Little Khavroshechka

Little Khavroshechka lost her parents at an early age and lived with a family that had three daughters: One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes. The sisters liked to…

Little Khavroshechka lost her parents at an early age and lived with a family that had three daughters: One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes. The sisters liked to sit by the gate, while all the work fell to Khavroshechka. She spun, wove, and tidied up, but rarely heard a kind word. It was especially hard when the mistress of the house ordered her to weave several lengths of cloth in a single day.

Out in the field, Khavroshechka told a spotted cow about her troubles. “Touch one ear, then the other,” said the little cow. The girl stroked her soft ears, and a finished cloth appeared beside her. She thanked her helper, brushed her sides, and braided a wreath of clover. Every evening, smooth white lengths of cloth came back to the house.

The mistress was astonished and began sending her daughters into the field. One-Eye and Two-Eyes fell asleep to a lullaby, but the third eye of Three-Eyes saw everything. When the mistress learned about the magic, she decided to sell the cow to a distant farm. Khavroshechka grew sad, but the little cow whispered, “I will live in a broad meadow. Take three apple seeds from my bell, and do not forget our friendship.”

Khavroshechka planted the seeds in the garden and watered them every morning. An apple tree grew, with golden leaves, silver branches, and rosy apples. One day, a young gardener named Andrei rode past. He asked the girls to hand him one apple and say who would like to help him tend a large garden.

The sisters reached for the apples, but the branches gently lifted away. When Khavroshechka approached, the apple tree bent down to her by itself. The young woman gave Andrei an apple, but first asked him to help her family divide the work fairly. Beneath the apple tree, the mistress and the sisters apologized, and Andrei invited Khavroshechka to tend the large garden with him. At that moment, the spotted cow came up to the fence from the distant meadow, as if rejoicing for her friend.