The Soldier's Overcoat

The master spoke with a soldier, and the soldier began praising his greatcoat:

- When I need to sleep, I lay down the greatcoat, place it under my head, and cover myself with it.

The master asked the soldier to sell him the greatcoat. They agreed on twenty-five rubles. The master came home and said to his wife:

- What a thing I’ve bought! Now I don’t need a feather bed, pillows, or a blanket: I’ll lay down the greatcoat, place it under my head, and cover myself with it.

His wife began scolding him:

- Well, how are you going to sleep like that?

And indeed, the master laid down the greatcoat, but he had nothing to put under his head or cover himself with, and lying on it was too hard.

The master went to the regimental commander to complain about the soldier. The commander ordered the soldier to be summoned.

They brought the soldier.

- What’s this, brother? - said the commander. - Did you deceive the master?

- Not at all, your honor, - replied the soldier. The soldier took the greatcoat, spread it out, laid his head on the sleeve, and covered himself with the skirt of the coat.

- How wonderfully one sleeps on a greatcoat after a march! - he said.

The regimental commander praised the soldier and even gave him some money for a drink. And to the master, he said:

- He who works and grows tired can sleep even on a stone, but he who does nothing won’t sleep even on a feather bed!

More fairy tales

• The Goat-Dereza
• The Girl in the Well
• The Master and the Dog
• Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka
• The Devil-Moneylender