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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
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