Kalvis melagis

Blacksmith the Liar) was a Lithuanian-language periodical published by Petras Vileišis and other Lithuanian students in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire, in 1875–1876.

Since the smithy was visited by many people from different places, the blacksmith heard and told news and rumors but would always say that he was a liar and made up stories to avoid any trouble with the police.

According to Brazaitis, Kalvis melagis also published translated excerpts from the poem Pan Tadeusz by Mickiewicz, some political texts, and even prices of grain.

[3] Encouraged by his experience with Kalvis melagis, Vileišis prepared his two main contributions – short story Jonas ir Aniutė and dialogues of the blacksmith – for publication as separate booklets.

[12] The official permit for Jonas ir Aniutė was issued not to Vileišis but to Vladislovas Stulginskis and therefore his initials WS appear on the cover.

She is an orphan and hired help with no dowry, but falls in love with Jonas, a son of a wealthy peasant who worked hard, saved money, and bought himself out of serfdom.

Jonas though illiterate promises to work hard and earn a living for both of them (by, among other things, trading grain he cultivates in present-day Latvia).

[15] The story describes folk customs (e.g. preparations for Christmas, games, songs) as well as praises nature (in particular, rivers Mūša and Lėvuo).

[14] The text was heavily edited from the version that was published in Kalvis melagis (e.g. shortened monologues, reduced number of characters, streamlined the story, changed some names and locations, improved the language).