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And one day, when Abrosim was gone out to buy some new wares, the shopman called to gossip with Fetinia, when by chance he espied the duck; and, taking her up, he saw written under her wing in golden letters: "Whoso eats this duck will become a Tsar." The man said nothing of this to Fetinia, but begged and entreated her for love's sake to roast the duck.
Abrosim and Fetinia were overjoyed that their son had become a great Tsar, and they lived with him many years, and then died. Ivanushka sat upon the throne for thirty years, in health and happiness, and his subjects loved him truly to the last hour of his life. There was once upon a time a Tsar named Chodor, who had an only son, Ivan Tsarevich.
Amongst others he chose one named Luga, and calling him, spoke as follows: "My faithful servant and brave knight Luga, render me one service; travel to my native country, go straight to the King, greet him for me, and beg of him to deliver up to me the merchant Abrosim and his wife; if he gives them up, bring them hither; but if he refuses, threaten him that I will lay waste his kingdom with fire and sword, and make him prisoner."
Then Abrosim flew into a rage with his wife, and beat her till she was half-dead, and hunted his son out of the house. Little Ivan betook himself to the road, and walked on and on, following the way his eyes led him.
And straightways the nobleman ordered his servants to fetch the basket and give it to the countryman, who took it and hied back home, and lived ever after with his wife in peace and harmony. Once upon a time there lived an old man named Abrosim, with his old wife Fetinia: they were in great poverty and want, and had a son named Ivanushka, who was fifteen years of age.
The next day the duck laid another egg, and Abrosim sold this also; and in this way the duck went on, laying a golden egg every day, and the old man in a short time grew very rich. Then he built himself a grand house, and a great number of shops, and bought wares of all sorts, and set up in trade.
When the servant Luga arrived at Ivanushka's native country he went to the Tsar, and asked him to give up Abrosim and Fetinia. The Tsar knew that Abrosim was a rich merchant living in his city, and was not willing to let him go; nevertheless, when he reflected that Ivanushka's kingdom was a large and powerful one, fearing to offend him, he handed over Abrosim and Fetinia.
At night Abrosim and his son Ivanushka came home, and, looking in vain for the duck, he asked his wife what had become of her.
"Well and good," said Abrosim; "at all events I shall go to bed without a supper to-night; only do not deceive me, and tell me where I shall find the duck." "Early in the morning, as soon as you are up," replied Krutchina, "go into the town and there you will see a duck in a pond; catch it and bring it home with you." When Abrosim heard this, he laid himself down to sleep.
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