In a wonderful forest, unknown to us, the 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 as much truth and lies as she wanted! She lies and doesn't blush, only her reddish fur gets redder. And she's so lazy! Not only does she not help anyone – she's too lazy to even feed herself. She never keeps her little house in order, she walks through the forest and sings songs 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 is crooked, spiders have settled in the corners, mice have multiplied in the cellar. The clever fox thought and thought, wrapped her leg with a scarf, sat on the bench by her house, 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 fellow – runs past her house. He hears the fox crying, bursting into bitter tears. He runs up and asks:
Illustration: The wolf meets the Clever Fox
Hello, fox, the beauty of the whole forest, why are you crying so, scaring all the forest animals?
Oh, little wolf – grey fellow, 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 clever 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, shifting from paw to paw. And the fox cries, bursting into bitter tears. The bear came up to her and asks:
Illustration: The bear meets the Clever Fox
Hello, fox, the beauty of the whole forest, why are you crying here, scaring 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 start soon, I'll freeze to death! I can't chop wood, I can't heat the stove! Oh, poor me, so unhappy!..
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 wood for winter, I won't let you perish!
The clever fox waved her paw, showed where to get the axe, and began to watch as the bear swung the axe, chopping wood 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:
Illustration: The hare meets the Clever Fox
Hello, fox, the beauty of the whole forest, why are you crying here, scaring all the forest folk?
Oh, my cross-eyed one, my long-legged one! 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 or clean anything! I'll have to starve to death. The house is a mess, and without food – it's impossible! Oh, poor me, so unhappy!..
The hare waved his ears and said to the fox:
You, fox, don't cry! Give me a pot and a broom! I'll put everything in order right now and cook you some food! I won't let you perish!
The clever fox waved her paw toward her house, showed where to go, and began to watch as work bustled in her house: the bear swung his axe, chips flying everywhere, the wolf carried water, asking for the way, the hare waved his broom – putting things in order, he heated the stove, and 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 the scarf, waved her tail, squinting with pleasure at how clever she was, how smart, she'd fooled everyone!
And then a magpie – white-sided – flew by, 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, - Clever face! And we believed you, we wanted to help!
The fox saw the animals, tucked in her leg, fell to her knees, and cried out:
Oh, my forest friends! It was your help that healed me!
But the animals waved their paws, were offended at 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 for work! Serves you right, fox! You're alone now! You'll know better than to deceive your friends!
Illustration: The magpie laughs at the Clever Fox
