A little fox walks through the forest, wagging her tail, barely lifting her feet. She stumbles and falls. She sits down, crying:
Oh, this path is enchanted! I've hurt my little feet, the wretched thing!
A bear comes along, swaying from side to side, rocking from one foot to the other. His legs get tangled. Misha falls:
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!
And towards them comes a little wolf, small though he is, trotting briskly through the forest, only the crunch of twigs under his paws.
Stop, little wolf, don't walk on this path, you'll fall! — the fox and bear cried out together.
Why is that? — the little wolf asked in surprise.
This path is enchanted, — said the fox, — I've fallen twice, and Misha has hurt himself very badly!
But the little wolf just smiled.
What? You're not afraid of falling? — roared the bear.
Not a bit! — the little wolf answered bravely.
Why? Do you know the secret to breaking the spell on this path?
And not just this one!
Dear little wolf, grey-sided friend, you're our favourite, please tell us the secret! — the bear and little fox began to plead.
The secret is simple,
Keep your tail up high!
Back straight and true,
And as you go through,
Lift your knees up high.
To keep yourself from harm —
Swing your arms about,
Drive the spell right out.
Come on then, get up and follow me and do as I do!
The little wolf stood up first on the path, the little fox followed the wolf, and Misha followed the fox. They walk along the path cheerfully, lifting their feet high, swinging their arms, chests puffed out. Three times they walked along this path from the forest to the stream, and not once did anyone fall.
Thank you, little wolf, for helping break the spell on the path!
You're welcome! Children, copy what we do, and you'll never end up on an enchanted path.
