(A RUSSIAN STORY)
Once upon a time in a certain kingdom there lived a King and a Queen.
They had three sons, who were all young, unmarried, and so brave that no
fairy tale could tell, no pen could write down, how brave they were. The
youngest was called Ivan-the-King's-Son. The King spoke to his children
thus: "My dear children, take each of you an arrow, draw your bow at a
venture, and shoot in various directions. And there, where the arrow
shall fall, go take a wife."
The eldest brother drew his bow at a venture, and the arrow fell on a
nobleman's house, right opposite the women's attic. The second arrow
fell in the yard of a merchant's house, on a flight of steps; and on the
steps stood a beautiful girl, the merchant's daughter. The youngest
brother drew his bow at a venture, and the arrow fell into a dirty
marsh, and a frog caught it.