dopted and made Russian, like that of the "Seven Simeons" or
"Emelyan, the Fool"; others are as evidently Eastern. A few date from
the Russian Epics, like that of "Iliya of Murom" and "Ivan the
Peasant's Son"; others are of later date, like that of "The Judgment
of Shemyaka," who was a historic character who lived about 1446.

It is hardly necessary to dilate on the peculiar expressions here to
be found; how that a child grows "not day by day, but hour by hour,"
how that when the Tsar wants to drink "beer is not brewed nor brandy
distilled," seeing he is served at once, how the hero passes through
"thrice nine lands to the thirtieth country," how brothers are always
in threes, and how the youngest always succeeds where his elders fail.
Students of folklore will know all about them, and the rest of us must
take them on trust. Do you _know_ why you must never go under a
ladder?

R. S.

STORY OF LYUBIM TSAREVICH AND THE WINGED WOLF

In a certain country there once lived a Tsar named Elidarovich, with
his wife, Militissa Ibrahimovna, who had three sons. The eldest son
was named Aksof Tsarevich, the second Hut Tsarevich, and the youngest,
Lyubim Tsarevich; and they grew, not from day to day, but from hour to
hour. And when the eldest son was twenty years of age, he begged leave
of his parents to travel in other countries, and seek a beautiful
princess for his wife. So his parents at last consented, gave him
their blessing, and dismissed him to the four quarters of the earth.

Not long after this, Hut Tsarevich in like manner begged permission of
his parents to travel; and Tsar Elidar and the Tsarina gave their
consent with the greatest pleasure. And so Hut Tsarevich went out into
the world too, and they wandered about a long while, until at length
nothing more was heard or seen of them, and they were given up for
dead.

As the Tsar and the Tsarina were troubled and wept for their lost
sons, came the youngest son, Lyubim Tsarevich, and likewise entreated
them to let him go forth to seek his brothers. But his parents said to
him: "Son, you are too young and cannot undertake so long a journey;
and how can we part with you, our only child left to us? We are
already in years, and to whom should we leave our crown?" But Lyubim
Tsarevich would not be denied; he remained firm to his purpose, and
said: "It is needful for me to travel and see the world; for if ever I