The Story of Tim

In Short

This narrative follows a young man named Timoney—known as Tim—who is sent away by his parents to learn a trade, only to be apprenticed to a pair of cunning thieves. What follows is a brisk, humorous series of heists and wagers that pit the apprentice’s ingenuity against his masters’ greed. Rooted in the oral tradition of Russian folklore, the story is a masterclass in the "trickster" archetype. It has endured for centuries by offering a satisfying, fast-paced look at how wit can dismantle the schemes of those who believe themselves to be the masters of the world.

The Story

Timoney is a lad of few talents, primarily playing the fife, which his father considers a poor way to earn a living. Seeking to apprentice the boy, his parents encounter two highwaymen disguised as skilled craftsmen. After a brief negotiation, they entrust Tim to the thieves, paying ten roubles for his instruction. The thieves bring Tim to their home in a dense forest, where he is introduced to their sister. Almost immediately, the masters initiate Tim into their profession by taking him to a local monastery.

Under the cover of darkness, Tim displays remarkable aptitude, scaling the roof and breaking into the Archimandrite’s treasury. He helps his masters secure the loot, but he keeps his eyes on a magnificent sable cloak. When his masters demand the cloak for themselves, claiming seniority, Tim refuses. He orchestrates an elaborate ruse: he sneaks into the Archimandrite’s chamber, binds the servant, and wakes the holy man. Posing as the servant, Tim tricks the Archimandrite into adjudicating the dispute, securing the cloak for the "thief who broke in." Impressed by his cleverness, the brothers welcome Tim into their family, and he marries their sister.

Over time, Tim’s wife grows weary of her brothers’ criminal lifestyle and convinces Tim to return to his father’s house. Reluctant to let their protege go, the brothers propose a wager: if they can steal Tim’s pig, he must serve them until he earns them two hundred roubles. If they fail, they must pay him that same sum. Tim accepts. He first hides the pig by getting her drunk and dressing her in a night-gown on the stove. The thieves, terrified by the "snoring" they mistake for Tim’s mother, are initially deterred, but they eventually locate and steal the animal.

Tim pursues them, using his knowledge of their greed and superstition to manipulate them. He creates the phantom sound of a loose horse to lure one brother away, then tricks the other into helping him move the animal, eventually reclaiming his prize. Twice the thieves steal the pig, and twice Tim outwits them. In the final confrontation, Tim hides in a ruined cottage and disguises himself as a demon. When the exhausted thieves arrive to rest, he terrifies them with ghoulish noises and bricks, driving them off in a panic. Having won his wager, Tim secures the two hundred roubles and settles into a respectable, quiet life, leaving his days of thievery behind him.

How It Unfolds

The apprenticeship begins Tim’s father, desperate to see his son trained, pays two highwaymen to take the boy under their wing. The thieves provide the lad with new clothes and prepare him for his first lesson: a daring robbery at the local monastery.

The theft of the cloak While looting the monastery, Tim claims a sable cloak for himself, but his masters object. He cleverly manipulates the sleeping Archimandrite into deciding that the cloak belongs to the one who performed the break-in.

The wager is set Seeking to keep Tim in their service, the brothers-in-law bet that they can steal his prize pig. If they succeed, Tim remains their indentured servant; if they fail, they must pay him a hefty sum of money.

The battle of wits The thieves manage to abscond with the pig, but Tim repeatedly tracks them down. Using psychological manipulation and illusions, he rescues his livestock while convincing the thieves that they are dealing with supernatural forces.

The final payout After a terrifying encounter in a ruined cottage, the thieves are thoroughly demoralized and defeated. Tim collects his winnings, successfully securing his independence and a respectable future.

The People

Timoney, or Tim, is the central figure who evolves from an idle fife-player into a master of psychological warfare. His primary desire is to maintain his independence from his predatory masters. He is defined by his pragmatism and his ability to remain calm under extreme pressure.

The two brothers-in-law represent the established order of the criminal world. They are greedy, arrogant, and prone to underestimating those they consider their inferiors. Their failure stems from their inability to realize that Tim has outgrown his training.

The Archimandrite serves as the unwitting judge of the tale. He is a man of status but is easily manipulated because he is more concerned with his own comfort and sleep than the complexities of justice.

Finally, Tim’s wife acts as the moral anchor of the story. She is the first to recognize that a life of crime is a dead end. Her influence is the catalyst for Tim’s transition from a thief to an independent, "respectable" man.

In Its Own Voice

"The old man thinking that music, however sweet, would never fill the belly, and that it was quite impossible to live on an empty stomach, determined to have the boy taught some trade." The father justifies his decision to apprentice Tim to the thieves, highlighting the practical desperation that drives the plot.

"The Archimandrite imagining that it was his chamberlain who was speaking to him, cried: 'Oh, how tiresome you are! People are sure to dream at night. Pray don't trouble my rest.'" The Archimandrite’s irritation serves as the perfect opening for Tim’s ruse, showing how the powerful are often blinded by their own convenience.

What It's Really About

At its core, this is a story about the transition from youthful aimlessness to self-reliance. It explores the tension between intellectual cunning and brute force, arguing that the sharper mind will always defeat the stronger hand. The book also touches on the cyclical nature of life; Tim’s masters try to bind him to a life of crime, but he uses the very skills they taught him to liberate himself from their control. Underlying the humor is a sharp social commentary on the "respectability" of wealth, suggesting that the line between a successful businessman and a clever thief is often just a matter of perspective and social standing.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the classic structure of the folktale—where the underdog uses wit to humble the powerful—will find this a delightful, punchy read. Its rhythm is quick and irreverent, characteristic of the Russian oral tradition. The prose is clean and direct, devoid of modern sentimentality, making the absurd situations feel grounding and tangible.

It is important to note that the book reflects the period attitudes and the rougher, sometimes darker sensibilities of 19th-century folk translations. You will find no grand existential musings here; instead, you get a story that moves at a breakneck pace, driven by clever dialogue and increasingly frantic encounters. The language is plain, and the stakes are refreshingly domestic: the ownership of a cloak or a pig becomes as consequential as any epic quest. If you are looking for a short, charming, and slightly mischievous diversion, this story offers a window into the timeless human satisfaction of seeing a bully outmaneuvered. It sticks with you not because of its complexity, but because of the sheer, unpretentious joy of watching Tim turn the tables on his arrogant tormentors.