More Russian Picture Tales

Once upon a time there lived a man and his wife, and they had a goat and a ram. And one day the man said to his wife: “Look here, let's get rid of the ram and the goat; why, they only keep eating our corn, and don't help to feed us at all!” So he told them: “Be off, goat and ram, and don't dare to show yourselves at my gate ever again.” So the goat and the ram made themselves a bag, and went off. And they went on and on, when suddenly they saw a wolf's head lying in the middle of the field. And they picked up the head, put it in their bag, and went on again. And they went on and on, when suddenly they saw a fire burning, and they said: “Let's go and spend the night there, lest the wolves should eat us.” But when they got there, lo and behold! it was the wolves themselves who were cooking their porridge, and so they said: “Good evening, young fellows, and good appetite to you!” And the wolves answered: “Good evening, Mr. Goat and Mr. Ram! We're just boiling our porridge, come and have some, and then we'll eat you both up.” At this the goat took fright, while as for the ram, his legs had been shaking with fear for some time. Then the goat began to think, and he thought and thought and at last he said: “Come now, Mr. Ram, let's have a look at that wolf's head you've got in your sack!” And the ram took out the wolf's head, when the goat said: “No, not that one. Let's have the other bigger one!” And again the ram gave him the same head, but he said: “No, not that one either! let's have the largest of all!” And the wolves looked, and thought the ram had a whole sackful of wolves' heads, and each one of them said to himself: “Well, these are nice guests to have! I'd better hop off!” And first one said aloud to the others: “I like your company all right, brothers, but somehow, the porridge doesn't seem to be boiling very well. I'll just run and fetch some sticks to throw on the fire.” And as he went off, he thought to himself: “You and your company be bothered!”—and never came back.