BABAYAGA

Some hours later she woke up and said to Vasilisa.
‘Now you must separate the mildewed corn from the good corn in this big pile. I shall be back to inspect your work in the morning, and if it is not done you will be my feast.’ And so saying she heaved herself onto her broomstick and flew off into the night sky.

Vasilisa turned to her doll in despair and said,
‘However shall I do all this in time ?,’ The doll assured her that she could and she should do as much as she could and then sleep. Vasilisa gave the doll some of her meagre crust of bread and did as she had been told though she only managed to separate a very small portion of the corn. Then, feeling rather frightened, she went to sleep.

n the morning Vasilisa found that the doll had done all the work and so when Babayaga returned she could not find anything undone. She was both pleased and a little grumpy for she could find nothing to complain about, however she sneered at Vasilisa and said...