By John T. Naaké
Once there lived a peasant and his wife who had three daughters. The two elder girls were cunning and selfish; the youngest was simple and open-hearted, and on that account came to be called, first by her sisters and afterward by her father and mother, “Little Simpleton.” Little Simpleton was pushed about, had to fetch everything that was wanted, and was always kept at work; but she was ever ready to do what she was told, and never uttered a word of complaint. She would water the garden, prepare pine splinters, milk the cows, and feed the ducks; she had to wait upon everybody—in a word, she was the drudge of the family.
One day, as the peasant was going with the hay to market, he asked his daughters what they would like him to buy for them.
“Buy me some kumach (Red wool stuff from Bucharest) for a sarafan (A long dress worn by the Russian peasant women) father,” answered the eldest daughter.
“And me some nankeen,” said the second. The youngest daughter alone did not ask for a present. The peasant was moved with compassion for the girl; although a simpleton she was still his daughter.
Turning to her he asked “Well, Little Simpleton, what shall I buy for you?”
Little Simpleton smiled and replied—
“Buy me, dearest father, a little silver plate and a little apple.”
“What do you want them for?” asked her sisters.
“I will make the little apple roll round the plate, and will say some words to it which an old woman taught me because I gave her a cake.”