Semén the Warrior earned a high rank and an estate, and married a lord's daughter. His salary was big, and his estate was large, but still he could not make both ends meet: whatever he collected, his wife scattered as though from a sleeve, and they had no money.
Semén the Warrior came to his estate, to collect the revenue. His clerk said to him:
"Where shall it come from? We have neither cattle, nor tools: neither horses, nor cows, nor plough, nor harrow. Everything has to be provided, then there will be an income."
And Semén the Warrior went to his father:
"You are rich, father," he said, "and you have not given me anything. Cut off a third and I will transfer it to my estate."
And the old man said:
"You have brought nothing to my house, why should I give you a third? It will be unfair to Iván and to the girl."
But Semén said:
"But he is a fool, and she is a dumb old maid. What do they need?"
And the old man said: