Büchok – the Pitch Barrel Bull – A Russian Folk Tale about Cunning and Reward

Summary

In the tale "Büchok – the Pitch Barrel Bull," a grandfather and grandmother create a straw bull, which is covered in pitch to make it strong. The grandmother takes it out to graze in the field, and while she falls asleep, a bear, a wolf, and a fox come to it. All three animals get stuck to the pitch-covered bull, and the grandmother calls the grandfather for help. The grandfather locks the animals in the cellar. Later, while sitting by the cellar, he wonders how he can use their skins for useful things. However, the bear, wolf, and fox beg him to release them, promising rewards. They keep their promises, and the grandparents receive generous gifts for their kindness.

The Tale

Once upon a time, there was an old grandfather and grandmother. One day, the grandmother said to the grandfather:

“Make me, old man, a straw bull!”

“What do you need a bull for?” – asked the grandfather, surprised.

“Just make it, and you'll see!” – replied the grandmother.

The grandfather didn’t think for long and created a straw bull. To make it strong, he covered it with pitch. And thus, the bull appeared, strong and beautiful to look at.

The next morning, the grandmother took the bull and went to graze him in the field. She took her spinning wheel to make good use of her time and began spinning while keeping an eye on the bull. The sun was hot, and the grandmother became tired and fell asleep. Meanwhile, a bear came out of the forest, saw the bull, and approached it.

“Who are you?” – asked the bear.

“I am Büchok – the Pitch Barrel Bull!” – replied the bull.

The bear grabbed the bull, and he stuck to the pitch-covered bull. The grandmother woke up from the noise and shouted:

“Grandfather, grandfather, run quickly, our bull has caught a real bear!”

The grandfather ran quickly, grabbed the bear, and locked him in the cellar.

The next morning, the grandmother took the bull again and went out to graze him in the field. She sat spinning when suddenly a wolf came out of the forest and ran up to the bull.

“Who are you?” – asked the wolf.

“I am Büchok – the Pitch Barrel Bull!” – replied the bull.

The wolf grabbed the bull, and he too got stuck to the pitch barrel. The grandmother shouted again:

“Grandfather, grandfather, run quickly, our bull has caught a wolf!”

The grandfather came and locked the wolf in the cellar as well.

On the third day, the grandmother sat with the bull in the field again. A fox came and approached the bull:

“Who are you?” – asked the fox.

“I am Büchok – the Pitch Barrel Bull!” – replied the bull.

The fox, like the other animals, got stuck to the pitch barrel. The grandmother shouted once more:

“Grandfather, our bull has caught the fox!”

The grandfather came, grabbed the fox, and locked it in the cellar.

The old man sat by the cellar and thought aloud:

“My wife is clever indeed. Now we have a whole cellar full of animals! I wonder if I could make a nice warm coat out of the bear!”

The bear heard these words, got scared that it would be turned into a fur coat, and began begging the grandfather:

“Be merciful, grandfather, let me go back to my family in the forest. I will be grateful to you and bring you a whole barrel of honey tomorrow!”

“Won’t you deceive me, clumsy bear?” – asked the grandfather.

“I won’t deceive you!” – replied the bear.

The grandfather let the bear go and continued thinking:

“A fine fur coat could be made from the wolf!”

The wolf, hearing this, also begged for mercy:

“Be merciful, grandfather, let me go, and I will bring you two sheep!”

“Won’t you deceive me, grey wolf?” – asked the grandfather.

“I won’t deceive you!” – replied the wolf.

The grandfather let the wolf go and said further:

“The fox is clever and soft, a fine collar for my wife could be made from it!”

The fox also begged for mercy and promised to bring geese, ducks, and chickens.

“Won’t you deceive me, red fox?” – asked the grandfather.

“I won’t deceive you!” – replied the fox.

The grandfather let the fox go.

The next morning, just as it was getting light, there was a knock at the door. The grandfather opened it, and there stood the bear with a barrel of honey, the wolf with the sheep, and the fox with geese, ducks, and chickens. The grandfather and grandmother were very pleased and never again suffered from hunger.

Lesson

The tale teaches us that good deeds are always rewarded. Even from cunning and deception, something good can come if we respond with kindness and wisdom.

Questions about the Tale

• Why did the grandfather release the bear, the wolf, and the fox?
• What promise did the animals make in return for their freedom?
• What lesson can we learn from this tale?