STORY OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN
IN a certain country there lived a Tsar with his
wife, who had three handsome sons; the eldest
was named Vasili Tsarevich, and the second
Fedor Tsarevich, and the youngest son Ivan
Tsarevich. One day the Tsar went out with his
Tsarina for a walk in the garden, and on a sudden
a violent storm came on, which carried off the
Tsarina from his sight. The Tsar was very much
grieved, and mourned a long time for his wife;
and the two eldest sons, seeing their father's sorrow,
begged his blessing and permission to go forth
and wander in search of their mother. So he consented, and dismissed them.
The two sons travelled for a long time, until at length they came to a wide desert, where they pitched their tents, and waited until some one should pass who might show them the way. For three whole years they waited, but saw no one.
Meanwhile the youngest brother, Ivan Tsarevich, grew up, and went likewise to his father, begged his blessing, and took leave. And he wandered for a long time, until at length he discerned
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