Three Brothers

There were three brothers. They were very poor. The youngest of them was also the kindest.

One day, the brothers each baked a loaf of cornbread and set out to seek their fortune. When they grew hungry, they said to the youngest:

"Let's eat your bread first, and then we'll share ours with you."

The youngest agreed, and all three shared his bread.

Later, when the youngest became hungry and asked his brothers for food, they gave him nothing, beat him, and drove him away.

The youngest brother went off to wander alone. He walked and walked until he came to a field. In the field stood an old castle, and near the castle grew a fig tree and an aspen tree.

The young man approached the fig tree, ate his fill, lay down on the grass, and dozed off.

That same night, a bear, a wolf, and a jackal approached the castle.

The jackal said:

"Why are we silent? Let's tell some stories."

The bear said:

"I have something to tell. In Trebizond, everyone suffers from a lack of water, but there is a plane tree standing by the wall. If someone were to dig it up, water would immediately appear."

The wolf said:

"The king's only son is sick: he grows weaker every day and does not grow. No one can help him. But in the king's flock, there is one sheep without spots; if the sick boy were wrapped in the skin of this sheep, he would immediately recover and grow."

The jackal said:

"At the roots of the aspen tree growing here, a treasure is buried. Every morning, at sunrise, three mice bring the treasure up to dry. If someone knew this and killed those mice, all this wealth would be his."

The youngest brother heard everything clearly and remembered it.

In the morning, the bear, the wolf, and the jackal left.

As soon as the sun rose, three mice appeared and brought out the treasure to dry. They saw the young man, got scared, and ran away, leaving their treasure behind. Thus, the young man came into possession of immense wealth.

He built himself a magnificent palace, settled in it, and then went to Trebizond. There, he found the city elders and, with their permission, opened the water source. He received many rich gifts for this.

After that, he went to the king to cure his son. He approached the palace and said to the courtiers:

"I wish to see the king."

The king was informed.

"He must be hungry; feed him," ordered the king.

But the young man said to the courtiers:

"I do not want to eat or drink. I want to cure the king's son."

They reported this to the king, and the king ordered:

"He must want money; give him some."

But the youngest brother said:

"I need neither money nor anything else. I tell you, I want to cure the king's son."

Now he was brought to the king with great honor, and he informed the king:

"Your Majesty, in your flock, there is one sheep without spots. Order it to be brought here."

The sheep was brought. He slaughtered it, wrapped the sick boy in its skin, and within a week, the boy recovered and grew, turning into a young man with a mustache and beard.

The king was overjoyed and richly rewarded the savior of his son.

The young man returned home and began living in his palace.

One day, his brothers came to him. He welcomed them warmly, fed them, gave them drink, and said:

"Why did you drive me away then? I am not angry with you. You treated me poorly, but I did not perish and have managed my affairs well."

The brothers asked him:

"How did you become so rich?"

He told them the whole truth, generously gave them gifts, and they left. They went to that castle, ate figs, and lay down on the grass.

The bear, the wolf, and the jackal came.

The jackal said:

"Why are we silent? Let's tell some stories!"

The bear said:

"In Trebizond, where there was no water, now there is plenty."

The wolf said:

"The king's only son, who was sick and did not grow, has now turned into a bearded man."

The jackal said:

"Under this aspen tree, where the treasure was buried, someone has taken it and scared away all the mice. We must look around; perhaps there is a person here, or something might happen to us too."

They began to search. They found the brothers and ate both of them.

Only the youngest brother remained in the world. He found a good girl, married her, and lived happily with his wife, always helping others.

More fairy tales

• The Tale of the Poor Man and the Pomegranates of the Knight's Sin
• About the Beautiful Pig
• The Old Man Guest
• The Poor Man's Son
• Ivane and the Maidens