Ilyas

There once lived, in the Government of Oufa a Bashkir named Ilyas.

His father, who died a year after he had found his son a wife, did not leave him much property.

Ilyas then had only seven mares, two cows, and about a score of sheep.

He was a good manager, however, and soon began to acquire more.

He and his wife worked from morn till night; rising earlier than others and going later to bed; and his possessions increased year by year.

Living in this way, Ilyas little by little acquired great wealth.

At the end of thirty-five years he had 200 horses, 150 head of cattle, and 1,200 sheep.