1. A priest hires a worker named Big Dick to work on his farm for three flicks on the forehead per year as payment. 2. When the payment is due, the priest tries to get out of it by giving Big Dick an impossible task to collect rent from devils. 3. However, Big Dick outsmarts the devils and collects a sack of gold as the rent. He then demands payment from the priest, who is terrified of receiving the three flicks. The flicks leave the priest stunned and senseless.

1. Big Dick

2. Once upon a time there lived a priest

3. which was the finished skinflint.

4. The priest had gone to market to search
for some wares.

5. He met Big Dick there, who went where
his fancy took him.

6. "Why, father, have you got up so early?

7. What are you looking for?"

8. The Priest said to him in reply:

9. "I need a hand - the jack of all trades.

10. But where could I find such worker at a
reasonable price?"

11. Big Dick said: "I shall serve you splendidly,
diligently

12. and properly for three flicks a year on
your forehead,

13. by the way, I shall eat the boiled spelt".

14. The priest had become thoughtful,

15. he began to keep scratching his forehead.

16. After all, there is a flick and a flick.

17. However he had made up his mind to
take a risk.

18. The priest said in reply to the worker:

19. " Agreed! It will not be unprofitable for
both of us.

20. Just live for a while at my farmstead

21. and show me both your zeal and agility".

22. And so the worker lived at the priest
home.

23. He slept the sleep of the just on straw.

24. He ate as much as four men did,

25. but he worked for seven ones to fill in.

26. By daylight he already had all things
coming right.

27. He would harness a horse and plough a
field,

28. heat the stove, buy up all and stock up
with everything,

29. boil an egg and then peel it, cook
porridge and mind a baby.

30. The priest's wife could not praise Big Dick
enough,

31. the priest's daughter merely longed for
him,

32. at the same time by the priest's son he
was called Daddy.

33. Only the priest, thinking quite often of
payment,

34. did not like the worker and never said a
good word to him.

35. The time went by and the due date

36. was already round the corner.

37. The priest neither ate nor drank, nor
slept at night.

38. His forehead was cracking in advance.

39. At last he admitted all of this frankly to
his wife:

40. "So and so, what have to be done? I am
at a loss!"

41. Female wits are very ingenious

42. and capable of all sorts of tricks.

43. His wife said: "I know a way

44. how to remove such disaster from us:

45. give an order to the worker which he
could not exactly fulfill.

46. It will save your forehead from
punishment

47. and leave Big Dick without his payment".

48. It became a bit more cheerful at the
priest's heart

49. and he began to look at his worker rather
bravely.

50. Then he called out, "Come here,

51. my faithful manservant Big Dick.

52. Listen to me: devils are obliged to pay me

53. a rent for the duration of all my life.

54. It could not be found better income than
that

55. but there are arrears for three years on
them.

56. As soon as you'll fill yourself with your
spelt

57. then collect their debt in full".

58. Without arguing in vain with the priest

59. his worker went and sat by the sea.

60. He began twisting a rope and wetting its
end in the water.

61. There and then the old devil had got out
of the sea:

62. "Big Dick, why have you, bastard, come
here?"

63. -"You know, I wish to wrinkle the sea with
the rope

64. so that you, cursed tribe, to have cramps
in pain".

65. The old devil had become gloomy.

66. "Tell me, why such disfavor?"

67. -"How do you mean? You do not pay your
rent.

68. Just you wait! I'll get you dogs yet!"

69. "Big Dick, please stop wrinkling the sea.

70. You will receive the rent in full soon.

71. Wait a bit, I will send my grandson to
you".

72. The worker thought to himself:

73. "To cheat that one, it's a piece of cake!"

74. The messenger imp had come up

75. and began to mew like a hungry kitten:

76. "Hail, Big Dick! What on earth the rent do
you wish?

77. We have not ever heard of any rent,

78. there was never such grief for us devils.

79. Well, so it be - take it, but on condition
that

80. you will overtake me in the run round the
sea."

81. The worker had given a laugh craftily:

82. "What really are you up to?

83. How can such one like you compete with
me the very Big Dick?

84. What a competitor they have sent!

85. Just wait for my younger brother."

86. The worker headed for the nearest
woods,

87. there he caught two hares and put them
into his bag.

88. He came to the sea again, by the sea he
met the imp.

89. Big Dick held up one hare by its ears:

90. "Imp, you are too young and

91. weak as water to compete with me,

92. it's just the waste of time.

93. At first overtake my brother. Ready,
steady, go!"

94. The imp and a hare had started running:

95. the imp ran along the coast of sea,

96. still the other ran home into the forest.

97. And so having run around the sea,

98. with its tongue hanging out,

99. lifting up its muzzle the imp had come
running,

100. being out of breath and all wet from
head to hooves,

101. with its paw wiping its forehead

102. and thinking to itself: it's in the bag.

103. Lo and behold - Big Dick was stroking his
"brother":

104. "My favorite brother, poor thing,

105. you're tired! Please take a rest, rogue".

106. The imp was taken aback.

107. With its tail between its legs

108. it had fairly quieted down.

109. It glanced askance at the "brother".

110. "Wait a minute, - it said, - I'll go after the
debt".

111. The imp went to see its grandfather and
said:

112. "We have got into trouble!

113. I was outrun by the younger Big Dick!"

114. Then the old devil began brooding.

115. Meanwhile the worker had kicked up
such a racket

116. that the whole sea was agitated.

117. The imp had got out: "All right, Big Dick,

118. we will send the debt to you - just listen.

119. Do you see this stick?

120. Who throws it further that one will get
the rent.

121. Why? Are you afraid to dislocate your
arm?

122. What are you waiting for?"

123. -"Well, I wait for that cloud.

124. I am going to fling your stick there and

125. at once to get into a fight against you
devils".

126. The imp was frightened and ran to its
grandfather

127. so that to tell about the Big Dick's victory.

128. Meanwhile that one made a noise again

129. and threatened devils with his rope.

130. The imp had got out another time,

131. "What do you exert yourself?

132. There will be the rent to you, if you
want..."

133. - "No, said the worker, - now it is my turn
to make conditions.

134. I am going to appoint you a very difficult
task.

135. Let's see how strong you are.

136. Look, there is a gray mare over there.

137. Lift up the mare and bear it.

138. If you carry she half-mile, the rent will be
yours.

139. The poor devil crawled under the mare,

140. made an effort, lifted the mare up,

141. had stepped two steps, on the third one

142. had fallen and stretched out its legs.

143. Big Dick told it: "Silly devil,

144. how can you compete with me?

145. You could not carry the mare on your
arms,

146. but then I am going to bear she between
my legs".

147. The worker mounted the mare and so
galloped a mile away

148. that even there was a pillar of dust.

149. The imp was frightened and had gone to
its grandfather

150. to relate about the new victory of Big
Dick.

151. There was nothing to be done -

152. the devils collected the rent and charged

153. the worker's shoulders with a sack of
gold.

154. Big Dick walked quacking now and then.

155. Meanwhile the priest, having seen him,

156. leaped to his feet and hid squatting
behind his wife.

157. The worker found him there.

158. He had given the rent and began to
demand his payment.

159. The poor priest had laid his forehead
open to attack.

160. From the first flick the priest had jumped
up to the ceiling.

161. From the second flick the priest stayed
speechless.

162. From the third flick the skinflint was left
without his wits.

163. Whereas Big Dick was speaking with
reproach:

164. "You priest should not pursue
cheapness".