
A bustling household in a remote estate becomes the stage for a lively clash of personalities. The stern housekeeper, Semestre, oversees a troupe of witty servants—Chloris and Dorippe—who juggle chores, gossip, and a never‑ending debate over dwindling oil, ripe fruit, and the cost of keeping the lamps alight. Their banter, peppered with mythic references and playful insults, reveals a world where everyday survival is tangled with larger questions of trade, generosity, and the value of simple pleasures.
When a request to venture out to the sea arises, the characters must decide whether to risk their scarce resources for a promise of profit or to cling to their careful savings. Their choices set the tone for a story that weaves humor, domestic tension, and a hint of adventure, inviting listeners to step into a vivid, slightly chaotic world where even the smallest act can echo larger moral dilemmas.
Language
fi
Duration
~2 hours (126K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Helsinki: Weilin & Göös, 1883.
Credits
Juhani Kärkkäinen and Tapio Riikonen
Release date
2024-02-17
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1837–1898
A scholar of ancient Egypt who turned his learning into vivid historical fiction, he helped bring the ancient world to a wide popular audience. His novels blend careful research with drama, adventure, and a strong sense of place.
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