The Three Copecks
by W. R. S. Ralston · from Russian Folk Tales
Original Story
The Three Copecks
THE THREE COPECKS.[56]
There once was a poor little orphan-lad who had nothing at all
to live on; so he went to a rich moujik and hired himself out to
him, agreeing to work for one copeck a year. And when he had
worked for a whole year, and had received his copeck, he went to
a well and threw it into the water, saying, "If it don't sink, I'll
keep it. It will be plain enough I've served my master faithfully."
But the copeck sank. Well, he remained in service a second
year, and received a second copeck. Again he flung it into the
well, and again it sank to the bottom. He remained a third year;
worked and worked, till the time came for payment. Then his
master gave him a rouble. "No," says the orphan, "I don't
want your money; give me my copeck." He got his copeck and
flung it into the well. Lo and behold! there were all three copecks
floating on the surface of the water. So he took them and
went into the town.
Now as he went along the street, it happened that some small
boys had got hold of a kitten and were tormenting it. And he
felt sorry for it, and said:
"Let me have that kitten, my boys?"
"Yes, we'll sell it you."
"What do you want for it?"
"Three copecks."
Well the orphan bought the kitten, and afterwards hired
himself to a merchant, to sit in his shop.
That merchant's business began to prosper wonderfully. He
couldn't supply goods fast enough; purchasers carried off everything
in a twinkling. The merchant got ready to go to sea,
freighted a ship, and said to the orphan:
"Give me your cat; maybe it will catch mice on board, and
amuse me."
"Pray take it, master! only if you lose it, I shan't let you off
cheap."
The merchant arrived in a far off land, and put up at an inn.
The landlord saw that he had a great deal of money, so he gave
him a bedroom which was infested by countless swarms of rats
and mice, saying to himself, "If they should happen to eat him
up, his money will belong to me." For in that country they knew
nothing about cats, and the rats and mice had completely got the
upper hand. Well the merchant took the cat with him to his
room and went to bed. Next morning the landlord came into
the room. There was the merchant alive and well, holding the
cat in his arms, and stroking its fur; the cat was purring away,
singing its song, and on the floor lay a perfect heap of dead rats
and mice!
"Master merchant, sell me that beastie," says the landlord.
"Certainly."
"What do you want for it?"
"A mere trifle. I'll make the beastie stand on his hind legs
while I hold him up by his forelegs, and you shall pile gold
pieces around him, so as just to hide him--I shall be content
with that!"
The landlord agreed to the bargain. The merchant gave him
the cat, received a sackful of gold, and as soon as he had settled
his affairs, started on his way back. As he sailed across the
seas, he thought:
"Why should I give the gold to that orphan? Such a lot of
money in return for a mere cat! that would be too much of a
good thing. No, much better keep it myself."
The moment he had made up his mind to the sin, all of a sudden
there arose a storm--such a tremendous one! the ship was
on the point of sinking.
"Ah, accursed one that I am! I've been longing for what
doesn't belong to me; O Lord, forgive me a sinner! I won't
keep back a single copeck."
The moment the merchant began praying the winds were
stilled, the sea became calm, and the ship went sailing on prosperously
to the quay.
"Hail, master!" says the orphan. "But where's my cat?"
"I've sold it," answers the merchant; "There's your money,
take it in full."
The orphan received the sack of gold, took leave of the
merchant, and went to the strand, where the shipmen were.
From them he obtained a shipload of incense in exchange for
his gold, and he strewed the incense along the strand, and burnt
it in honor of God. The sweet savor spread through all that
land, and suddenly an old man appeared, and he said to the
orphan:
"Which desirest thou--riches, or a good wife?"
"I know not, old man."
"Well then, go afield. Three brothers are ploughing over
there. Ask them to tell thee."
The orphan went afield. He looked, and saw peasants tilling
the soil.
"God lend you aid!" says he.
"Thanks, good man!" say they. "What dost thou want?"
"An old man has sent me here, and told me to ask you which
of the two I shall wish for--riches or a good wife?"
"Ask our elder brother; he's sitting in that cart there."
The orphan went to the cart and saw a little boy--one that
seemed about three years old.
"Can this be their elder brother?" thought he--however he
asked him:
"Which dost thou tell me to choose--riches, or a good wife?"
"Choose the good wife."
So the orphan returned to the old man.
"I'm told to ask for the wife," says he.
"That's all right!" said the old man, and disappeared from
sight. The orphan looked round; by his side stood a beautiful
woman.
"Hail, good youth!" says she. "I am thy wife; let us go
and seek a place where we may live."[57]
One of the sins to which the Popular Tale shows itself most hostile is
that of avarice. The folk-tales of all lands delight to gird at misers
and skinflints, to place them in unpleasant positions, and to gloat
over the sufferings which attend their death and embitter their
ghostly existence. As a specimen of the manner in which the humor of
the Russian peasant has manipulated the stories of this class, most of
which probably reached him from the East, we may take the following
tale of--
Story DNA
Moral
Honesty, integrity, and generosity are ultimately rewarded, while greed and deceit lead to trouble.
Plot Summary
A poor orphan, after faithfully serving for three years, confirms his honesty when his three copecks float in a well. He uses them to buy a tormented kitten, which he then gives to a merchant. The cat brings immense prosperity to the merchant, who sells it for a fortune in a foreign land. On his return, the merchant's greed nearly causes his ship to sink, but his repentance calms the storm. He returns the gold to the orphan, who uses it to honor God and is rewarded with a good wife.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects common folk beliefs about divine intervention, the reward for virtue, and the punishment for greed, often found in Russian peasant tales. The value of coins (copeck, rouble) grounds it in a specific economic context, though the story's themes are universal.
Plot Beats (15)
- A poor orphan works for a moujik for one copeck a year, testing his honesty by throwing each copeck into a well.
- After three years, all three copecks float, confirming his faithful service, and he takes them to town.
- He uses his three copecks to buy a kitten being tormented by boys, saving it.
- He hires himself out to a merchant, whose business prospers greatly after the cat joins the household.
- The merchant takes the cat on a sea voyage, using it to clear a rat-infested inn room in a foreign land where cats are unknown.
- The inn landlord buys the cat for a sack full of gold, enough to hide the cat when standing on its hind legs.
- On the return voyage, the merchant considers keeping the gold from the orphan.
- A violent storm erupts, threatening to sink the ship, which the merchant attributes to his greedy thoughts.
- The merchant repents and promises to give the orphan all the money, and the storm immediately calms.
- Back home, the merchant gives the orphan the sack of gold, explaining he sold the cat.
- The orphan uses the gold to buy a shipload of incense, which he burns on the strand in honor of God.
- An old man appears, offering the orphan a choice between riches or a good wife.
- The orphan seeks advice from three brothers ploughing, who direct him to their 'elder brother,' a small child.
- The child advises him to choose a good wife.
- The orphan returns to the old man, chooses the wife, and a beautiful woman immediately appears by his side.
Characters
The Orphan-Lad ★ protagonist
Poor and initially without possessions.
Attire: Simple, worn clothing befitting a poor orphan and servant.
Honest, compassionate, patient, devout, humble.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young boy of about ten or twelve years old with a thin, determined face. He has messy, unkempt brown hair and large, earnest hazel eyes. He wears a simple, faded brown tunic cinched with a rope belt, patched trousers, and worn-out leather boots. He stands in a brave, forward-leaning posture, one hand clutching a small, worn leather satchel. His expression is one of hopeful resilience. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Rich Moujik ○ minor
Wealthy, implied to be a landowner or farmer.
Attire: Clothing indicative of a rich peasant or farmer.
Fair (pays the orphan), but not overly generous.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly peasant man with a full white beard and weathered face, wearing a richly embroidered velvet kaftan in deep crimson and gold over a white linen shirt. He stands proudly with his chest puffed out, one hand resting on a thick leather belt adorned with a large gold buckle, the other holding a tall staff topped with a polished amber orb. His fur-trimmed hat sits neatly on his head. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature
The Kitten ◆ supporting
Small, initially tormented, later described as purring and catching mice.
Resourceful (catches mice), affectionate (purrs), valuable.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tiny, fluffy kitten with soft silver-grey fur and large, curious emerald green eyes. It sits upright with its tail curled neatly around its paws, head tilted slightly to one side. A small, delicate pink ribbon is tied in a bow around its neck. Its expression is one of gentle alertness and innocence. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Merchant ◆ supporting
Prosperous, travels by sea.
Attire: Fine clothing suitable for a successful merchant, possibly with a fur-lined coat.
Initially greedy, opportunistic, but capable of repentance and honesty.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with a weathered face and a neatly trimmed beard, wearing a dusty brown tunic over a cream-colored shirt, a dark leather vest, and sturdy traveling boots. He stands with a slight forward lean, one hand resting on a wooden staff, the other holding a small, ornate brass scale. A large leather satchel is slung over his shoulder, and a belt pouch hangs at his hip. His expression is shrewd but neutral, with keen eyes observing something off-frame. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Landlord ○ minor
Owner of an inn in a foreign land.
Attire: Clothing typical of an innkeeper in a foreign, rat-infested land.
Cunning, avaricious, surprised by the cat's abilities.
Image Prompt & Upload
A stern-looking middle-aged man with a thin mustache and sharp, calculating eyes. He wears a slightly outdated but well-maintained dark wool suit with a waistcoat and a pocket watch chain. His posture is rigid and upright, one hand holding a large ring of heavy iron keys, the other hand extended with fingers slightly curled as if counting coins. His expression is one of impatient authority. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Man ◆ supporting
Appears suddenly, disappears suddenly.
Attire: Simple, possibly flowing robes, befitting a mystical figure.
Wise, guiding, benevolent, magical.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly man with a long, flowing white beard and kind, twinkling eyes. He wears a simple, earth-toned hooded robe made of roughspun fabric, tied at the waist with a rope belt. His posture is slightly stooped but dignified, leaning gently on a gnarled wooden staff. He has a gentle, knowing smile on his weathered face. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Little Boy (Elder Brother) ○ minor
Appears to be about three years old, sitting in a cart.
Attire: Simple peasant child's clothing.
Wise beyond his years, gives good counsel.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young boy around eight years old with messy brown hair and a serious, determined expression. He wears a simple, patched tunic of rough-spun brown fabric over dark trousers and worn leather boots. He stands straight, holding a sturdy walking stick in one hand, his posture suggesting a sense of responsibility. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Beautiful Woman ◆ supporting
Beautiful, appears suddenly by the orphan's side.
Attire: Elegant, simple dress, befitting a virtuous wife.
Loving, devoted, destined to be the orphan's wife.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young adult woman with flowing chestnut hair and serene hazel eyes. She wears an elegant, soft blue gown with delicate silver embroidery along the neckline and sleeves. Her posture is graceful, standing with a gentle, welcoming smile, one hand lightly resting at her side. She has a kind and approachable expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Well
A well where the orphan-lad repeatedly throws his copecks to test his master's faithfulness.
Mood: testing, hopeful, symbolic
The orphan tests his faithfulness and retrieves his three copecks, symbolizing his integrity.
Image Prompt & Upload
A weathered stone well sits in the center of a forgotten, overgrown courtyard. Late afternoon light casts long, melancholic shadows across the uneven cobblestones. The well's wooden roof is half-collapsed, its mossy stones slick with damp. The water far below is dark and still, catching the faint glint of a few small, copper copecks lying on the submerged stones. Weeds grow through cracks in the surrounding wall, and the air is heavy with the smell of wet earth and quiet decay. A sense of patient, repeated action hangs in the still, golden-hour air. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Town Street
A street in a town where small boys are tormenting a kitten.
Mood: bustling, cruel, compassionate
The orphan encounters and rescues the kitten, spending his three copecks.
Image Prompt & Upload
A narrow cobblestone street in a cramped, leaning town at twilight. Long, dramatic shadows stretch from the crooked timber-framed houses with sagging roofs and dark, shuttered windows. The atmosphere is tense and ominous, with a cool, damp mist clinging to the ground. Colors are muted and desaturated, dominated by deep blues, grays, and browns. A single, guttering oil lamp casts a weak, flickering glow on the wet stones, illuminating scattered refuse and overgrown weeds pushing through cracks. A discarded wooden hoop lies near a darkened alleyway. The air feels still and heavy. No border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Inn in a Far-Off Land
A bedroom in an inn, infested with countless swarms of rats and mice, where the merchant stays.
Mood: eerie, dangerous, then triumphant
The cat proves its worth by ridding the room of pests, leading to its sale for a sack of gold.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dimly lit bedroom in a weathered, wooden-beamed inn during a stormy night. A dying fire in a stone fireplace casts long, flickering shadows across the room, illuminating countless swarms of rats and mice scurrying across the worn floorboards, over a rumpled straw mattress, and across a small table with a half-eaten loaf of bread. Rain streaks down a grimy windowpane, through which a gnarled tree branch is visible. The atmosphere is thick with neglect and unease, with muted colors of dark wood, grey stone, and the dark fur of the rodents. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
The Strand/Quay
The seashore or dockside where ships arrive and depart, and where the orphan burns incense.
Mood: spiritual, reverent, transformative
The orphan offers incense to God, leading to the appearance of an old man who guides him to his future.
Image Prompt & Upload
Twilight settles over the ancient quay, the sky a gradient of deep indigo and soft violet. A gentle mist clings to the weathered, dark timber of the docks and the salt-worn stone of the surrounding warehouses. The calm, dark water of the harbor reflects the last amber glow from a few dockside lanterns and the distant, warm flicker of a single stick of incense burning in a bronze holder at the water's edge. Its thin, fragrant smoke curls upward, mingling with the mist. A few tall-masted, wooden trading ships are moored silently, their rigging silhouetted against the fading light. Cobblestones glisten with dampness, leading to arched doorways and shuttered windows. In the distance, jagged cliffs fade into the haze. The air is still, filled with the quiet lapping of water and the scent of salt, old wood, and sandalwood. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Field with Ploughing Brothers
An open field where three brothers are ploughing the soil, one of whom is a small boy in a cart.
Mood: agricultural, wise, surprising
The orphan receives crucial advice from the 'elder brother' (a small boy) about choosing a good wife.
Image Prompt & Upload
An expansive, freshly ploughed field at dawn, the rich, dark soil turned in long, parallel furrows stretching towards distant, misty hills. The sky is a soft gradient of pale pink and gold, with the first rays of the sun casting long, gentle shadows across the earth. Three distinct, deep furrows dominate the foreground, leading the eye toward a small, weathered wooden cart resting at the field's edge. The air is still and cool, with a hint of morning dew glistening on the upturned soil and sparse blades of new green wheat. The scene is serene, vast, and full of quiet potential, with the warm light highlighting the texture of the earth. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
