Chapter 1 Ivan, Father, Mother, Sister (Melania), Simeon (Soldier) Tarras(Business Man), Devil, 3 Devils (Curly, LarryandMoe, Wives. . .
Chapter 2
Evil 1-Simeon, gunpowder, straw soldiers, better training. Simeon lost came home. Evil 2- Tarrasbought everything with money, eventually not enough money because another business man paid more, borrowed, went bankrupt. . . both came home. Evil 3spit into Ivan’s rye drink, made Ivan sick, hammered the ground which broke Ivan’s plow. Ivan recovered, fixed his plow and went back to work. Devils realized they must defeat Ivan or all would be lost!
Chapter 3
Evil 3wound his feet around the plow. Ivan can not move forward.Ivanreached onto the earth and pulled him out. Evil 3 fearing for his life promised to grant Ivana “wish”. Ivan said he had been sick and asked Evil 3[SS1]if he could cure him. Evil 3 gave him three roots.Ivan ate one and was immediately cured. “God bless you” at these wordsEvil 3vanished into the earth one a slight hole was left. Ivan returned home but was not welcome at his own table- “smelly peasant”
Chapter 4
Evil 1 having finished with Simeonwent to the field where Ivanwas working- noEvil 3 only a hole. Flooded Ivan’sfield. Ivan slowed by mud, went home and sharpened his scythe, cut off Evil 1tail, finished the hay, Evil 3had tied the rye in knots, Ivan cut the rye, mowed the oats at night, Evil 1 fell asleep in a stack of rye but Ivan while moving the rye stuck Evil 1in the back with a pitch fork. What can you do for me- make soldiers out of straw- then Ivanmade soldiers turn back into straw, “God’s mercy” only a hole was left.
Chapter 5
Evil 2 finished withTarruswent to the meadow (hay, oats. Rye) two holes and a severed tail. To the forest to entangle the branches, fell asleep and caught by Ivan. “Are you hear again, “No, I am another!” What can you do? Gold from leaves, show me. Ivan turned leaves into gold and back again. Evil 2,“Can I leave now? “With God’s blessing” Ivan. Only a hole was left!
Chapter 6
Ivan[SS2]Threw a big party: Brother’s each had a house, lived apart from Father. Did not come to his party.. They didn’t drink beer. Ivanmode not ruined. Livened up the party with gold (leaves) from the forest) and dancing soldiers (straw from the barn).Batiuska and dratchki) After all this he went home to sleep off the beer (moujiks)
Chapter 7
Hearing about the gold and soldiers (the party). Simeoncame and asked for soldiers. Ivan made him promise to leave. He left to conqueror. Tarras came and asked for gold. Ivan made him promise to leave. He left to buy the world.
Chapter 8
Ivanon the farm. Cured a sick dog with the second root from the first devil. Parents learned that the Czar’s daughter was terrible ill. On the way to the castle Ivan met a beggar woman with a broken. He used the final root to cure her. His parents chided him for being a fool. He went on to the palace with nothing cure the princes. Once he stepped on to the patio of the palace, she was cured. The Czar died shortly after the funeral and Ivan became the Czar. All the brothers were Czars.
Chapter 9
The Brothers lived and ruled. Simeonused the soldiers to conqueror. He was filled by everyone. Tarras used his gold, taxed his people, life was hard for them. Ivantook off his royal robes, resumed his life as a peasant, working hard restored his health and became less lonely working with others. He as joined by his parents, sister, and wife. “Where the needle goes the thread also”. She worked hard and became a credit to her husband. All the wise men left the kingdom. The people created all products by their labor. They lived peacefully, supported themselves and had plenty to spare for the needy and afflicted
Chapter 10
The Old Devilafter waiting for his disciples came to earth to find only three holes. He declared” I will have to this for myself”. He first helped Simeon create such a powerful army by creating a draft armed with automatic cannons. It was so powerful that many other rulers surrendered and gave up half their kingdoms. Finally He attacked the Czar of India who helped by the Devil had a more powerful army using “airships” destroyed Simeon’s army. He was forced to return to flee. The Devil used Tarrasgold to defeat him. The peasants finally had all the gold they needed, another Merchant arrived on the scene, hired everyone, and with no food. Tarras was forced to return to Ivan’s Kingdom. At this moment Simeon arrived seeking help. The Brothers and their wives returned to Ivan’s Kingdom.
Chapter 11The DevilinIvan’sKingdom; offered the peasants red caps and vodka to create an army. The fools turned both down. He told Ivan he must force them. The fools told Ivan the General said you would kill us if we don’t enlist in the army. Ivan laughed! “How can I alone kill all of you?”
Chapter 12
Failing to use the military the Devil attempted to use gold (greed). He arrived s a rich merchant. Offered to the peasant’s gold to build him a house. The Devil told the peasants that they lived like pigs and he had arrived to help them live decently. He showed the people that he would pay them with gold. In their society bartering and working for others was the gold standard. The fools were amused. They had never seen money before. At first they accepted the money. It would be nice toys for the children to play with. In return for the gold they bought the nobleman’s goods with the gold they earned serving him.
The nobleman was overjoyed. He thought he could ruin these people as he had the subjects of Tarass’s Kingdom. After a time the Fools obtained all the gold they needed. Children had gold pieces to play with the women wore the excess. He offered gold but since they had all they needed, he could buy nothing. He was going hungry and his house remained unfinished. They all offered all he asked for but in Christ name.Ivanoffered to help the Devil by asking an old woman to cut him a piece of bread in Christ name. Christ name was like a knife to the Devils throat. He ran away spitting and cursing. He was forced to return to Ivan’s house but his problems were not over.
Ivan’s sister always made the lazy ones with soft hands wait and eat the left overs. Those who were hard workers had hard hands and were easy to identify. The evil protested, “Do you want me to eat with the “pigs”. He complained about the belief that all people must work with their hands and assert that really wise people work with their brains. Ivanexplained if this was really possible maybe we are really all fools after all.
TheDevilsaid, “It is not easy work with the brain.” I have pity for you fools. You should know that brain work is so hard that one feels as if their heads would explode. If I did not torture myself to do this you would all remain fools for eternity”. It has taken me a long time to learn how to do this and now I will teach you all!” Ivanhad announced over the whole kingdom that the Merchant would teach all who to learn how to work with their heads. Ivan had a tall tower erected with a platform the merchant could speak from to the crowd he imagined would come.
After two days of teaching he asked the people to bring him bread. They only laughed at him. If he can work so well with his head why can’t he find his own bread. He want on to teach one more day. The people grew tired of his speech and returned to their work. The Devilstumbled and his his head several times on the poles holding up the platform. The people reported to Ivan that the Devil was quite right, working with your head was hard work. Another day of talking with no food, the Devil grew so tired he tumble down the steps of the tower, hitting his head on each one. Ivan understood at that moment that the merchant had told the Truth, working with your hear was hard work As Ivan walked up to help Him a hole opened and He disappeared.Ivan scratched his head and said “What a nasty creature”. He was a big one probably the Father of the little ones. In Ivan’s kingdom from that day forward those with hard hands always ate first and those with soft hands always ate the left overs.
[SS1]
[SS2]