The Wise Little Girl -Page 10

had told his daughter what had happened, she calmly said: "Tomorrow, go and catch a hare and a partridge. Both must be alive! You'll have the foal and the hundred silver ducats! Leave it to me!" Ivan _did as his daughter said. He had no idea what the two creatures were for, but he trusted in his daughter's wisdom. On the day of the audience with the Emperor, the palace was thronged with bystanders,

waiting for Ivan and his small daughter to arrive. At last, the little girl appeared, draped in a fishing net, riding the hare and holdig the partridge in her hand. She was neither naked nor dressed, on foot or on horseback. Scowling, the Emperor told her: "I said neither bearing gifts nor empty-handed!" At these words, the little girl