Morning dew still glistened on the grass. The rising sun hadn't yet dried it, allowing insects to drink the healing moisture.
Goldfinches sang in the thick bird cherry bushes. Soon other birds joined in. They sang in different voices, as if competing with one another. An old hedgehog was returning home from an early morning walk. A large white russula mushroom stuck out from his back. The hedgehog family would have a tasty breakfast today.
A squirrel sat on a tall young oak tree. And when a woodpecker tapped on the trunk with its strong beak, searching for beetles and bugs, she jumped to a thick pine tree. The squirrel was as quick as lightning.
Below, amongst the dry branches, stood a large tree stump, and on that stump lay mushrooms. A badger—a creature of ash-grey colour—was preparing them for his young badgers.
The weather was lovely, berries were ripening: blackberries, strawberries, currants. Fragrant flowers bloomed everywhere.
In one such mysterious and beautifully enchanted forest lived a family of bears. A wide path led to their den, running alongside a beautiful forest lake filled with clear spring water.
Father Bear went hunting, Mother Bear busied herself with household chores, whilst little Bear Cub Teddy lived his childhood life. Every morning Mother Bear called him for breakfast.
Teddy would approach the table, sit on his little chair and begin to fuss:
I don't want to eat porridge, I won't!
His mother would coax him, even feed him from a spoon, and sing a little rhyme-tale:
Bees are flying,
Golden buckets
They carry to the field.
And from the field they fly—
In golden buckets
Bringing honey to Teddy.
Oh, delicious,
Oh, delicious
Porridge for Teddy.
Honey porridge, pleasant,
Very fragrant.
If only my little one would eat.
Well, at least one spoonful, Teddy. Otherwise you'll have no strength for anything.
She pleaded.
Ah, I don't want to eat porridge, I don't need strength!
Teddy fussed even louder.
Then one day, the porridge became offended:
Just look at that! Well then, little bear, if you don't want to eat me, so be it!
Teddy was delighted that he was no longer being made to eat porridge, and ran off to the meadow to play.
He saw the neighbouring bear cubs playing football.
Come and join us.
The bear cub footballers called out cheerfully.
Teddy ran after the ball, but very quickly grew tired.
You probably didn't eat your porridge. What a shame...
His friends told him.
Teddy had to find something else to do. He looked and saw hares racing on the lawn. The bear cub tried to compete with them, but it was hopeless. He couldn't keep up with the quick hares, stumbled and fell.
What's wrong, Teddy, didn't finish your porridge again? You haven't got much strength, have you.
The hares sympathised with him.
The bear cub went to the lake, where beavers were rowing in a boat. He wanted to row with them too. The beavers took him in the boat and gave him oars. Teddy swung the oars twice—and they simply fell from his paws.
"I shouldn't have offended the porridge, I shouldn't have refused to eat it. Nothing's working out for me—everything's falling from my paws. I'd better go home!" thought Teddy.
Sad and gloomy, he came home and saw—a bowl of porridge standing on the table.
The porridge smiled and said to the bear cub:
What's this, no strength? Come on, eat me up quickly—and everything will be brilliant!
Teddy washed his paws after his walk, sat at the table, picked up his spoon and began eating the porridge with appetite, the only sound being the spoon tapping against the bowl.
Mother Bear saw this, was delighted, and praised her little one:
Now that's more like it. Well done!
And happy Teddy ran off to play football with his bear cub friends. Because now, thanks to the porridge, he had become strong and resilient. And the porridge was no longer offended with him.
Read fairy tales, for in them lie folk wisdom and useful advice!
