The Legend of the Firebird
The Firebird
Tsarevich Ivan pursues the brilliant Firebird through
faraway lands. The magical Firebird presents herself on an apple tree
to Ivan. He seizes her tail, but is unable to catch her. In the
struggle, Ivan keeps a single feather.
Once upon a time a very long time ago there was an
orphan girl named Maryushka. She was a quiet, modest, and gentle
maiden. None could embroider as beautifully as she. She worked with
colored silks and glass beads, making for one, a shirt, for another, a
towel, or a pretty sash. And she was always content with the money she
received, however small.
The fame of her skill reached the ears of merchants
beyond the seas. From near and far they came to see her marvelous work.
They gazed and were amazed, for they never thought to find anything so
beautiful. One after another, they tried to persuade Maryushka to come
away with them, promising her riches and glory. But she would only
lower her eyes and reply modestly: "Riches I do not need and I shall
never leave the village where I was born. but of course I will sell my
work to all who find it beautiful." And with that, although they were
disappointed, the merchants had to be content. They left, spreading the
story of her skill to the ends of the earth, until one day it reached
the ear of the evil sorcerer Kaschei the Immortal, who raged to learn
that there was such beauty in the world which he had never seen.
So he took the form of a handsome youth and flew over
the deep oceans, the tall mountains and the impassable forests until he
came to Maryushka's cottage.
He knocked at the door and bowed low to her, as was the
custom. Then he asked to see the needlework she had completed.
Maryushka set out shirts, towels, handkerchiefs and veils, each more
beautiful than the other. "Kind sir," said she, "whatever pleases you,
you may take. If you have no money with you, you may pay me later, when
you have money to spare. And if my work should not find favor in your
eyes, please counsel me and tell me what to do, and I shall try my
best."
Her kind words and the sight of all that beauty made
Kaschei even angrier. How could it be that a simple country girl could
fashion finer things than he, the great Kaschei the Immortal, himself
possessed. And he took his most cunning tones and he said:
Come with me, Maryushka, and I will make you Queen. You
will live in a palace built of precious jewels. You will eat off gold
and sleep on eiderdown. You will walk in an orchard where birds of
paradise sing sweet songs, and golden apples grow.
"Do not speak so," answered Maryushka. "I need neither
your riches or your strange marvels. There is nothing sweeter than the
fields and woods where one was born. Never shall I leave this village
where my parents lie buried and where live those to whom my needlework
brings joy. I shall never embroider for you alone."
Kaschei was furious at this answer. His face grew dark
and he cried, "Because you are so loath to leave your kindred, a bird
you shall be, and no more a maiden fair."
And in an instant a Firebird flapped its wings where
Maryushka had stood. Kaschei became a great black Falcon and soared the
skies to swoop down on the Firebird. Grasping her tight in his cruel
talons, he carried her high above the clouds.
As soon as Maryushka felt the power in those steel
claws and realized she was being taken away, she resolved to leave one
last memory of herself.
She shed her brilliant plumage and feather after
feather floated down on meadow and forest. The mischievous wind covered
the feathers with grass and leaves, but nothing could rob them of their
brilliant, glowing rainbow colors.
As the feathers fell, Maryushka's strength ebbed. And
although the Firebird died in the black Falcon's talons, her feathers
continued to live, down on the ground. They were not ordinary feathers,
but magic ones that only those who loved beauty and who sought to make
beauty for others could see and admire.
RUSSIAN LEGEND
From "Land of the Firebird," by Suzanne Maisie
Wrestling season preview: Phoenix Wrestlers too Strong for Division Two foes
Phoenix wrestling coach Gene Mills isn't pleased.
Despite winning the Onondaga League Freedom Division and the Section
III Division Two team title last winter, the powerful Firebirds were
removed from the rugged OHSL Freedom Division and are now competing in
the smaller-school OHSL Liberty Division.
Defending Section III dual-meet champion Phoenix is far too strong for all the teams in that division.
"It's a huge waste of time for us and also for the teams we've got
to wrestle," Mills said. "The good news is, this will only last for one
year. I've already heard we'll be moved up to a larger division next
year."
Phoenix, winner of the last two Section III dual-meet tournaments,
opened action in the OHSL Liberty with wins over Skaneateles (78-0) and
Jordan-Elbridge (78-5). J-E received its five points via a forfeited
match.
Phoenix features the talents of 125-pound Kyle Crisafulli, owner of
a 166-14 career record. Crisafulli, who has placed first, second and
second again in three treks to the state meet, is looking to wrestle in
college next year, possibly at West Virginia.
Among the other talented Firebirds who will contend for sectional
Division Two individual titles are Nate Bray (96), Nick Tighe (112),
Rowdy Prior (130), Seth Allen (140), Tyler Button (145), Caleb Wallace
(160), Austyn Hayes (171) and Jack Yaes (215).
Phoenix opened its season by scoring 325 points at the 19-school
Webster Tournament, finishing second by two points to Union-Endicott.
Here's a capsule look at the top teams in the CNYCL and Onondaga Leagues: