Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by DavidPrice,
Translated from theRussian
by
GEORGE BORROW
London:
printed for private circulation
1913
The Russians have three grand popular tales, the subjects ofwhich are thievish adventures. One is called the Storyof Klim, another is called the Story of Tim, and thethird is called the Story of Tom. Below we present atranslation of the Story of Tim.
That part of the tale in which Tim inquires of the drowsyArchimandrite as to the person to whom the stolen pelisse is tobe awarded, differs in no material point from a portion of a talenarrated in the Turkish story-book of the lady and the fortyvizirs. The concluding part, however, in which we are toldhow Tim’s comrades twice stole the pig from him, and how hetwice regained it, is essentially Russian, and is original.
In a certain village there lived an old man who had lostalmost the whole of his hair, partly from age, and partly fromthe friction of his fur cap, which he never laid aside, either byday or night. He had a helpmeet as ancient as himself, butwho differed from him in having a hump. Our story, however,does not relate to them, but to a son of theirs, called Timoney,who was a sharp lad enough, but who had learnt nothing but toplay on the fife. The old man thinking that music, howeversweet, would never fill the belly, and that it was quiteimpossible to live on an empty stomach, determined to have theboy taught some trade, but p. 7ere fixing onwhat it should be, he deemed it expedient to consult his oldwoman on the subject; and, accordingly, requested her opinion,adding that he would wish to see the boy either a blacksmith, ora tailor.
“No!” cried the old woman. “I’llhave him neither the one nor the other. The blacksmith byalways going amidst fire and soot is so begrimed that he looksrather like a devil than a man. Would you make a monster ofhim? As for a tailor—I don’t deny thattailoring is a rare art, but sitting doubled up, in a little timebrings on a consumption.”
“Then what would you make of him?” cried the oldman.
“Make of him?” said she; “why a goldsmith ora painter, or something similar.”
“And do you know,” said the old man, “howmuch money one must lay down to have him bound either to agoldsmith or a painter? p. 8Why he wouldswallow up all we have, or more.”
They disputed so long, that they almost came to blows. The old woman had already armed herself with the fire-pan. At last, however, they agreed to bind their son to the firstmaster they should meet, whatever his trade might be. Sothe old man, taking with him the sum of ten roubles, which hedestined for the binding his son out as an apprentice, set outleading Tim by the hand. It happened, that the first peoplehe met were two born brothers, who maintained themselves bylevying taxes on the highway, and besides being tax-gathererswere expert tailors, using their needles so adroitly, that with astitch or two they could make for themselves a coat or mantle; inplain language, they were robbers.
The old man, after saluting them, said:
“Are you craftsmen?”
p.9“Oh, yes! and very skilful ones,” replied thehighwaymen.
“And what may be your trade?” inquired the old