Autumn had arrived. A girl named Katie travelled to the village with her parents to visit her grandfather and grandmother. Katie had prepared carefully for this trip, as her grandfather had promised her a forest outing to gather mushrooms.
The weather was wonderful. Katie jumped out of bed as soon as it began to get light, and Fyodor Petrovich was already bustling about in the kitchen—preparing provisions for the outing. The mushroom hunters had breakfast, got dressed, left the house, and headed to the edge of the village. Then they walked through a field until they reached the forest edge. The trees had already dressed themselves in colourful clothes. Autumn sunshine shone through the branches. Between the bushes, a thin, delicate spider web glistened. The air smelled of mushrooms.
Katie had barely entered the forest when she spotted a mushroom. She ran over and pulled it out of the ground along with its root.
Grandfather, look at the mushroom I found!
Finding a mushroom is good,—grandfather frowned,—but pulling it out with the root is bad. Next autumn, a new mushroom won't grow in this spot. You have a small knife in your basket. You should have used it to cut the mushroom. That way, you wouldn't have damaged the mycelium.
Alright, grandfather, I'll definitely bring a knife next time,—Katie said and walked deeper into the forest along the path without looking back.
She saw nuts hanging high on a tree ahead. She wanted to gather some. She found a large stick and began knocking them down. After gathering some nuts, she looked around, but grandfather was nowhere to be seen. Katie became frightened: which way should she go? Tears were already beginning to form in her eyes. Then Fyodor Petrovich emerged from behind a tree.
Katie, you mustn't fall behind your elders in the forest. And if you lose sight of me, you must shout loudly "Hello!" Otherwise, I'll have to search for you for a long time.
Grandfather, I won't wander far from you again,—the girl said happily,—look at what I gathered!
The girl took the nuts out of her pocket. Fyodor Petrovich looked at Katie's hand and smiled.
Those are acorns you've gathered. Such nuts are the best treats for wild boars and squirrels, and even some birds like to peck at them.
So they're completely useless, and I should throw them away?—the girl asked.
When we get home, I'll teach you how to make little figures from acorns!—grandfather answered Katie.
Fyodor Petrovich and his granddaughter continued their walk through the autumn forest. Katie gathered a large, bright bouquet of leaves for her mother. Then they found a large tree stump, which served as their dining table, and ate. Grandfather treated Katie to a sweet. She unwrapped the sweet, threw the wrapper on the ground, and put the sweet in her mouth.
Katie, please pick up the wrapper,—Fyodor Petrovich asked,—there's no one here to clean up after us. This wrapper could cause a lot of harm to the forest creatures, and after all, we are their guests.
Oh, grandfather, I love the forest so much! But there are so many rules we have to follow...—Katie murmured.
Fyodor Petrovich could see that his granddaughter was tired. They began to make their way out of the forest. They came home, and Katie immediately began telling her mother about all the adventures that had happened to her and about how to behave properly in the forest. Mother Svetlana put the bright bouquet in a vase, and grandfather began teaching the girl how to make various figures from acorns.
What an interesting weekend Katie had! She would definitely tell her classmates about it. And she would bring a beautiful autumn craft to school! Will you go for a walk in the forest, little one? Will you follow the rules of behaviour in nature? I wish you gather lots of interesting materials for autumn crafts for your kindergarten and school!
