In the house of Baba Yaga

Vasilissa followed the witch into the strange hut. There she prepared the evil one’s meal, bringing food from the oven. The witch consumed enough for ten, eating everything except a little cabbage, pork rind, and a bread crust and drinking all the beer and wine. Then the witch got ready for sleep, but she demanded that Vasilissa fulfill many tasks in the day to come. The house should be cleaned, the yard swept, the washing done, and the next day’s meals prepared. “And clean the husks from the wheat in the bin. Leave no chaff. See that you do everything,” she warned, “or I’ll eat you up!”

When the witch began to snore, Vasilissa took what scraps of food she had and prepared a meal for the small doll. Then she poured her troubles into the little one’s ear. “Help me,” she begged.

"Eat your supper," said the doll. “Rest. Never fear. Say your prayers and sleep. Morning is wiser than night.”

So Vasilissa slept. In the morning, when she rose, she saw that the light from the skulls was growing dim. Then the white horseman passed by and the new dawn began. Then the red horseman came and the sun rose. Baba Yaga climbed into her mortar and, using her pestle, drove herself out of the glade. The witch swept aside all traces of her passing with her broom.

Now Vasilissa turned to begin her daunting tasks. But lo! Everything was already accomplished. Even the wheat had been perfectly cleaned. All she had to do was cook dinner.

That evening Baba Yaga returned. The hag was annoyed that everything was accomplished so well, but she had nothing to complain about and no fair excuse to eat the girl. The witch took the wheat and summoned her servants to grind it. Three pairs of hands appeared and took the wheat away. “Stay one more day,” said the crone. “Do all that you did today once more, but this time you must also clean the poppy seeds that are in the bin. Some spiteful soul cast dirt in there. You must dust each grain.”