The scorching hot summer was coming to an end. In its place came beautiful Autumn with her easy, unhurried, measured pace. The last autumn flowers—asters, marigolds, and dahlias—delighted the eye with their beauty. The trees transformed with each day, changing their foliage from green to burgundy-red, fiery-orange, and bright yellow.
Autumn is harvest time. And the riot of colours that autumn possesses touched the apple orchard as well. In neat, well-tended rows grow apples in this garden. Back in early spring, when they were blooming and spreading their fragrance all around, they had formed buds, from which fruits soon developed. Little rains watered the earth, moistened the leaves, and the apples filled with juice, grew, and ripened.
The saplings, having gathered new strength, began their battle for the harvest. They stretched their branches toward the sun, and the apples gleamed under its rays. And there they were, ripe and fragrant fruits, hanging on the trees and asking to be picked. After all, they had worked so hard to grow to delight us with their taste.
Day after day, Uncle Moose walked through his garden, observing the growth of the trees and the ripening of the apples, and understood that he alone could not manage to gather such a large harvest of apples. After thinking it over, he came to the conclusion that he needed to invite helpers for such an important task. The main helpers for Uncle Moose became young squirrels, young rabbits, and young bears.
The next morning, the garden gates opened, and a group of little animals excitedly entered the territory of the apple kingdom. Uncle Moose stood before them.
Have you come to work in the garden?
Yes!
They answered together.
Excellent! Thank you for responding to my request for help.
Come, I'll show you how to gather the harvest. For this we'll need a ladder, since many apples grow at great heights, even at the very top of the trees. We'll also need two baskets, into which we'll put the picked apples.
Before you are three types of baskets: small, medium, and large. What do you think—where would it be most convenient to put apples right after they're picked from the tree?
Where? Where? Where?
The little animals whispered among themselves, not daring to make a decision.
Let me explain! A small basket will hold very few apples, only two or three, a large basket will hold many, but it will be very heavy to carry. Here's the conclusion: it will be most convenient to gather apples in a medium-sized basket. Now, choose your comfortable baskets!
And each helper took one comfortable basket.
And to interest you even more,
Uncle Moose continued.
I've decided to organize a fun competition. Look here: in my garden grow apples of different varieties, they differ in taste and colour. So I've decided to divide you into three teams.
The little rabbits became the first team. They were given the task of gathering red apples.
The squirrels formed the second team and received the task of gathering yellow apples. The young bears became members of the third team. Their goal was to gather green apples.
Why, that's just like a traffic light!
Exclaimed the fluffy red squirrel.
Yes, yes, yes! A traffic light!
The other little animals chimed in.
Now get ready, face the garden and look at it carefully, admire its beauty.
Look, look.
The little rabbit clapped his paws
The apples, like decorations on a Christmas tree, delight the eye with their multicoloured hues.
I see.
Said Uncle Moose.
You've charged yourselves with positive emotions, and now, before we begin work, I want to treat you to apples. I've washed them and am happy to offer them for you to try. Eating apples helps reduce the risk of various diseases. And besides, whoever eats an apple a day rarely, if ever, visits the doctor!
The little animals happily began to crunch on pieces of fragrant and delicious apples.
And after refreshing themselves, they dispersed to their sections and enthusiastically set to work.
The baskets filled quickly, work was in full swing. The little animals became so absorbed in the apple-gathering competition that they didn't notice the danger threatening the harvest. Only the smallest bear cub saw that some apples had holes in them, and from these holes little worms were peeking out.
Oh, what a fat one.
Said the bear cub.
Who? Who?
The little animals ran toward his voice.
Look—a worm. Let's pull it out of there.
And he began to grab the worm with his paw, but it hid inside the apple.
No, we can't manage this ourselves.
Said the squirrel.
It's not alone here; there are worms in other apples too. We need to call someone for help. But who?
I know who we can call to save the apples!
Exclaimed the rabbit.
The birds will help us. I've seen how they destroy pests with their beaks.
And everyone shouted loudly:
Birds, birds, help us! Free the apples from the worms!
The birds heard the call, flew over, quickly did their work and, in this way, freed the apples from unwanted inhabitants. The animals thanked them, and Uncle Moose treated them to ripe apples.
The harvest gathering continued, the baskets filled and filled with multicoloured fruits. All three teams did an excellent job with their task.
And indeed, like a large traffic light, baskets with red, yellow, and green apples stood out at the edge of the garden.
Now we need to carefully pack the gathered fruits into boxes for storage.
Said Uncle Moose.
For this we select apples with a diameter of 6.5–7 cm and weighing about 150–200 grams. I have small garden scales for this purpose. We wrap each apple in paper and lay it in the box stem-side up, in a single layer. This way they'll keep better and longer, right through to spring.
What will we do with the remaining apples, for example, the red ones?
Asked the rabbit.
From them we'll make jam.
And from the yellow apples?
Asked the squirrel.
From the yellow apples we'll cook compote and preserves.
What will be left to make from the green apples?
Asked the bear cub.
And from the green apples we'll make the most delicious juice.
Answered Uncle Moose.
You see, each of your teams is responsible not only for gathering apples of a certain colour, but also for processing and preserving them.
The little animals worked splendidly. Tired, but pleased with their work and its results, they sat down to rest and enjoy some sweet and tasty apples.
Time flew swiftly, and the first twilight began to descend on the garden. Uncle Moose thanked the little animals for their work, and, as a sign of his gratitude, gave each one a basket of apples. But he filled the basket not with apples of just one colour, but with different colours, so it would be not only tasty but also beautiful.
And besides, my little helpers, I suggest that tomorrow, when you've rested, you draw a basket with apples and call your drawing "Harvest Gathering."
In this way, you'll preserve your memories of the time spent in the garden and the impressions you received here, not only in your memory but also on paper.
Yes!
The rabbits, squirrels, and bear cubs answered together in unison.
We'll do just that.
Thank you for inviting us and for the treats!
The little animals said goodbye and went home. Uncle Moose also went to rest.
And only a gentle breeze remained to wander through the garden among the trees and swirl the fallen leaves, as if playing with them in a game only it understood.
Read original fairy tales and you will not only be filled with positivity, but also learn many useful things!
