One day the old bear fell ill. The animals came to visit him and brought him whatever they could.
Once a hare and a wolf came to the bear, talked to him about this and that, and then could not resist and complained about the fox;
- Oh, the bear, our kind old man! Your illness has greatly saddened all the animals, and each of them is grieving and trying to help you in any way they can. Only one fox does not recognize your merits. She became proud and insolent!
“Don’t worry, I still have enough strength to teach her a lesson!” - said the bear. “I’ll shorten her tail so much that it won’t be longer than mine!”
The fox was told what the hare and the wolf had said about her to the bear and what this meant for her. She decided to visit the sick bear, show him her devotion, and at the same time take revenge on the informers.
She came running and stood at the threshold.
The bear looked at her angrily and growled. And the fox bowed low and pretended to be deeply saddened.
- O our lord! — she turned to the bear. “I learned about your illness a long time ago.” But when people like you, sir, are sick, people come to them with more than just kind words. I was delayed because I was looking for medicine for you. So don't be angry with me!
- What medicine did you get me? - the bear grumbled.
“I didn’t get this medicine, but only found out about it,” answered the fox. “This is what this medicine is: if you eat the heart and liver of a hare and a wolf on an empty stomach in the morning, you will be healed.” But to do this, they must be placed on the skin of each of these animals and taken out into the fresh air in the evening so that they are covered with dew.
The bear was happy and thanked the fox for his care:
- Of all the animals, you are the most perceptive! None of those who visited remembered the medicine for me. Thank you, fox, for your good advice!
The fox sat for some time near the bear and then left.
- I wish you a speedy recovery! - she said goodbye.
The next day a hare and a wolf came to the bear. Without thinking twice, the bear killed them and placed the heart and liver of each on their own skins at the entrance to the den. Sucking his paw, he waited for the next day to begin treatment.
In the morning, the fox carefully crept up to the den and ate the heart and liver of the hare and the wolf. Then she ran into the forest and notified all the animals about the black ingratitude and ferocity of the bear, which for no reason killed the helpful hare and wolf.
From that day on, the forest inhabitants walked far around the den and did not bring anything to the bear.
And the bear died of hunger.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru