A Russian Folk Tale.
The Fisherman and the Golden Fish
A fisher man lived with his wife by the shore of the sea in a small mud hut.They were very old and were living there for thirty three years.The old man netted fishes and his wife sat at home cooking food and spinning clothes.
One day the fisherman went to the sea shore with his nest as usual.he threw his nest into the sea and pulled it back. To his surprise a golden fish was there in his nest. It was shinig in the sun. The fish begged for mercy .
"Please leave me back.I will grant you whatever you wish for." told the fish.
The fisherman was amazed.
He was fishing all through his life and had never heard a fish talking.
"go back fish. I don't want anything."
He went back to his hut and told his wife about the golden fish.
"The golden fish promised me to give whatever I ask for. But I didnt ask anything ."
The wife was really angry. She shouted,"What a fool you are.You could have atleast asked for a new wash basin. See it is broken into two."
He went back to the sea and shouted for the golden fish.
Soon the fish came up on the waves.
"What is it friend ,tell me."
"My wife is angry with me that I did'nt ask for any favour.She naggs me like anything.She needs a new wash basin. Ours is split into two."
"never mind man. Go back and your wish will be satisfied."
And the fish plunged into the deep water.
Fisher man returned and saw a new wash basin in front of his hut.
But the lady was still angry.
"Why did you stop with a wash basin you could have asked for a small cabin to store our fire wood that it will not get wet."
He went back to the sea .It was troubled and the waves were rising high. He shouted in full troat,and the fish came swimming.
"What is it now old man?"asked the fish.
He bowed low and told the wish.
Fish agreed the wish and asked him to go back in peace.
There was a small cabin to store the wood.
But the lady was too greedy. This time she wanted a big house.
"I want to live like a high born lady.Go and ask the fish immediately".
The poor old man returned to the sea reluctantly. The sea was rough and choppy. He shouted above the sound of the sea and the fish came on the waves.
'Be gracious king of fishes my wife is too greedy this time and gives me no peace.she wants ro live like a hich lady in a big house."
"I will grant the wish man ,go in peace," told the fish.
The old man returned to see a fine mansion . There were many servants doing all the work. His wife was wearing costly clothes with gold ornaments all over her body.
Fisherman wished that she was a contented lady now.
Time went by.Some days later she started nagging again.This time she wanted to be an empress. The fisherman tried to discourage her but she treated him like a servant and scolded him.
This time also the fish obliged to her wish and she became the empress of a new palace.There were nobles and lords to wait upon herand guards to look after her.She treated the old man like a beggar and send him out of the palace.
The greedy could'nt satisfy with this. She wanted more. She asked the guards to search for her husband and bring him back. This time she wanted to be the empress of the sea so that she can order to the golden fish for anything and everything.
The poor man could not even say no to her .He was afraid of her might.
He went back to the sea to see a storm rising. The fish came out when he shouted and asked him what he wanted. Old man Was in tears when he told the behaviour of his foolish wife.Then he narrated his wife's wishes with a trembling voice,"she wants to rule the sea and make you to serve her."
The fish said nothing.Twisting its tail it plunged and swam away to the deep waters.
The old man waited there for a long time.
When dusk came he returned to her wife fearing of her wrath.
Lo. There she was sitting in front of their mud hut .
The broken wash basin was ther in front of her.
posted by mrsragh @ 10:00 AM
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