Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/47

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THE BRIGHT-HAWK'S FEATHER
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adorned their ears with their gold ear-rings, and they ridiculed their youngest sister.

"Oh, you stupid creature!" they said. "What are you going to wear? You have n't anything new to put on! Stay at home with your red flower!"

But she replied: "That is all right, my dear sisters; do not worry yourselves about me, I will say my prayers at home."

The two older sisters arrayed themselves like gay birds and went to mass, but the youngest one sat down at her little window, all soiled and bedraggled, in her wretched old coat, and she looked down on the orthodox people as they were wending their ways to God's church. They all were dressed in their fine clothes, the men in new kaftans, and the women in holiday sarafans and bright-colored variegated kerchiefs.

The young girl waited awhile, then she took the colored feather, looked at it, and waved it to the right. Instantly, from somewhere, appeared before her a glass coach, drawn by stallions, and servants in gold livery, while for herself were fine raiment and all sorts of adornments of the costliest and brightest colored precious stones.

In a twinkling the beautiful girl dressed herself, took her seat in the carriage, and was whirled