Then the pilgrims vanished, and presently Ilyá’s father and mother came in from their work in the fields. His brother and sisters came in also from their work, and his father and mother were glad indeed to see that Ilyá could walk as if nothing had ever ailed him. Then from joy they became sad again, and said:
“Thirty years has Ilyá been sitting on the bench as if he had neither hands nor feet!”
And Ilyá said to his father:
“Where have you been working to-day, father?”
But his parents only said:
“Glory to Thee, O Lord! Thirty years has Ilyá been sitting by the stove, and was he not without hands or feet?” [[22]]
And Ilyá asked again:
“But you, father and mother, where have you been working on the farm?”
“Well, Ilyá,” answered his father, “we are working in the field by the stream; we are clearing it for ploughing. It is the field three fields from home.”
After they had dined Ilyá said to his parents: