There was a man who had three sons and had no other assets than the house in which he lived. Now each would have liked to have had the house after his death, but the father was as fond of each other as he knew He didn't know how to start, that he didn't offend anyone, and he didn't want to sell the house because it belonged to his ancestors, otherwise he would have divided the money between them "Go out into the world and try yourselves and learn your trades, and when you come back, whoever makes the best masterpiece should have the house."

The sons were content, and the eldest wanted to be a blacksmith, the second a barber, and the third a fencing master. Then they determined a time when they would come home together again, and went on their way. It also happened that everyone found a competent master where he learned something righteous. The blacksmith had to shoe the king's horses and thought, "Now you can't go wrong, you'll get the house." The fencing master received many a blow, but clenched his teeth and didn't let it bother him, because he thought to himself, "If you're afraid of a blow, you'll never get the house again." When the appointed time was up, they came to theirs father back together; but not knowing how to find the best opportunity to show their art, they sat together and took counsel. As they sat there, a hare came running across the field. "Hey," said the barber, "he's right on cue," took basin and soap, foamed until the hare came close, then he lathered it in full, and also shaved a little goatee for him in full , and he did not cut him or hurt his hair. "I like that," said the father, "if the others don't attack each other violently, the house is yours." It wasn't long before a gentleman came running in a carriage, rushing at full speed. "Now you shall see, father, what I can do," said the blacksmith, sprang after the carriage, tore the four horseshoes off the horse, which was chasing incessantly, and hammered four new ones on while he was chasing. "You're quite a fellow," said the father, "you do your things as well as your brother; I don't know who to give the house to." Then the third said, "Father, let me have my way, too," and because it began to rain, he drew his sword and waved it in cross blows over his head so that not a drop fell on it fell: and when the rain grew heavier, and finally so heavy as if one were pouring buckets from the sky, he swung his sword faster and faster and stayed as dry as if he were under a roof. When the father saw this, he was amazed and said, "You have made the best masterpiece, the house is yours."

The other two brothers were satisfied, as they had previously vowed, and because they loved each other so much, the three of them stayed in the house together, and went about their trades; and having learned so well and being so skillful, they made much money. So they lived happily together until they were old, and when one fell ill and died, the other two grieved so much that they also fell ill and soon died. Then, because they had been so skilful and had loved each other so much, all three were laid in one grave together.