Jisto And The Golden Horse
Once upon a time, there lived a simple boot maker who lived with his wife at the edge of a village. Although he was poor, people from his village and other villages loved his beautiful boots. The only problem was, no one ever came to buy those boots for a reason. The boot maker and his wife were very poor, as you know. So they often sold their boots for very high prices. No one in the villages was this rich. The couple’s only delight was their handsome son, only a few years old. He was exactly 10, but he helped his father and mother a lot. He was kind, honest, and clever. The son was called Jisto. One day, on Jisto’s 11th birthday, he decided that he was old enough to go seek his fortune.
With the money he got, he would be able to make his parents richer. Jisto packed his bags and set out. He walked alone until he came to a great kingdom. The king of this kingdom had 8 daughters, all beautiful and kind. He wished to get all of them married. Jisto went straight to the king and asked, “Does Your Majesty by any chance have a fine job for me?” The king looked at him and stayed silent for a moment. Then he said, “Well, my fine young lad, it just so happens that I do have a job for you.” “My horses need a groom, and if you agree to look after them for a year, I will pay you well.”
Jisto agreed to groom the king’s horses. The king himself led Jisto to his royal stable and showed him exactly what to do. And he said, “One of my horses is golden with a saddle made of colorful jewels and a silver bridle.” “Take especially good care of that horse.” “It is called the Golden Horse.” Jisto nodded his head. For the first few weeks, Jisto had trouble taking care of the horses, for the horses didn’t recognize him. But after a month, the horses liked Jisto. And best of all, Jisto and the Golden Horse were soon friends.
The Golden Horse never ran away from Jisto or tried to scare him. Soon, Jisto’s year of service was over. The king hired a new groom, a groom called the Blue Groom. Then he paid Jisto three thousand gold coins as payment. Taking the money, Jisto bade farewell to the horses. As he was going, he saw the Golden Horse run up to him. The Golden Horse said, “The new groom, the Blue Groom, is a very mean person.” “Come back to me soon, kind Jisto!” With these words, the Golden Horse went away. Jisto went out of the kingdom and to his village. He went to the outskirts of the village where his parents were. It was Jisto’s 12th birthday, and his parents were expecting him to come home.
After Jisto’s party was over, he laid out the three thousand gold coins. Seeing all that money, Jisto’s parents were overjoyed. With a thousand gold coins, they bought a rich house, fine clothes, and good food. With another thousand gold coins, the boot maker gave up boot making and became a fine doctor. His wife also became a rich doctor. And with the last thousand gold coins, the family moved to the very kingdom in which Jisto had made his fortune. Now the family was rich, very rich. Patients came from all over the kingdom to be treated by Jisto’s parents.
The new doctors treated their patients well, and so they earned a lot of money. Soon Jisto’s family was super rich. They were only second to the king. One day, Jisto heard that the king was holding a contest. There would be three tests. Whoever passed all of the tests would be the one to marry one of the king’s daughters.
Jisto said to his rich parents that he was going to participate in the contest. When the day of the contest arrived, there was a huge crowd of unmarried men. The crowd included princes, kings, noblemen, ministers, and grooms. Among them was the Blue Groom. Jisto joined the large crowd. The king then proclaimed his first test. Outside the kingdom there was a village in which a barn lay. Whoever managed to steal all of the animals and bring them back to the king would pass. Each person present was given a horse and a carriage.
All the men, including the Blue Groom, hurried off. But Jisto didn’t yet set off. He wished to meet his friend, the Golden Horse, before doing anything, for he knew that the Golden Horse had magic powers. He hurried to the royal stables. When the Golden Horse saw Jisto, he ran up to greet his friend. They embraced each other for a while and then Jisto told him the whole thing. The Golden Horse said, “It is not easy to steal all of the animals in the barn and bring them back, for there are exactly 100 animals.” “But if you listen to my instructions and follow them, you alone shall pass the first test.” “Before going, ask the king for ten black hens and 100 bottles of wine.” “Load these up in your carriage and then go.” “When you reach the barn, don’t worry if someone has already taken the animals.” “Just let your ten black hens go free, and when they come back, they will have all 100 animals in their beaks.” “Grab the animals and pour all the wine down their throats.” “They will go to sleep.” “Quickly put them in the carriage and bring them back here.”
Then the Golden Horse went away. Jisto went to the king and asked him for ten black hens and 100 bottles of wine. Taking these things, Jisto rode to the village. When he reached the barn, he saw that the Blue Groom had already taken the animals. So he set the birds free. When the hens reached the Blue Groom, they snatched the animals from him and carried them back to Jisto in their beaks. Jisto grabbed the animals and poured all the wine down their throats. When they were asleep, Jisto put them in the carriage and took them back to the king. The king was amazed at Jisto’s talent. When the Blue Groom came looking for the animals, he saw that Jisto had already won the first test. He was angry, but he listened to what the second test was all about. There was a nobleman living right next to the king’s palace.
This nobleman had a treasure chest which was filled with gold, silver, and jewels. Whoever managed to steal the chest would pass. When all the men had gone, Jisto met the Golden Horse once again. The Golden Horse said, “It is not easy to steal the rich chest, for it is guarded by 15 soldiers.” “But listen.” “Before going, ask the king for 10 pounds of meat, 10 kinds of vegetables, and 15 bottles of milk, wine, and juice.” “Ask him also for 10 kinds of instruments.” “With these things, go to the nobleman’s house.” “At night, meet the Blue Groom.” “Give him half of your meal and play each kind of instrument 10 times.” “The Blue Groom will then fall asleep.” “At the house, share your other half of the meal with the soldiers.” “Play each kind of instrument 15 times.” “When all 15 soldiers are asleep, quietly grab the chest and run away.” “Bring the chest back here.”
The Golden Horse then went away. Jisto asked the king for all the things needed. Loading them in the carriage, Jisto went off. At night, he met the Blue Groom. After eating and listening to music, the Blue Groom fell asleep.
Then Jisto did the same with the 15 soldiers. He took the chest, mounted his horse, and went back to the palace. When the king awoke, Jisto showed him the chest. The king proclaimed that Jisto had won the second test as well. The Blue Groom was furious. For the last test, the king brought everyone to the royal grounds. This time, the test was to steal the crown of the king himself. This, everyone thought, was quite impossible.
Before going in, Jisto met the Golden Horse. The Golden Horse said, “This is the last and hardest test of all, for at night the king has 40 bodyguards look after him.” “But listen.” “Before night falls, make the Blue Groom drink some wine.” “When he falls asleep, go inside the palace.” “The king has 40 bodyguards, but one named the Brown Guard protects him the most.”
“He comes every day to drink wine.” “When he is weak from drinking so much wine, make him drink more until he is sleeping.” “Then shut him up in the basement and disguise yourself as him.” “Go to the king and say, ‘Your Majesty, being your most loyal bodyguard, I’d like to say that you give me your crown so that I can protect it.’” “When the king agrees, take the crown and place it carefully.” “Then release the Brown Guard, take off the disguise, and go to sleep.”
Jisto did exactly as the Golden Horse told him. The king understood in the morning that he had tricked himself. Jisto had passed all three tests. The Blue Groom was so angry, he killed himself. Jisto married the youngest princess named Sisy, and Jisto’s parents were called to live in the palace. THE END
With the money he got, he would be able to make his parents richer. Jisto packed his bags and set out. He walked alone until he came to a great kingdom. The king of this kingdom had 8 daughters, all beautiful and kind. He wished to get all of them married. Jisto went straight to the king and asked, “Does Your Majesty by any chance have a fine job for me?” The king looked at him and stayed silent for a moment. Then he said, “Well, my fine young lad, it just so happens that I do have a job for you.” “My horses need a groom, and if you agree to look after them for a year, I will pay you well.”
Jisto agreed to groom the king’s horses. The king himself led Jisto to his royal stable and showed him exactly what to do. And he said, “One of my horses is golden with a saddle made of colorful jewels and a silver bridle.” “Take especially good care of that horse.” “It is called the Golden Horse.” Jisto nodded his head. For the first few weeks, Jisto had trouble taking care of the horses, for the horses didn’t recognize him. But after a month, the horses liked Jisto. And best of all, Jisto and the Golden Horse were soon friends.
The Golden Horse never ran away from Jisto or tried to scare him. Soon, Jisto’s year of service was over. The king hired a new groom, a groom called the Blue Groom. Then he paid Jisto three thousand gold coins as payment. Taking the money, Jisto bade farewell to the horses. As he was going, he saw the Golden Horse run up to him. The Golden Horse said, “The new groom, the Blue Groom, is a very mean person.” “Come back to me soon, kind Jisto!” With these words, the Golden Horse went away. Jisto went out of the kingdom and to his village. He went to the outskirts of the village where his parents were. It was Jisto’s 12th birthday, and his parents were expecting him to come home.
After Jisto’s party was over, he laid out the three thousand gold coins. Seeing all that money, Jisto’s parents were overjoyed. With a thousand gold coins, they bought a rich house, fine clothes, and good food. With another thousand gold coins, the boot maker gave up boot making and became a fine doctor. His wife also became a rich doctor. And with the last thousand gold coins, the family moved to the very kingdom in which Jisto had made his fortune. Now the family was rich, very rich. Patients came from all over the kingdom to be treated by Jisto’s parents.
The new doctors treated their patients well, and so they earned a lot of money. Soon Jisto’s family was super rich. They were only second to the king. One day, Jisto heard that the king was holding a contest. There would be three tests. Whoever passed all of the tests would be the one to marry one of the king’s daughters.
Jisto said to his rich parents that he was going to participate in the contest. When the day of the contest arrived, there was a huge crowd of unmarried men. The crowd included princes, kings, noblemen, ministers, and grooms. Among them was the Blue Groom. Jisto joined the large crowd. The king then proclaimed his first test. Outside the kingdom there was a village in which a barn lay. Whoever managed to steal all of the animals and bring them back to the king would pass. Each person present was given a horse and a carriage.
All the men, including the Blue Groom, hurried off. But Jisto didn’t yet set off. He wished to meet his friend, the Golden Horse, before doing anything, for he knew that the Golden Horse had magic powers. He hurried to the royal stables. When the Golden Horse saw Jisto, he ran up to greet his friend. They embraced each other for a while and then Jisto told him the whole thing. The Golden Horse said, “It is not easy to steal all of the animals in the barn and bring them back, for there are exactly 100 animals.” “But if you listen to my instructions and follow them, you alone shall pass the first test.” “Before going, ask the king for ten black hens and 100 bottles of wine.” “Load these up in your carriage and then go.” “When you reach the barn, don’t worry if someone has already taken the animals.” “Just let your ten black hens go free, and when they come back, they will have all 100 animals in their beaks.” “Grab the animals and pour all the wine down their throats.” “They will go to sleep.” “Quickly put them in the carriage and bring them back here.”
Then the Golden Horse went away. Jisto went to the king and asked him for ten black hens and 100 bottles of wine. Taking these things, Jisto rode to the village. When he reached the barn, he saw that the Blue Groom had already taken the animals. So he set the birds free. When the hens reached the Blue Groom, they snatched the animals from him and carried them back to Jisto in their beaks. Jisto grabbed the animals and poured all the wine down their throats. When they were asleep, Jisto put them in the carriage and took them back to the king. The king was amazed at Jisto’s talent. When the Blue Groom came looking for the animals, he saw that Jisto had already won the first test. He was angry, but he listened to what the second test was all about. There was a nobleman living right next to the king’s palace.
This nobleman had a treasure chest which was filled with gold, silver, and jewels. Whoever managed to steal the chest would pass. When all the men had gone, Jisto met the Golden Horse once again. The Golden Horse said, “It is not easy to steal the rich chest, for it is guarded by 15 soldiers.” “But listen.” “Before going, ask the king for 10 pounds of meat, 10 kinds of vegetables, and 15 bottles of milk, wine, and juice.” “Ask him also for 10 kinds of instruments.” “With these things, go to the nobleman’s house.” “At night, meet the Blue Groom.” “Give him half of your meal and play each kind of instrument 10 times.” “The Blue Groom will then fall asleep.” “At the house, share your other half of the meal with the soldiers.” “Play each kind of instrument 15 times.” “When all 15 soldiers are asleep, quietly grab the chest and run away.” “Bring the chest back here.”
The Golden Horse then went away. Jisto asked the king for all the things needed. Loading them in the carriage, Jisto went off. At night, he met the Blue Groom. After eating and listening to music, the Blue Groom fell asleep.
Then Jisto did the same with the 15 soldiers. He took the chest, mounted his horse, and went back to the palace. When the king awoke, Jisto showed him the chest. The king proclaimed that Jisto had won the second test as well. The Blue Groom was furious. For the last test, the king brought everyone to the royal grounds. This time, the test was to steal the crown of the king himself. This, everyone thought, was quite impossible.
Before going in, Jisto met the Golden Horse. The Golden Horse said, “This is the last and hardest test of all, for at night the king has 40 bodyguards look after him.” “But listen.” “Before night falls, make the Blue Groom drink some wine.” “When he falls asleep, go inside the palace.” “The king has 40 bodyguards, but one named the Brown Guard protects him the most.”
“He comes every day to drink wine.” “When he is weak from drinking so much wine, make him drink more until he is sleeping.” “Then shut him up in the basement and disguise yourself as him.” “Go to the king and say, ‘Your Majesty, being your most loyal bodyguard, I’d like to say that you give me your crown so that I can protect it.’” “When the king agrees, take the crown and place it carefully.” “Then release the Brown Guard, take off the disguise, and go to sleep.”
Jisto did exactly as the Golden Horse told him. The king understood in the morning that he had tricked himself. Jisto had passed all three tests. The Blue Groom was so angry, he killed himself. Jisto married the youngest princess named Sisy, and Jisto’s parents were called to live in the palace. THE END