Russian Fairy Tale for Kids

Sister Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka

1) Once upon a time there lived an old man and an old woman. They had a daughter named Alyonushka and a son named Ivanushka. The old man and the old woman died and Alyonushka and Ivanushka left all alone. Once Alyonushka went to work and took her little brother with her. They had a long way to go and wide fields to be crossed. When they were going through the field Ivanushka began to feel thirsty.
- My dear sister Aloynushka, I want to drink!
- Wait, my brother, till we reach the well!
But they walked and walked and the sun was high up in the sky, the well was still far away, the heat pestered them, they perspired heavily. Suddenly thy saw a cow’s hoof filled with water.
- My dear sister Alyonushka, may I take a sip from the cow’s hoof?
- Don’t drink, my little brother - or you’ll turn into a calf!
Ivanushka obeyed and they walked further. The sun was still high in the sky, the heat was very bad and they’ve got more and more perspired. They came upon a horse’s hoof filled with water.
- My dear sister Alyonushka, may I take a sip from the cow’s hoof?
- No, my little brother! If you do you will turn into a foal!
Ivanushka sighed and they walked further.
The sun was still high in the sky, the heat was very bad and they’ve got more and more perspired now. They came upon a goat’s hoof filled with water.
- My dear sister Alyonushka, I can’t stand the thirst any more! May I take a sip from the goat’s hoof?
- No, my little brother! If you do you will turn into a kid!
Ivanushka didn’t obey and drank out of the goat’s hoof and turned into a goat kid.

2) …drank out of the goat’s hoof and turned into a goat kid...
Alyonushka called his brother but instead Ivanushka the white goat kid was running after her.

3) Alyonushka burst into tears and sat down by a stack of hay. She was crying and the goat kid was jumping around playing.
Just then a merchant chanced to be riding by.
- What are you crying for, pretty maid?

4) Alyonushka told him of her trouble.
The merchant said to her:
Marry me, pretty maid! I will dress you in gold and silver, and the little goat will live with us. Alyonushka thought it over and agreed to marry the merchant.

5) They lived together in happiness, and the little goat lived with them and ate and drank with Alyonushka out of the same cup.

6) Once the merchant wasn’t at home when a witch came. She stood under Alyonushka's window and begged her ever so sweetly to go and bathe in the river with her.
Then the witch led Alyonuska to the river.

7) When they got there the Witch fell upon Alyonushka and, tying a stone round her neck, threw her into the water and then took on her clothes and went to Alyonuhka’s mansion.

8) No one guessed that she was not Alyonushka but a Witch. The merchant came home and even he did not guess.
Only the little goat knew what had happened. He went about with drooping head and did not touch food or drink. Morning and evening he never left the river bank and, standing at the water's edge, called:
Alyonushka, my sister!..
Swim out, swim out to the bank…

The witch knew about it and asked the husband to kill the little goat.
The merchant was sorry for the little goat, he’d become fond of him. But the witch kept begging so he gave in at last.
- Do kill him!

The Witch had big fires kindled, big pots heated and big knives sharpened. The little goat found out that he was going to be killed, so he said to his merchant father:

9) Let me go to the river before I die and have a last little drink.
- You do go! - said the merchant.

10) The little goat ran to the river, stood on the bank and cried piteously:

My dear Sister Alyonushka!
Swim out, swim out to the bank!
Fires are burning high,
Pots are boiling,
Knives are ringing,
And I am going to die!

to be continued ...