for myself.”
The young man pleaded with her to find him a small corner where he could sleep. Eventually, she agreed.
As they talked, he asked why the entire city seemed so distressed.
“Our king has died,” the widow explained. “The nobles have announced that everyone, young and old, must gather in the cathedral carrying a candle. The person whose candle lights by itself will become our next king.”
The following morning, the young traveller rose early, washed himself, prayed to God and gave thanks for the food and shelter the widow had provided.
He then made his way to the cathedral.
An enormous crowd had gathered. Every person carried a candle, waiting to discover who would become their new ruler.
The young man took his place among them and held up his candle.
Suddenly, it burst into flame without anyone lighting it.
The crowd was astonished. Some rushed towards him, attempting to blow out the flame, but the harder they tried, the brighter it burned.
There was nothing more to be done. The people accepted the sign and proclaimed him their king.
He was dressed in magnificent golden garments and escorted to the royal palace.
Thus, the elder brother received the kingdom promised by the inscription.
The Younger Brother and the Beautiful Princess
Meanwhile, the younger brother continued along the left-hand road.
During his travels, he heard about a beautiful princess whose fame had spread across distant kingdoms. Although she was extraordinarily lovely, she was also difficult and demanding.
She had announced that she would marry only the man who could provide food, drink and clothing for her entire army for three years.
Many men had attempted the challenge, but few could hope to meet such an enormous expense.
The younger brother, however, possessed the magical power granted by eating the hen’s liver. Whenever he spat into his little bag, it filled with pure gold.
He travelled until he reached the princess’s kingdom and confidently offered to undertake the challenge.
For three whole years, he supplied the princess’s army with everything it needed. He provided food, drink and clothing, and never once had to ask anyone for money.
Eventually, the appointed time ended, and preparations began for the wedding.
But the princess remained suspicious. She wondered where the young man’s extraordinary wealth came from and how someone who appeared so ordinary could afford to maintain an entire army.
She invited him to a feast, hoping to discover his secret.
During the gathering, the young man suddenly fell ill and vomited up the hen’s liver. The princess swallowed it.
From that moment, she acquired the same magical ability. Gold began falling from her lips whenever she spoke or spat.
But instead of being grateful to the man who had maintained her army for three years, she became contemptuous of him.
“What am I to do with such an ignorant fellow?” she asked her nobles and generals. “He actually believes he can marry me!”
The nobles suggested hanging him, while the generals recommended shooting him.
The princess, however, devised a different punishment.
“He should be sent to hell!”
The young man managed to escape, but he left the kingdom humiliated and determined to find a way to avenge the princess’s cruelty.
Three Magical Treasures in the Forest
As he wandered through the forest, he encountered three men fighting violently over three extraordinary objects.
Curious about their quarrel, he approached them and asked what was happening.
They explained that they had discovered three magical treasures but could not agree on how to divide them.
The first was a barrel. Whenever someone struck it, an entire army of soldiers would emerge from within.
The second was a flying carpet that could carry its owner wherever he wished to go.
The third was a magical whip. Whoever struck a maiden with it while saying, “You have been a maiden; now become a mare,” would transform into a horse.
The young man listened carefully and proposed a solution.
“I will shoot an arrow into the distance. You must all run after it. Whoever reaches it first will receive the barrel, the second will receive the flying carpet, and the third will take the whip.”
The three men agreed.
He fired the arrow far into the distance, and all three immediately rushed after it.
While they were distracted, the young man seized all three treasures.
He took the barrel and the whip, climbed onto the flying carpet and rose into the air. Soon he was flying above the forest, beneath the clouds and towards the kingdom of the princess.
The Princess’s Punishment
When he arrived, he struck the magical barrel.
Immediately, a tremendous army emerged. Soldiers appeared in countless numbers, including infantry, cavalry and artillery. Cannons, gunpowder wagons and military equipment followed.
The young man mounted a horse, took command of the enormous force and ordered it towards the royal city.
The sound of drums and trumpets announced the army’s approach.
From her palace, the princess watched in terror as the mighty host advanced towards her kingdom.
She immediately sent her nobles and generals to negotiate peace.
But the young man refused to settle matters through their representatives. He ordered the messengers seized, punished them severely and sent them back with a message that the princess herself must come and seek reconciliation.
With no alternative, the princess climbed into her carriage and went to meet him.
As soon as she recognised the young man, she was overcome with shock and fainted.
He took out the magical whip and struck her.
“You have been a maiden; now become a mare!”
At once, the beautiful princess was transformed into a horse.
The young man bridled her and mounted her, then set off towards the kingdom of his elder brother. Behind him marched the enormous army.
When they finally reached the kingdom’s boundary, he struck the magical barrel again, gathering the entire army back inside it.
He then continued to the capital with the transformed princess.
A Reunion Between Two Brothers
The king noticed the remarkable horse approaching his palace and was astonished by its beauty.
He had never seen such a magnificent mare and immediately sent his generals to negotiate its purchase.
But the younger brother refused.
“What a greedy king you have!” he exclaimed. “If you are so eager to take away my horse, I can only imagine what you would do if I arrived here with a young wife. You would probably try to take her too!”
He then entered the palace and greeted the king.
“Hail, brother!”
The king stared at him in disbelief. He had not recognised the traveller as his own younger brother.
Soon, the two embraced and kissed each other, delighted by their unexpected reunion.
The elder brother admired the strange treasures his younger brother had brought.
“What is that barrel for?” he asked.
“It is useful for drinking,” the younger brother replied jokingly. “How else would I manage my journeys?”
“And what about the carpet?”
“Sit down, and you will discover its purpose.”
The brothers climbed onto the flying carpet. The younger one shook a corner of it, and the carpet rose into the air, carrying them over forests and beneath the wandering clouds.
It flew them straight back to their homeland.
The Truth Revealed at the Great Feast
When the brothers returned home, they found their elderly parents. However, they did not immediately reveal who they were.
Instead, they arranged a magnificent celebration and invited people from far and wide.
For three days, they provided food and drink for everyone without asking for payment.
After the celebrations, the guests began sharing extraordinary stories. Everyone was invited to tell an unusual tale, but nobody seemed willing to begin.
At last, the younger brother stood up.
“I have a story to tell,” he announced. “But nobody must interrupt me. Whoever interrupts three times will be severely punished.”
The guests agreed to his condition.
He began recounting the story of a poor old couple who had once owned a miraculous hen that laid precious jewels.
He described how the old woman had become involved with one of her husband’s apprentices and how the apprentice had discovered the magical writing beneath the hen’s wing.
As he continued, the old woman, who was among the guests, became increasingly uncomfortable.
“What a lie!” she suddenly exclaimed.
The younger brother ignored her and continued.
He described the slaughter of the hen and how the apprentice had demanded that its head and liver be given to him. He then explained how the mother had ordered her own children to be killed and their bodies prepared for the apprentice.
The old woman interrupted again.
“This is untrue!” she protested.
Still, the younger brother continued, describing how the cook had taken the children into the forest and how they had escaped by offering him gold.
When he reached the point where the mother had arranged for her children to be murdered, she could no longer remain silent.
“Could such a thing ever happen?” she cried. “Could any mother really wish to be separated from her own children?”
The younger brother looked directly at her.
“It is certainly possible. Look at us, mother. We are your children.”
At last, the truth was revealed before everyone.
The old parents realised that the two successful young men standing before them were the sons they had believed lost forever.
The old man was overwhelmed with anger when he learned what his wife had done. He ordered her to be cut into pieces.
The apprentice was tied to the tails of horses, which were driven in different directions until his body was torn apart and his bones scattered across the fields.
“Let the dog die a dog’s death!” the old man declared.
He then distributed all his property among the poor and went to live in the kingdom ruled by his elder son.
But the younger brother had not forgotten the princess.
He approached the mare, struck her gently with the back of his hand and spoke the words of the magical whip.
“You are a mare; now become a maiden!”
Immediately, the horse returned to her original form as the beautiful princess.
The two made peace, became friends and eventually married.
Their wedding was celebrated with great magnificence.
And so the tale ends with the familiar words of a traditional storyteller:
I was there, and I drank mead until it flowed over my beard, but not a drop entered my mouth.
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Moral
Greed and betrayal can destroy even the greatest prosperity. The old woman sacrifices her family for an unworthy relationship, while the apprentice’s obsession with magical power ultimately brings him humiliation rather than success.
The story also suggests that courage, resourcefulness and determination can help people overcome seemingly impossible circumstances.
Knowledge Check
1. What made the hen extraordinary?
It laid precious jewels instead of ordinary eggs.
2. What magical powers were associated with eating the hen?
Whoever ate its head would become a king, while whoever ate its liver would acquire the ability to spit gold.
3. How did the two brothers escape death in the forest?
They persuaded the cook to spare them by offering him gold.
4. Why did the brothers choose different roads?
An inscription promised a kingdom to whoever travelled right and hardship followed by marriage to a beautiful princess to whoever travelled left.
5. How did the younger brother obtain the magical treasures?
He tricked three men fighting over them by sending them after an arrow while he took the barrel, flying carpet and whip.
6. How was the truth about the brothers’ identity revealed?
The younger brother narrated their family history at a great feast until their mother recognised the events and he revealed that the two young men were her sons.
7. What happened to the princess at the end?
The younger brother used the magical whip to restore her human form, and they eventually married.
Source
Narodnye russkie skazki (Russian Folk Tales), compiled by Aleksandr Nikolaevich Afanasyev (1826–1871).
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