The Treasure

William Ralston Shedden-Ralston was an English writer and linguist, mostly known as an expert on Russian life and popularizer of Russian folklore and literature.
“The Treasure” is a legend, entered in “Russian Fairy Tales, A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore”. The story tells about an old poor man, whose wife has passed away just recently, but he has no money for burial and to perform the rites of remembrance. He has no money even to hire out the workers for digging the grave! The friends and neighbors, knowing that the oldster is in great poverty, all flatly refuse, and even the unashamed Pope expels him out. Desperate, the old man gets into the cutting of frozen ground by himself and after a time digs out a metal pot, stuffed full of ducats…
In keeping with the best traditions of Russian folklore, the tale determines the human flaws. Enjoy the reading.