Princess Nesmeyana

When you think of it, how vast God’s world is! Rich people and poor people live in it, and there is room for them all. The Lord watches over them all and judges…

When you think of it, how vast God’s world is! Rich people and poor people live in it, and there is room for them all. The Lord watches over them all and judges them. Those who live in luxury make merry; those burdened with hardship toil. Each has their own lot!

In the royal chambers, in the princely halls, in a lofty tower lived the beautiful Princess Nesmeyana, who never laughed. What a life she had, what freedom, what luxury! There was plenty of everything, whatever her heart could desire. Yet she never smiled and never laughed, as though nothing could gladden her heart.

It grieved her father the tsar to see his daughter so sad. He opened his royal chambers to anyone who wished to be his guest.

“Let them try to cheer Princess Nesmeyana,” he said. “Whoever succeeds shall have her for his wife.”

No sooner had he spoken than the palace gates swarmed with people. From every direction they rode and walked: tsars’ sons and princes’ sons, boyars and nobles, military men and ordinary folk. Feasts began, mead flowed, but the princess still did not laugh.

Far away, in his own little corner, lived an honest labourer. In the mornings he cleaned the yard, and in the evenings he herded the cattle. He worked without rest. His employer was rich and fair and did not cheat him of his pay. As soon as the year ended, he put a bag of money on the table.

“Take as much as you want,” he said, and went out through the door.

The labourer came to the table and thought: how could he avoid sinning before God by taking more than his work deserved? He chose just one coin, closed his hand around it and decided to drink some water. He bent over the well, and the coin slipped out and sank to the bottom.

The poor fellow was left with nothing. Anyone else might have wept, grieved and given up in frustration. But he did not.

“Everything comes from God,” he said. “The Lord knows what to give each person. He grants money to some and takes the last of it from others. I must have been too careless and worked too little. Now I’ll try harder!”

He went back to work, and every task flew through his hands. Another term ended, another year passed, and his employer put a bag of money on the table.

“Take as much as your heart desires,” he said, and went out through the door.

Again the labourer thought he must not anger God by taking more than his work deserved. He took one coin, went for a drink and accidentally let it slip from his hand. It fell into the well and sank. He worked still harder, short of sleep at night and short of food by day. Other people’s grain dried up and turned yellow, but his employer’s grew full and plump. Other people’s cattle dragged their feet, while his kicked up their heels in the street. Other people’s horses had to be dragged downhill, while his could scarcely be held by the bridle. The employer knew whom he had to thank. The term ended and the third year passed. He put a heap of money on the table. “Take as much as your heart desires, good worker. Your labour, your money!” Then he went out.

Once again the labourer took just one coin and went to the well to drink. Look! The latest coin was safe, and the first two floated to the surface. He picked them up and understood that God had rewarded his work. Delighted, he thought, “It’s time to see the wide world and get to know people!” And off he went, wherever his eyes led him. As he crossed a field, a mouse came running.

“Good fellow, dear friend! Give me a coin, and I’ll be of use to you!”

He gave her a coin. As he walked through a forest, a beetle came crawling.

“Good fellow, dear friend! Give me a coin, and I’ll be of use to you!”

He gave him a coin too. As he traveled on a river, he met a catfish.

“Good fellow, dear friend! Give me a coin, and I’ll be of use to you!”

He did not refuse him either and gave him his last coin.

Then he came to a city. So many people, so many doors! The labourer gazed around, turning this way and that, not knowing where to go. Before him stood the royal palace, adorned with silver and gold. Princess Nesmeyana sat at the window, looking straight at him. Where could he go? His sight grew misty, sleep came over him, and he fell straight into the mud. Out of nowhere came the catfish with his great whiskers, followed by the little old beetle and the small, sleek mouse. All hurried to him, tending and comforting him: the mouse took off his clothes, the beetle cleaned his boots, and the catfish drove away the flies. Princess Nesmeyana watched them caring for him, and at last she laughed.

“Who, who has cheered my daughter?” asked the tsar.

One said, “I did!” Another said, “I did!”

“No!” said Princess Nesmeyana. “That man there!” And she pointed to the labourer.

They brought him into the palace at once, and there the labourer stood before the tsar, a fine young man indeed. The tsar kept his royal word and granted what he had promised. I ask you: was it all a dream the labourer dreamed? They assure me it was not, that it truly happened. So we must believe it.