Russian folk stories: Two Thieves There were two thieves. One of them said: - I have a hard life! Other thief didn't agree: - And I live easy. I always have an work and I have enough money... Look!- he said,- the bishop will drive at the church. And we are two who ostensibly shall bet a hundred roubles: you say "a foot has six fingers", I say "a foot has five fingers". And will keep your eyes open! They went to the road and stayed near it. That thief which has a good life said: - The bishop is driving up to us! The prosperous thief fell to his knees. The bishop saw the man on the road and stoped the carriage. The thief spoke to the bishop: - Right Reverend! We bet that merchant (he's showing the companion) hundred roubles. I say that a foot has five fingers, but he says that it has six fingers! We need to know how many fingers does a foot have? The bishop thought not for a long time and answered: - You won this bet: I have five fingers on my foot. - My Lord, let me count your fingers right now in his presence. - O'kay, you may do it... The thief took off bishop's boot and began to count: - One, two, three, four, five... I win the bet! Second thief caught other boot and said: - I need to check this one! Maybe there are six fingers! Take off! With which words he took off other bishop's boot and began to count: - One, two, three, four, five... Yes, you won the bet! And they broke into a run with boots of the bishop. The bishop got down quickly but discovered himself sticking in the mud. There is impossible to catch them...

Folk legends about Piter the First: The Tsar And The Old Man "You can't leave your hat on" :-) Once Russian Tsar Piter the First (also know as Piter the Great) was traveling without guards as ordinary person and lost one's way in a deep wood. Suddenly he saw the old man who was felling a tree. The Tsar spoke to him: - God help you! The old man answered: - Thank you, I really need it. Piter the First asked old man: - You look like a wise old man. I need to find a road from this wood to a field, show me the way. And the man said: - You can do it yourself: go straight, then turn to the right, then turn to the left, then turn to the right again... - I understand nothing! You have to show me the way! - I do not have a time, sir, my work day is too expensive. - Well, it is no problem. I will pay you. - O'key, then let's go. He got on the gig and they drove. By the way the Tsar began to ask the old man: - Have you been to some another places? - Yes, I have been traveling a little. - And did you see the tsar? - No, but I would see him. - So, when we shall get a field you will see the tsar. - And how will I recognize him? - Everybody shall take theirs hats off, but the tsar will leave one's hat on. They have come to a field. People saw the Tsar, recognized him and took theirs hats off. The old man looks around with carefully, but he does not see the tsar. He cried: - But where is the tsar?! Piter the First said: - Look, only we are two who have hats on. Somebody of us is the tsar indeed.

Russian folk tales: The Hare The Hare One poor man was crossing a big field. He saw the hare under the shrub. The hare maked the man happy and he began to dream: Well, there will be rich house! I'll get this hare, I'll kill it by the lash and I'll sell the hare for four altynes. I'll buy the pig for that money and the pig will yield me twelve piglets. My piglets shall grow to a maturity and then each of them shall yield me twelve piglets too. I'll slaughter all and I'll have full barn of meat. I'll sell this pork, will get the farm and will make a good match. My wife will give birth to sons for me: Vasiliy and Ivan. My sons shall be to plough up and I'll be sat near the window and will be set the rules: «Hey, guys», I'll shout, «Vasiliy and Ivan! Don't urge on our farmhands, I know, you are never lived in poverty!». And so loudly the man was cried that the hare got a scare and broke into a run. And the rich house, the big farm, the wife and sons disappeared.