The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RUSSIAN TALE

THERE ONCE WERE SOME POOR PEOPLE; THE WIFE WAS
A SPINNER AND THE HUSBAND WAS A FISHERMAN.
ONE DAY THE HUSBAND CAUGHT A GOLDFISH. THE GOLDFISH
ASKED THE MAN TO LET HER GO. HE SAID THAT HE
WAS SO POOR HE HAD TO CATCH FISH.
THE GOLDFISH SAID, "LET ME GO AND THEN GO HOME AND
YOU WILL HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED."
SO THE FISHERMAN LET HER SWIM AWAY. FROM THEN ON
HE WOULD GO TO HER AND SHE GRANTED ALL HIS REQUESTS.
THE GOLDFISH KEPT GIVING AND GIVING UNTIL THE WIFE
HAD EVERYTHING SHE COULD THINK OF BUT SHE STILL WAS
NOT SATISFIED. THEN SHE ASKED THE GOLDFISH TO BE HER
SERVANT. THIS ANGERED THE GOLDFISH SO MUCH THAT SHE
FLIPPED HER TAIL AND SWAM AWAY FOREVER AND SHE TOOK
BACK EVERYTHING SHE HAD GIVEN THEM.

Submitter comment: TALE WAS LEARNED IN RUSSIA. IT WAS IN PROSE AS IT IS HERE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills

Date learned: 12-00-1983