In a wonderful forest, unknown to us, animals lived – they didn't grieve, they were friends with each other, they helped one another, they didn't abandon each other in trouble. Whatever happened – everyone was right there, running to help each other.
But there lived in that wonderful forest a fox: with a beautiful face, a tail no worse than a peacock's, but oh, such a long tongue – she could spin both truth and lies as much as she wanted! She lies and doesn't blush, only her reddish fur gets redder. And she's so lazy! Not only help someone – she's too lazy to feed herself. She never keeps her little house in order, she walks through the forest and sings songs, boasting about how clever and beautiful she is.
But the animals in the wonderful forest have no time to sing: they're preparing firewood for winter, heating their stoves, repairing their little houses. Winter is coming soon.
And the beautiful fox has become completely lazy, her little house has become crooked, spiders have settled in the corners, mice have multiplied in the cellar. The cunning fox thought and thought, wrapped her leg with a scarf, sat by her little house on the bench, and burst into bitter tears:
Oh, poor little me! I was running down the path, fell into a hole, and broke my leg!
A little wolf – grey-sided – runs past her house. He hears the fox crying, bursting into bitter tears. He runs up and asks:
Hello, fox, the beauty of the whole forest, why are you crying so, frightening all the forest animals?
Oh, little wolf – grey-sided, I was running down the path, fell into a hole, and broke my leg! My throat is parched, I want to drink, but there's no one to bring me water. I'll die from the heat!
The wolf scratched behind his ear with his paw and said to the fox:
You, fox, don't cry, give me the buckets, I'll bring you water, enough to eat and drink! I'll help you!
The cunning fox waved her paw, showed the wolf where to get the buckets, and began to watch as the wolf carried water from the well, while she rested.
A bear walks past her house, swaying from paw to paw. And the fox cries, bursting into bitter tears. The bear came up to her and asks:
Hello, fox, the beauty of the whole forest, why are you crying here, frightening all the forest folk?
Oh, bear, how can I not cry? I was running down the path, fell into a hole, and broke my leg! Winter will soon begin, I'll freeze to death! I can't chop wood, I can't heat the stove! Oh, poor me, unhappy me!..
The bear scratched his ear with his paw and said to the fox:
You, fox, don't cry! Give me the axe, I'll chop firewood for winter, I won't let you perish!
The cunning fox waved her paw, showed where to get the axe, and began to watch as the bear swung the axe, chopping firewood for her winter, while she rested.
A hare runs past her house, hopping and playing. And the fox bursts into bitter tears. The hare hopped closer to the fox, waved his ears, and asks:
Hello, fox, the beauty of the whole forest, why are you crying here, frightening all the forest folk?
Oh, my cross-eyed one, my long-legged! How can I not cry? I was running down the path, fell into a hole, and broke my leg! I can't sit or stand! I can't cook anything or tidy up! I'll have to starve to death. The house is a mess, and without food – it's impossible! Oh, poor unhappy me!..
The hare waved his ears and said to the fox:
You, fox, don't cry! Give me a pot and a broom! I'll tidy up right now and cook you some food! I won't let you perish!
The cunning fox waved her paw toward her little house, showed where to go, and began to watch as work bustled in her house: the bear swung his axe, chips flew everywhere, the wolf carried water, asking for the way, the hare waved his broom – tidying up, he lit the stove, now he'll cook some food.
And the fox became so happy that she took the scarf off her unbroken leg and started to dance! She shook her scarf, waved her tail, squinted with pleasure, thinking how cunning she was, how clever, she'd deceived everyone!
And then a magpie – white-sided – flew past, saw the fox and called the animals: the wolf, the bear and the hare. The animals threw down their axes and buckets, ran to the clearing, and there was the fox dancing away!
Ah, fox you fox! – cried the animals, - Cunning face! And we believed you, we wanted to help!
The fox saw the animals, tucked in her leg, fell to her knees, and started to wail:
Oh, my forest friends! It was your help that healed me!
But the animals waved their paws, felt offended by the beautiful fox, turned around and left her. So the fox was left with nothing, and she'd even offended the forest animals.
And the magpie flies over her and chatters:
It's not the one who looks good that's good, but the one who's good at work! Serves you right, fox! You're left alone! Now you'll know not to deceive your friends!
