Baba Yaga and the Mirror of Truth
Somewhere in the vastness of Russia lived a young peasant, his wife, and their daughter. One day, an illness befell the girl’s mother. On her deathbed she said to the girl, “My beautiful daughter, listen and always remember these words. I will no longer be able to stay with you, but with my blessing I want you to live a good life. Always be kind to others, never turn down the weak, don’t ever speak ill of the misfortunate, and know that help will come if you ask.” She gave the girl a final kiss on the forehead and died.
The father and daughter mourned her passing for years. Amidst his grief, the peasant knew the girl needed a mother figure to look up to and remarried within the next year. While the stepmother and girl got along well at first, the stepmother steadily became filled with jealousy. She convinced her husband to get a new job a village away and tormented the girl in his absence. The girl was made to do strenuous work around the house with no rest, scolded for every little thing, and given scarcely enough to eat. One morning the girl could no longer hold back her sorrows and wept. “Oh dear mother, I don’t wish to hate my stepmother! If only someone would help me survive each day, surely over time she will come to love me too.”
She lifted her head to the sound of fluttering wings. Birds of all shapes and sizes swooped around the room, as if trying to cheer the girl up with their aerial acrobatics.
From that day on, the birds would answer her call to aid in the grueling tasks the stepmother bestowed the girl and provided nourishing berries to fill her stomach. With their help, the girl grew even more beautiful and kind. This angered the stepmother even more. She decided to be rid of the girl once and for all.
“Sweet daughter, go visit and take care of my grandmother in the woods for three days. Do everything she says and she will reward you. You’ll find her in a hut on hen’s legs. It will make me very happy.”
The girl started into the woods and, to her wonderment, found the hut standing on little hen’s feet facing away from her. She called out, “Little hut, little hut turnabout from the forest and your face to me!”
The hut followed her command and leaned down to let the girl peek into the window. Inside the hut was Baba Yaga the Bony-legged. “Fie, fie,” she said, “I smell a Russian smell! Who is here?” With a wave of her hand the girl was pulled from the window and through the door to stand before Baba Yaga. The girl was shaking in place, but in spite of her fear said very politely, “Grandmother, my stepmother sent me to serve you for three days’ time.”
“Ah a little servant you will be! Satisfy my wishes and I will reward you. If you disobey, I will cook you for dinner.”
Baba Yaga immediately ordered the girl to clean the hut, wash the linen, and cook the dinner. Then she flew out on her mortar and pestle. The girl wept as she tried to call the birds for help, but the hut would not let them in. “Oh if only someone would help me survive each day, surely with my return my stepmother will come to love me.”
As she busied herself washing the linen, tears leaving ripples in the water, a group of mice ran out and said to her, “Young maiden, we have heard your pleas. Give us something to eat and we will help you return to your stepmother.” She gave them hunks of cheese and bread and once they had their fill, the mice went to work. Baba Yaga returned and found all of the girl’s tasks were completed. As a reward, she gave the girl a comb that allowed her hair to grow long and beautiful.
The next day Baba Yaga gave her even more difficult tasks before leaving. She called the mice, fed them more cheese and bread, and went about completing Baba Yaga’s orders. Later the witch returned praising the girl for her work and gave her several beautiful dresses. On the final day, after the girl finished more of Baba Yaga’s many tasks, she eagerly awaited the witch’s return so she could finally make her way home. Looking about the hut, Baba Yaga laughed. “Fie, fie. My little servant has served me well! Take this mirror to your stepmother and keep this pouch for yourself.”
Upon her return from the woods, the girl ran to her stepmother awaiting praise as she gave her the mirror. The stepmother looked into the mirror and saw a horrible beast that spoke aloud her true hatred for the girl. The young maiden gasped, learning the truth. She watched as the ugly beast reached through the mirror and pulled the evil stepmother through the glass, which then fell to the floor, shattering.
Later that evening, the girl’s father returned from his trip and was horrified by what happened in his absence. Together, they looked in the pouch from Baba Yaga to find enough money for both of them to live comfortably for years to come. I also heard the girl found a sweet prince to marry, but that might be the mead talking.