Two old women lived in the same village. One lived on one side of the river, the other on the other. Rumors spread far and wide about their quarrelsome disposition. Before the sun has time to rise, they are already right there on the river bank - arguing and quarreling until the evening. And no one knows why they are quarreling and making noise, what they can’t share.
One of the old women had a granddaughter. She’s tired of listening to the squabble day after day, and she says to her grandmother:
“Don’t go to the river, grandma, don’t argue with your neighbor, she’ll calm down.”
- What are you, what are you, granddaughter! How can I leave this witch without an answer? I won’t miss a single word from her! - the old woman answers.
But then one day my grandmother fell ill and fell ill.
Early in the morning the girl again heard the scolding of her grumpy old neighbor. She went down to the river and stood, as if mute, listening to the evil-tongued old woman.
- Look at this one, this one... sitting on a donkey, driving the donkey! — the old woman shouted at the girl. “It’s two inches from the pot, and she’s also putting on airs, she won’t respond with a word, you scoundrel!” Wait, I’ll get to you now, I’ll pull you by the hair!
She picked up the hem of her dress and stepped into the river. The river is shallow, and the stones are mossy and slippery. The grumpy one hobbled to the middle, slipped and fell into the water.
The girl took pity on the old woman and rushed to her aid. She grabbed her by the arm, led her to the shore and sat her down on a dry stone. She straightened the old woman's stray hair and tied a scarf that had slipped off on her head.
The old woman was silent at first, and then looked at her savior with tears and cried bitterly. She felt ashamed in front of the little girl.
Since then, the old woman has not uttered a single bad word. And the villagers found peace.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru