Yellow fluffy Chick hatched from an egg in the nest of an old brooding hen named Ryaba. With joy, the brooding hen clucked loudly throughout the barn: "Cluck-cluck! I am so happy! How many children I have now! Come closer, sisters and neighbors, look at my chicks, congratulate me!".
Oh my! I also had ducklings born recently, ― quacked the gray duck. ― I did not boast like that and did not shout throughout the poultry house.
Be quiet there. You will scare my goslings. They are only planning to come out of their eggs tomorrow, ― hissed the white goose, turning over gray speckled eggs with her beak.
I will come over and peck you, old hen, ― said the displeased turkey. ― My children are so timid and delicate, they are afraid of every sound. They might die from fear.
I have more children than anyone! ― continued Ryaba boasting. ― Soon our mistress will come and feed us delicious food!
The hen gathered her chicks and led them outside to show them the bright sun, blue sky, and warm earth. Digging in the earth and finding an earthworm was her favorite activity.
Not far away, the already grown turkey chicks with their mother and stern father were nibbling green grass. The turkey parents watched their offspring carefully and talked to each other.
Cluck-cluck! Everyone here, little chicks! ― clucked the hen. ― I found an earthworm for you!
The chicks began to dig in the earth with their mother. At that time, the duck came out of the barn with her ducklings and headed toward the pond nearby. The ducklings walked in a line behind the gray Duck, waddling from foot to foot. Little Chick also followed the duck's company. She walked last. Ryaba was so busy with the worm that she did not notice the loss.
The ducklings entered the pond and slowly swam after their mother. Chick walked behind them deeper and deeper, but she could not manage to swim.
The Duck looked back and saw that the little chick had gone into the water... was about to drown!
Quack-quack! Help! A chick in the water! ― she quacked loudly and rushed to help the baby. She grabbed Chick by the wing with her beak and threw her onto her back.
Hold on tight! I will take you to the shore!
The duck swam, and Chick sat and looked around.
How beautiful it is on the pond! And I am like a queen on a ship! ― rejoiced the little mischief-maker.
Meanwhile, Ryaba finally noticed that one chick was missing.
Where is my chick, my little yellow ball? Where did he go? Maybe someone saw my Chick? ― the hen began to cluck loudly.
The turkey family responded to her cry.
You are careless, careless mother Ryaba, you did not watch the chick!
A small puppy sitting in a doghouse on a chain heard the birds making a fuss and barked loudly: "Woof-woof! Woof-woof!". Such a commotion arose that the mistress came out of the house. She looks: hen Ryaba is running and clucking loudly.
What happened? ― the woman thought. And suddenly she saw: an old Duck is coming, and behind her a little yellow chick is toddling. The Duck is leading him to the poultry yard, and the ducklings are swimming in the pond themselves.
What a good job you did, bringing the chick home. He probably followed your family, and the hen did not see. The little one wanted to swim, ― the mistress smiled.
Ryaba ran up to the gray Duck and began to thank her neighbor: "Thank you for finding my Chick! Now I will watch my children more carefully!".
We are all mothers and should help each other, ― answered the Duck.
