There lived in one village a girl who did not like to walk with her legs. This lazy girl's name was Brucholina. And she had a grandmother, old, gray-haired.
One day, a grandmother and her granddaughter went to the meadow to pick flowers. They picked a large bouquet of daisies and dandelions and slowly went home. But very soon Brucholina got tired of walking on her own, she stopped and whined:
- I want to be held in my arms, I want to be held in my arms! Her grandmother began to reprimand her:
- And don’t be ashamed! After all, you are already quite big! I won't take you in my arms! – turned and left. Brucholina sat down on the ground and cried:
Who will carry me home?
My grandmother left...
The bunny came running:
- Sit down, I'll carry you.
Brucholina sat on the hare’s back and galloped along the path with her scythe. But hares are shy people. So our little bunny hurried to hide in the woods at every rustle. Lies behind a stump; does not move, only the antennae tremble barely noticeably. Brucholina is tired of waiting for the coward’s fear to pass. She stands by the tree stump and calls:
Who will carry me home?
My grandmother is gone,
The hare is afraid of everything...
Then a snail crawled up to her:
- I'll carry you. Climb onto the roof of my house. The house, although small, is strong; get in, don't be afraid.
Brucholina climbed onto the roof of the house, and the snail set off. The sun was warm, and the girl did not notice how she fell asleep. She woke up an hour later, or maybe two, and looked - but the snail had not yet crawled from one bush to another. There’s nothing to be done, Brucholina had to say goodbye to the snail. Brucholina leaned against a tree, stood sad, about to cry. She felt very sorry for herself. She actually cried:
Who will carry me home?
My grandmother is gone
The hare is afraid of everything
The snail is barely crawling...
The goat ran up:
- Sit down, I'll carry you.
Brucholina sat on her back, and the goat galloped forward.
Oh, I'm about to fall! - Brucholina was scared. And as soon as she thought about it, she actually fell to the ground.
She stood up, brushed herself off, looked - and there was no trace of the goats. At this point Brucholina was seriously scared. She screamed with all her might:
Who will carry me home?
My grandmother is gone
The hare is afraid of everything
The snail barely crawls
The goat ran away...
A horse galloped up to her:
- I'll carry you.
The horse knelt down and waited until Brucholina climbed onto its back. Then she got up and galloped away.
Brucholina grabbed the horse's withers with both hands, but still could not resist and fell straight into the grass. Lying in the grass and crying bitterly:
Who will carry me home?
My grandmother is gone
The hare is afraid of everything
The snail barely crawls
The goat ran away
The horse gallops at full speed...
A dove has arrived:
- I'll carry you. Just hold on to your neck tighter. - And soared into the sky. He rose so high that Brucholina felt dizzy.
- Dear dove, quickly bring me down to the ground! – the girl asked.
Below, a thin, light strip of river stretched. The dove circled over the water and smoothly landed on the sandy shore.
“Goodbye, girl, the kids are waiting for me at home,” he said. He flapped his wings and flew on.
Brucholina is alone again. He looks and a boat floats past. She ran up to the water and quietly asked:
Who will carry me home?
My grandmother is gone
The hare is afraid of everything
The snail barely crawls
The goat ran away
The horse gallops at full speed,
The dove flies too high...
The boat landed on the shore:
- Sit down, I'll take you.
Brucholina got into the boat and they sailed away. But the boat was old and dry. Soon it began to leak. Poor Brucholina got her feet and dress wet. The water in the boat kept rising and rising. It was lucky that the shore was close. As soon as Brucholina managed to jump ashore, the boat choked and sank. Brucholina stands by the River and cries bitterly:
Who will carry me home?
My grandmother is gone
The hare is afraid of everything
The snail barely crawls
The goat ran away
The horse gallops at full speed,
The dove flies too high
The boat sank...
A bee flew past.
- W-w-w-w! “It’s better to try walking with your feet,” she advised Brucholina. And she flew away.
Nobody wanted to help the lazy girl anymore. She had to get home herself. At first she walked slowly, then faster and faster. When she ran into the house, her grandmother was already setting the table. She didn't say anything to her granddaughter. She stood and, smiling, watched Brucholina eat with appetite.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru