Fairy Tales of Slav Peasants and Herdsmen

Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and Herdsmen was written in the year 1896 by Aleksander Chodzko. This book is one of his most popular novels, and has been translated into several other languages around the world.

THE ABODE OF THE GODS (excerpt)
Once upon a time there were two brothers whose father had left them but a small fortune. The eldest grew very rich, but at the same time cruel and wicked, whereas there was nowhere a more honest or kinder man than the younger. But he remained poor, and had many children, so that at times they could scarcely get bread to eat. At last, one day there was not even this in the house, so he went to his rich brother and asked him for a loaf of bread. Waste of time! His rich brother only called him beggar and vagabond, and slammed the door in his face.

The poor fellow, after this brutal reception, did not know which way to turn. Hungry, scantily clad, shivering with cold, his legs could scarcely carry him along...