Old World Landowners Summary

This story starts out about an old couple, Afanasy Ivanovich and his wife Pulkheria Ivanovna. They are a very quiet couple who keep to themselves. The most remarkable thing about their house is that the doors sing. As soon as the sun comes up each door sings its own distinctive song. The old couple has many serf girls and stewards on the farmstead who do most of the laborious jobs. The old couple oversees and manages the farm. There are many fruits—melons, pears, berries—raised on the farm. The old couple, especially Afanasy, eats many meals throughout the day served to them by the serf girls. Afanasy likes to tease his wife. He "pokes fun at her" by wanting to know what they would do of their house burned down.

Pulkheria has a favorite gray pet...