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The Fabulous Table, the Magic Goat, and the Mighty Stick A Ukrainian Folktale Retold in English by Helene N. Turkewicz-Sanko Once upon a time there was a poor man named Ivan who lived in a poor house in a poor village. There was no food. His wife and his children were starving. All he had was a bag o f oats. His wife said, “Ivan, go to the mill and grind the oats so that I can cook some food for the children.” But Ivan did not listen to his wife and went to sow the oats. The Wind was happily blowing and making pirouettes in the sky, tumbling over the clouds. Un fortunately, the Wind also blew away Ivan’s oat seeds! Ivan ran home and said, “Dear wife, do you know what happened to me? The Wind blew all my oat seeds away! I shall go to the Wind and tell him to return my oats!” “May God protect you on your journey,” said the wife and Ivan left. Ivan walked and walked until dark and then stopped at an inn. The innkeeper was a very friendly but also a very inquisitive man. He was a seasoned businessman and could recognize a man in trouble as well as a man in need. Often he would offer to help, and often, trusting people would accept his help. But the innkeeper’s help always involved lending money at such a high rate o f interest that invariably it was impossible for these people to repay their debts on time. He was like a spider catching innocent people in the web of his sweet words. When people could not repay their debts, the innkeeper would then become the owner of all their possessions including their houses and their lands. But Ivan knew nothing o f all that. The innkeeper was so friendly, his smile so convincing, and because he had offered to let Ivan stay the night for free, Ivan believed he was a nice man who could not possibly be dishonest. He was grateful, and his gratitude made him too trustful. “Where are you going?” asked the innkeeper. “I am searching for the Wind. I want to bring him to justice. He took my oats!” “People say the Wind lives in a big rock in the Big Mountain. They also say that if you stand in front of the big rock and pray, the rock eventually opens up and the Wind comes out,” said the innkeeper. The next morning, Ivan went to the Big Mount ain, found the big rock and began to pray. Suddenly the rock split open and the Wind appeared, yawning and stretching like someone who has awakened after a good sleep. “Why are you here?” asked the Wind. “I want justice, replied Ivan. “You took my oats. Give them back to me! My children are starving.” The Wind felt bad and said to Ivan, “Take this little table, and when you are hungry say Little table, little table, give me something good to eat! And you will be able to feed your whole family.” Ivan thanked the Wind and began his journey back home. It was dark when he passed the inn where he had slept the night before, and he decided to stop there for the night. “So did you find the W ind?’ asked the innkeeper. “Yes,” said Ivan. “And he gave me a fabulous table. When I am hungry, all I have to do is say Little table, little table, give me something good to eatr “Show me,” said the innkeeper. Ivan spoke the words and the table was loaded with good food and drinks. Then he went to sleep. In the night, the innkeeper stole Ivan’s table and put another one in its place. The next day, Ivan came home and said, “Wife, children, come. Soon you will eat the best food in the world. The Wind gave me a fabulous table. All I have to say is Little table, little table, give me something good to eat!” But nothing happened. Furious, Ivan walked Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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