Wishing-stone Traveller (Wardrop’s Version)

Overview

The protagonist of Wardrop’s “The Good-for-nothing” is an unnamed married man with children. His wife urges him to leave their poverty and find something useful. Beyond the ninth mountain he enters a house occupied by devis, addresses them politely and is welcomed like a younger brother. He shares their meals and easy life. Their comfort depends on a wishing-stone which provides whatever dinner or supper they desire. The narrative assigns him neither a personal name nor a special ancestry: “Wishing-stone Traveller” is a descriptive label for this particular figure, rather than an additional traditional name.

He decides to steal the stone. Whenever he tries to leave, the door creaks an accusation, making him return the object and pretend to sleep. Repeated disturbances finally provoke the devis to tear down their own door and burn it. With that obstacle removed he takes the stone away. The story’s first success therefore depends on abusing hospitality and exploiting the household’s anger. It does not make him the stone’s creator or an appointed guardian of its powers.

On the road he feeds three men in succession. Each exchanges a magical possession for the stone: first a stick that beats a designated person, then a sword capable of beheading a vast army, and finally felt which can restore a severed head and life. He uses the stick to beat each former owner and recovers the wishing-stone every time, retaining all four objects. At home he also uses the stick against his wife before providing a magnificent meal for the children. That violence is part of the historical tale’s resolution of household conflict, not a recommendation about family authority.

The stone eventually makes the household rich. At his wife’s insistence he invites the king, although he fears confiscation. The king demands the stone and sends his army when refused. The traveller directs the sword against the soldiers and the stick against the ruler. When the king begs for mercy, he restores the soldiers with felt and secures peace for his household. The ending preserves his wealth through both destructive and restorative magic. His equipment remains four separate objects with distinct functions; neither the harmless appearance of a stone nor the closing reconciliation erases the coercion and deception by which he obtains and defends them.

Origins & earliest records

Complete Part I, III, The Good-for-nothing, printed pp. 11-15, in Marjory Wardrop’s Georgian Folk Tales (1894). Her preface identifies Part I’s source as Aghniashvili’s Khalkhuri Zghaprebi, Tiflis, 1891.

Records & interpretation

Complete selected English tale, all its notes, and complete preface read from retained original-edition transcription. The earlier Georgian source was not independently consulted; no physical-page or contemporary belief claim.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Georgian Folk Tales

   Marjory Wardrop, translator · 1894

   Part I, III, The Good-for-nothing, pp. 11-15; selected complete historical English narrative and notes, with source attribution from the full preface.

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

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Primary historical folklore translationWardrop, Georgian Folk Tales, retained original English edition transcriptionResearch access: 2026-10-18

Image credits

Portrayal of Wishing-stone Traveller (Wardrop’s Version).

Portrayal selects the adult traveller alone on the road after leaving the devis, holding an ordinary-looking wishing-stone. Stone form, clothing and appearance are imagined. No sword, stick, felt, royal feast or violence from later episodes is imported into this earlier moment.