not in its place, and there’s something put wrong, and she’s left the muck inside the house!” The girl held her peace, and wept; she tried in every way to accommodate herself to her stepmother, and to be of service to her stepsisters. But they, taking pattern by their mother, were always insulting Marfa, quarrelling with her, and making her cry; that was even a pleasure to them! As for them, they lay in bed late, washed themselves in water got ready for them, dried themselves with a clean towel, and didn’t sit down to work till after dinner. Well, our girls grew and grew, until they grew up and were old enough to be married. The old man felt sorry for his eldest daughter, whom he loved because she was industrious and obedient, never was obstinate, always did as she was bid, and never uttered a word of contradiction.
But he didn’t know how he was to help her in her trouble.
He was feeble, his wife was a scold, and her daughters were as obstinate as they were indolent.
Well, the old folk set to work to consider—the husband how he could get his daughters settled, the wife how she could get rid of the eldest one. One day she says to him:
“I say, old man! let’s get Marfa married.”
“Gladly,” says he, slinking off to the sleeping-place above the stove. But his wife called after him:
“Get up early to-morrow, old man, harness the mare to the sledge, and drive away with Marfa. And, Marfa, get your things together in a basket, and put on a clean shift; you’re going away to-morrow on a visit.”
Poor Marfa was delighted to hear of such a piece of good luck as being invited on a visit, and she slept comfortably all night. Early next morning she got up, washed herself, prayed to God, got all her things together, packed them away in proper order, dressed herself in her best things, and looked something like a lass—a bride fit for any place whatsoever!
