In a distant kingdom, a wealthy merchant named Mark lived in opulence, shunning the poor. One night, he dreamt that God would visit him, prompting him to prepare a grand feast. He adorned his courtyard lavishly and barred the poor from entering. Despite his preparations, no divine guest arrived. A beggar, however, was turned away by Mark's servants, but an old woman took him in and cared for him. That night, the beggar had a dream where he learned that a peasant's newborn son would inherit Mark's wealth. The next day, Mark sought the child, intending to adopt him but instead abandoned him in the snow. The boy was rescued by hunters and grew up unaware of his origins. Years later, Mark encountered the young man and, recognizing him, plotted to have him killed. He sent a letter to his wife instructing her to poison the boy. However, the boy met a beggar, who was Christ in disguise, and the letter was miraculously altered to ensure the boy was welcomed and married to Mark's daughter. Mark, furious at the turn of events, devised another plan to eliminate his son-in-law by sending him to oversee the distillery, intending for him to be killed there. However, the boy fell ill and returned home, while Mark, seeking to confront him, accidentally fell into the cauldron himself, meeting his demise. The story illustrates themes of greed, divine justice, and the consequences of one's actions.
By Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev · First published 1860 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fable, Fantasy