Question

ONCE upon a time there lived in the north country a certain poor man and his wife, who had two cornfields, three cows, five sheep, and thirteen children. Twelve of these children were called by names common in the north country–Hardhead, Stiffneck, Tightfingers, and the like; but when the thirteenth came to be named, either the poor man and his wife could remember no other name, or something in the child's look made them think it proper, for they called him Merrymind, which the neighbors thought a strange name, and very much above their station: however, as they showed no other signs of pride, the neighbors let that pass. Their thirteen children grew taller and stronger every year, and they had hard work to keep them in bread; but when the youngest was old enough to look after his father's sheep, there happened the great fair, to which everybody in the north country went, because it came only once in seven years. It was held on midsummer day,–not in any town or village, but on a green plain, lying between a broad river and a high hill, where it was said the fairies used to dance in old and merry times. "Merchants and dealers of all sorts crowded to that fair from far and near. There was nothing known in the north country that could not be bought or sold in it, and neither old nor young were willing to go home without a fairing. The poor man who owned this large family could afford them little to spend in such ways; but as the fair happened only once in seven years, he would not show a poor spirit. Therefore, calling them about him, he opened the leathern bag in which his savings were stored, and gave every one of the thirteen a silver penny. "The boys and girls had never before owned so much pocket-money; and, wondering what they should buy, they dressed themselves in their holiday clothes, and set out with their father and mother to the fair. When they came near the ground that midsummer morning, the stalls, heaped up with all manner of merchandise, from ginger-bread upwards, the tents for fun and feasting, the puppet shows, the rope dancers, and the crowd of neighbors and strangers, all in their best attire, made those simple people think their north country fair the finest sight in the world. The day wore away in seeing wonders, and in chatting with old friends. It was surprising how far silver pennies went in those days; but before evening twelve of the thirteen had got fairly rid of their money. One bought a pair of brass buckles, another a crimson riband, a third green garters; the father bought a tobacco-pipe, the mother a horn snuffbox–in short, all had provided themselves with fairings except Merrymind. "The cause of the silver penny remaining in his pocket was that he had set his heart upon a fiddle; and fiddles enough there were in the fair–small and large, plain and painted: he looked at and priced the most of them, but there was not one that came within the compass of a silver penny. His father and mother warned him to make haste with his purchase, for they must all go home at sunset because the way was long. "The sun was getting low and red upon the hill, the fair was growing thin, for many dealers had packed up their stalls and departed; but there was a mossy hollow in the great hill-side, to which the outskirts of the fair had reached, and Merrymind thought he would see what might be there. The first thing was a stall of fiddles, kept by a young merchant from a far country, who had many customers, his goods being fine and new; but hard by sat a little gray-haired man, at whom everybody had laughed that day, because he had nothing on his stall but one old dingy fiddle, and all its strings were broken. Nevertheless, the little man sat as stately, and cried, 'Fiddles to sell!' as if he had the best stall in the fair.

Answer 1

Давным-давно в северной стране жил некий бедный человек и его жена,у которых было два кукурузных поля,три коровы,пять овец и тринадцать детей. Двенадцать из них были названы именами,принятыми в этой стране: Болван,Кривошея,Скупой и т.п.;но когда пришло время дать имя тринадцатому ребёнку,бедный человек с женой не могли придумать другого имени или же что-то в самом взгляде ребёнка заставило их думать так,но назвали они его Весельчаком,имя которого соседи посчитали очень странным,но,не видя каких-либо других проявлений гордости,успокоились. Их тринадцатый ребёнок с каждым годом становился выше и сильнее,и они вынуждены были усердно работать,чтобы всех прокормить;но когда самый младший ребёнок достаточно вырос,чтобы следить за овцой отца,случилась большая ярмарка,на которую пришли все,кто жил в северной стране,поскольку происходит она раз в семь лет. Проходила она в разгар лета,не в городе и не в деревне,а на зелёной равнине,лежащей между широкой рекой и высоким холмом,где,как ходили слухи,в старые весёлые времени танцевали феи. 

Торговцы и купцы всех сортов отовсюду съехались на эту ярмарку. И не было в северной стране ничего,что бы не могло быть куплено или продано на этой ярмарке,ни старый,ни малый не соглашались уйти домой без покупки. Бедный человек,бывший хозяином в этой семье,не мог предоставить им много денег,чтобы так тратиться; но поскольку эта ярмарка происходила раз в семь лет,он не хотел показывать свою бедность. Потому,созвав всех своих,он открыл кожаную сумку,в которой хранил все свои сбережения и дал каждому из тринадцати серебряный пенс.

Мальчики и девочки до того момента никогда не имели сразу столько карманных денег; подумав,что бы они хотели купить,оделись в праздничные одежды и отправились с отцом и матерью на ярмарку. Когда они подошли ближе,это утро в разгаре лета,палатки,заваленные всевозможными товарами,вплоть до имбирных пряников,палатки для веселья и пира,шоу марионеток,канатоходцы и толпа соседей и чужаков,одетых в лучшие одеяния -- всё заставило этих примитивных людей думать,что ярмарка в их северной стране -- это лучшее место на земле. День прошёл в наблюдении чудес и общении со старыми друзьями. Удивительно,как быстро в те дни тратились пенсы;до наступления вечера 12 из 13 человек избавились от своих денег. Один купил пару медных пряжек,другой -- красную ленту,третий -- зелёные подвязки; отец купил курительную трубку,мать -- табакерку из рога,короче говоря,все обеспечили себя подарками,кроме Весельчака.

Причиной,по которой серебряный пенс остался в кармане,стало его влечение к скрипке;скрипок на ярмарке было достаточно -- маленьких и больших,простых и расписных: он присматривался и оценивал их,но не было той,которая бы стоила примерно пенс. Его отец и мать попросили поторопиться с покупкой,поскольку домой они должны были прийти до захода солнца: путь неблизок.

Солнце садилось,отбрасывая красный отблеск на холм,ярмарка собиралась,многие купцы свёртывали палатки и уезжали,но в большом холме была мшистая пустота,которой достигли окраины ярмарки; Весельчак подумал,что хочет увидеть,что здесь есть. Первым,что он увидел,была палатка со скрипками,хозяином которой был молодой торговец из дальних стран,у которого было множество покупателей,его товары были хороши и новы; но трудно было маленькому седому человеку,над которым в этот день все смеялись: на его прилавке не было ничего,кроме тёмной старой скрипки с порванными струнами. Тем не менее он величественно сидел и кричал:"Продаётся скрипка!",как будто бы его  палатка была лучшей на ярмарке.

Answer 2

ting low, and Merrymind was still lingering near a stall where fiddles were displayed, when a queer-looking man, who had stood beside him for some time, and observed how wistfully he gazed on the fiddles, said, 'I see you are in want of a fiddle, my lad.'

"'Yes,' replied Merrymind; 'but I have only a silver penny, and there's none here that I can buy with that.'

"'Well,' said the queer-looking man, 'I have a fiddle which I will sell you for that silver penny.'

"Merrymind's eyes sparkled with delight. He thought this a wonderful chance, and eagerly agreed to the bargain. The queer-looking man handed him a small fiddle, saying, 'Take this, and mind you keep it safe. But remember, it is not like any other fiddle. When you play on it, you will find yourself playing to the best dancers in the world, and they will dance whether they will or no. But you must be cautious. Play merrily, but never play more than three tunes in succession, and when you wish the dancers to stop, you must break the fiddle-string.'

"Merrymind was overjoyed, and without further ado, he handed over his silver penny and received the fiddle. The queer-looking man disappeared into the crowd, leaving Merrymind holding the magical instrument.

"As the sun set, Merrymind's family gathered, and they started their journey back home. Merrymind was so excited about his new fiddle that he could hardly wait to try it out. When they reached a quiet spot on the way, he took out the fiddle and began to play. Instantly, a strange thing happened. His family, along with several passersby, were compelled to dance. They danced with such energy and enthusiasm that they couldn't stop, even if they wanted to.

"Merrymind played on, and the dancers followed his music, their movements growing more frantic. He remembered the warning to play no more than three tunes in succession, so after three lively tunes, he quickly snapped one of the fiddle-strings. The dancers came to a sudden halt, looking a bit dazed and confused.

"'What happened?' asked Merrymind's father, panting and trying to catch his breath.

"'I think I played too much,' Merrymind replied, slightly out of breath himself. 'But that was amazing! This fiddle is magical!'

"The family continued their journey home, talking and laughing about the strange dancing episode. Merrymind felt thrilled with his new fiddle, and he couldn't wait to play it again.

"From that day on, Merrymind became known as the best fiddler in the north country. He played at weddings, fairs, and festivals, and wherever he played, people couldn't help but dance to his tunes. He followed the advice of the queer-looking man and never played more than three tunes in a row, always breaking a fiddle-string to stop the dancing.

"And so, Merrymind's fame grew, and he lived a life filled with music, merriment, and the joy of sharing his magical fiddle with the world."

And so ends the tale of Merrymind and his enchanted fiddle, a story of unexpected encounters, magical gifts, and the power of music to bring happiness and laughter to all who hear it.