Once a poor old man was collecting pine cones in the forest. He picked up a full bag, tied it, put it on his shoulder and went home. On the way he met a wolf. “Good man,” the wolf said pitifully, “hunters are chasing me.” Hide me in a bag as soon as possible, I will thank you for saving me. I will give you whatever you ask, just save me. Hurry, hurry!.. The old man took pity on the wolf, poured out the cones, and hid it in a bag. I just managed to tie the knot when the hunters were right there. They greeted each other and asked: “Have you seen any beast here, father?” “Recently, one wolf ran by,” the old man answered. “It seems he turned to the left, towards the edge of the forest... And the hunters hurried in the direction where the old man pointed.” “Are the hunters far away?” asked the wolf from the bag.. “Far away, you can’t see it anymore!” “Then untie the bag and let me out as soon as possible,” the wolf said affectionately. The old man released the wolf. The wolf looked around, saw that there were really no hunters, and growled: “Now, old man, I’ll eat you!” “How can this be so!” the old man was amazed. “I did you good, I saved you from death, and you want to eat me...” “This is my wolf breed!” the wolf answered proudly. - OK! Just don't rush. Let’s ask the first three people we meet,” the old man suggested, “whether you should eat me or not?” What they say will happen. They did as the old man suggested. The first thing they met was a thin, skin-and-bones, old horse. They greeted her and told her about their dispute. The horse shook his head, thought and said: “I always tried to please the owner and worked sparingly.” And when I got old, he kicked me out of the yard, and I was left homeless, homeless... Let the wolf eat you, old man! So I think. The second one they met was decrepit and toothless. dog. They greeted her and told her about their argument. The dog wagged its tail, thought and mumbled: “I have been guarding the cattle and yard of my owner for many years.” And now I’m old - and he drove me away. Is this fair? Let the wolf eat you, old man! The wolf was very pleased with these answers, and he and the old man moved on. The third fox they met, she was hunting and was returning to her home. The old man and the wolf greeted her and told her about their dispute. The fox first thought, and then laughed slyly, “I don’t believe you, you deceivers!” she said. “You yourself, wolf, are so big, your teeth are so long, your tail is so thick... How can you fit in such a small old bag?” The wolf did not like the fox's words. He got angry. “Don’t be angry,” the fox persuaded him. “Better get into the bag.” I want to see how you do it. The wolf agreed and reached into the bag, but his tail stuck out. “I told you that you are deceivers!” the fox shouted. “Your tail doesn’t fit in the bag, wolf!” Then the wolf hunched over and tucked his tail, and the old man, who had already realized what the fox was up to, quickly tied the bag. - Now hit him! “Be smarter next time,” the fox advised and ran off on her way. The old man took a thick club and started hitting the bag. “For centuries,” he says, “I will remember the wolf breed!” “Whoever plans evil will not escape retribution,” says the proverb.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru