Once, in a small village in Russia, there lived a tailor who was very poor. But he felt he had the wealth of the world because he had a devoted wife who always praised him and spoke loving words to him.

The tailor wished for nothing more than to make her happy. And so he toiled day and night making clothing, in the hope of earning enough money to buy lovely gifts for her.1

One day, while making a woman's coat and matching hat, the tailor had a joyful thought. When he finished the clothes, he showed them to his wife. "For you," he said.

"For me? For me, Josef? They are too fine for me. They are fit for the wife of the tsar2, not me."

Josef took his wife's hand into his and said, "Svetlana, my love, nothing is too fine for you. But I shall listen to your wisdom. I shall take them to the tsar for his wife. Then, upon my return, I shall make a coat and hat for you exactly to your bidding."3

And so Josef placed the coat and hat in a large clean cloth, mounted his horse, and rode many miles to the tsar's palace. He arrived tired, but jubilant in the thought that he had the finest gift in the land for the tsarina.4

He approached the guard at the gate to the palace grounds. "I have a handmade coat and hat for the tsar's wife, and I wish entry, please," Josef said.

"A gift for the tsarina?" With a greedy look in his eye, the guard said, "Remain here, I will deliver it for you."

"I need to deliver it myself to determine if she'll need any changes," Josef replied, surprised at his own daring5.

The guard thought for a moment, then said, "Very well. I will let you pass. But you must know that whoever gives the tsar a gift will be granted one wish, and I want one-third of whatever the tsar gives you."6

Reluctantly, Josef agreed. "I shall give you one-third of whatever the tsar gives me." Then he continued on his way to the palace. He went past the orchard in full bloom and past the field of growing vegetables. Suddenly a second guard approached him.

"Stop," ordered the guard. "What is in that package?"

"A handmade coat and hat for the tsarina," replied Josef.

The guard eyed the valuable parcel. "You need not go farther. I shall deliver itfor you. You may stay here and wait."

"I wish to deliver it myself." Josef spoke more sternly than he had ever dared speak to anyone.7

The guard paused in thought. "Surely you know that whoever gives the tsar a gift will be granted one wish. I will let you deliver it, but I want one-third of whatever the tsar gives you."

Josef sighed. "I promise to give you that." Then he continued past the stables, past the meadow filled with grazing horses, cows, and bulls, past the chicken house. At last he was near the palace doors. But before he could enter, he was met by a third guard.

"And where do you think you are going?" said the guard.

"I am going to see the tsar," replied Josef. "I have a handmade coat and hat forthe tsarina."

The guard smiled greedily. "I am the chief guard. I'll be happy to deliver them for you."

"I must deliver them myself," Josef said firmly. "The tsarina may need changes made."

Sensing Josef's determination, the guard said, "I will permit you to do that. But you may know that the tsar offers one wish to the giver of a gift, and if I let you enter the palace, I want one-third of whatever the tsar gives you."

Josef had expected this reply. He nodded, for he now had a plan. "You shall have one-third."

At last Josef entered the palace and presented his gift to the gracious tsarina.As she tried on the new coat and hat, the tsar looked on admiringly.8

"Thank you, Josef," the tsarina said. "This is a most elegant coat and hat. They fit me well. I shall wear them with pride."

The tsar turned to Josef and said, "What fine gifts you have made for my tsarina. As thanks, I will grant any request you make."

Josef had already decided what he would wish for. "I appreciate your generosity,my lord," said Josef. "I wish for ninety-nine hours of hard labor picking fruit in the orchards and vegetables from the garden, feeding the animals, grooming the horses, milking the cows, gathering eggs, and plowing the land. Ninety-nine hours of hard labor ?nbsp;no less, no more."9

The tsar was astonished. He asked, "why would anyone make such a request?"

"Your majesty, the wish is not for me alone," said Josef. "I promised to give each of the three guards one-third of my wish, and I always keep my promises."

A broad smile spread over the face of the tsar. "Your wish will be granted. And since you possess intelligence as well as skill, from now on you shall be known as the Tailor of the Tsar."

"Tailor of the Tsar! I? Thank you, my lord," Josef said humbly. And in his mind he began composing the words he would use to tell his beloved Svetlana about their unbelievable good fortune.

1． 所以他辛辛苦苦地从早到晚赶做衣服，希望挣到足够的钱为她买漂亮的礼物。toil: 辛勤劳动。

2． tsar: =czar, 沙皇。

3． 然后我一回来就按你的吩咐为你做上衣和帽子。bidding: 要求。

4． 他到王宫时已经很累了，但是想到自己为皇后送来了全国最漂亮的礼物，就感到欢欣鼓舞。jubilant: 欢欣的，喜气洋洋的；tsarina: =czarina, 沙皇皇后。

5．对自己的大胆感到惊讶。daring: 大胆；冒险精神。

6． 但是你必须知道沙皇会满足所有送他礼物的人的一个愿望，不论国王给了你什么，我都要三分之一。

7． 约瑟夫的语气更加严厉了，他还从没敢这样对人说过话。

8． 约瑟夫终于进入宫中把礼物送给仁慈的皇后。当皇后试新衣帽时，沙皇赞赏地望着她。

9． “我希望得到99小时的苦役，包括在果园摘果子，菜园里拔菜，喂动物，照料马，给牛挤奶，捡鸡蛋还有犁地。99小时的苦役——不多也不少。”hard labor: 苦工，苦役。