The Fiend

The Fiend.[18]

In a certain country there lived an old couple who had a daughter called Marusia (Mary). In their village it was customary to celebrate the feast of St. Andrew the First-Called (November 30). The girls used to assemble in some cottage, bake pampushki,[19] and enjoy themselves for a whole week, or even longer. Well, the girls met together once when this festival arrived, and brewed and baked what was wanted. In the evening came the lads with the music, bringing liquor with them, and dancing and revelry commenced. All the girls danced well, but Marusia the best of all. After a while there came into the cottage such a fine fellow! Marry, come up! regular blood and milk, and smartly and richly dressed.

“Hail, fair maidens!” says he.

“Hail, good youth!” say they.

[Pg 25]“You’re merry-making?”

“Be so good as to join us.”

Thereupon he pulled out of his pocket a purse full of gold, ordered liquor, nuts and gingerbread. All was ready in a trice, and he began treating the lads and lasses, giving each a share. Then he took to dancing. Why, it was a treat to look at him! Marusia struck his fancy more than anyone else; so he stuck close to her. The time came for going home.

“Marusia,” says he, “come and see me off.”

She went to see him off.

“Marusia, sweetheart!” says he, “would you like me to marry you?”

“If you like to marry me, I will gladly marry you. But where do you come from?”

“From such and such a place. I’m clerk at a merchant’s.”

Then they bade each other farewell and separated. When Marusia got home, her mother asked her:

“Well, daughter! have you enjoyed yourself?”

“Yes, mother. But I’ve something pleasant to tell you besides. There was a lad there from the neighborhood, good-looking and with lots of money, and he promised to marry me.”

“Harkye Marusia! When you go to where the girls are to-morrow, take a ball of thread with you, make a noose in it, and, when you are going to see him off, throw it over one of his buttons, and quietly unroll the ball; then, by means of the thread, you will be able to find out where he lives.”

Next day Marusia went to the gathering, and took a ball of thread with her. The youth came again.

“Good evening, Marusia!” said he.

“Good evening!” said she.

Games began and dances. Even more than before did he stick to Marusia, not a step would he budge from her. The time came for going home.

“Come and see me off, Marusia!” says the stranger.

She went out into the street, and while she was taking leave of him she quietly dropped the noose over one of his buttons. He went his way, but she remained where she was, unrolling the [Pg 26]ball. When she had unrolled the whole of it, she ran after the thread to find out where her betrothed lived. At first the thread followed the road, then it stretched across hedges and ditches, and led Marusia towards the church and right up to the porch. Marusia tried the door; it was locked. She went round the church, found a ladder, set it against a window, and climbed up it to see what was going on inside. Having got into the church, she looked—and saw her betrothed standing beside a grave and devouring a dead body—for a corpse had been left for that night in the church.

She wanted to get down the ladder quietly, but her fright prevented her from taking proper heed, and she made a little noise. Then she ran home—almost beside herself, fancying all the time she was being pursued. She was all but dead before she got in. Next morning her mother asked her:

“Well, Marusia! did you see the youth?”

“I saw him, mother,” she replied. But what else she had seen she did not tell.

In the morning Marusia was sitting, considering whether she would go to the gathering or not.

“Go,” said her mother. “Amuse yourself while you’re young!”

So she went to the gathering; the Fiend[20] was there already. Games, fun, dancing, began anew; the girls knew nothing of what had happened. When they began to separate and go homewards:

“Come, Marusia!” says the Evil One, “see me off.”

She was afraid, and didn’t stir. Then all the other girls opened out upon her.

“What are you thinking about? Have you grown so bashful, forsooth? Go and see the good lad off.”

There was no help for it. Out she went, not knowing what would come of it. As soon as they got into the streets he began questioning her:

“You were in the church last night?”

[Pg 27]“No.”

“And saw what I was doing there?”

“No.”

“Very well! To-morrow your father will die!”

Having said this, he disappeared.

Marusia returned home grave and sad. When she woke up in the morning, her father lay dead!

They wept and wailed over him, and laid him in the coffin. In the evening her mother went off to the priest’s, but Marusia remained at home. At last she became afraid of being alone in the house. “Suppose I go to my friends,” she thought. So she went, and found the Evil One there.

“Good evening, Marusia! why arn’t you merry?”

“How can I be merry? My father is dead!”

“Oh! poor thing!”

They all grieved for her. Even the Accursed One himself grieved; just as if it hadn’t all been his own doing. By and by they began saying farewell and going home.

“Marusia,” says he, “see me off.”

She didn’t want to.

“What are you thinking of, child?” insist the girls. “What are you afraid of? Go and see him off.”

So she went to see him off. They passed out into the street.

“Tell me, Marusia,” says he, “were you in the church?”

“No.”

“Did you see what I was doing?”

“No.”

“Very well! To-morrow your mother will die.”

He spoke and disappeared. Marusia returned home sadder than ever. The night went by; next morning, when she awoke, her mother lay dead! She cried all day long; but when the sun set, and it grew dark around, Marusia became afraid of being left alone; so she went to her companions.

“Why, whatever’s the matter with you? you’re clean out of countenance!”[21] say the girls.

[Pg 28]“How am I likely to be cheerful? Yesterday my father died, and to-day my mother.”

“Poor thing! Poor unhappy girl!” they all exclaim sympathizingly.

Well, the time came to say good-bye. “See me off, Marusia,” says the Fiend. So she went out to see him off.

“Tell me; were you in the church?”

“No.”

“And saw what I was doing?”

“No.”

“Very well! To-morrow evening you will die yourself!”

Marusia spent the night with her friends; in the morning she got up and considered what she should do. She bethought herself that she had a grandmother—an old, very old woman, who had become blind from length of years. “Suppose I go and ask her advice,” she said, and then went off to her grandmother’s.

“Good-day, granny!” says she.

“Good-day, granddaughter! What news is there with you? How are your father and mother?”

“They are dead, granny,” replied the girl, and then told her all that had happened.

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The old woman listened, and said:—

“Oh dear me! my poor unhappy child! Go quickly to the priest, and ask him this favor—that if you die, your body shall not be taken out of the house through the doorway, but that the ground shall be dug away from under the threshold, and that you shall be dragged out through that opening. And also beg that you may be buried at a crossway, at a spot where four roads meet.”

Marusia went to the priest, wept bitterly, and made him promise to do everything according to her grandmother’s instructions. Then she returned home, bought a coffin, lay down in it, and straightway expired.

Well, they told the priest, and he buried, first her father and [Pg 29]mother, and then Marusia herself. Her body was passed underneath the threshold and buried at a crossway.

Soon afterwards a seigneur’s son happened to drive past Marusia’s grave. On that grave he saw growing a wondrous flower, such a one as he had never seen before. Said the young seigneur to his servant:—

“Go and pluck up that flower by the roots. We’ll take it home and put it in a flower-pot. Perhaps it will blossom there.”

Well, they dug up the flower, took it home, put it in a glazed flower-pot, and set it in a window. The flower began to grow larger and more beautiful. One night the servant hadn’t gone to sleep somehow, and he happened to be looking at the window, when he saw a wondrous thing take place. All of a sudden the flower began to tremble, then it fell from its stem to the ground, and turned into a lovely maiden. The flower was beautiful, but the maiden was more beautiful still. She wandered from room to room, got herself various things to eat and drink, ate and drank, then stamped upon the ground and became a flower as before, mounted to the window, and resumed her place upon the stem. Next day the servant told the young seigneur of the wonders which he had seen during the night.

“Ah, brother!” said the youth, “why didn’t you wake me? To-night we’ll both keep watch together.”

The night came; they slept not, but watched. Exactly at twelve o’clock the blossom began to shake, flew from place to place, and then fell to the ground, and the beautiful maiden appeared, got herself things to eat and drink, and sat down to supper. The young seigneur rushed forward and seized her by her white hands. Impossible was it for him sufficiently to look at her, to gaze on her beauty!

Next morning he said to his father and mother, “Please allow me to get married. I’ve found myself a bride.”

His parents gave their consent. As for Marusia, she said:

“Only on this condition will I marry you—that for four years I need not go to church.”

[Pg 30]“Very good,” said he.

Well, they were married, and they lived together one year, two years, and had a son. But one day they had visitors at their house, who enjoyed themselves, and drank, and began bragging about their wives. This one’s wife was handsome; that one’s was handsomer still.

“You may say what you like,” says the host, “but a handsomer wife than mine does not exist in the whole world!”

“Handsome, yes!” reply the guests, “but a heathen.”

“How so?”

“Why, she never goes to church.”

Her husband found these observations distasteful. He waited till Sunday, and then told his wife to get dressed for church.

“I don’t care what you may say,” says he. “Go and get ready directly.”

Well, they got ready, and went to church. The husband went in—didn’t see anything particular. But when she looked round—there was the Fiend sitting at a window.

“Ha! here you are, at last!” he cried. “Remember old times. Were you in the church that night?”

“No.”

“And did you see what I was doing there?”

“No.”

“Very well! To-morrow both your husband and your son will die.”

Marusia rushed straight out of the church and away to her grandmother. The old woman gave her two phials, the one full of holy water, the other of the water of life, and told her what she was to do. Next day both Marusia’s husband and her son died. Then the Fiend came flying to her and asked:—

“Tell me; were you in the church?”

“I was.”

“And did you see what I was doing?”

“You were eating a corpse.”

She spoke, and splashed the holy water over him; in a [Pg 31]moment he turned into mere dust and ashes, which blew to the winds. Afterwards she sprinkled her husband and her boy with the water of life: straightway they revived. And from that time forward they knew neither sorrow nor separation, but they all lived together long and happily.[22]

Another lively sketch of a peasant’s love-making is given in the introduction to the story of “Ivan the widow’s son and Grisha.”[23] The tale is one of magic and enchantment, of living clouds and seven-headed snakes; but the opening is a little piece of still-life very quaintly portrayed. A certain villager, named Trofim, having been unable to find a wife, his Aunt Melania comes to his aid, promising to procure him an interview with a widow who has been left well provided for, and whose personal appearance is attractive—“real blood and milk! When she’s got on her holiday clothes, she’s as fine as a peacock!” Trofim grovels with gratitude at his aunt’s feet. “My own dear auntie, Melania Prokhorovna, get me married for heaven’s sake! I’ll buy you an embroidered kerchief in return, the very best in the whole market.” The widow comes to pay Melania a visit, and is induced to believe, on the evidence of beans (frequently used for the purpose of divination), that her destined husband is close at hand. At this propitious [Pg 32]moment Trofim appears. Melania makes a little speech to the young couple, ending her recommendation to get married with the words:—

“I can see well enough by the bridegroom’s eyes that the bride is to his taste, only I don’t know what the bride thinks about taking him.”

“I don’t mind!” says the widow. “Well, then, glory be to God! Now, stand up, we’ll say a prayer before the Holy Pictures; then give each other a kiss, and go in Heaven’s name and get married at once!” And so the question is settled.

From a courtship and a marriage in peasant life we may turn to a death and a burial. There are frequent allusions in the Skazkas to these gloomy subjects, with reference to which we will quote two stories, the one pathetic, the other (unintentionally) grotesque. Neither of them bears any title in the original, but we may style the first—,

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What you should know about Russian women

Looking for reliable companion and caring friend? Why a Russian wife?

I am sure that you will be quite surprised to learn that most women of European background on matrimonial sites are Russian, particularly with matrimonial services that are meant to foster marriage and dedicated to those who wish to create a family. While dating sites are loaded with ladies from other countries.

Then also, there are hardly any religious (spiritual) i.e. Christian Russian or Muslim Russian matrimonial sites.

You might have been (and still are) wondering why Russian women? The answer is rather simply profound: Russian ladies are naturally very family orientated and much more homey than most of other ladies from the USA and Europe. And Russian women generally put family above career or anything else.

Maybe with time and the rapidly spreading ideas of equality and growing feminism, this phenomena will slowly diminish and perhaps even disappear, but the phenomena of beautiful intelligent women whose priorities are still a husband and children and not a socialite life and career predominates. 

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But for now from all over the world can consider themselves really lucky that such women still exist. And that in one woman one can find all one can ever dream of: loyalty, beauty, femininity, intelligence, passion, sharp mind, kind, loving heart, faithfulness, understanding, broad vision, excellent shape, numerous talents and skills, romantic nature, willingness to learn, ability to adapt and to sacrifice. The Russian mystical nature blended with a natural instinct given to all women by mother-nature: desire to love and to be loved, to have a family, to make a husband happy and to take good care of children, smart companion, beautiful apple of one’s eye, supportive caring friend, loving wife, passionate love and protective mother makes for contentment and a stress-free life.

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In comparison to some “masculine” ladies, Russian women are never oppressive or abusive, but rather soft-spoken. But at the same time not silly and submissive who cannot stand up for herself when injustice is done.

As it is said in one of a world famous poem of the last century: ” There are women in Russian areas. Beautiful faces, queen’s walk, who would dare to stop a running horse, who are not scared to enter a burning house.” So basically all such qualities are in Russian blood and taken root since many centuries before.

All of these, fortunately for men, are in the Russian make-up and in their upbringing. Did you know that many Russian women are fond of Indian culture and movies? That they are very inclined to spirituality and mysticism?. Even the scripts of ballets such as Swan lake and many other pieces are specially re-written for Russians to make a happy ending. (for Russians the end MUST be a happy one).

In short what one can say about Russian women in general: full of beauty, love, care and life. Treasures of pearl, with high consciousness of justice, who for goodness received will reward tenfold.

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Russian Dating Russian women in the 21st Century

Before the birth of the Internet, the Russian dating game is quite complex as you have to put yourself out there. You need to go out and mingle with the Russian women such as in study groups, hanging out at a restaurant, going to Russian weddings and attending company-sponsored outings. This made it somewhat difficult for men to date Russian girls as they led busy lives as they go to work and attend to their other commitments. And it grows harder for me to date Russian women and find a suitable partner as they grow old. Thus, Russian women had no choice but to go on for the rest of their lives alone. At the same time, American men, for instance, find their Russian girls counterpart as aggressive and they regard money and stability as the most important aspects in a Russian marriage. In short, American men do not see an American woman as a suitable partner for them. And these are some of the reasons why American men today prefer Russian women of either European descent as generally, these women were raised in a traditional manner. But to go to Europe just to meet Russian women here is easier said than done. There is no American man who would go to lengths just to search for a Russian women or Russian girls that they would desire.

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But now, as Internet Russian dating has been introduced, it is much easier for men to scour for the Russian girls or Russian women that with whom they can potentially connect with and later on, spend the rest of their lives with. What men can do is that they can look for Russian websites that profiles different Russian women across the world who are looking for a possible long term Russian women relationship or even marriage. In addition, there are also several online personal ads such as one of the Russian services that offers that men can look at and if they see Russian women they like,t hey would send an E-mail to the Russian girls who placed the ad. And from there, men can hope that they would be able to hit it off with a Russian woman.

As mentioned before, American men prefer Asian and European women as opposed to American women. And one of the women that American men like are those who are Russian women as the latter are believed to prefer older men such as those who are in their forties as these men are already believed to be stable and mature enough to start a family with. At the same time, there are a lot of stunning Russian women that give out their phone number and E-mail address that are easily searchable as this will mainly be the way to reach them such as those featured in Russian Women site. All a man have to do is go through this website, and browse through the extensive list of women and their profile.

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What are you waiting for? Surf the web and hook up with a Russian woman now. The net is ripe for all those who are looking for them. Good luck in your search!

Over Sixty Dating for Sexy Senior Citizens

When it comes to senior life these days, sixty isn’t what it used to be thirty years ago. It seems that as time continues to march forward, those over the age of sixty aren’t being left behind. More seniors are keeping themselves in great shape, and advances in medicine and nutrition mean people are living longer and more healthy than ever.

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Senior citizens these days are more vital and vibrant than any of previous generations. So what if you’re in the area of retirement age and you’re looking for a mate? Over sixty dating can be a lot of fun and a totally rewarding experience.

Relationship expert and Internet author Wendell K. Cribbs reminds us that no matter what our age, dating and relationships are important to a healthy mental attitude and a rewarding personal life. We shouldn’t allow nervousness and fear to keep us from developing healthy intimate relationships despite our age. Many of the fears seniors face when it comes to over sixty dating are fears that simply exist in their own minds.

“For people over sixty dating shouldn’t be something to be afraid of,” explained Cribbs. “In fact, dating for seniors can be a very exciting and fun experience. As we reach our senior years, many of the issues that face younger singles aren’t nearly as significant or don’t even exist at all. Things like career, family, plans for children and the like simply aren’t as prominent. That means over sixty dating can be a lot more casual and a lot less restrictive with a lot less pressure”.

Robert is a 66-year-old retired office manager who enjoys the over sixty dating scene, but that wasn’t always the case for him. “I find dating at my age to be a lot more fun with a lot less pressure than when I was younger,” he says. “Looking back on my life, I realize that I dated my wife exclusively for more than six years before we got married.

I remember that everything was just so serious for us at that time. We had a great life together, and when she passed away, I felt like I may just hide in my apartment and never go out with anyone again. That feeling lasted about six months, until some of my friends finally talked some sense into me. Then I just put aside all my fears and put myself out there”.

Cribbs says Robert’s situation isn’t uncommon for those who are entering the over sixty dating scene for the first time. “Of course there is going to be a certain level of nervousness and trepidation when it comes to dating again,” the expert says. “Despite the fact that senior age people have a lot of life experience behind them, often they’ve spent literally dozens of years in a long-term relationship or marriage”.

So seniors looking to re-establish a potential loving and fulfilling personal relationship shouldn’t be worried about entering the over sixty dating process. After all, your life is what you make of it, no matter what your age.

Dating Russian Women

Title: Russian date.. Is she your mate?

Russian women.. Elegant and feminine, sexy and beautiful, romantic and intriguing, caring and family-oriented.. It's grown so common for us, western men, to hear and read these characteristics of Slavic ladies that very often we get fascinated just by the very thought of dating a Russian.

And we do know that Russian ladies were leaving the former USSR countries and immigrating to be with western men by tens of thousands in the early and mid 1990'ies as a FACT.

The dream of males coming from different parts of the world to find a Russian bride stays. But are the statistical facts and records of successful international dating staying as well? Or gone?

What are East European women like now, 22 years after the Soviet system is gone? Are you still likely to get a response from them? If yes, how to spot the honest ones from scammers? And when you finally do meet someone nice and honest, are there any hints that could help you win their heart?

You can get answers to all of these questions in "DATING RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN WOMEN, 15 YEARS BACK AND NOW: WHAT HAS CHANGED? WHAT HASN'T?", a brief and easy-to-read guide-book on international dating by Tanya P, an interpreter for dating agencies and eyewitness to all the changes going on the dating scene in post-Soviet countries for the past 14 years.

You won't find encouragements nor criticisms for the idea of dating internationally itself in her book. It's all just the TRUE stories and experiences from the author's personal experiences, things she witnessed and observed. Something she wanted to share with her readers in order to help you get rid of faith in the out-of-date myths many Dating Agencies spread around; but rather to have realistic expectations and find out what to REALLY expect and what to take into consideration in order to succeed if you made up your mind to find a Russian bride now, in 2013.

Travel Lite and Take a Good Camera

When you are travelling about in Russia it is a good idea to travel lite for a variety of reasons.  For one, if you are riding the Russian rails, you don't want to be tossing around heavy baggage from the platform into and out of your train car.  It isn't like America where there is barely any room between the train platform and getting into the train car.  In Russia there can be a substantial distance between the edge of the platform and getting into the car.  In places such as Kazansky Station in Moscow, not only is there are significant gap between the platform and the train car, you also need to make your way up a set of narrow, nearly vertical set of train steps into the car.

Last time I made the trip, I took 3 pairs of slacks, 3 shirts, 3 pairs of socks, 3 pairs of underwear, and a minimal amount of the necessary bathroom sundries for washing, shaving, oral care, deodorant, etc.  I was going for 3 weeks, and simply washed the clothes I wore each day, and changed to another set for the next day.  If you pack smart, you can get away with only a carry on.  If you take more than one suitcase that you have to check at the airport, you will have to pay extra for the second suitcase, up to $100.00 or more US.

Make sure you also take a decent digital camera so you can document the places you've been and the people you've been with.  If you aren't a professional photographer, don't go overboard and get some huge digital SLR that is going to bog you down.  I've found that a camera is small enough, light weight enough, and has enough options for it to be a good all around camera and it has pretty good resolution for a small digital camera.

Also, unless you are already a fluent speaker of Russian, take with you a small pocket Russian-English dictionary or a lightweight electronic translation machine. Before you go, learn some basics, such has "hello, please, thank you, how much, and where's the bathroom."  You should also learn how to use the toilet squatting instead of sitting, not that you'll have to do that everywhere, but there are places where it might be handy knowledge.

BYOTP

BYOT does NOT mean bring your own tent; however, no trip to Russia is complete without having some experience riding the Russian railways.  Whether it's an overnighter from Moscow to Kazan or Yoshkar-Ola or a multi-day trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway or Trans-Mongolian Railway, one thing you certainly need to bring along is toilet paper.  Russians are not known for being hardy merely because of the harsh winter weather, but also their ability to endure toilet paper that feels more like sandpaper than it does like toilet paper.  Some links in this article are affiliate links from which we may receive a tiny commission, at no cost to you, should you visit a merchant via our link and subsequently make a purchase.

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You should make sure you have an adequate supply for length of your train trip.  It might also be advisable to have some supply for your stay in Russia, because my experience has been that you can't always easily find toilet paper in the supermarket either.  I had to buy a roll of paper towels and cut it in half the last time I tried to find toilet paper in a Russian supermarket in Yoshkar-Ola.