The Goat

In a certain kingdom, in a certain state, there lived a merchant who had three daughters. He built himself a new house and sent his eldest daughter to spend the night there, so that afterward she could tell him what she saw in her dreams.

And in her dream, she saw that she would marry a merchant's son. The next night, the merchant sent his middle daughter to the new house: what would she dream? She dreamed that she would marry a nobleman.
On the third night, it was the youngest daughter's turn, and he sent her as well; and the poor girl dreamed that she would marry a goat.

The father was frightened and forbade his beloved daughter from even stepping onto the porch. But no, she didn’t listen and went out! And at that moment, the goat scooped her up on its tall horns and carried her away beyond the steep banks.
He brought her to his home and laid her down to sleep on the wooden platform. In the morning, our beauty woke up and looked around—the yard was fenced with a palisade, and on each stake was a maiden’s head, except for one plain stake.

The poor girl rejoiced, thinking she had escaped death.
But the servants had long been waking her:
“It’s time, mistress, to wake up, to sweep the rooms and carry the trash outside!”

She stepped onto the porch; geese flew by.
“Oh, my gray geese! Are you from my homeland? Do you bring me news from my dear father?”

And the geese replied:
“We are from your homeland, and we bring you news: at your home, there is a betrothal—your eldest sister is being married to a merchant’s son.”

The goat, lying on the platform, heard everything and said to his servants:
“Hey, my faithful servants! Bring out the jeweled dresses, harness the black horses, so they may gallop three times and reach the destination.”

The poor girl dressed up and rode off; the horses swiftly brought her to her father. Guests greeted her on the porch, and inside the house, a grand feast was underway!

Meanwhile, the goat had turned into a fine young man and was walking around the yard with a gusli (a stringed instrument). Well, how could they not invite the gusli player to the feast? He entered the house and began to play:
“The goat’s wife! The goat’s wife!”

The poor girl slapped him on one cheek, then the other, and then jumped onto the horses—and off she went! She returned home, and the goat was already lying on the platform. In the morning, the servants woke her:
“It’s time, mistress, to wake up, to sweep the rooms and carry the trash outside!”

She got up, tidied the rooms, and stepped onto the porch; the geese flew by again.
“Oh, my gray geese! Are you from my homeland? Do you bring me news from my dear father?”

And the geese replied:
“We are from your homeland, and we bring you news: at your home, there is a betrothal—your middle sister is being married to a wealthy nobleman.”

Again, the poor girl rode to her father: guests greeted her on the porch, and inside the house, a grand feast was underway!
The goat had turned into a fine young man and was walking around the yard with his gusli; they invited him in, and he began to play:
“The goat’s wife! The goat’s wife!”
The poor girl slapped him on one cheek, then the other, and then jumped onto the horses—and off she went!

She returned home, and the goat was lying on the platform. Another night passed; in the morning, the poor girl got up, stepped onto the porch—and again the geese flew by.
“Oh, my gray geese! Are you from my homeland? Do you bring me news from my dear father?”

And the geese replied:
“We are from your homeland, and we bring you news: your father is hosting a great feast.”
She rode to her father: guests greeted her on the porch, and inside the house, a grand feast was underway! The gusli player was walking around the yard, playing his instrument. They invited him into the house, and again he played:
“The goat’s wife! The goat’s wife!”

The poor girl slapped him on one cheek, then the other, and then rushed back home. She looked at the platform, and there lay only the goat’s skin: the gusli player had not yet had time to turn back into a goat.

The skin flew into the stove, and the youngest merchant’s daughter found herself married not to a goat, but to a fine young man. They began to live happily and prosperously.

More fairy tales

• The Cat - Gray Forehead, the Goat, and the Ram
• Fear Has Big Eyes
• The Winter Quarters of the Animals
• How the Priest Hired a Servant
• The Sun, the Moon, and Raven Voronovich