his feet for
three-and-thirty years long.

One day the peasant went with his wife to church; and whilst they were
away, a beggar man came to the window of the cottage and begged alms
of Ivan the peasant's son. And Ivan said to him: "I would gladly give
you something, but I cannot rise from my stool." Then said the beggar:
"Stand up and give me alms! Your feet are stout and strong!" In an
instant Ivan rose up from his stool, and was overjoyed at his newly
acquired power: he called the man into the cottage and gave him food
to eat. Then the beggar asked for a draught of beer, and Ivan
instantly went and fetched it; the beggar, however, did not drink it,
but bade Ivan empty the flask himself, which he did to the very
bottom. Then the beggar said: "Tell me, Ivanushka, how strong do you
feel?" "Very strong," replied Ivan. "Then fare you well!" said the
beggar; and disappeared, leaving Ivan standing lost in amazement.

In a short time his father and mother came home, and when they saw
their son healed of his weakness, they were astonished, and asked him
how it had happened. Then Ivan told them all, and the old folk thought
it must have been no beggar but a holy man who had cured him; and they
feasted for joy and made merry.

Presently Ivan went out to make a trial of his strength; and going
into the kitchen garden, he seized a pole and stuck it half its length
into the ground, and turned it with such strength that the whole
village turned round. Then he went back into the cottage to take leave
of his parents and ask their blessing. The old folk fell to weeping
bitterly when he spoke of leaving them, and entreated him to stay at
least a little longer; but Ivan heeded not their tears, and said: "If
you will not give me your consent, I shall go without it." So his
parents gave him their blessing; and Ivan prayed, bowing himself to
all four sides, and then took leave of his father and mother.
Thereupon he went straight out of the yard, and followed his eyes,
and wandered for ten days and ten nights until at length he came to a
large kingdom. He had scarcely entered the city when a great noise and
outcry arose; whereat the Tsar was so frightened that he ordered a
proclamation to be made, that whoever appeased the tumult should have
his daughter for wife, and half his kingdom with her.

When Ivanushka heard this he went to the Court and desired the Tsar to
be informed that he was ready to appease the tumult. So the doorkeeper