"The magic lake"

1. "The magic lake"

2. Once upon a time, at the taskhyl’s bottom, there lived the Old Man and his Old Woman. The Old Man was a hunter and the Old Woman ran the house. But suddenly the Old Woman fell ill, neither eats, nor drinks.It seemed she was going to die.

3. But suddenly the Old Woman fell ill, neither eats, nor drinks. It seemed she was going to die.The old man was very sad, hecouldn’t sleep, he didn’t move away from the Old Woman. But night he heard a weak voice ofthe Old Woman: - I wish to eat. – The Old Man was delighted to hear that and rushed to cook something toeat. He looked for some flour, but all barns were empty.

4. Early in the morning in a thunder-storm he decided to go to a blind rich man – a Bai to askhim for flour. He went out of the house and saw knee-deep waters. Water did not know where to run to. The Old Man took a spade, dug out flutes, and water ran ringing with streamlets. And in the meantime the Old Man went to the Bai.

5. What do you want? – asked the Bai.I’ve come to ask you for a few flour, the sick Old Woman asks to eat. I will give you a good skin of an animal in exchange. - This good suffices at me! I will give you a flour bag, and you will give me your eyes instead. Do you agree? – The Old Man began to tremble and answered: - I can‘t, I must see the Old Woman!

6. - You’ve got only one Old Woman, and I’ve got wealth! And people! And it is necessary to keep a sharp eye on them! - I agree! – said the Old Man, gave his eyes, shouldered a sack with flour and has trudged home.

7. But he did not know where to go, he couldn’t find his road.Suddenly he heard a voice: - What happened with you, the Old Man? Why are you shifting your feet? - Who asks me, I can not see! - We are the Streamlets! You have dug flutes for us? You have shown us the road to the Magic Lake? - Yes, I have shown you the road, and now I can’t find my road. – And he told them how he had given for flour his eyes to the Bai. - We will show you the road, the Old Man! Follow us! –the Streamlets started to sing clearly and led the Old Man to the lake. They told: - It is a magic lake. It helps everybody who is good and nobody who does harm. You should go down from its coast, wash your face and drink!

8. The Old Man took off the sack. He washed his eyes, drunk water and cried: - What a miracle! I can see even better then early. I can see the sun, the sedge washed by a night thunder-storm! The Old Man took off his cap and filled it with water from the lake for the sick Old Woman. He easily shouldered the sack with flour and has hastened home.

9. The Old Man gave water to the Old Woman. She drank and there were so much joy when the Old Woman recovered and got up healthy.

10. The Old Man grieved over sad news that the Bai was still blind. He did not know that the Bai was amused, throwing puppies and kittens into the lake in his childhood. But once, when he had thrown a puppy, the big wave flew and doused him from head to foot. He has became blind since that time … The Old Woman began to calm the Old Man down: - Stop to grieve! It is visible your eyes do not wish to serve malicious Bai.

11. But the Old Man nevertheless decided to help the blind and has gone to Bai. It has told to it about magic lake, about a beautiful sedge. Bai has listened to the old man, yes as will start shouting: - And so why I did not become able to see! You, the old man, at the same time with lake? I order to throw stones to people at him. I will let out herd of horses that have trampled a sedge!

12. The Old Man came home and told everything to his wife. - Don’t worry, my poor kind husband. The lake won’t let bay cause it any harm! Not in vain it is called “magic”! It seems to know the bay’s cruelty and must have experienced it far more than you did. You know as they say – if you do evil things, don’t expect kindness in return!