The Magic Doll [antikvár]

Once upon a time, in Russia, there was a merchant who had an only daughter called Vassilissa. When the little girl was eight years old, her mother fell ill and was soon near death. As she lay weak and pale, she called Vassilissa to her and gave her a doll saying, 'Take this doll with my blessing. If you are ever in trouble or need, give her something to eat, and she will help you.' When Vassihssa looked at her closely, she noticed that the doll looked just like herself, with the same blonde plaits and the same blue eyes, Vassilissa's father mourned the loss of his wife for a long time, but finally wished to remarry. He chose a widow with two daughters of her own, and all three of them were jealous of Vassilissa. They constantly heaped work on her and gave her only scraps of food, hoping she would waste away and die. But despite all their bad treatment, Vassihssa only grew more beautiful with every day that passed.