Grandfather's Eyes: the Story of Three Wicked Ye

Name: Grandfather's Eyes: the Story of Three Wicked Yezinkas
Author: Parker Fillmore

A poor boy named Yanechek, orphaned and alone, seeks work and finds an old blind man living by the woods. The old man, who warns Yanechek about the wicked Yezinkas—witches who disguise themselves as beautiful maidens and gouge out the eyes of their victims—hires him as a goatherd. Initially obedient, Yanechek eventually succumbs to temptation and takes the goats to a hill where the Yezinkas reside. On the hill, Yanechek encounters three stunning maidens, each attempting to lure him with gifts: an apple, a rose, and a comb. Recognizing their true nature, he refuses their offerings. When the youngest Yezinka approaches to comb his hair, he strikes her hands with a blackberry switch, immobilizing her. He binds her and captures her sisters in the same manner. Yanechek confronts the Yezinkas, demanding the location of the old man's eyes, which they had previously gouged out. The first two sisters attempt to deceive him by presenting false eyes, leading to their demise when Yanechek throws them into the river. The third sister, after initially pretending ignorance, ultimately retrieves the correct eyes from their cave, restoring the old man's sight. With the old man’s vision restored, Yanechek and the old man live happily, tending to the goats and making cheese, while the third Yezinka never returns to the hill. The story emphasizes themes of courage, cleverness, and the triumph of good over evil.

By Parker Fillmore · First published 1930 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure · 1,986 words

First lines

Once upon a time there was a poor boy whom everybody called Yanechek. His father and mother were dead and he was forced to start out alone in the world to make a living. For a long time he could find nothing to do. He wandered on and on and at last he came to a little house that stood by itself near the edge of the woods. An old man sat on the doorstep and Yanechek could see that he was blind, for there were empty holes where his eyes used to be.

Some goats that were penned in a shed near the house began bleating and the old man said:

What this Textopian page supports

Grandfather's Eyes: the Story of Three Wicked Yezinkas is listed on Textopian as a short story by Parker Fillmore, dated 1930 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Parker Fillmore
Date: 1930 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure, Children's Literature, Folklore
Length: 1,986 words
Structure: 1 section, 53 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Grandfather's Eyes: the Story of Three Wicked Yezinkas by Parker Fillmore
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Grandfather's Eyes: the Story of Three Wicked Yezinkas?
How does this short story by Parker Fillmore fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The story features magical elements such as witches (Yezinkas) and supernatural occurrences.
Fairy Tale — The narrative structure and moral lessons align with traditional fairy tale conventions.
Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey that involves risk and encounters with dangerous beings.
Children's Literature — The story is suitable for children, featuring a simple plot and clear moral lessons.