Once upon a time there lived an old man who had three sons. The two elder sons were well favoured young men who liked to wear fine clothes and were thrifty husbandmen, but the youngest, Ivan the Fool, was none of those things. He spent most of his time at home sitting on the stove ledge and only going out to gather mushrooms in the forest.

When the time came for the old man to die, he called his three sons to his side and said to them:
"When I die, you must come to my grave every night for three nights and bring me some bread to eat."
The old man died and was buried, and that night the time came for the eldest brother to go to his grave. But he was too lazy or else too frightened to go, and he said to Ivan the Fool:

"If you will only go in my stead to our father's grave tonight, Ivan, I shall buy you honey-cake." Ivan readily agreed, took some bread and went to his father's grave. He sat down by the grave and waited to see what would happen. On the stroke of midnight the earth crumbled apart and the old father rose out of his grave and said: "Who is there? Is it you my first-born? Tell me how everything fares in Russia: are the dogs barking, the wolves howling or my child weeping?"

And Ivan replied: "It is I, your son, Father. And all is quiet in Russia." Then the father ate his fill of the bread Ivan had brought and lay down in his grave again. As for Ivan, he went home, stopping to gather some mushrooms on the way.

When he reached home, his eldest brother asked: "Did you see our father?"

"Yes, I did," said Ivan. "Did he eat of the bread you brought?"
"Yes. He ate till he could eat no more."

Another day passed by, and it was the second brother's turn to go to the grave. But he was too lazy or else too frightened to go, and he said to Ivan:

"If only you go in my stead, Ivan, I shall make you a pair of bast shoes.
"Very well," said Ivan, "I shall go."

He took some bread, went to his father's grave and sat there waiting. On the stroke of midnight the earth crumbled apart and the old father rose out of the grave and said: "Who is there? Is it you my second-born? Tell me how everything fares in Russia: are the dogs barking, the wolves howling, or my child weeping?"
And Ivan replied: "It is I, your son, Father. And all is quiet in Russia."

Then the father ate his fill of the bread Ivan had brought and lay down in his grave again. And Ivan went home, stopping only to gather some mushrooms on the way. He reached home and his second brother asked him:

"Did our father eat of the bread you brought?" "Yes," Ivan replied. "He ate till he could eat no more."
On the third night it was Ivan's turn to go to the grave and he said to his brothers:

"For two nights I have gone to our father's grave. Now it is your turn to go, and I will stay home and rest."
"Oh, no," the brothers replied. "You must go again, Ivan, for you are used to it." "Very well," Ivan agreed, "I shall go."

He took some bread and went to the grave, and on the stroke of midnight the earth crumbled apart and the old father rose out of his grave. "Who is there?" said he. "Is it you, Ivan, my third-born? Tell me how everything fares in Russia: are the dogs barking, the wolves howling or my child weeping?"
And Ivan replied:

"It is I, your son Ivan, Father, and all is quiet in Russia.” The father ate his fill of the bread Ivan had brought and said to him: "You were the only one to obey my command, Ivan. You were not afraid to come to my grave for three nights running. Now you must go into the open field and shout: 'Chestnut-Grey, hear and obey! I shall call thee nigh to do or die!' When the horse appears before you, climb into his right ear and come out of his left, and you will turn into as comely a lad as was ever seen. Then mount the horse and go where you will."

To be continued ...