ther house. The same condition of
affairs existed between the men. They lived more like one family, the
one dividing his possessions with the other, and perfect harmony reigned
between the two families.

If a stray calf or cow invaded the garden of one of the farmers, the
other willingly drove it away, saying: "Be careful, neighbor, that your
stock does not again stray into my garden; we should put a fence up."
In the same way they had no secrets from each other. The doors of their
houses and barns had neither bolts nor locks, so sure were they of
each other's honesty. Not a shadow of suspicion darkened their daily
intercourse.

Thus lived the old people.

In time the younger members of the two households started farming. It
soon became apparent that they would not get along as peacefully as the
old people had done, for they began quarrelling without the slightest
provocation.

A hen belonging to Ivan's daughter-in-law commenced laying eggs, which
the young woman collected each morning, intending to keep them for the
Easter holidays. She made daily visits to the barn, where, under an old
wagon, she was sure to find the precious egg.

One day the children frightened the hen and she flew over their
neighbor's fence and laid her egg in their garden.

Ivan's daughter-in-law heard the hen cackling, but said: "I am very busy
just at present, for this is the eve of a holy day, and I must clean and
arrange this room. I will go for the egg later on."

When evening came, and she had finished her task, she went to the barn,
and as usual looked under the old wagon, expecting to find an egg. But,
alas! no egg was visible in the accustomed place.

Greatly disappointed, she returned to the house and inquired of her
mother-in-law and the other members of the family if they had taken it.
"No," they said, "we know nothing of it."

Taraska, the youngest brother-in-law, coming in soon after, she also
inquired of him if he knew anything about the missing egg. "Yes,"
he replied; "your pretty, crested hen laid her egg in our neighbors'
garden, and after she had finished cackling she flew back again over the
fence."

The young woman, greatly surprised on hearing this, turned and looked
long and seriously at the hen, which was sitting with closed eyes beside
the rooster in the chimney-corner. She asked the hen where it laid the
egg. At the sound of her voice it simply opened and closed its eyes, but
could make no answer.

She the