Destiny
by Unknown · from Tales of Wonder Every Child Should Know
Adapted Version
Once, there were two brothers. They lived in a big house. The Elder Brother worked hard. He worked on the farm. He cared for cows. The Younger Brother did not work. He liked to eat and drink. Both brothers had good things. They had cows and sheep. They had much food. They were happy.
One day, the Elder Brother felt sad. He worked all the time. His brother did not work. This was not fair. He told his brother one thing. "We must split our things." The Younger Brother said no. But the Elder Brother said yes.
They split all they had. The Elder Brother worked hard. He worked each day. But his farm did not do well. His cows got sick. He became very poor. He had no shoes. The Younger Brother did not work. He hired people to work. His farm did very well. He stayed rich.
The Elder Brother was very sad. He had no food. He had no shoes. He went to see his brother. On the way, he saw a field. A young woman sat there. She was very pretty. She spun gold thread. "Whose sheep are these?" he asked. "They are my brother's," she said. "Who are you?" he asked. "I am his good luck," she said. The Elder Brother walked on. He saw an old woman. She slept in the trees. She looked very old and sad. "Who are you?" he asked. She said, "I am your bad luck."
The Elder Brother was angry. "Why are you my bad luck?" "Fate gave me to you," she said. "Where is Fate?" he asked. "Go and find him," she said. Then she slept again.
The Elder Brother walked far. He came to a forest. He saw a wise man there. The wise man was a hermit. "Where is Fate?" he asked. The hermit said, "Go up that hill. You will find his house. Watch what he does. Do not speak to him. Wait for him to speak."
The Elder Brother went up the hill. He saw a big house. Fate lived there. Fate ate good food. He slept in a soft bed. At night, a voice spoke. "New babies are born!" it said. Fate threw out gold coins. The next day, the house was smaller. Fate threw out silver coins. The house became very small. Fate threw out small stones.
Then the house was big again. It was a grand palace. Fate sat at the table. The Elder Brother sat too. Fate looked at him. Fate spoke for the first time. "Why are you here?" Fate asked. The Elder Brother was ready.
The Elder Brother told his story. "I work hard," he said. "But I am always poor. My brother does not work. He is always rich. Why is my luck bad?"
Fate said, "You were born on a poor night. You will stay poor. Your brother was born rich. He will stay rich. But I will help you. Your brother has a girl. Her name is Mila. She has good luck. Marry Mila. Say all your things are hers. Then you will be rich."
The Elder Brother went home. He went to his brother. "Give me Mila," he said. "Yes, take her," his brother said. The Elder Brother married Mila. He became very rich. He had many good things. He always said one thing. "These things belong to Mila." He was very happy.
One day, he saw his wheat field. It was very big. It was very good. A man walked by. "Whose wheat is this?" he asked. The Elder Brother forgot. He said, "It is mine." Then red smoke came up. The field looked like fire!
The Elder Brother knew his mistake. He ran to the man. "Stop!" he cried. "This wheat is not mine. It belongs to Mila!" The red smoke stopped. The field was safe. The Elder Brother was happy. He was rich. He always thanked Mila. Good luck stays with kind hearts.
Original Story
Destiny
nce upon a time there were two brothers who lived together in the same household. One attended to everything, while the other was an indolent fellow, who occupied himself only with eating and drinking. Their harvests were always magnificent; they had cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, bees, and all other things in great abundance.
The elder, who did everything about the estate, said to himself one day:
"Why should I toil for this lazy fellow? It would be better that we should separate. I will work for myself alone, and he can do whatever he pleases." So he said to his brother:
"Brother, it is unjust that I should take charge of all whilst thou wilt aid me in nothing, and thinkest only of eating and drinking. It is better that we should part."
The other tried to turn him from his project, saying:
"Brother, do not do this. We get on so well together. Thou hast all in thy hands—not only what is thine, but what is mine, and thou knowest that I am always contented with what thou doest, and with what thou orderest."
But the elder persisted in his resolution so firmly that the younger was obliged to give up, and said:
"Since it is so I have no ill-will toward thee. Make the division as seemeth good to thee."
The division made, each one ordered his life as he thought good. The indolent brother took a herder for his cattle and horses, a shepherd for his sheep, a goatherd for his goats, a swineherd for his pigs, a keeper for his bees, and said to each of them:
"I confide my goods to thee, and may God watch over thee."
And he continued to live in his house without any more care he had ever done.
The elder on the contrary laboured for his half of the property as much as he had ever done for the common good. He kept his herds himself, having an eye on everything, but in spite of all his care he had ill success on every side.
From day to day everything turned out badly with him, so that at last he became so poor that he had not even a pair of sandals, and was obliged to go barefooted. Then he said to himself:
"I will go to my brother's, and see how the world wags with him."
His way led him across a meadow where a flock of sheep was grazing, and as he drew near he saw that the sheep had no shepherd. Near them, however, a beautiful young girl was seated, spinning a thread of gold.
After having saluted the maiden with a "God protect thee," he asked her whose were the sheep, and she answered:
"To whom I belong, belong the sheep also."
"And who art thou?" he continued.
"I am thy brother's fortune," she answered.
Then the traveller was seized with wrath and envy, and cried out:
"And where is my fortune?"
The maiden answered him: "Ah, she is far from thee."
"Can I find her?" he asked.
She answered: "Thou canst find her—only look for her."
When he had heard these words, and saw that the sheep were so beautiful that nothing finer could be imagined, he did not care to go farther to see the other flocks, but went direct to his brother, who as soon as he had seen him took pity on him, and said, weeping:
"Why hast thou hidden thyself from me for so long a time?"
Then seeing that he was in rags and barefooted he gave him a pair of sandals and some money.
After having remained three days with his brother the poor fellow departed to return home, but once arrived at the house he threw a sack over his shoulders, put a morsel of bread in it, took a stick in his hand, and set out into the world to seek his fortune.
Having travelled a long time he found himself at last in a deep forest where he met a wretched old woman asleep in a thicket. He began to beat the ground with his stick to wake up the old woman, and at last gave her a blow on the back. However, she scarcely moved even then, and half opening her drowsy eyes, said to him:
"Thou mayest thank God that I was asleep, for if I had been awake thou wouldst not have had those sandals."
Then he said to her: "Who art thou then, who wouldst have hindered me from having these sandals?"
The old hag answered him: "I am thy fortune."
Hearing these words he beat his breast, crying: "What! thou art my fortune! May God exterminate thee! Who gave thee to me?"
And the old hag said to him: "It was Destiny."
"Where is Destiny?"
"Go and seek for him," she answered, going to sleep again.
Then he departed and went to seek for Destiny.
After a long, long journey he arrived at last at another wood, and in this wood he found a hermit of whom he asked if he could not give him some news of Destiny?
The hermit answered him: "Climb that mountain, and thou wilt arrive at his castle, but when thou reachest Destiny be careful not to speak to him. Do only what thou seest him do, until he speaks to thee."
The traveller thanked the hermit, took his way up the mountain, and when he had arrived at the castle of Destiny what wonderful things he saw!
The luxury was absolutely royal. There was a crowd of servants, always in motion and doing nothing. As for Destiny, he was supping at a magnificent table. When the stranger saw this he seated himself also at table and ate with the master of the house. After supper Destiny went to bed and the traveller did the same. Toward midnight terrible noise was heard in the castle, and in the midst of the noise a voice crying:
"Destiny, Destiny—so many souls have come into the world to-day. Give them something at thy good pleasure."
And Destiny arose, opened a golden coffer, and threw into the room a shower of shining ducats, saying:
"Such as I am to-day, so shall you be all your lives."
At daybreak the grand castle vanished, and there took its place an ordinary house, but one in which nothing was wanting. When evening came Destiny sat down to supper again, his guest did the same, and no one spoke a word. After supper both went to bed as before.
Toward midnight again commenced the terrible noise in the castle, and in the midst of the tumult a voice crying:
"Destiny, Destiny, so many souls have seen the light to-day. Give them something at thy good pleasure."
Destiny arose and opened a silver coffer, but this time there were no ducats in it, only silver money mixed with a few pieces of gold. Destiny threw this silver upon the ground, saying:
"Such as I am to-day, so shall you be all your lives."
At daybreak the house had vanished, and there appeared in its place another smaller one. So passed each night; each morning the house became smaller until at last it was only a miserable hut. Destiny then took a spade and began to dig up the earth; his guest did the same, and they dug all day long. When evening came Destiny took a crust of hard bread, broke it in two, and gave half to his companion. This was all their supper, and when they had eaten they went to bed.
Toward midnight again commenced the terrible noise, and in the midst of it a voice was heard, crying:
"Destiny, Destiny, so many souls have come into the world this night. Give them something at thy good pleasure."
Destiny arose, opened a coffer, and began to throw out pebbles among which were mixed some small money, saying as he did so:
"Such as I am to-day, so shall you be all your lives."
When morning came the hut was changed again to a grand palace as it had been on the first day. Then for the first time Destiny spoke to his guest, and said to him:
"Why hast thou come to me?"
The traveller then related his miseries in detail, and said that he had come to ask of Destiny himself, why he had given him so evil a fortune.
Destiny answered him:
"Thou didst see that the first night I sowed ducats and what followed thereon. Such as I am on the night when a man is born, such that man will be all his life. Thou wert born on a night of poverty, and thou wilt remain always poor. Thy brother, on the contrary, came into the world in a happy hour, and happy he will remain to the end. But since thou hast taken so much trouble to find me I will tell thee how thou mayst help thyself. Thy brother has a daughter named Miliza, who is as fortunate as her father. Take her for thy wife when thou shalt return to thine own country, and all that thou shalt acquire thereafter, be careful to say belongs to her."
The traveller thanked Destiny many times and departed.
When he had returned to his own country he went straight to his brother, and said to him:
"Brother, give me Miliza. Thou seest that without her I am alone in the world."
And the brother answered: "It pleases me well. Miliza is thine."
Straightway the bridegroom took his brother's daughter to his house, and he became very rich, but he was always careful to say: "All that I have belongs to Miliza."
One day he went into the fields to see his wheat, which was so fine that there was nothing like it in the whole country around. A traveller passed along the way, and said to him:
"Whose is this wheat?"
And the elder brother, without thinking, answered: "It is mine."
But scarcely had he spoken than a spark was seen in the wheat and in an instant it was all on fire. Quickly he ran after the traveller, and cried out:
"Stop, my friend, this wheat is not mine. It belongs to Miliza, my brother's daughter."
The fire was instantly extinguished, and thenceforth the elder brother was happy—thanks to Miliza.
Story DNA
Moral
While destiny may set a path, one's actions, and perhaps a fortunate connection, can influence or alter it.
Plot Summary
Two brothers divide their inheritance; the diligent elder brother becomes poor while the indolent younger brother remains wealthy. Seeking answers, the elder brother encounters his own wretched 'Fortune' and is directed to find Destiny. He observes Destiny's nightly ritual of assigning fates based on birth, learning he was born on a night of poverty. Destiny advises him to marry his brother's fortunate daughter, Miliza, and attribute all his possessions to her. Following this advice, the elder brother becomes rich, and by consistently crediting Miliza, he overcomes his ill fortune, even saving his burning wheat field.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects common folk beliefs in fate, luck, and the personification of abstract concepts like fortune, prevalent in many pre-modern European cultures.
Plot Beats (13)
- Two brothers live together, one diligent, one lazy, both prosperous.
- The diligent elder brother decides to split their estate, feeling he works too hard for his indolent sibling.
- After the division, the elder brother's fortunes rapidly decline despite his hard work, while the younger brother remains prosperous without effort.
- Impoverished, the elder brother visits his brother, first encountering his brother's beautiful 'Fortune' tending sheep, then his own wretched 'Fortune' in a forest.
- His own 'Fortune' tells him he was given to her by Destiny and sends him to find Destiny.
- He finds a hermit who instructs him to go to Destiny's castle and imitate Destiny's actions without speaking until spoken to.
- He observes Destiny for several days, witnessing Destiny's castle and lifestyle change from opulent to humble, and the distribution of wealth (ducats, silver, pebbles) to newborns each night.
- On the last day, Destiny's castle is a grand palace again, and Destiny finally speaks, asking why the brother has come.
- The elder brother explains his misfortunes and asks why he was given such a bad fortune.
- Destiny explains that the elder brother was born on a night of poverty, while his brother was born on a night of wealth, but advises him to marry his brother's fortunate daughter, Miliza, and attribute all his possessions to her.
- The elder brother returns, marries Miliza, and becomes very rich, always remembering to say his possessions belong to her.
- One day, he forgets and claims his magnificent wheat field as his own, causing it to instantly catch fire.
- He quickly corrects himself, stating the wheat belongs to Miliza, and the fire is immediately extinguished, securing his continued prosperity.
Characters
The Elder Brother
Initially robust and hardworking, his body would show the strain of constant labor. Later, he becomes gaunt and worn from poverty, with calloused hands and feet, indicative of a life of toil and hardship.
Attire: Initially, practical, sturdy peasant clothing made of coarse linen or wool, perhaps a simple tunic and trousers, well-maintained. Later, he is described as being in 'rags' and 'barefooted', suggesting torn, patched garments, if any, and no footwear. After visiting his brother, he receives new sandals and money, implying a return to basic, but not luxurious, peasant attire.
Wants: To achieve prosperity and security through his own labor; to understand and change his unfortunate destiny.
Flaw: Envy, pride (believing his success was solely his own doing), a tendency to despair when faced with misfortune.
Starts as a hardworking but resentful man, falls into poverty, embarks on a quest to understand his misfortune, learns about the nature of destiny and the importance of attributing his success to Miliza, and ultimately becomes prosperous and happy.
Hardworking, diligent, resentful (initially), envious, despairing, persistent, ultimately humble and grateful.
The Indolent Brother
A well-fed, comfortable build, reflecting his life of ease and good eating. His skin would be smooth and unblemished by manual labor.
Attire: Comfortable, well-made, but not ostentatious, peasant clothing. Perhaps a loose-fitting linen tunic in a light color, comfortable trousers, and soft leather shoes. His clothes would be clean and free of wear and tear.
Wants: To live a life of comfort and contentment, trusting in others to manage his affairs.
Flaw: Indolence, lack of initiative, excessive reliance on others.
Remains largely unchanged, serving as a foil to his brother's struggles and a demonstration of a different path to prosperity.
Content, easygoing, trusting, generous, empathetic, unconcerned with labor.
The Elder Brother's Fortune
A wretched, frail old woman, hunched and possibly disheveled, reflecting the poor state of the Elder Brother's luck.
Attire: Tattered, dark, and dirty rags, possibly a coarse, patched brown or grey smock, reflecting extreme poverty and neglect.
Wants: To simply exist in her current state, reflecting the Elder Brother's predetermined misfortune.
Flaw: Her own inherent wretchedness and powerlessness to change her nature.
Remains unchanged, serving as a physical manifestation of the Elder Brother's initial misfortune.
Drowsy, indifferent, somewhat resentful of being disturbed, fatalistic.
The Indolent Brother's Fortune
A beautiful, radiant young woman, reflecting the prosperity and good luck of the Indolent Brother. Her skin would be clear and glowing.
Attire: Elegant, flowing garments, possibly a light-colored, finely woven linen or silk dress, perhaps adorned with subtle golden embroidery, reflecting wealth and grace.
Wants: To embody and maintain the good fortune of the Indolent Brother.
Flaw: None apparent, as she represents pure good fortune.
Remains unchanged, serving as a physical manifestation of the Indolent Brother's consistent good fortune.
Serene, beautiful, somewhat enigmatic, matter-of-fact.
Destiny
His appearance shifts with his fortune, from regal and opulent to humble and impoverished. He is a representation of the ever-changing nature of fate.
Attire: His clothing changes dramatically: on the first night, royal, magnificent robes of silk and velvet, perhaps adorned with jewels. On subsequent nights, increasingly simpler attire, culminating in coarse, patched peasant clothes for digging. His wardrobe is a direct reflection of the fortune he is currently distributing.
Wants: To fulfill his role in distributing fortunes to newborns according to the cosmic schedule.
Flaw: Bound by his own cyclical nature; cannot deviate from the predetermined schedule of fortune distribution.
Remains unchanged, serving as the ultimate arbiter of fate and the source of the story's central revelation.
Impassive, powerful, unyielding, apathetic to individual suffering, a force of nature.
Miliza
Likely beautiful and radiant, reflecting her inherent good fortune, similar to her father's fortune personified.
Attire: Well-made, clean, and attractive peasant clothing, perhaps a simple, elegant dress made of good quality linen or cotton, in a cheerful color like blue or green, reflecting her prosperous but not extravagant life.
Wants: To live her life, unknowingly bringing prosperity to those associated with her.
Flaw: None apparent, as she is the embodiment of good luck.
Her role is primarily symbolic; she brings about the Elder Brother's change in fortune without undergoing a personal arc herself.
Kind, agreeable, a source of good fortune.
Locations
Brothers' Shared Estate
A prosperous agricultural estate with magnificent harvests, cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and bees, implying extensive fields, pastures, and farm buildings. The architecture would be typical of a Balkan or Eastern European rural dwelling, likely a simple, sturdy farmhouse with outbuildings, possibly timber-framed or stone-walled with a thatched or tiled roof, surrounded by cultivated land.
Mood: Initially prosperous and abundant, later becoming a place of toil and eventual poverty for the elder brother.
The initial setting where the brothers live together, their division of property, and the elder brother's subsequent decline into poverty.
Meadow of Fortune
A verdant meadow where a flock of beautiful sheep graze without a visible shepherd. A beautiful young girl, representing the indolent brother's fortune, is seated nearby, spinning a thread of gold.
Mood: Serene, idyllic, and subtly magical, contrasting with the elder brother's despair.
The elder brother encounters his brother's fortune, realizing the stark difference in their destinies.
Deep Forest Thicket
A dense, ancient forest, deep and shadowy, where the elder brother encounters his own wretched, sleeping fortune in a thicket. The ground is likely uneven and covered with undergrowth.
Mood: Gloomy, desolate, and foreboding, reflecting the elder brother's misfortune.
The elder brother finds his own 'fortune' – a wretched old hag – and learns that 'Destiny' is responsible.
Destiny's Shifting Castle/House/Hut
A magical dwelling that transforms nightly. It begins as a 'grand castle' with royal luxury and many servants, then becomes an 'ordinary house', then a 'smaller one', and finally a 'miserable hut' where Destiny digs the earth and eats hard bread. The architecture shifts from opulent, possibly Byzantine or Ottoman-influenced (given the ducats and Eastern European context) with golden coffers and rich furnishings, to a modest Balkan house, and finally a simple, rustic peasant's hut.
Mood: Mysterious, awe-inspiring, and unsettling due to the nightly transformations and the pronouncements of fate. Ranges from opulent to starkly impoverished.
The elder brother observes Destiny's nightly rituals, understanding how fate is assigned, and receives instructions on how to change his own fortune.