heir nets to dry on the shore, when they heard the
sound of crying. It seemed to come from the barrel which was bobbing
about near the water's edge. They drew it to land and opened it, and
there was a little child! When the abbot heard the news, he decided to
bring up the boy, and named him 'Vassili.'

The boy lived on with the monks, and grew up to be a clever, gentle, and
handsome young man. No one could read, write, or sing better than he,
and he did everything so well that the abbot made him wardrobe keeper.

Now, it happened about this time that the merchant, Mark, came to the
monastery in the course of a journey. The monks were very polite to him
and showed him their house and church and all they had. When he went
into the church the choir was singing, and one voice was so clear and
beautiful, that he asked who it belonged to. Then the abbot told him
of the wonderful way in which Vassili had come to them, and Mark saw
clearly that this must be his godson whom he had twice tried to kill.

He said to the abbot: 'I can't tell you how much I enjoy that young
man's singing. If he could only come to me I would make him overseer of
all my business. As you say, he is so good and clever. Do spare him to
me. I will make his fortune, and will present your monastery with twenty
thousand crowns.'

The abbot hesitated a good deal, but he consulted all the other monks,
and at last they decided that they ought not to stand in the way of
Vassili's good fortune.

Then Mark wrote a letter to his wife and gave it to Vassili to take
to her, and this was what was in the letter: 'When the bearer of this
arrives, take him into the soap factory, and when you pass near the
great boiler, push him in. If you don't obey my orders I shall be very
angry, for this young man is a bad fellow who is sure to ruin us all if
he lives.'

Vassili had a good voyage, and on landing set off on foot for Mark's
home. On the way he met three beggars, who asked him: 'Where are you
going, Vassili?'

'I am going to the house of Mark the Merchant, and have a letter for his
wife,' replied Vassili.

'Show us the letter.'

Vassili handed them the letter. They blew on it and gave it back to
him, saying: 'Now go and give the letter to Mark's wife. You will not be
forsaken.'

Vassili reached the house and gave the letter. When the mistress read
it she could hardly believe her eyes and called for her daughter. In the
letter was written, quite plainly: 'When