In ancient times, there was a large beautiful forest in one country. The animals lived in it calmly and happily. No one oppressed anyone, no one bothered anyone. Everyone was busy with their own business.
There lived one fox in the forest. She planted trees with very tasty fruits at the edge of the forest. When the fruits ripened, the fox and her family feasted on them, and gave what was left to their neighbors. The fox hired a squirrel to look after the garden, and she chased the crows and parrots, who flocked to the trees in flocks, wanting to taste the fruits.
So the fox, the fox and their children lived, calmly and without much worry.
And there lived in the same forest a hare who had a very good garden. In this garden the hare grew sugar cane, peas, wheat, potatoes and carrots. The hare was lonely. He worked in his garden, without worrying about anything, and lived comfortably. But soon he got tired of his lonely life. He made friends with one monkey and they moved in together. Their economy flourished.
The animals lived so calmly and happily in this forest, each minding their own business.
But one day this peace came to an end. And this is what happened.
The lion, the king of this forest, became old and took a jackal as his assistant. He appointed him minister and instructed him to walk through the forest and keep order. To help the jackal they gave four soldiers: two monkeys and two bears. These soldiers did not do any particular good, but they did not cause harm either. The jackal was a real rogue and deceiver. It left the animals in the forest dead. He slandered them and ran with complaints to the lion, and he was so angry at that time that he immediately killed everyone who was denounced.
One day a jackal was wandering through the forest and came across a fox's garden. He wanted to taste the delicious fruits. The poor fox was scared, but did not dare refuse him. And the jackal, who really liked the fruits, began to come every day and devastate one tree after another. Finally the poor fox could not stand it any longer and said:
- Brother jackal, why are you hanging on my neck? After all, I have a family. Don't let my children go hungry!
- What's the matter? “Speak more clearly,” the jackal barked irritably.
“The fact is that you are robbing my garden,” the fox said meekly.
“Will your garden become poorer if I eat a couple of other fruits?” - the jackal grumbled.
With these words, he grabbed one branch and shook it so hard that ripe fruits rained down to the ground. At this time the fox approached. The jackal's impudence outraged him.
“Hey, jackal,” he said angrily to the uninvited guest, “as soon as you become a minister, you’re already becoming arrogant!”
The arrogant jackal could not tolerate such an insult.
- Speak, but know when to stop! he growled. “I’m not just anyone in this forest, but a minister!” So I’ll take it and order you and your children to be skinned.
Word for word - and a fight began. The fox beat the jackal so hard that he tucked his tail and ran to the lion in fear.
- Maharaj! - he exclaimed. — There is one treacherous fox living in your forest. She has a garden in which large, sweet fruits grow. When I asked her for a little for your grace, she cursed you, called her whole family to help and treated me so badly that I barely survived.
Hearing about such an atrocity, the lion roared fiercely. He ordered his soldiers to seize the fox and its entire family and bring it to him.
Soon they were all brought bound to the lion.
- Hey, fox, why did you beat my minister and curse me on top of that? - the lion asked menacingly.
The fox and the vixen were shaking so much with fear that they could not utter a sound.
- Why are you silent? - The lion roared again.
“Maharaj, I didn’t scold you,” the fox answered trembling.
- You're lying! What a liar!
And the lion, rushing at the unfortunates with a roar, immediately devoured them.
After this incident, everyone in the forest began to fear the jackal. And the jackal, seeing the fear he inspired in the animals, began to oppress them even more. As soon as someone did not follow his order or did not give him a treat, he immediately sent this beast to be torn to pieces by a lion.
It's getting cold. The sugar cane in the hare's garden has become very large; Potatoes and carrots also did well. The hare and the monkey diligently guarded their garden.
One day a jackal wandered through the forest and climbed into their garden. He picked reeds, dug up a few carrots and began to eat. But the hare and the monkey did not dare to utter a word and only silently watched as the jackal robbed them. But suddenly the hare said:
- O venerable jackal! Why do you bother yourself and come here on your own? All you have to do is order, and I will bring everything home to you.
Hearing this, the jackal grinned smugly.
- Fine. “You are smart, I see,” he said and left.
“Brother, if the jackal devours our garden like this every evening, then we will soon have nothing left,” said the monkey.
- Don't worry about it. Better go to the jackal during the day and bring him reeds, potatoes and carrots. “I found a way to punish him,” said the hare.
- How? Tell me! - the monkey began to ask, but the hare did not say another word.
Previously, the jackal had to scour the entire forest in search of food. Now, when the hare began to bring him treats home, he began to live happily ever after. Pleased with the gifts, he sometimes even forgot to come to the lion.
And then one day, when the jackal was sitting at home and happily devouring potatoes and reeds, the hare went to the lion himself. He rolled out in the mud and, crying, appeared in this form before the lion.
- Maharaj! Protect your servant! - the hare moaned.
- What's happened? - the lion was surprised.
- Oh Maharaj! I was bringing you vegetables from my garden and met a jackal on the way. He beat me, took all the vegetables and went to his home. If you don't believe me, you can go and have a look now.
Hearing about such insolence of his minister, the lion became very angry and immediately went with the hare to the jackal’s house.
The jackal was lying calmly on the bed, chewing reeds and humming some kind of song. The lion entered the door with an angry growl. Seeing a jackal gobbling up vegetables, he became even more angry, pounced on him and immediately tore him to pieces.
Thus, thanks to the resourcefulness of the hare, the power of the hated jackal ended, and all the inhabitants of the forest lived calmly and carefree, as before.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru