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FAIRY TALES |
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A SILVER PIPEI often feel pity when I see a herd of cows with a herder. The herder goes urging the poor animals on with shouting and by lashing out at them without any reason. The cows bellow indignantly and go farther along the path stopping by every puddle or a large stone.Friends, a long time ago it wasn't so. At that time a herder could understand his herd and they could understand him. Music helped them. Each herder was a good musician. There was a young herder in a village. Honestly he was quite a boy. But what wonderful sounds he could elicit from his reed pipe! Even birds quieted to listen to his music. The cows followed the pastoral reed pipe because they just like it... Yet once the herder had led the herd to a meadow near a dense forest. The boy was playing his pipe, the cows was nibbling grass - so juicy, so fragrant. And music sounded so sweet that even wolves and tigers were stopping here and there listening to the spell binding sounds, falling into some reverie. What kind of hunting is there! The boy was playing with animation when suddenly he noticed a strange shining deer. It stood by the forest examining the boy. Staring at the deer the herder was so amazed that he even didn't notice how his melody began to change. It became more subtle, richer in thrilling sounds and what was more astonishing, his reed pipe turned to silver, shining like the unusual forest guest. Soon the deer was gone as suddenly as he had appeared. But the silver pastoral pipe sang on with its brilliant new melody. But the much wonder waited for the villagers when they tried the fresh milk. Every drink gave some good force. Nobody had ever tasted such good milk. At home the boy told his family about the meeting. Some believed him, some didn't. They thought maybe the young brother simply made up his story. But the pipe was really silver and its sounds were really magical. The boy has an elder brother. He was also a good musician and listening wonderful sounds he would like to play the pipe too. But something must have happened with it. Noise and whistle sounded around! The two brother's grandfather burst out laughing and then said friendly: "No, return the pipe to your younger brother. You play with your mouth and fingers, yet your heart keeps silence." But the elder brother wanted to his music was the best and the next morning he followed the boy secretly. At that day the wonderful melody was pouring especially sweet. Curly fluffy clouds stopped their race, and the grazing cows often lifted their big eyes to the blue boundless sky. The sky was listening to the earth, and the earth was hearing the heavens. The elder brother sat behind a massive stone waiting for appearance of the magical deer. Suddenly he felt how the sun touched his heart gently with its rays. Something light and warm filled his soul. The boy stood up, came to his brother and sat near to him smiling. The younger so rejoiced to see him that he started to play a jolly tune and the forest began to whirl in merry dance! In the evening the small musician asked: "Have you seen the magical deer?" "No. But... When?" Wondered the elder brother. "Today. He was so near to us..." The brothers shrugged their shoulders and led their herd to the village. The next day they went together again. And again in the evening the young brother said that the deer came to them although the elder hadn't noticed anything. When the brothers return home, they decided to tell their grandfather about everything. "It's not a usual deer", - answered the grandfather, - "it's a deer envoy. Everybody can't see him. You, grandson, please be careful - the deer can carry you away." "But where to, Grandpa?" "There, where your music aspires." And one evening the elder brother returned home alone. Teardrops were on his cheeks. "He's gone, grandpa! He played his pipe... And suddenly a wind had arose and... he disappeared." The grandfather hugged the boy and said: "Don't be sad, son. Don't be sad, your brother went for his music." "Will he come back?" "Maybe, if he wants." The next morning the elder boy took his reed pipe and led the herd to graze. He endeavored to play better and better, remembering his brother. Many days passed but nothing to happen. One day the elder brother asked: "Grandpa, why do you think my younger brother might come back?" And then, with great dignity, the grandfather took from the bosom of his cloak a golden pipe. "Because one day I came back. Play your reed pipe, study, it's worth it to study, believe me." "Grandpa, couldn't you play it for me?" The grandfather thought and answered: "No, grandson, - I can't do it here. My playing is not for this land." "Could I play your pipe?" The grandfather smiled bitterly: "Why have you try to play other's pipes? Maybe that's the reason why yours can't be silver." The boy was ashamed of his wish and since then he has never parted his pipe. Some years passed. The new herd's music became better every day, the cows milk - more tasty. And one day he noticed the magical deer who stood near the forest. His younger brother sat on it's back and smiled... There is a music that creates the world! The forest, river, mountains are woven With its delicate sounds... This music was soaring in the sky Like a solar bird And streams a warble of the nightingale Towards us... (C) Copyright: Alexander Kalinkin P.S. I thank Barbara Butler for her help in the proofreading. |
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| All work contained herein is protected by National and International Copyright Laws All Copyright © 2002-2008 Alex Kalinkin |
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