Valery Carrick’s sack-carrying bear is chased away by the old man’s dogs
The bear has delivered the sack containing one of the daughters and flees from the dogs at her father’s home. The illustration shows the return journey’s end rather than the earlier shifting of the shavings. The hidden daughter is not visible.
Overview
The father marks his path to the fields with wood shavings so his daughters can bring bread. A bear moves the shavings onto the route to its den. On successive days, one, two and three rows lead the youngest, middle and eldest daughters astray, and each arrives at the bear’s home. The creature speaks welcomingly and the girls remain there, but the account does not say he marries them, transforms them or consumes them.
The eldest arranges successive deliveries of supposed pies to their father, hiding each sister and finally herself in a sack. Each concealed girl forbids the bear to stop or eat; he mistakes the near voice for the eldest watching him from afar. At their father’s courtyard, dogs drive him away and he abandons each sack. The final attack sends him back to the forest, and father and daughters are reunited. His mistaken belief in the girl’s distant perception does not give her an actual supernatural sight-power, and the bear’s flight does not become a death scene.
Origins & earliest records
More Russian Picture Tales: The Bear and the Old Man’s Daughters, printed pp. 73–85, with following illustration on 86. Valery Carrick, translated by Nevill Forbes; selected undated title with copyright 1914 and 1920. No actual narrator or collecting locality supplied.
Records & interpretation
The complete selected illustrated English tale supplies the figure’s actions. Its title names Carrick and translator Nevill Forbes, while the copyright notice lists 1914 and 1920. No named oral narrator, collecting site or independently collated Russian original is provided here.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
More Russian Picture Tales: The Bear and the Old Man’s Daughters, pp. 73–85
Complete tale through all three sack journeys and family reunion; no bear marriage or killing supplied.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
References
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- Primary textCarrick/Forbes: The Bear and the Old Man’s DaughtersResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationValery Carrick’s sack-carrying bear is chased away by the old man’s dogs
The bear has delivered the sack containing one of the daughters and flees from the dogs at her father’s home. The illustration shows the return journey’s end rather than the earlier shifting of the shavings. The hidden daughter is not visible.
