RUSSIAN FOLK LORE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1837, 15 April 1884, Page 4

RUSSIAN FOLK LORE.

A chRTAiM woman had a daughter of her own and a stop-daughter. Rho long \\ ished to get rid of her step-daughter : " Take your dauglitor away fiom my sight; cany her wherever yon like. Leave her in tlie open field to the crackling fiost." Tlie father wept and wailed, liufc at length he yielded, placed his daughter on his sledge, diove her out into the open field, and there deposited luv. Thou, having eio*.sed himself, he hastened home, so as not to witness his daughter's death. The poor girl, left alone, shiveicd and utteicd a silent pi aver Up came Frost and said : "Maiden, maiden, I am Red-nosed Fiost." " Ciood day to you, Fio^t, " she iep!ied ; " I suppose (Jod lias sent you for mv sinful soul." Fiost had intended 111 1 smite her, hut he was pleased hy her way of spcakinc, so he took compassion on her and thitw her a w.w in cloak. She wrapped heiself up in it and remained sitting there. Twice did Fiost come a»aiu to visit her, and each time she pleased him so much liy hei sage replies that he made her all manner of piesents. She decked heiself with the gold and jewels he gave her, and sat on the box which had contained them, "ingmg songs. Meantine her step mother was baking cakes foi her funeral fea-st. When they where ready she sent her husband forth to fetch his daughtei'& body home. When lie had been gone awhile the house dog lmked fiom under the table : "The old man's daughter is being brought home all in gold and silver, but the old woman's daughtei had not suitois." In \am did the sti'p mother regale it with cakes in oidcr to make it change its tune. It baikcd on as befoie. When the gnl anived in all her glory the stepmothei was at first astounded. Then, after heaung what bad occuired, she oidcrud her husband to t.ike her own daughter out to the saiiw spot in the open field and leave her tlieie. He obeyed. Picsently Fiost appealed and addressed tlie gitl as he had addiessed her picdcce&soi ; but no good woidb could he get fiom her, so he flew into a mgoandfio/c her to death. Wlien her mothrr sent for her after a time, the house dog beneath the table again began fo baik, this time evelaiming : " Suitois aie coming foi the old man'fa daughter, but tlie old woman's daughter is a bag of bones." The door opened and the giil was brought in dead. Her mother wept and wailed, but it was, too late. — Notes and Queues.