Encyclopedia about Sergius of Radonezh is a small story. Reverend Sergei of Radonezh - the Holy Land of Russia

A cat lives in our family. His name is Masik. He will soon be one year old. He is like a member of our family. When we sit down at the table to dine, he is right there. He hits the tablecloth with his paw - he asks for food. It turns out funny. He loves fish and bread. He also loves it when I play with him. And during the day, if there is no one at home, he bask in the sun on the balcony. Masik sleeps with me or his older sister Christina.

I love him so much.

Tymin Anton, 2nd grade, school number 11, Belgorod

I have a feathered pet at home - Kesha's parrot. He appeared with us two years ago. Now he knows how to talk, he feels quite boldly with people. My parrot is very funny, smart and talented.

I love him very much and am very glad that I have him.

Varfolomeeva Ekaterina, 2nd grade, school number 11, Belgorod

My friend

My mother and I went to the market, bought a kitten and brought it home. He began to hide everywhere. We named him Tishka. He grew up and began to catch mice. Soon we found out that this is a kitty, and now we are waiting for kittens.

Belevich Ksenia, 2nd grade, school number 11, Belgorod

My turtle

I have a little turtle at home. Her name is Dina. We go for a walk with her. She eats fresh grass outside. Then I carry it home. She walks around the apartment and looks for a dark corner. When he finds it, he sleeps in it for an hour or two.

I taught her to eat in the kitchen. Dina loves apples, cabbage, soaked bread, raw meat. Once a week we bathe the turtle in a basin.

Here is my turtle.

Miroshnikova Sophia, 2nd grade, school number 11, Belgorod

My favorite rabbit

I have little rabbit... He's so cute, he has tiny red eyes. He is the most beautiful in the world! When I saw him for the first time, I could not take my eyes off his beauty.

The rabbit never runs away from me, but on the contrary, as soon as it sees me, it immediately asks to be in my arms. Well, just like my younger brother! He's very smart. Likes to eat grass and corn.

I love my rabbit!

Bobylev Denis, 7 years old

Kitty Samik

I have no animals at home, but my friend the cat Samson lives with my grandmother in the village. Beautiful, fluffy, black with white spots on the breast.

Usually houses are guarded by dogs, and Samik is the guard of my grandmother. First, he drove all the mice out of all the sheds, out of the basement. And for several years now, not a single mouse! But that is not all. He does not let other people's cats and dogs into the garden, or in the garden, or in the yard, and this helps my grandmother! Even if someone approaches the house, Samik begins to meow loudly, and grandmother already knows - someone else has come!

Granny pampers her guard with milk, fish, sausage. After all, he is so clever! He deserves it!

Baidikov Vladislav

When I was little, we lived in the North in the city of Noyabrsk. My dad and mom and I were at the market and bought two rabbits. One was white and the other was gray. I was very happy! We bought food for them. They lived in a cage on the balcony. Every day I fed them with carrots and cabbage, cleaned them in their cages. I loved rabbits very much and played with them.

When we left the North, we could not take the rabbits on a long journey. They were afraid that they would die. Mom took a picture of me with them. I often think about them and miss them.

Eremeeva Sabina, 7 years old, 2 "A" class, school number 11, Belgorod

Lyudmila Koryakina

Comment on the article "Children's stories about animals"

stories about animals by foreign writers. Books. Child from 7 to 10. stories about animals by foreign writers. except for Darrell and Herriot, nothing comes to mind. but they are long - and I need 20-30 pages ...

In no case should small pets feast on these plants. Life in the light. Help with the story on env. to the world? !!! Factors of inanimate nature will play a very important role in the life of plants: light, water, temperature, mineral salts.

Discussion

Somehow it can:

Certain conditions are needed for plant life. Living conditions depend on the influence of various factors of nature. Factors of inanimate nature will play a very important role in the life of plants: light, water, temperature, mineral salts. Plants are also influenced by factors of living nature: the activity of various living organisms, including humans.

Light is essential for the life and growth of plants. Why? In shaded plants, the shoots will fade and become long and thin.

But not all plants need bright light. For example, quasentia, wintergreen, wood-legged and other plants grow in shady places. The leaves of these plants are dark green. They have a large number of chloroplasts capable of capturing stray light.

Heat is also essential for plant life. Some plants are thermophilic, others are cold-resistant. Heat-loving plants come from the south. From cultivated plants these are corn, beans, pumpkin, cucumbers, tomatoes.

Plants need water. But the need for water in different plants is not the same. For example, a water lily lives in water. Plants like cabbage grow on land, but they need a lot of water. Cacti and some other plants need a little water. This is due to the fact that these plants accumulate water reserves in different organs: cacti - in the stem, others - in juicy stems, in the roots.

Mineral substances enter the plant from the soil. Of these, plants most need those that contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

In addition, plants are influenced by living organisms - animals, other plants and microorganisms. Animals feed on plants, pollinate them, carry fruits and seeds. Large plants may shade smaller ones. Some plants use others as resistance. In addition, plants change the composition of the air. How? Tell us.

Root systems of plants fix the slopes of ravines, hills, river valleys, protecting the soil from destruction. Forest plantations protect the fields from shifts.

At school, the child was given the task to come up with a fairy tale about an animal. Throw in at least ideas. Girls, help me come up with a blue or pink fairy tale, my son was asked to come up with it. My son and I wrote fairy tales together from the age of 6 to 14 as a favorite home game.

Discussion

Well, for example, I quickly can be overgrown with details: the monkeys lived in the trees, everything was fine with them, except that they were often thirsty. Reeds grew near the water and perfectly protected crocodiles from monkeys. Every time the monkeys descended to the water, the crocodiles grabbed the animal closest to them and ate :). The monkeys began to suffer from thirst, but they were very afraid to go down to the water. Then the most important leader came up with the idea of ​​pulling out the reeds, making a large pipe out of it, and now the monkeys drank water without going down to the shore. Soon the crocodiles left this place, as they had nothing to eat ..

Section: Books (short stories about animals for children). advise short stories and something about animals. Funny stories from our favorites. I really like the story when many people were already taken out by the dogs and protecting themselves and their children for a walk alone ...

Stray cat

Girl Katya

Small lace under the Christmas tree

Mongoose

Hunter and dogs

About the monkey

About the elephant

Brave duckling

Stray cat

I lived by the sea and fished. I had a boat, nets and different fishing rods. There was a booth in front of the house, and a huge dog on a chain. Shaggy, covered in black spots, - Ryabka. He guarded the house. I fed him with fish. I worked with a boy, and there was no one around for three miles. Ryabka was so used to talking to him, and he understood very simple things. You ask him: "Ryabka, where is Volodya?" The grouse will wag its tail and turn its muzzle where Volodka has gone. The air pulls in the nose, and always true. Sometimes you came from the sea with nothing, and Ryabka was waiting for the fish. Stretches out on a chain, squeals.

Turn to him and say angrily:

Our business is bad, Ryabka! Here's how ...

He will sigh, lie down and put his head on his paws. He doesn’t ask, he understands.

When I went to sea for a long time, I always patted Ryabka on the back and persuaded him to keep a good guard. And now I want to move away from him, and he will stand on his hind legs, pull the chain and grab me with his paws. Yes, so tight - will not let. He does not want to be alone for a long time: both boring and hungry.

It was a good dog!

But I didn't have a cat, and the mice overpowered me. Hang the nets, so they will crawl into the nets, get entangled and gnaw through the threads, spoil them. I found them in the nets - the other gets confused and gets caught. And at home they steal everything, whatever they put it.

So I went to town. I think I'll get myself a funny kitty, she will catch all the mice for me, and in the evening she will sit on her knees and purr. Came to town. I went to all the yards - not a single cat. Well nowhere!

I started asking people:

Does anyone have a kitty? I'll even pay the money, just give it.

And they began to get angry at me:

Are cats up to now? Everywhere there is hunger, there is nothing to eat, but here you feed the cats.

And one said:

I would eat the cat myself, not what to feed him, a parasite!

Here are the ones! Where did all the cats go? The cat is used to living on a ready-made food: he got drunk, got drunk and in the evening stretched out on a warm stove. And suddenly such a disaster! The ovens are not heated, the owners themselves suck the stale crust. And there is nothing to steal. And you won't find mice in a hungry house either.

Cats moved in the city ... And what, maybe, and hungry people have arrived. So I didn't get a single cat.

Winter has come and the sea is frozen. It became impossible to fish. And I had a gun. So I loaded my gun and walked along the shore. I'll shoot someone: wild rabbits lived in holes on the shore.

Suddenly, I looked, at the site of the rabbit hole, a large hole was dug, as if a passage for a large animal. I would rather go there.

I sat down and looked into the hole. Dark. And when I looked closely, I see: there, in the depths, two eyes are shining.

What, I think, is such a beast wound up?

I plucked a twig and into the hole. And from there it will hiss!

I backed away. Fu you! Yes, it's a cat!

So that's where the cats from the city have moved!

I began to call:

Kitty Kitty! Kisanka! - and stuck his hand into the hole.

And the little kitty rumbled, but such a beast that I pulled my hand back.

I began to think about how to lure the cat into my house.

Once I met a cat on the shore. Large, gray, muzzle. She, as she saw me, jumped aside and sat down. He looks at me with evil eyes. All strained, froze, only the tail twitches. Waiting for me to do.

And I took a crust of bread out of my pocket and threw it to her. The cat glanced at where the crust had fallen, but itself did not move. She stared at me again. I walked around and looked around: the cat jumped, grabbed the crust and ran to its home, into the hole.

So we often met, but the cat never let me near her. Once at dusk I mistook her for a rabbit and was about to shoot.

In the spring I started fishing, and the smell of fish smelled near my house. Suddenly I heard my Hazel barking. And somehow it barks funny: stupidly, in different voices, and squeals. I went out and saw: a large gray cat was walking slowly across the spring grass towards my house. I recognized her immediately. She was not in the least afraid of Grouse, did not even look at him, but chose only where it would be drier for her to step. The cat saw me, sat down and began to look and lick its lips. I rather ran into the house, took out the fish and threw it away.

She grabbed the fish and jumped into the grass. From the porch I could see how she began to eat greedily. Yeah, I think I haven't eaten fish for a long time.

And since then the cat began to visit me.

I kept appeasing her and persuading her to come to live with me. And the cat was still shy and did not let him close to him. Eat the fish and run away. Like a beast.

Finally I managed to stroke her, and the beast purred. Grouse did not bark at her, but only stretched on a chain, whined: he really wanted to get to know the cat.

Now the cat spun around the house all day, but did not want to go to live in the house.

Once she did not go to her burrow to spend the night, but stayed overnight at Grouse's in the booth. The hazel grouse has completely compressed into a ball to make room.

Grouse was so bored that he was glad of the cat.

Once it was raining. I look out of the window - Ryabka is lying in a puddle near the booth, all wet, but does not climb into the booth.

I went out and shouted:

Ryabka! To the booth!

He stood up and shook his tail in embarrassment. He turns his face, stumbles, but does not climb into the booth.

I walked over and looked into the booth. The cat stretched itself importantly across the floor. Grouse did not want to climb so as not to wake the cat, and it was wet in the rain.

He loved it so much when the cat came to visit him that he tried to lick it like a puppy. The cat bristled and shook itself.

I saw how Grouse held the cat with his paws when she, having slept, went about her business.

And her business was as follows.

Once I hear it, it’s like a child is crying. I jumped out, I looked: Murka was rolling off the cliff. Something dangles in her teeth. I ran up and looked - there was a rabbit in Murka's teeth. The bunny jerked its legs and screamed, just like a small child. I took it away from the cat. I exchanged it for fish. The rabbit went out and then lived in my house. Another time I found Murka when she was already eating a large rabbit. The grouse on the chain licked his lips from a distance.

Opposite the house was a pit with a half-arshin depth. I see from the window: Murka is sitting in a hole, all shrunk into a ball, wild eyes, and no one is around. I began to follow.

Suddenly Murka jumped up - I didn't have time to blink, and she was already tearing up a swallow. It was about rain, and the swallows fluttered near the ground. And in the pit, a cat was waiting in ambush. For hours she sat all on a platoon, like a trigger: she waited for the swallow to strike over the pit itself. Hap! - and snaps with a paw on the fly.

Another time I found her at sea. The storm washed up the seashore. Murka cautiously walked over the wet stones and raked shells onto a dry place with her paw. She gnawed them like nuts, winced and ate the slug.

But then the trouble came. Homeless dogs appeared on the shore. They whole flock rushed along the shore, hungry, brutal. Barking, screeching, they swept past our house. The hazel grouse bristled all over, tensed. He grumbled dully and looked angrily. Volodka grabbed a stick, and I rushed into the house for a gun. But the dogs rushed past, and soon they were not heard.

Grouse could not calm down for a long time: he grumbled and looked where the dogs ran away. And Murka, at least that: she sat in the sun and importantly washed her face.

I told Volodya:

Look, Murka is not afraid of anything. The dogs will come running - she jumped on the pole and on the pole to the roof.

Volodya says:

And Grouse will climb into the booth and bite off every dog ​​through the hole. And I'll lock myself in the house.

There is nothing to be afraid of.

I went to the city.

And when he returned, Volodka told me:

Not an hour after you left, the wild dogs returned. Eight pieces. They rushed to Murka. But Murka did not run away. She has a pantry under the wall, in the corner, you know. She buries leftovers there. She has accumulated a lot there. Murka rushed into the corner, hissed, stood up on her hind legs and prepared her claws. The dogs poked their heads, three at once. Murka earned so much with her paws - the hair flew only from the dogs. And they screech, howl and already climb one through the other, from above they all climb to Murka, to Murka!

What were you looking at?

I didn’t look. I hurried to the house, grabbed a gun and began to thresh with all my might at the dogs with the butt, the butt. Everything got mixed up in a mess. I thought that only pieces of Murka would remain. I've been hitting anything here. Here, look, the whole butt was beaten. Will you not scold?

Well, what about Murka, Murka?

And she is now at Ryabka's. Ryabka licks her. They are in the booth.

And so it turned out. Ryabka was curled up in a ring, and Murka lay in the middle. Ryabka licked her and looked angrily at me. Apparently, he was afraid that I would interfere - take Murka away.

A week later, Murka completely recovered and began to hunt.

Suddenly at night we woke up from a terrible barking and screeching.

Volodka jumped out, shouting:

Dogs, dogs!

I grabbed my gun and, as I was, jumped out onto the porch.

A whole bunch of dogs were busy in the corner. They roared so hard that they did not hear me come out.

I shot it in the air. The whole flock rushed and rushed away without memory. I shot again after. Ryabka was torn by the chain, jerked with a running start, was furious, but he could not break the chains: he wanted to rush after the dogs.

I began to call Murka. She grumbled and tidied up the pantry: she buried her paw in the hole she had dug.

In the room, by the light, I examined the cat. She was bitten by dogs, but the wounds were harmless.

I noticed that Murka was getting fat - she was about to have kittens.

I tried to leave her in the hut overnight, but she meowed and scratched, so I had to let her out.

The stray cat was used to living in the wild and never wanted to go into the house.

It was impossible to leave the cat like that. Apparently, wild dogs got into the habit of running to us. They will come running when Volodya and I are at sea, and they will kill Murka completely. And so we decided to take Murka away and leave to live with our fellow fishermen. We put a cat with us in the boat and went by sea.

Far, fifty versts from us, we took Murka away. Dogs won't run there. Many fishermen lived there. They had a seine. Every morning and every evening they brought the seine into the sea and pulled it ashore. They always had a lot of fish. They were very happy when we brought them Murka. Now they fed her with fish to the dump. I said that the cat will not go to live in the house and that it is necessary to make a hole for her - this is not an ordinary cat, she is from the homeless and loves freedom. They made a house of reeds for her, and Murka remained to guard the net from the mice.

And we returned home. Ryabka howled for a long time and barked tearfully; barked at us: where did we take the cat?

We were not on the net for a long time and only in the fall did we gather to Murka.

We arrived in the morning when we were pulling the net. The sea was as calm as water in a saucer. The seine was already coming to an end, and a whole band of sea crayfish - crabs was dragged onto the shore along with the fish. They are like large spiders, dexterous, run fast and angry. They stand on their hind legs and click their claws over their heads: they scare. And if they grab a finger, hold on to it: until it bleeds. Suddenly I look: our Murka is quietly walking among all this commotion. She deftly threw the crabs out of the way. He will pick him up with his paw from behind, where he cannot reach it, and throw it away. The crab rears up, puffs, clanks its claws like a dog with its teeth, but Murka doesn't even pay attention, throws it away like a pebble.

Four adult kittens watched her from afar, but they themselves were afraid to come close to the seine. And Murka climbed into the water, entered up to her neck, only one head sticks out of the water. It goes along the bottom, and the water parting from the head.

The cat felt with its paws on the bottom of the small fish that was leaving the seine. These fish hide to the bottom, bury themselves in the sand - it was here that Murka caught them. He feels with his paw, picks him up with his claws and throws him ashore to his children. And they were really big cats, and they were afraid to step on a wet one. Murka brought them to dry sand live fish, and then they ate and grumbled evil. Who knows what hunters!

The fishermen could not boast of Murka:

Oh yes cat! Fighting cat! Well, the children did not go to their mother. Goonies and idlers. They will sit down like gentlemen, and give them everything in their mouths. Look, take a seat! Pure pigs. Look, they fell apart. Shoot, you bastards!

The fisherman swung, but the cats did not move.

That's just because of my mother and tolerate. They should be driven out.

The cats were so lazy that they were too lazy to play with the mouse.

I once saw Murka drag a mouse in their teeth. She wanted to teach them how to catch mice. But the cats lazily fiddled with their paws and let go of the mouse. Murka rushed after and brought them again. But they did not even want to look: they were lying in the sun on the soft sand and waiting for dinner, so that they could eat fish heads without hassle.

Look, mothers' sons! - said Volodka and threw sand at them. - Look disgusting. There you are!

The cats shook their ears and rolled over to the other side.

Evening

The cow Masha is going to look for her son, a calf Alyoshka. You can't see him anywhere. Where did he go? It's time to go home.

And the calf Alyoshka ran over, tired, lay down in the grass. The grass is high - Alyoshka is not to be seen.

The cow Masha was frightened that her son Alyoshka was gone, but how he will blur that there are strengths:

At home, Masha was milked, they drank a whole bucket of fresh milk. We poured Alyoshka into a bowl:

Drink, Alyoshka.

Alyoshka was delighted - he had wanted milk for a long time - he drank everything to the bottom and licked the bowl with his tongue.

Alyoshka got drunk, he wanted to run around the yard. As soon as he ran, suddenly a puppy jumped out of the booth - and well, bark at Alyoshka. Alyoshka was frightened: this is, of course, a terrible beast, if it barks so loudly. And he started to run.

Alyoshka ran away, and the puppy did not bark anymore. It became quiet all around. Alyoshka looked - no one was there, everyone went to sleep. And I wanted to sleep myself. I lay down and fell asleep in the yard.

Masha the cow fell asleep on the soft grass.

The puppy fell asleep at his booth - he was tired, barking all day.

The boy Petya also fell asleep in his bed - he was tired, he ran all day.

And the bird has long since fallen asleep.

She fell asleep on a branch and hid her head under the wing so that it would be warmer to sleep. I'm tired too. I flew all day, caught midges.

Everyone fell asleep, everyone is asleep.

Only the night wind does not sleep.

It rustles in the grass and rustles in the bushes.

Wolf

One collective farmer woke up early in the morning, looked out the window at the courtyard, and there was a wolf in his yard. The wolf stood near the barn and scraped the door with its paw. There were sheep in the barn.

The collective farmer grabbed a shovel - and into the yard. He wanted to hit the wolf on the head from behind. But the wolf instantly turned and caught the shovel by the handle with his teeth.

The collective farmer began to pull out a shovel from the wolf. It was not so! The wolf gripped his teeth so tightly that he couldn't pull it out.

The collective farmer began to call for help, but at home they were asleep, they did not hear.

“Well,” the collective farmer thinks, “the wolf will not hold the shovel for a century;

And the wolf began to touch the handle with his teeth and closer and closer to the collective farmer ...

“Start the shovel?” The collective farmer thinks. “The wolf will also throw the shovel at me. I won't have time to escape.”

And the wolf is getting closer and closer. The collective farmer sees: things are bad - that way the wolf will soon grab the hand.

The collective farmer got together with all his might, and as soon as he would throw the wolf together with the shovel over the fence, and quickly into the hut.

The wolf ran away. And the collective farmer woke everyone up at home.

After all, - he says, - under your window the wolf almost got stuck. Eco sleep!

How, - asks the wife, - did you manage?

And I, - says the collective farmer, - threw him over the fence.

The wife looked, and behind the fence there was a shovel; all gnawed by wolf teeth.

Jackdaw

The brother and sister had a tame jackdaw. She ate from her hands, let herself be stroked, flew free and flew back.

Once my sister began to wash. She took the ring off her hand, put it on the sink and lathered her face with soap. And when she rinsed the soap, she looked: where is the ring? But there is no ring.

She shouted to her brother:

Give back the ring, don't tease! Why did you take it?

I didn’t take anything, ”my brother answered.

The sister quarreled with him and cried.

Grandma heard.

What have you got here? - is talking. - Give me glasses, now I will find this ring.

We rushed to look for glasses - no glasses.

I just put them on the table, - the grandmother cries. - Where can they go? How am I now threading a needle?

And she screamed at the boy.

It's your business! Why are you teasing grandma?

The boy was offended and ran out of the house. He looked - and a jackdaw was flying over the roof, and something glittered under its beak. Looked closely - yes, these are glasses! The boy hid behind a tree and began to look. And the jackdaw sat on the roof, looked around to see if anyone could see, and began to shove the glasses on the roof with its beak into the slot.

Grandmother came out onto the porch, said to the boy:

Tell me where are my glasses?

On the roof! the boy said.

The grandmother was surprised. And the boy climbed onto the roof and pulled out of his grandmother's glasses. Then he pulled out the ring. And then he took out the glass, and then there are many different pieces of money.

The grandmother was delighted with the glasses, and the sister said the ring to her brother:

Forgive me, I was thinking at you, and this is a thief jackdaw.

And they made up with their brother.

Grandma said:

These are all of them, jackdaws and magpies. What glitters, everything is dragged.

Girl Katya

The girl Katya wanted to fly away. There are no wings of their own. And suddenly there is such a bird in the world - as big as a horse, wings, like a roof. If you sit on such a bird, you can fly across the seas to warm countries.

Only the bird should be appeased earlier and the bird should be fed with something good, cherries for example.

At lunch, Katya asked dad:

Are there birds like a horse?

There is no such thing, there is no such thing, - said dad. And he still sits and reads the newspaper.

Katya saw a sparrow. And I thought: “What a weird cockroach.

And she asked dad:

What if a cockroach sits on a sparrow?

And dad said:

A sparrow will peck and eat a cockroach.

And it happens, - Katya asked, - that the eagle will grab the girl and carry it to its nest?

Do not lift the eagle girl, - said dad.

Will the two eagles carry it? Katya asked.

Dad didn’t say anything. Sits and reads the newspaper.

How many eagles does it take to carry a girl? Katya asked.

One hundred, - said Dad.

And the next day my mother said that there are no eagles in cities. A hundred eagles together never fly.

And the eagles are evil. Bloody birds. If an eagle catches a bird, it will tear it to pieces. If he grabs a hare, he won't leave his legs.

And Katya thought: we need to choose good white birds so that they live together, fly in a flock, fly strong and flap their wide wings, white feathers. Making friends with white birds, carrying all the crumbs from lunch, not eating sweets for two years - giving everything to the white birds, so that the birds fall in love with Katya, so that they can take her with them and carry her across the sea.

And in fact - as they flap their wings, they flap with a whole flock - so that the wind will rise and dust will go along the ground. And the birds above, hum, bustle, grab Katya ... and so for whatever, by the sleeves, by the dress, even if they grab by the hair - it doesn't hurt - they will grab her with their beaks. They will rise above the house - everyone is watching - mom will shout: "Katya, Katya!" And Katya just nods her head and says: "Goodbye, I'll come later."

There are probably such birds in the world. Katya asked her mother:

Where to find out what kind of birds are around the world?

Mom said:

Scientists know, but by the way - in the zoo.

Katya and her mother walked in the zoo.

Well, them, lions - and monkeys are not needed. And here, in large cages, birds. The cage is large, and the bird is barely visible. Well, it's small. Such a doll cannot be lifted.

And here is the eagle. Wow, how scary.

The eagle sat on a gray stone and tore the meat piece by piece. Bites, jerks, turns his head. The beak is like iron tongs. Sharp, strong, hooked.

The owls were white. The eyes are like big buttons, the muzzle is fluffy, and a sharp beak is hidden in the down. Echidic bird. Sly.

Mom says, "Little owl, little owl," but she didn’t stick a finger at her.

But the birds - and Katya does not know - maybe, little parrots, little white, sharpened wings, waving like fans, long noses, flying around the cage, they cannot sit and everything is affectionate.

Mom pulls the hand. "Let's go," he says. And Katya is crying, stamping her foot. He sees: those same birds, white, kind, and big wings.

What are their names?

And mom says:

I do not know. Well, birds are like birds. White birds, in a word. And most importantly, it's time for dinner.

And Katya came up with the idea at home.

And what she came up with - she did not tell anyone.

Take the rug that hangs over the bed, and sew to this rug along the edges with a thick thread of candy, seeds, bones, beads - sheathe the whole rug around, and the white birds will grab, wave their white wings, pull their beaks over the rug.

And Katya is lying on the carpet. Lies, as in a cradle, and the birds love her, and there are three hundred birds in all, everyone screams, everyone vying with each other grabbed, carry, like a feather. Above the roof over the whole city. All are standing below, their heads have been thrown. "What, - they say, - what is it?" Above the tree was raised. "Don't be afraid," the birds shout, "we won't let you in, we won't let you in for anything. Hold on tight!" - the birds scream.

And Katya stretched out on the rug, and the wind ruffles her hair. Cloud to meet. Birds flew into the soft cloud. A cloud swept over the very blue sky - everything around is blue - and farther and farther. And there, far away, and there my mother was far away, crying with joy: "As they love our little birds, they took with them. Also like a bird."

And then across the sea. Below is the sea and blue waves. And the birds are not afraid of anything. "We will not drop, - they shout, - we will not drop!" And suddenly it became warm, warm. We flew to warm countries.

Everything is warm there, and the water, like tea, is warm, and the earth is warm. And the grass is very soft. And nowhere are there thorns.

From that day, Katya every morning put crackers, crusts, sugar outside the window on the windowsill. She beat sugar into pieces, laid them side by side on the windowsill. The next morning there was nothing.

The birds know - they grab them at night, but during the day they probably spy: they see that Katya loves them and does not regret her sweets.

The time has come. Clouds rolled across the sky. Mom took galoshes out of the basket. Katya tore off the rug from the wall - she was finishing the last threads. And the birds were waiting behind the roof and secretly spying on whether Katya would soon lay down her rug. Katya put the rug in the room, lay down and tried on.

What are these tricks, - said my mother, - to lie on the floor during the day?

Katya got up and immediately burst into tears. Mom grabbed the rug.

What is this thread? What is this disgusting - candy, leftovers.

Katya cried even harder. And mom tears the threads, swears.

Katya thought: "I'll tell you - maybe it will be better." And she told everything.

And my mother sat down on the carpet and said:

And you know, there are crows. I saw: black, noses like nails, banging their nose - and eyes out. They are angry, they carry chickens. They will swoop down on your white birds, as they begin to hammer with evil noses - to the right, to the left, they will drag all the birds by a feather. From the very height, from the very top, you will fly like a cat from a window.

Early in the morning the cat jumped onto Katya's bed and woke her up. Katya did not throw off the cat, but grabbed the dress from the chair under the blanket, everything, everything: stockings, and garters, and shoes. She began to dress quietly under the covers. Slightly mom will move - Katya will rest her head on the pillow and close her eyes.

Finally I got dressed, quietly climbed down to the floor. She put on her hat, pulled on her coat, took bread from the kitchen - then quietly, without noise, she opened the door to the stairs and went up the stairs. Not down, but up. On the third floor, on the fourth floor, on the fifth floor and even higher. This is where the attic begins, and the window to the roof is without any glass. A wet wind is blowing from the window.

Katya climbed out the window. Then to the roof. And the roof was slippery and wet. Katya crawled on her stomach, clutched at the iron ribs with her hands, climbed to the very top and sat astride the roof at the very chimney. She crumbled some bread, laid it out both on the right and on the left, and said to herself:

I will sit, not move, until the birds arrive. Maybe they'll take me anyway. I will really start asking them. So much that I'll pay.

A fine rain fell from the sky, dripping all over Katya. A sparrow has arrived. He looked, looked, turned his head, looked at Katya, squeaked and flew away.

It was he who flew to me, it was his birds that were sent to see if Katya was waiting. He will fly now and say that he is sitting and waiting.

“Here,” thinks Katya, “I’ll close my eyes, I’ll sit like a stone, and then I’ll open it, and all the birds and birds will be around.”

And then Katya sees that she is not on the roof, but in the gazebo. And birds fly to the gazebo, flowers in the beaks - the whole gazebo is seated with flowers. And Katya has flowers on her head and flowers on her dress: and in her hands is a basket, in a basket of sweets, everything that is needed for the journey.

And the birds say:

It's scary to travel through the air. You will go in a wheelchair. Birds will harness instead of horses, and you don't have to do anything - you sit and hold on to the back.

Suddenly Katya hears - thunder rang out. Hurry, hurry, fly, birds, there will be a thunderstorm now.

The birds flap their wings with all their might, and the thunder is stronger, closer - and suddenly Katya hears: "Oh, there she is."

Katya opened her eyes. This is dad walking on the roof. He walks bent over - and rattles, slams the iron under him.

Don't move, - dad shouts, - you will fall.

Papa grabbed Katya across his stomach and crawled off the roof. And below is mom. She clenched her hands under her chin, and tears are dripping from her eyes.

How an elephant saved its owner from a tiger

The Indians have tame elephants. One Indian went with an elephant to the forest for firewood.

The forest was deaf and wild. The elephant trampled the owner's way and helped to cut down trees, and the owner loaded them onto the elephant.

Suddenly the elephant stopped obeying its owner, began to look around, shake its ears, and then raised its trunk and roared.

The owner also looked around, but did not notice anything.

He became angry with the elephant and beat him on the ears with a branch.

And the elephant bent its trunk with a hook to lift the owner onto his back. The owner thought: "I will sit on his neck - so it will be even more convenient for me to rule them."

He sat down on the elephant and began whipping the elephant over the ears with a branch. And the elephant backed up, stomped and twisted its trunk. Then he froze and became alert.

The owner raised a branch to hit the elephant with all his might, but suddenly a huge tiger jumped out of the bushes. He wanted to attack the elephant from behind and jump on its back.

But he hit the wood with his paws, the wood fell. The tiger wanted to jump another time, but the elephant had already turned, grabbed the tiger with its trunk across the belly, squeezed it like a thick rope. The tiger opened its mouth, stuck out its tongue and shook its paws.

And the elephant already lifted him up, then slammed down on the ground and began to trample with his feet.

And the elephant's legs are like pillars. And the elephant trampled the tiger into a cake. When the owner came to his senses from fear, he said:

What a fool I am to beat an elephant! And he saved my life.

The owner took out of the bag the bread he had prepared for himself and gave it all to the elephant.

Small lace under the Christmas tree

The boy took a net - a wicker net - and went to the lake to fish.

He caught a blue fish first. Blue, shiny, with red feathers, with round eyes. The eyes are like buttons. And the tail of the fish is just like a silk one: blue, thin, golden hairs.

The boy took a mug, a small mug of thin glass. He scooped water from the lake into a mug, put the fish in a mug - let it swim for now.

The fish gets angry, beats, escapes, and the boy is more likely to put it in a mug - boo!

The boy quietly took the fish by the tail, threw it into the mug - not to be seen at all. He himself ran on.

“Here,” he thinks, “wait, I'll catch a fish, a big crucian carp.”

Whoever catches a fish will be the first to catch it. Just do not grab it right away, do not swallow: there are thorny fish - ruff, for example. Bring, show. I'll tell you what kind of fish to eat, what to spit out.

Ducklings flew, swam in all directions. And one swam the farthest. I got out on the shore, dusted myself off and went waddling. What if there are fish on the shore? He sees that there is a mug under the tree. There is voditsa in a mug. "Let me take a look."

Fishes in the water rush, splash, poke, there is nowhere to get out - glass is everywhere. A duckling came up and saw - oh yes, fish! He took the biggest one and picked it up. And rather to my mother.

“I’m probably the first one. I’m the first one caught, and I’m done.”

The fish is red, the feathers are white, two antennae hung from the mouth, there are dark stripes on the sides, a speck on the scallop, like a black eye.

The duck flapped his wings, flew along the coast - straight to his mother.

The boy sees - a duck is flying, flying low, overhead, holding a fish in its beak, a red fish with a finger long. The boy shouted at the top of his lungs:

Mine is a fish! Thief duck, give it back now!

He waved his hands, threw stones at him, and screamed so terribly that he scared all the fish.

The duck was frightened and how it will shout:

Quack quack!

Shouted "quack-quack" and missed the fish.

The fish swam into the lake, in deep water, waved her feathers, swam home.

"How can I return to my mother with an empty beak?" - thought the duck, turned back, flew under the tree.

He sees that there is a mug under the tree. A small mug, voditsa in a mug, and fish in voditsa.

A duck ran up, more likely to grab a fish. A blue fish with a golden tail. Blue, shiny, with red feathers, with round eyes. The eyes are like buttons. And the tail of the fish is just like a silk one: blue, thin, golden hairs.

The duck flew up higher and - rather, to my mother.

"Well, now I will not shout, I will not open my beak. Once I was already gaping."

So you can see my mother. Now it’s very close. And my mother shouted:

Quack, what are you talking about?

Quack, this is a fish, blue, gold - there is a glass mug under the Christmas tree.

Here and again the beak is open, and the fish is splashing into the water! A little blue fish with a golden tail. She shook her tail, whined and went, went, went inland.

The duck turned back, flew under the tree, looked into the mug, and in the mug the fish was small, small, no bigger than a mosquito, you could hardly see the fish. He pecked the duck into the water and flew back home as hard as he could.

Where is your fish? the duck asked. - I can not see anything.

And the duck is silent, does not open its beak. He thinks: "I am cunning! Wow, how cunning I am! Cunning of all! I will be silent, otherwise I will open my beak - I will miss the fish. I dropped it twice."

And the fish in its beak beats with a thin mosquito, and climbs into the throat. The duck was frightened: "Oh, I think I'll swallow it now! Oh, I think I swallowed it!"

The brothers arrived. Each has a fish. Everyone swam up to mom and shove their beaks. And the duck shouts to the duckling:

Well, now you show what you brought! The duck opened its beak, but the fish did not.

Mongoose

I really wanted to have a real, live mongoose. Its own. And I decided: when our steamer comes to the island of Ceylon, I will buy myself a mongoose and give all the money, no matter how much they ask.

And here is our steamer off the island of Ceylon. I wanted to run to the shore as soon as possible, quickly find where they are sold, these animals. And suddenly a black man comes to our ship (the people there are all black), and all the comrades surrounded him, crowd, laugh, make noise. And someone shouted: "Mongoose!" I rushed, pushed everyone apart and I see - a black man has a cage in his hands, and there are gray animals in it. I was so afraid that someone would intercept that I shouted right in the face of this man:

- How many?

He even got scared at first, so I shouted. Then I understood, showed three fingers and thrust the cage into my hands. So, only three rubles, with the cage together, and not one, but two mongooses! I immediately paid off and took a deep breath: I was completely out of breath with joy. He was so glad that he forgot to ask this black man what to feed the mongoose, tame or wild. What if they bite? I caught myself, ran after the man, but his trace was gone.

I decided to find out for myself whether mongooses bite or not. I put my finger through the bars of the cage. And I didn't have time to push it, as I already hear - it's ready: they grabbed my finger. They grabbed small paws, tenacious, with marigolds. Fast, fast, the mongoose bites me on the finger. But it doesn’t hurt at all - she’s playing it on purpose. And the other is huddled in the corner of the cage and looks askance with black shining eyes.

I rather wanted to take it in my arms, stroke this one that bites for a joke. And as soon as I opened the cage, this very mongoose is a yurk! - and already ran around the cabin. She fussed, ran on the floor, smelled everything and quacked: krryk! crack! - like a crow. I wanted to catch her, bent down, held out my hand, and in an instant a mongoose flashed past my hand, and already in my sleeve. I raised my hand - and it's done: the mongoose is already in the bosom. She peeked out of her bosom, shouted cheerfully and hid again. And now I hear - she is already under the arm, sneaks into the other sleeve and jumped out of the other sleeve to freedom. I wanted to stroke her and only raised my hand, when suddenly the mongoose jumped up on all four paws at once, as if there was a spring under each paw. I even pulled my hand away, as if from a shot. And the mongoose from below looked at me with cheerful eyes and again: krryk! And I looked - she herself climbed onto my knees and then she showed her tricks: it would curl up, then instantly straighten, then the tail like a pipe, then suddenly its head would stick between hind legs... She was playing with me so affectionately, so merrily, and then suddenly they knocked on the cabin and called me to work.

It was necessary to load about fifteen huge trunks of some Indian trees on the deck. They were gnarled, with broken branches, hollow, thick, in the bark - as they were from the forest. But from the sawn-off end it was clear how beautiful they were inside - pink, red, completely black! We put them in a heap on the deck and fastened them tightly with chains so that they would not get loose in the sea. I worked and kept thinking: “What are my mongooses? After all, I didn’t leave them anything to eat ”.

I asked the black movers, the local people who came from the shore, if they knew what to feed the mongoose, but they did not understand anything and only smiled. And ours said:

- Come on whatever: she herself will figure out what she needs.

I begged the cook for meat, bought bananas, brought bread, a saucer of milk. He put all this in the middle of the cabin and opened the cage. He climbed onto the bed and began to look. A wild mongoose jumped out of the cage, and they, together with the manual one, rushed directly to the meat. They tore it with their teeth, grunt and grumble, lapped milk, then hand grabbed a banana and dragged it into a corner. Wild - jump! - and already next to her. I wanted to see what would happen, jumped out of bed, but it was too late: the mongooses were running back. They licked their faces, and from the banana there were only skins on the floor, like rags.

In the morning we were already at sea. I hung my whole cabin with garlands of bananas. They were swinging on ropes from the ceiling. This is for the mongoose. I'll give a little - that's enough for a long time. I released a tame mongoose, and now it ran over me, and I lay with my eyes half-closed and motionless.

I looked - a mongoose jumped onto the shelf where there were books. Here she climbed onto the frame of the round steamer window. The frame wobbled slightly - the steamer rocked. The mongoose settled down more firmly, looked down at me. I hid. The mongoose pushed its paw against the wall, and the frame went sideways. And at the very moment when the frame was against the banana, the mongoose jerked, jumped and grabbed the banana with both paws. She hung for a moment in the air, under the very ceiling. But the banana came off, and the mongoose hit the floor. No! A banana flopped. The mongoose jumped on all four legs. I jumped up to look, but the mongoose was already fumbling under the bunk. A minute later she came out with a smeared muzzle. She quacked with pleasure.

Hey! I had to outweigh the bananas to the very middle of the cabin: the mongoose had already tried to climb higher on a towel. She climbed like a monkey: her paws are like hands. Tenacious, dexterous, agile. She was not afraid of me at all. I let her out on deck for a walk in the sun. She immediately sniffed everything in a businesslike manner and ran around the deck as if she had never been anywhere else and her house was here.

But on the steamer we had our long-time master on deck. No, not the captain, but the cat. Huge, well-fed, with a brass collar. He walked importantly on the deck when it was dry. It was dry that day too. And the sun rose above the mast itself. The cat came out of the kitchen and looked to see if everything was in order.

He saw a mongoose and walked quickly, and then began to sneak cautiously. He walked along an iron pipe. She stretched across the deck. It was just at this pipe that a mongoose was scurrying about. She didn't seem to have seen the cat. And the cat was already completely above her. All he could do was stretch out his paw to grab his claws into her back. He waited to get comfortable. I immediately realized what would happen now. The mongoose does not see, she has her back to the cat, she sniffs the deck as if nothing had happened; the cat has already taken aim.

I started running. But I didn't get there. The cat extended its paw. And at the same moment, the mongoose thrust its head between its hind legs, opened its mouth, croaked loudly, and set its tail - a huge fluffy tail - upside down, and it became like a lamp hedgehog that cleaned the glass. In an instant, she turned into an incomprehensible, unprecedented monster. The cat was thrown back as if from a red-hot iron. He turned at once and, lifting his tail with a stick, rushed away without looking back. And the mongoose, as if nothing had happened, fussed again and sniffed something on the deck. But since then, the handsome cat has rarely been seen. A mongoose on deck - you won't find a cat. His name was both "kitty-kitty" and "Vassenka". The cook lured him with meat, but the cat could not be found, even though the whole ship had been searched. But the mongooses were now spinning around the kitchen; they quacked, demanded meat from the cook. Poor Vassenka only made his way to the cook's cabin at night, and the cook fed him meat. At night, when the mongooses were in the cage, it was Vaska's time.

But one night I was awakened by a scream on the deck. People shouted alarmingly, frightenedly. I dressed quickly and ran out. The fireman Fyodor shouted that he was now walking from the watch and that from these very Indian trees, from this heap a snake crawled out and immediately hid back. What a snake - in! - a hand thick, almost two fathoms long. And so she even poked her head at him. No one believed Fyodor, but nevertheless they looked at the Indian trees with apprehension. What if there really is a snake? Well, not as thick as an arm, but poisonous? So go here at night! Someone said: "They love warmly, they crawl into people's beds." Everyone fell silent. Suddenly everyone turned to me.

- Well, animals here, your mongooses! Well, let them ...

I was afraid that the wild would run away at night. But there’s no time to think anymore: someone had already run to my cabin and was already carrying a cage here. I opened it near the pile itself, where the trees ended and the back doors between the trunks were visible. Someone lit an electric chandelier. I saw the tame one duck into the back passage first. And wild behind her. I was afraid that their paws or tail would pinch them among these heavy logs. But it was already too late: both mongooses had gone there.

- Bring the crowbar! Someone shouted.

And Fyodor was already standing with an ax. Then everyone fell silent and began to listen. But nothing was heard, except for the creak of decks. Suddenly someone shouted:

- Look, look! Tail!

Fyodor swung his ax, the others shoved away. I grabbed Fyodor by the arm. With fright, he almost hit the tail with an ax; the tail was not a snake, but a mongoose - it protruded, then retracted. Then the hind legs appeared. The legs clung to the tree. It can be seen that something was pulling the mongoose back.

- Help someone! You see, she can't do it! - shouted Fyodor.

- And then what? What a commander! - answered from the crowd.

Nobody helped, but everyone backed away, even Fyodor with an ax. Suddenly the mongoose contrived; you could see how she excused herself, clinging to the decks. She lunged and drew the serpentine tail behind her. The tail wobbled, he threw up the mongoose and banged it on the deck.

- Killed, killed! - shouted around.

But my mongoose - it was wild - instantly jumped on its feet. She held the snake by the tail, she dug into it with her sharp teeth. The snake shrank, pulled the wild again into the black passage. But the wild one rested with all her paws and pulled out the snake more and more.

The snake was two fingers thick, and it beat its tail against the deck like a whip, and at the end it held a mongoose, and it was thrown from side to side. I wanted to chop off this tail, but Fyodor disappeared somewhere along with the ax. His name was, but he did not respond. Everyone waited in fear for the snake's head to appear. Now is the end, and the whole snake will break out. What's this? This is not a snake head - this is a mongoose! So the tame one jumped onto the deck, it dug into the snake's neck from the side. The snake wriggled, torn, it knocked on the deck with mongooses, and they held on like leeches.

Suddenly someone shouted:

- Hit! - and hit the snake with a crowbar.

All rushed and began to thresh who with what. I was afraid that the mongoose would be killed in the commotion. I tore off the wild one from the tail.

She was so angry that she bit my hand: she was torn and scratched. I tore off my hat and wrapped it in the face. The hand was torn off by my friend. We put them in a cage. They shouted and torn, grabbed the bars with their teeth.

I tossed them a piece of meat, but they paid no attention. I put out the light in the cabin and went to burn my bitten hands with iodine.

And there, on deck, the snake was still thrashed. Then they threw it overboard.

From that time on, everyone began to love my mongoose very much and dragged them to eat what anyone had. The tame one got to know everyone, and it was difficult to get through to her in the evening: she was always visiting someone. She briskly climbed the tackle. And once in the evening, when the electricity was already lit, the mongoose climbed onto the mast along the ropes that went from the side. Everyone admired her dexterity, looked with raised heads. But then the rope reached the mast. A bare, slippery tree went further. But the mongoose twisted its whole body and grabbed the copper pipes. They walked along the mast. They contain electrical wires to the lamp above. The mongoose quickly climbed even higher. Everyone downstairs clapped their hands. Suddenly the electrical engineer shouted:

- There are bare wires! - and ran to put out the electricity.

But the mongoose has already grabbed the bare wires with its paw. She was electrocuted and fell from a height. They caught her, but she was already motionless.

She was still warm. I quickly carried her to the doctor's cabin. But his cabin was locked. I rushed to my room, carefully laid the mongoose on the pillow and ran to look for our doctor. "Maybe he will save my animal?" I thought. I ran all over the ship, but someone had already told the doctor, and he was walking quickly towards me. I wanted it to be quick and tugged at the doctor's hand. They came to me.

- Well, where is she? The doctor said.

Indeed, where is it? She was not on the pillow. I looked under the bunk. He began to fumble there with his hand. And suddenly: krryk-krryk! - and the mongoose jumped out from under the bed as if nothing had happened - healthy.

The doctor said that the electric current probably only stunned her for a while, but while I ran after the doctor, the mongoose recovered. How happy I was! I pressed and stroked everything to her face. And then everyone began to come to me, everyone was happy and stroked the mongoose - they loved her so much.

And the wild then completely tamed, and I brought the mongoose to my home.

Bear

In Siberia, in a dense forest, in the taiga, a Tungus hunter lived with his whole family in a leather tent. Once he went out of the house to break firewood, he sees: on the ground there are traces of a moose elk. The hunter was delighted, ran home, took his gun and knife and said to his wife:

Soon don't wait back - I'll go for the elk.

So he followed the tracks, suddenly he sees more tracks - bearish. And where the elk's tracks lead, there the bear's ones lead.

"Hey, - thought the hunter, - I'm not alone after the elk, the bear is driving the elk in front of me. I can't catch them. The bear will catch the elk before me."

After all, the hunter followed in the footsteps. I walked for a long time, I already ate the entire stock that I took from home with me, but everything goes on and on. The footprints began to rise up the mountain, but the forest does not thin out, still the same dense.

The hunter is hungry, exhausted, but everything goes on and looks under his feet, as if not to lose traces. And along the way, pines lie, piled up by a storm, stones overgrown with grass. The hunter is tired, stumbles, barely pulls his legs. And everything looks: where is the grass crushed, where is the ground pressed by a deer hoof?

"I have already climbed high," the hunter thinks, "where is the end of this mountain."

Suddenly he hears: someone is chomping. The hunter hid and crawled quietly. And I forgot that I was tired, where the strength came from. The hunter was crawling, crawling and now he sees: there are very few trees, and here the end of the mountain - it converges at an angle - there is a cliff on the right and a cliff on the left. And in the very corner lies a huge bear, gnawing at the elk, grumbling, chomping and not smelling the hunter.

"Aha, - thought the hunter, - you drove the elk here, into the very corner, and then you bit him. Stop!"

The hunter got up, knelt down and began to aim at the bear.

Then the bear saw him, got scared, wanted to run, ran to the edge, and there was a cliff. The bear roared. Then the hunter fired a gun at him and killed him.

The hunter tore the skin off the bear, and cut the meat and hung it on a tree so that the wolves would not get it. The hunter ate bear meat and quickly go home.

He folded the tent and went with the whole family, where he left the bear meat.

Here, - said the hunter to his wife, - eat, and I will rest.

Myshkin

Here I will tell you how I took revenge, for the only time in my life, and took revenge in blood, without unclenching my teeth, and kept a stale spirit in my chest until I pulled the trigger.

His name was Myshkin, my deceased's cat. He was all gray, without a single spot, mouse-colored, hence his name. He was not a year old. My boy brought it to me in a sack. Myshkin did not jump wildly out of the sack, he stuck out his round head and looked around attentively. He carefully, without haste, got out of the bag, stepped onto the floor, dusted himself off and began to tidy up the wool with his tongue. He walked around the room, wriggling and agitated, and it was felt that the soft, gentle down in an instant, like lightning, would turn into a steel spring. He kept looking into my face and carefully, without fear, followed my movements. I very soon learned to give him a paw, to go to the whistle. I finally taught him to jump on his shoulders to a conventional whistle - this I learned him when we walked together along the autumn coast, among the tall yellow weeds, wet potholes and slimy landslides. A deaf clay cliff, for miles without shelter. Myshkin searched, disappeared in this robber weed, and this weed, damp and dead, was still waving in the wind with his bare hands, when everything was already gone, and still did not wait for happiness. I whistled, as we had agreed, and now Myshkin high waves it gallops through the weeds and clings with its claws to the back with a swing, and now it is on the shoulder, and I feel the warm soft fur at my ear. And I rubbed my cold ear and tried to hide it deeper in the warm wool.

I walked around with a rifle, hoping that it might be possible to shoot a leporichus - a French rabbit - who lived here wildly in burrows. It's a hopeless thing to hit the rabbit with a bullet! After all, he will not sit and wait for a shot like a plywood target in a shooting range. But I knew what hunger and fear work wonders. And there were already frosts, and the fish in our shores ceased to be caught. And freezing rain splashed from the low clouds. The empty sea, a muddy red wave, uselessly landed on the shore day and night, without interruption. And I wanted to eat every day in the morning. And a sickening shiver went through every time I went out and the wind slammed the door behind me. I came back three hours later without firing a shot and put my rifle in a corner. The boy boiled seashells that he had collected during this time: he tore them off the stones and threw the surf on the shore.

But this is what happened then: Myshkin suddenly stretched out all over my shoulder, he was balancing on his collected paws and suddenly fired - shot himself, so that I staggered from an unexpected push. I stopped. Burian staggered ahead, and along him I followed Myshkin's movements. Now he has become. Burian swayed with the wind. And suddenly a squeak, a thin squeak, either a child or a bird. I ran forward. Myshkin crushed the rabbit with his paw, he bit his teeth into the scruff of the neck and froze, straining. It seemed that you touch it - and blood will sprinkle from it. He looked up at me for a moment. The rabbit was still struggling. But then he jerked for the last time and froze, stretched out. Myshkin jumped on his paws, he pretended that I was not there, he trotted anxiously with a rabbit in his teeth. But I managed to step and stepped on the rabbit's paws. Myshkin grunted, so evil! Nothing! I sat down and unclenched his jaw with my hands. I said "tubo" at the same time. No, Myshkin didn't scratch me. He stood at his feet and gazed at his prey with fierce eyes. I quickly cut off my leg with a knife and threw it to Myshkin. He galloped off into the weeds with high leaps. I hid the rabbit in my pocket and sat down on a rock. I wanted to go home as soon as possible - to boast that we are with the prey. What are your shells worth! The rabbit, however, was not large! But boil and two potatoes, hey! I wanted to whistle for Myshkin, but he himself came out of the weeds. He licked his lips, his eyes were wild.

He did not look at me. The tail was dangling to the sides in an uneven lash. I got up and went. Myshkin galloped after me, I heard that.

Finally I decided to whistle. Myshkin, running like a stone, hit my back and was instantly on my shoulder. He purred and measured my greatcoat with his claws. He rubbed his head against my ear, he butted his furry forehead on my temple.

Seven times I told the boy about the hunt. When we went to bed, he asked for more. Myshkin was asleep, as usual, sitting on top of my blanket.

Since then, things have gone better: once we even returned with a couple of rabbits. Myshkin was accustomed to the division and gave away the spoils almost without protest.

And then one day, early in the morning, I was looking out the window, tear-stained by the rain, at the muddy clouds, at the wet empty vegetable garden, and slowly smoked a cigarette from the last tobacco. Suddenly a cry, a sharp cry of mortal despair. I immediately learned that it was Myshkin. I looked around: where, where? And now the owl, spreading its wings, plans under the cliff, something gray in its claws, beats.

No, not a rabbit, this is Myshkin. I didn’t remember when I grabbed a rifle on the way - but no, it took a sharp turn under the cliff, there was nothing to shoot at. I ran to the cliff: here the wind carried the gray fluff. Apparently, Myshkin did not immediately succeed. How did I miss? After all, it was almost before our eyes, here, in front of the window, twenty paces away? I know: she probably did to him as to a hare: she grabbed her back and shoulders with her outstretched paws, jerked sharply to break the ridge, and pecked alive in her nest.

The next day, a little dawn broke, I left the house. I walked at random, almost not stepping. Careful, sneak. Teeth were clenched, and what a wicked head on his shoulders! I carefully searched the entire shore. It was almost daylight, but I could not return home. We didn't talk to the boy all day yesterday. He cooked seashells, but I didn't eat. He was still asleep when I left. And I did not stroke my chain dog for his greetings; he screeched with bitterness.

I walked towards the house with the same tense gait. I didn't know how I would enter the house. The doghouse is already visible from behind the hillock, here is the stump from the last acacia cut down for firewood. Wait, what's that on the stump? She! She was sitting on a stump, dull white, sitting opposite my chicken coop, which is under the window.

I slowed down my steps. Now she turned her head towards me. There were sixty steps left. I quietly began to kneel down. She kept looking. I slowly, like a glass of water, began to raise the rifle. Now she will be at gunpoint. She sits motionless, like a target, and I can see her eyes perfectly. They are like daisies, with a black pupil heart. Take it under it, just below the legs. I froze and quietly pressed the trigger.

And suddenly the owl seemed to remember that it had forgotten something at home, flapped its wings and flew low above the ground behind the house. I barely held my finger so as not to pull the trigger. I hit the ground with the butt, and the gun creaked in my angry hands. I was ready to sit here until the next morning. I know that the wind would not have chilled my anger, and then I could not even think about food.

I wandered until evening, slipped and fell on these clay mounds. I even whistled once, like to Myshkin, but I was so angry with myself that I ran from the place where it happened to me.

I came home when it was dark. There was no light in the room. I don't know if the boy was asleep. Maybe I woke him up. Then he asked me in the dark: what kind of owl eggs are they? I said that I would draw tomorrow.

And in the morning ... Wow! In the morning I figured out exactly which side to approach. Just so that the brightening sunrise was in her eyes, and I was on the background of the cliff. I found this place. It was completely dark and I sat still. I just moved the bolt slightly to check if there were any cartridges in the barrel. I turned to stone.

Only in my head there was an unmoving black flame, like love, because only as a boy in love could I sit all night on the bench opposite her house to see her go to school in the morning. Love warmed me then, as now rage warmed me.

It was getting light. I could already distinguish the stump. There was no one on it. Or is it imagining? No, nobody. I heard how my dog ​​came out of the booth, how it was shaking itself off, rattling with a chain. So the rooster roared in the henhouse. The dawn was coming hard. But now I can see clearly the stump. It is empty. I decided to close my eyes and count to three thousand and then take a look. I could not count to five hundred and opened my eyes: they were looking directly at the stump, and she was sitting on the stump. She, apparently, had just sat down, she shifted some more. But the rifle rose by itself. I stopped breathing. I remember this moment, the sight, the front sight and it above it. At that moment, she turned her head towards me with her daisies, and the gun fired on its own. I breathed like a dog and looked. I didn't know if she flew or fell. I jumped to my feet and ran.

Behind the stump, her wings spread, she lay. Eyes were open, and she was still moving her upturned paws, as if in defense. For several seconds I did not take my eyes off and suddenly stamped with all my strength with the butt on this head, on this beak.

I turned, I took a deep breath for the first time in all this time.

A boy stood in the doorway with his mouth wide open. He heard a shot.

Her? - he was hoarse with excitement.

Look - and I nodded back.

This day we collected seashells together.

Hunter and dogs

Early in the morning the hunter got up, took a gun, cartridges, a bag, called his two dogs and went to shoot the rabbits.

There was a bitter frost, but there was no wind at all. The hunter was skiing and warmed up from walking. He felt warm.

The dogs ran ahead and chased the hares to the hunter. The hunter shot deftly and filled five of them. Then he noticed that he had gone far.

“It's time to go home,” thought the hunter. “You can see traces from my skis, and before it gets dark, I'll follow the tracks home.

He went downstairs and saw that in the ravine it was black-black from jackdaws. They were sitting right in the snow. The hunter realized that the matter was amiss.

And rightly so: he had just left the ravine when the wind blew, it started snowing, and a blizzard began. There was nothing to be seen ahead, the tracks were covered with snow. The hunter whistled the dogs.

"If the dogs do not lead me out onto the road," he thought, "I’m lost. I don’t know where to go, I’ll get lost, it will bring me in snow, and I’ll freeze."

He let the dogs go ahead, and the dogs will run off five steps - and the hunter cannot see where to follow them. Then he took off his belt, untied all the straps and ropes that were on him, tied the dogs by the collar and let them go forward. The dogs dragged him, and he came to his village on skis, like on a sleigh.

He gave each dog a whole hare, then took off his shoes and lay down on the stove. And he kept thinking:

"If it weren't for the dogs, I would have disappeared today."

About the monkey

I was twelve years old and I was in school. Once at recess, my friend Yukhimenko comes up to me and says:

Do you want me to give you a monkey?

I did not believe it - I thought he would arrange something for me now, so that sparks would fall from his eyes, and he would say: this is the "monkey". I'm not like that.

Okay, - I say, - we know.

No, - he says, - in fact. A live monkey. She is good. Her name is Yashka. And dad is angry.

On whom?

Yes, on me and Yashka. Take it away, says where you know. I think everything is best for you.

After lessons we went to him. I still didn't believe. Did I really think I would have a live monkey? And he kept asking what she was. And Yukhimenko says:

You will see, do not be afraid, she is small.

Indeed, it turned out to be small. If it stands on its paws, then no more than a half-arshin. The muzzle is wrinkled, old woman, and the eyes are lively, shiny. The coat on it is red, and the legs are black. As if human hands in black gloves. She was wearing a blue vest.

Yukhimenko shouted:

Yashka, Yashka, go, what will I give!

And put his hand in his pocket. The monkey shouted: "Ay! Ay!" - and in two leaps Yukhimenka jumped into her arms. He immediately thrust it into his greatcoat, into his bosom.

Let's go, - he says.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. We walk down the street, carry such a miracle, and no one knows what we have in our bosom.

Dear Yukhimenko told me what to feed.

Eat everything, go ahead. Sweet love. Candy is a disaster! It will burst by all means will be devoured. He loves tea that is liquid and sweet. You don't give her up. Two pieces. Do not give a bit of a bite: the sugar will gobble up, but he will not drink tea.

I listened and thought: I won’t regret three pieces for her, dear one, like a toy man. Then I remembered that she had no tail either.

You, - I say, - cut off her tail at the very root?

She is a monkey, - says Yukhimenko, - their tails do not grow.

We came to our home. Mom and the girls were sitting at lunch. Yukhimenka and I entered right in our greatcoats.

I'm talking:

And who do we have!

They all turned around. Yukhimenko threw open his overcoat. No one has yet had time to make out anything, and Yashka will jump from Yukhimenka onto his mother's head; pushed his legs and onto the sideboard. He reined in my mother's entire hairstyle.

Everyone jumped up, shouted:

Who, who is this?

And Yashka sat down on the sideboard and builds muzzles, chomps, grins his teeth.

Yukhimenko was afraid that they would scold him now, and hurry to the door. They didn't even look at him - everyone was looking at the monkey. And suddenly the girls all in one voice pulled out:

What a pretty one!

And my mother adjusted her hair.

Where is it from?

I looked around. Yukhimenka is gone. So I remained the master. And I wanted to show that I know how to deal with a monkey. I put my hand in my pocket and shouted, like Yukhimenko had done earlier:

Yashka, Yashka! Go, I'll give you something!

Everyone was waiting. But Yashka did not even look - he began to scratch himself small and often with a black paw.

Until the evening, Yashka did not go downstairs, but jumped on the tops: from the sideboard to the door, from the door to the wardrobe, from there to the stove.

In the evening, the father said:

You can't leave her like that overnight, she will turn the apartment upside down.

And I started to catch Yashka. I go to the sideboard - it is on the stove. I brush it from there, he jumped on the clock. The clock swung and steel. And Yashka is already swinging on the curtains. From there - to the picture - the picture looked askance - I was afraid that Yashka would throw himself at the hanging lamp.

But then everyone gathered and began to chase Yashka. They threw a ball, coils, matches at him and finally drove him into a corner.

Yashka pressed himself against the wall, bared his teeth and clicked his tongue - he began to frighten. But they covered him with a woolen shawl and wrapped him up, entangled.

Yashka floundered, shouted, but they soon turned him around so that only one head remained sticking out. He turned his head, blinked his eyes, and it seemed that now he would cry from resentment.

Do not swaddle the monkey every night! Father said:

Snap. By the vest and to the leg, to the table.

I brought the rope, felt a button on Yashka's back, put the rope in a loop and tied it tightly. Yashka's waistcoat on the back was fastened with three buttons. Then I brought Yashka, as he was, wrapped up, to the table, tied the rope to the leg and only then unwound the handkerchief.

Wow, how he started to ride! But where can he break the rope! He screamed, got angry and sat down sadly on the floor.

I took sugar from the sideboard and gave it to Yashka. He grabbed a piece with a black paw, tucked it behind his cheek. This made his whole face twist.

I asked Yashka for a paw. He held out his pen to me.

Then I looked at what pretty black nails she was wearing. A toy living pen! I began to stroke the foot and think: just like a child. And he tickled his palm. And the baby somehow jerks his paw - once - and me on the cheek. I didn't even have time to blink, but he slapped me in the face and jumped under the table. He sat down and grins. Here comes the baby!

But then they drove me to sleep.

I wanted to tie Yashka to my bed, but they wouldn't let me. I kept listening to what Yashka was doing, and thought that he certainly needed to make a bed so that he could sleep like people and cover himself with a blanket. I would put my head on a pillow. I thought and thought and fell asleep.

In the morning he jumped up - and, without dressing, to Yashka. There is no Yashka on the rope. There is a rope, a vest is tied on a rope, but there is no monkey. I look, all three buttons in the back are unbuttoned. It was he who unbuttoned his vest, left it on the rope, and ran away himself. I search around the room. I spank with bare feet. Nowhere. I got scared. How did you run away? I have not been a day, and here you are! I looked at the cabinets, in the stove - nowhere. He ran away, then, into the street. And on the street frost - freeze, poor! And it became cold myself. I ran to get dressed. Suddenly I see something fumbling in my own bed. The blanket moves. I even shuddered. There he is! It became cold for him on the floor, and he ran off to my bed. Huddled under the covers. And I was asleep and did not know. Yashka did not shy away from sleep, he fell into his hands, and I put on a blue vest on him again.

When they sat down to drink tea, Yashka jumped on the table, looked around, immediately found a sugar bowl, launched his paw and jumped on the door. He jumped so easily that he seemed to fly, not jump. The monkey had fingers on the legs, as on hands, and Yashka could grab with his legs. He did just that. Sits like a child, in someone's arms and folded his hands, and he himself pulls something from the table with his foot.

He pulls off a knife and, well, jump with a knife. This is to be taken away from him, and he will run away. Yasha was given tea in a glass. He hugged the glass like a bucket, drank and smacked. I have not regretted the sugar.

When I left for school, I tied Yashka to the door, to the handle. This time he tied a rope around his waist so that he could not break loose. When I came home, I saw from the hallway what Yashka was doing. It hung on the doorknob and rolled on the doors like a merry-go-round. Will push off the jamb and ride to the wall. He kicks his foot into the wall and drives back.

When I sat down to prepare my lessons, I put Yashka on the table. He really enjoyed basking himself near the lamp. He dozed like an old man in the sun, swayed and, squinting, watched me poke my pen into the ink. Our teacher was strict, and I wrote a page cleanly. I didn't want to get wet so as not to spoil it. Left to dry. I come and see: Yakov is sitting on a notebook, dipping his finger into an inkwell, grumbles and draws out ink Babylon according to my writing. Oh, you rubbish! I almost cried with grief. I rushed to Yashka. Yes, where! He's on the curtains - all the curtains are stained with ink. That's why Yukhimenkin's dad was angry with him and Yashka ...

But once my dad was angry with Yashka. Yashka was picking off the flowers that stood at our windows. Tear off a leaf and tease. The father caught and gave Yashka. And then he tied him up as punishment on the stairs that led to the attic. Narrow ladder. And the wide one went down from the apartment.

Here the father goes to the service in the morning. He cleaned himself, put on his hat, and descends the stairs. Clap! The plaster falls. My father stopped and shook it off his hat. He looked up - no one. Just went - bang, again a piece of lime right on the head. What?

And I could see from the side how Yashka was operating. He broke some lime from the wall, spread it along the edges of the steps, and he himself lay down, hid on the stairs, just above his father's head. As soon as the father went, Yashka quietly pushed the plaster from the step with his foot and tried it on so dexterously that he took revenge on his father's hat - it was he who took revenge on him for the fact that his father had blown him up the day before.

But when the real winter began, the wind howled in the chimneys, the windows were covered with snow, Yashka became sad. I kept heating him, holding him to me. Yashka's muzzle became sad, drooping, he squealed and pressed against me. I tried to put it in my bosom, under my jacket. Yashka immediately settled down there: he grabbed the shirt with all four paws and hung as he stuck. He slept there, not unclenching his paws. Forget another time that you have a living belly under your jacket, and lean against the table. Yashka will now scratch my side with his paw: he lets me know to be more careful.

Once on Sunday the girls came to visit. We sat down to breakfast. Yashka sat quietly in my bosom, and he was not at all noticeable. At the end, candy was handed out. As soon as I began to unfold the first, suddenly from behind the bosom, right from my belly, a shaggy handle stretched out, grabbed the candy and back. The girls screamed in fear. And it was Yashka who heard that the paper was rustling, and guessed that they were eating sweets. And I say to the girls: "This is my third hand; I shove candy into my stomach with this hand, so as not to mess around for a long time." But everyone guessed that it was a monkey, and from under the jacket you could hear the crunch of candy: it was Yashka gnawing and chomping, as if I were chewing on my stomach.

Yashka was angry with his father for a long time. Yashka reconciled with him because of the sweets. My father had just quit smoking and instead of cigarettes carried small sweets in a cigarette case. And every time after dinner, my father opened the tight lid of the cigarette case with his thumb, fingernail, and took out sweets. Yashka is right there: he sits on his knees and waits - fidgets, stretches. Here father once gave the whole cigarette case to Yashka; Yashka took it in his hand, and with his other hand, just like my father, began to pry the lid with his thumb. His finger is small, and the lid is tight and dense, and nothing comes out of Yashenka. He howled in annoyance. And the candy is blurry. Then Yashka grabbed his father's thumb and with his fingernail, like a chisel, began to pick off the lid. Father was amused by this, he opened the lid and brought the cigarette case to Yashka. Yashka immediately launched his paw, grabbed a full handful, quickly into his mouth and ran away. Not every day is such happiness!

We had a doctor we knew. Loved to chat - trouble. Especially at lunch. Everyone has already finished, everything is cold on his plate, then he will just miss it, hastily swallow two pieces:

Thank you, I'm full.

Once he is having dinner with us, he poked a fork into the potatoes and brandished this fork - he says. Dispersed - not to appease. And Yasha, I see, is climbing up the back of the chair, quietly crept up and sat by the doctor's shoulder. The doctor says:

And you see, this is just ... - And he stopped the fork with potatoes near his ear - for one moment only. Yashenka with his paw gently grabbed the potatoes and took them off the fork - carefully, like a thief.

And imagine ... - And poke an empty fork into your mouth. He was embarrassed thinking, shook off the potatoes, when he waved his hands, he looked around. And Yashka is no longer sitting in the corner and cannot chew potatoes, he scored his whole throat.

The doctor himself laughed, but nevertheless he took offense at Yashka.

They made a bed for Yasha in a basket: with a sheet, a blanket, a pillow. But Yashka did not want to sleep like a human: he wrapped everything around himself in a ball and sat like a stuffed animal all night. They sewed him a dress, green, with a cape, and he looked like a girl with a haircut from an orphanage.

Once I hear a ringing in the next room. What? I make my way quietly and see: Yashka is standing on the windowsill in a green dress, in one hand he has a lamp glass, and in the other - a hedgehog, and he is furiously cleaning the glass with a hedgehog. I was so furious that I did not hear how I entered. He saw how the glass was cleaned, and let's try it for himself.

Otherwise, you leave him in the evening with a lamp, he turns the fire away with a full flame, the lamp smokes, soot flies around the room, and he sits and growls at the lamp.

The trouble was with Yashka, even put him in a cage! I scolded and beat him, but for a long time I could not be angry with him. When Yashka wanted to be liked, he became very affectionate, climbed onto his shoulder and began to search in his head. This means that he already loves you very much.

He needs to beg for something - candy there or an apple - now he will climb on his shoulder and carefully begin to fiddle with his paws in his hair: he looks for it and scratches it with his fingernail. He finds nothing, but pretends to have caught the beast: he bites something off his fingers.

Once a lady came to visit us. She thought she was pretty. Discharged. Everything is so silky and rustles. There is not a haircut on the head, but a whole gazebo of hair is wound - in curls, in curls. And on the neck, on a long chain, a mirror in a silver frame.

Yashka cautiously jumped up to her on the floor.

Oh, what a pretty monkey! - says the lady. And let's play with Yashka with a mirror.

Yashka caught the mirror, turned it over and jumped on to the lady's knees and began to try the mirror with his teeth.

The lady took away the mirror and held it in her hand. And Yasha wants to get a mirror. The lady carelessly stroked Yashka with her glove and slowly pushes him off her knees. So Yashka decided to please, to flatter the lady. Jumped onto her shoulder. Firmly grabbed the lace with his hind legs and grabbed his hair. I dug up all the curls and began to search.

The lady blushed.

Let's go, let's go! - is talking.

It was not so! Yashka tries even more: he scratches with his nails, clicks with his teeth.

This lady always sat down in front of the mirror to admire herself, and in the mirror she saw that Yashka had ruffled her - she almost cried. I moved to the rescue. Where there! Yashka grabbed his hair with all his strength and looked at me wildly. The lady tugged at his collar, and Yashka tore off her hair. I looked at myself in the mirror - a stuffed animal. I swung, frightened off Yashka, and our guest grabbed her head and - at the door.

Disgrace, - he says, - disgrace! - And I didn't say goodbye to anyone.

"Well, - I think, - I will hold it until spring and will give it to someone if Yukhimenko does not take it. I got so much for this monkey!"

And now spring has come. It got warmer. Yashka came to life and played even more mischief. He really wanted to go out into the yard, free. And our yard was huge, with a tithe. In the middle of the courtyard, government coal was piled up like a mountain, and around were warehouses with goods. And from the thieves, the watchmen kept a whole pack of dogs in the yard. Dogs are big, angry. And all the dogs were commanded by the red dog Kashtan. At whom Chestnut growls, all the dogs rush at him. Whom Chestnut will miss, and the dogs will not be touched. And Kashtan beat the stranger's dog with a running start. She would hit her, knock her down and stand over her, growls, and she's afraid to move.

I looked out the window - I see there are no dogs in the yard. Let me, I think, go, take Yashenka out for the first time. I put a green dress on him so that he would not catch a cold, put Yashka on my shoulder and walked away. As soon as I opened the doors, Yashka jumped to the ground and ran across the yard. And suddenly, out of nowhere, the whole pack of dogs, and Chestnut in front, right on Yashka. And he, like a green doll, stands small. I already decided that Yashka was gone - they will tear him apart now. Kashtan poked his head towards Yashka, but Yashka turned to him, sat down, took aim. Chestnut stood a step away from the monkey, bared his teeth and grumbled, but did not dare to rush to such a miracle. The dogs all bristled and waited for Chestnut.

I wanted to rush to help out. But suddenly Yashka jumped and at one moment sat on Kashtan's neck. And then the wool flew in tufts from the Chestnut tree. Yashka beat him in the face and eyes, so that the paws were not visible. Chestnut howled, and in such a terrible voice that all the dogs scattered about. Chestnut began to run headlong, and Yashka sits, clutching the wool with his feet, holding on tightly, and tearing Chestnut by the ears with his hands, pinching the wool in shreds. Chestnut has gone mad: he rushes around the coal mountain with a wild howl. Three times Yashka ran around the yard on horseback and jumped down onto the coal as he walked. Climbed slowly to the top. There was a wooden booth; he climbed onto the booth, sat down and began scratching his side as if nothing had happened. Here, they say, I - I do not care!

And Chestnut is at the gate from a terrible beast.

Since then, I boldly began to let Yashka out into the yard: only Yashka from the porch all the dogs into the gate. Yashka was not afraid of anyone.

Carts will come to the courtyard, the whole courtyard will be hammered, there is nowhere to go. And Yashka flies from cart to cart. The horse will jump on its back - the horse is trampling, shaking its mane, snorting, and Yashka slowly jumps to another. The cabbies only laugh and wonder:

See what Satan is jumping. Look you! Ooh!

And Yashka - for the bags. Looking for cracks. He will stick his paw and feel what is there. He gropes where the sunflowers are, sits and immediately clicks on the cart. It used to be that Yashka also felt for the nuts. He will beat him by the cheeks and with all four hands tries to wag.

But then Jacob found an enemy. Yes, what! There was a cat in the yard. Nobody's. He lived at the office, and everyone fed him scraps. He got fat, became big as a dog. He was angry and scratchy.

And then one evening Yashka was walking around the yard. I couldn't get through to him at home. I see the cat went out into the yard and jumped on the bench that was under the tree. Yashka, when he saw the cat, went straight to him. He sat down and walked slowly on four legs. He does not take his eyes off the cat straight to the bench. The cat picked up his paws, bent his back, got ready. And Yashka is crawling closer and closer. The cat widened his eyes, backs away. Yashka on the bench. The cat is all backwards to the other edge, to the tree. My heart sank. And Yakov crawls on the cat on the bench. The cat has already shrunk into a ball, crawled all over. And suddenly - he jumped, but not on Yashka, but on a tree. He clung to the trunk and looked down at the monkey. And Yashka made the same way to the tree. The cat scratched itself higher - used to flee in the trees. And Yashka is at the tree, and all slowly, aiming at the cat with black eyes. The cat higher, higher, climbed onto a branch and sat down from the very edge. Looks at what Yashka will do. And Yakov crawls along the same branch, and so confidently, as if he had never done anything else, but only caught cats. The cat is already at the very edge, on a thin branch, it can hardly hold, it sways. And Yakov crawls and crawls, tenaciously fingering with all four handles. Suddenly the cat jumped from the very top to the pavement, shook himself and walked away without looking back. And Yashka from the tree after him: "Yau, yau", - in some terrible, animal voice - I have never heard that from him.

Now Jacob has become completely tsar in the courtyard. At home he didn't want to eat anything, he just drank tea with sugar. And since he ate raisins in the courtyard, they barely left him. Yashka groaned, there were tears in his eyes, and looked at everyone capriciously. At first, everyone was very sorry for Yashka, but when he saw that they were busy with him, he began to break down and throw his arms around, throw his head back and howl at different voices. We decided to wrap him up and give him castor oil. Let him know!

And he liked the castor oil so much that he started yelling to be given more. They swaddled him and did not let him into the yard for three days.

Yashka soon recovered and began to rush to the yard. I was not afraid for him: no one could catch him, and Yashka spent whole days jumping around the yard. At home it became calmer, and I felt less for Yashka. And when autumn came, everyone in the house unanimously:

Wherever you want, take your monkey away or put it in a cage, and so that this Satan does not rush around the apartment.

They said how pretty, and now, I think, Satan has become. And as soon as the training began, I began to look in the classroom for someone to float Yashka. Finally he found a comrade, called aside and said:

Do you want me to give you a monkey? I'm alive.

I don’t know to whom he then fused Yashka. But at first, when Yashka was gone, I saw that everyone was a little bored, even though they didn’t want to confess.

About the elephant

We were approaching India by steamer. They should have come in the morning. I changed from watch, was tired and could not sleep in any way: I kept thinking how it would be there. It’s as if a whole box of toys were brought to me as a child, and only tomorrow you can open it. I kept thinking - in the morning, I'll open my eyes right away - and Indians, black, come around, mumbling incomprehensibly, not like in the picture. Bananas are right on the bush, the city is new - everything will stir, play. And elephants! The main thing is that I wanted to see the elephants. I couldn’t believe that they were not there as in the zoological one, but simply walked, carried: there was such a huge rushing down the street!

I could not sleep, my legs were itching with impatience. After all, you know, when you go by land, it is not at all the same: you see how everything is gradually changing. And then for two weeks the ocean - water and water - and immediately a new country. Like the curtain in the theater was raised.

The next morning they stomped on the deck, buzzed. I rushed to the porthole, to the window - it was ready: the white city stood on the shore; port, ships, near the side of the boat: they are black in white turbans - their teeth are shining, they are shouting something; the sun shines with all its might, presses, it seems, presses with light. Then I went crazy, suffocated right: as if I were not me and all this is a fairy tale. I didn't want to eat anything in the morning. Dear comrades, I will stand for two watches at sea for you - let me go ashore as soon as possible.

The two of us jumped out onto the shore. In the port, in the city, everything is seething, boiling, people are pounding, and we are like crazy and do not know what to watch, and we do not go, but as if what is carrying us (and after the sea it is always strange to walk along the coast). We look - a tram. We got on the tram, we don't really know why we are going, if only further, we went crazy. The tram rushes us, we gaze around and did not notice how we drove to the outskirts. Doesn't go further. We got out. Road. Let's go along the road. Let's come somewhere!

Here we calmed down a bit and noticed that it was great hot. The sun is above the dome itself; the shadow of you does not lie, but the whole shadow is under you: you walk and trample your shadow.

Decently already passed, people did not begin to meet, we look - towards the elephant. There are four guys with him - they are running alongside along the road. I couldn’t believe my eyes: we hadn’t seen a single one in the city, but here it was easy to walk along the road. It seemed to me that I had escaped from the zoological one. The elephant saw us and stopped. It became creepy for us: there are no big ones with him, the guys are alone. And who knows what is on his mind. Motanet once with a trunk - and you're done.

And the elephant probably thought so about us: some extraordinary, unknown are coming - who knows? And he did. Now he bent the trunk with a crochet hook, the elder boy got on the hook on this one, like on a bandwagon, holding his trunk with his hand, and the elephant sent it carefully onto his head. He sat there between the ears, as if on a table.

Then the elephant, in the same order, sent two more at once, and the third was small, probably four years old - he was wearing only a short shirt, like a bra. The elephant gives him a trunk - go, they say, sit down. And he does different freaks, laughs, runs away. The elder shouts at him from above, and he jumps and teases - you can't take it, they say. The elephant did not wait, lowered its trunk and went - pretended that he did not want to look at his tricks. He walks, shakes his trunk regularly, and the boy curls around his feet, grimaces. And just when he was not expecting anything, the elephant suddenly had a truncheon! Yes, so clever! Caught him behind his shirt and lifts him up carefully. The one with his hands, feet, like a bug. No really! None of you. He raised the elephant, carefully lowered it on his head, and there the guys accepted him. There, on an elephant, he still tried to fight.

We drew level, we walk by the side of the road, and the elephant from the other side and looks at us attentively and cautiously. And the guys are also staring at us and whispering among themselves. They sit as if at home on the roof.

Here, I think, it's great: they have nothing to be afraid of there. If the tiger came across, the elephant would catch the tiger, grab it across the belly with its trunk, squeeze it, throw it above the tree and, if it doesn’t pick it up on its fangs, it will still stomp with its feet until it tramples it into a cake.

And then he took the boy, like a booger, with two fingers: carefully and carefully.

The elephant walked past us: we look, turns off the road and flooded into the bushes. Bushes are dense, thorny, growing like a wall. And he - through them, as through weeds - only the branches crunch, - climbed over and went to the forest. He stopped near a tree, took a branch with his trunk and bent down to the guys. They immediately jumped to their feet, grabbed a branch and rob something from it. And the little one jumps up, tries to grab it too, fiddles as if he was not on an elephant, but on the ground. The elephant let go of a branch and bent down the other. Again the same story. At this point, the little one, apparently, entered the role: he completely climbed on this branch, so that he also got it, and works. Everyone finished, the elephant started up the branch, and the little one, we see, flew away with the branch. Well, we think he's gone - he flew now like a bullet into the forest. We rushed there. No, where is there! Do not crawl through bushes: thorny, and dense, and confused. We look, the elephant in the leaves fumbles with its trunk. He groped this little one - he apparently clung to it like a monkey - took him out and put him in his place. Then the elephant came out onto the road ahead of us and went back. We follow him. He walks and from time to time looks around, looks askance at us: why, they say, are some people walking behind? So we came to the house for the elephant. Around the wattle. The elephant opened the gate with its trunk and cautiously slipped into the courtyard; there he lowered the guys to the ground. In the courtyard of the Hindu, something began to shout at him. She did not immediately notice us. And we are standing, looking through the fence.

The Hindu woman yells at the elephant, - the elephant reluctantly turned and went to the well. Two pillars are dug by the well, and between them is a view; a rope is wound on it and a handle is on the side. We look, the elephant took hold of the handle with its trunk and began to twirl: it turns as if empty, pulled out - a whole bucket there on a rope, ten buckets. The elephant rested the root of its trunk on the handle so that it would not turn, bent its trunk, picked up a bucket and, like a mug of water, put it on the side of the well. Baba got some water, she also made the guys carry it - she was just doing the washing. The elephant again lowered the bucket and twisted the full one up.

The hostess began to scold him again. The elephant threw the bucket into the well, shook its ears and walked away - did not get more water, went under the shed. And there, in the corner of the courtyard, a canopy was made on flimsy posts - just the elephant could crawl under it. On top of the reeds are thrown some long leaves.

Here is just a Hindu, the owner himself. Saw us. We say - the elephant has come to see. The owner knew a little English, asked who we were; everything points to my Russian cap. I say Russians. And he didn't even know what Russians were.

Not British?

No, I say, not the British.

He was delighted, laughed, immediately became different: he called to him.

And the Indians hate the British: the British have long conquered their country, they are in charge there and the Indians are kept under their heels.

I'm asking:

Why isn't the elephant coming out?

And this is he, - he says, - offended, and, therefore, not in vain. Now he won't work at all until he leaves.

We look, the elephant came out from under the shed, through the gate - and away from the yard. We think now it will completely go away. And the Indian laughs. The elephant went to the tree, leaning sideways and rubbing himself well. The tree is healthy - everything walks right up and down. He itches like a pig on a fence.

He scratched himself, collected dust in the trunk and where he scratched, dust, earth as it blows! Once, and again, and again! He cleans this so that nothing starts up in the folds: all his skin is hard, like a sole, and in the folds it is thinner, and in southern countries there is a lot of biting insects.

After all, look what: it does not itch against the posts in the barn, so as not to break it up, it even makes its way carefully there, and walks to the tree to itch. I say to a Hindu:

How smart you are!

And he laughs.

Well, ”he says,“ if I had lived for a hundred and fifty years, I would have learned the wrong thing. And he, - points to the elephant, - nursed my grandfather.

I looked at the elephant - it seemed to me that the Hindu was not the owner here, but the elephant, the elephant was the most important here.

I'm talking:

Do you have the old one?

No, - he says, - he is one and a half hundred years old, he is in time! I have a baby elephant over there, his son - he is twenty years old, just a child. By the age of forty, it is just beginning to come into effect. Wait, the elephant will come, you will see: he is small.

An elephant came, and with her a baby elephant - the size of a horse, without fangs; he followed his mother like a foal.

The Hindu children rushed to help their mother, began to jump, to gather somewhere. The elephant went too; the elephant and the baby elephant are with them. The Indian explains that to the river. We are with the guys too.

They were not shy of us. Everyone tried to speak - they had their own way, we spoke Russian - and laughed all the way. The little one pestered us the most - he put on all my cap and shouted something funny - maybe about us.

The air in the forest is fragrant, spicy, thick. We walked through the forest. We came to the river.

Not a river, but a stream - fast, so it rushes, so the bank gnaws. To the water a snatcher in an arshin. The elephants entered the water and took the baby elephant with them. They put water on his chest, and the two of them began to wash him. They will collect sand with water from the bottom into the trunk and, as from the gut, water it. It's great - only the spray is flying.

And the guys are afraid to climb into the water - it hurts too fast flow, will take away. They jump on the shore and start throwing stones at the elephant. He doesn't care, he doesn't even pay attention - he washes his baby elephant. Then, I looked, I took some water into the trunk and suddenly, as he turned on the boys and one would blow a stream directly into the belly, he sat down. He laughs, pours out.

Wash the elephant again. And the guys even harder to pester him with pebbles. The elephant only shakes its ears: do not bother, they say, you see, there is no time to indulge! And just when the boys did not wait, they thought - he would blow water on the elephant, he immediately turned his trunk and into them.

Those are happy, somersault.

The elephant came ashore; The baby elephant extended its trunk like a hand. The elephant braided its trunk about his and helped him to get out on the scraps.

All went home: three elephants and four children.

The next day I asked where you can see the elephants at work.

At the edge of the forest, by the river, a whole city of hewn logs is fenced off: stacks are standing, each one tall in a hut. One elephant stood there. And it was immediately evident that he was already quite an old man - the skin on him was completely sagging and coarse, and his trunk was dangling like a rag. Ears of some kind. I saw another elephant coming from the forest. A log is swinging in the trunk - a huge hewn log. It must be a hundred pounds. The porter is waddling heavily, coming up to the old elephant. The old man picks up the log from one end, and the porter lowers the log and moves with his trunk to the other end. I look: what are they going to do? And the elephants together, as if on command, lifted the log on their trunks up and carefully laid it on the pile. Yes, so smooth and correct - like a carpenter on a building.

And not a single person near them.

Later I found out that this old elephant is the main artel worker: he has already grown old in this work.

The porter went slowly into the forest, and the old man hung up his trunk, turned his back to the pile and began to look at the river, as if he wanted to say: "I'm tired of this and would not look."

And the third elephant with a log is coming out of the forest. We are where the elephants came from.

It's a shame to tell what we saw here. Elephants from forest mines dragged these logs to the river. In one place by the road there are two trees on the sides, so much so that an elephant with a log cannot pass. The elephant will reach this place, lower the log to the ground, tuck its knees, tuck the trunk and with the very nose, the very root of the trunk, pushes the log forward. The earth, stones fly, rubs and plows the ground, and the elephant crawls and shoves. It can be seen how difficult it is for him to crawl on his knees. Then he will get up, catch his breath and not immediately grab the log. Again he will turn him across the road, again on his knees. He puts the trunk on the ground and rolls the log onto the trunk with his knees. How the trunk does not crush! Look, he's got up again and carries. A log on a trunk swings like a heavy pendulum.

There were eight of them - all the elephants-carriers - and each had to shove the log with his nose: people did not want to cut down those two trees that stood on the road.

It became unpleasant for us to watch the old man pushing at the pile, and it was a pity for the elephants that crawled on their knees. We stood for a short time and left.

Brave duckling

Every morning the hostess brought out a full plate of chopped eggs to the ducklings. She put a plate near the bush, and she left.

As soon as the ducklings ran up to the plate, suddenly a large dragonfly flew out of the garden and began to circle over them.

She chirped so terribly that the frightened ducklings ran away and hid in the grass. They were afraid that the dragonfly would bite them all.

And the evil dragonfly sat down on a plate, tasted food and then flew away. After that, the ducklings did not come to the plate for the whole day. They were afraid that the dragonfly would come again. In the evening, the hostess removed the plate and said: "Our ducklings must have got sick, for some reason they are not eating anything." She didn’t know that the ducklings went to bed hungry every night.

Once their neighbor, a little duckling Alyosha, came to visit the ducklings. When the ducklings told him about the dragonfly, he began to laugh.

Well, brave men! - he said. - I will drive this dragonfly away alone. You will see tomorrow.

You are bragging, - said the ducklings, - tomorrow you will be the first to be scared and run.

The next morning, the hostess, as always, put the plate of chopped eggs on the ground and left.

Well, look, - said the brave Alyosha, - now I will fight with your dragonfly.

He had just said this, when suddenly a dragonfly buzzed. Right from above, she flew onto the plate.

The ducklings wanted to run away, but Alyosha was not afraid. Before the dragonfly had time to sit on the plate, Alyosha grabbed her by the wing with his beak. With a violent force, she escaped and flew away with a broken wing.

Since then, she never flew into the garden, and the ducklings ate their fill every day. They not only ate themselves, but also treated the brave Alyosha for saving them from the dragonfly.

To practice reading skills, children who are beginning to read need texts that are easy to understand and in terms of vocabulary. Short stories about animals are fine here.

Stories, fabulous and not so, about animals are useful not only for schoolchildren, but also for preschoolers who begin to read, because, in addition to reading skills, they broaden the horizons of children. You can get acquainted with examples of texts.

Comprehension and memorization are greatly facilitated. Not all children (by different reasons) love to draw. Therefore, we came up with stories for coloring: we read the text and color the animal. The site "Unusual Children" wishes you success.

Short stories about animals.

A story about a squirrel.

A squirrel lived in an old forest. The squirrel has a daughter squirrel in the spring.

Once a squirrel with a squirrel was picked mushrooms for the winter. Suddenly a marten appeared on a nearby tree. She prepared to grab the squirrel. Squirrel mom jumped towards the marten and shouted to her daughter: "Run!"

The squirrel ran away. Finally she stopped. I looked around, and the places were unfamiliar! Mom - no squirrels. What to do?

The squirrel saw a hollow on a pine tree, hid and fell asleep. And in the morning my mother found her daughter.

Story about an owl.

An owl lives in the northern forests. But not a simple owl, but a polar one. This owl is white. Paws are shaggy, covered with feathers. Thick feathers protect the bird's feet from frost.

The white owl is not visible in the snow. The owl flies quietly. He will hide in the snow and watch for the mouse. The stupid mouse won't notice.

The story of the elk.

The old elk walked for a long time in the forest. He is very tired. The moose stopped and dozed off.

The moose dreamed that he was still a small calf. He walks with his mother through the woods. Mom eats branches and leaves. And the calf is cheerfully jumping along the path nearby.

Suddenly someone buzzed terribly near the ear. The calf got scared and ran to mom. Mom said: "Don't be afraid. It's a bumblebee. He doesn't bite moose."

In a forest glade, the calf liked butterflies. At first, the calf did not notice them. The butterflies sat quietly on the flowers. The calf galloped in the clearing. Then the butterflies flew into the air. There were a lot of them, a whole swarm. And one, the most beautiful, sat on the nose of the calf.

Far beyond the forest, a train hummed. The old elk woke up. He rested. You can go on about your business.

A story about a deer.

Deer live in the North. The homeland of deer is called tundra. Grass, bushes and gray deer moss grow in the tundra. Reindeer moss is food for deer.

Deer walk in herds. There are deer of different ages in the herd. There are old deer and baby deer. Adult deer protect babies from wolves.

It happens that wolves attack the herd. Then the deer surround the deer and put their antlers forward. Their horns are sharp. Wolves are wary of antlers.

There is a leader in the herd. This is the strongest deer. All deer obey him. The leader guards the herd. When the herd is resting, the leader finds a tall stone. He stands on a stone and looks in all directions. Will see the danger and trumpet. The deer will get up and go away from trouble.

The story of the fox.

There was a round lake at the foot of the mountain. The place was deserted, quiet. There were a lot of fish swimming in the lake. A flock of ducks liked this lake. Ducks made nests and bred ducklings. So they lived on the lake all summer.

One day a fox appeared on the shore. The fox was hunting and came across a lake with ducks. The ducklings have already grown up, but have not yet learned to fly. The fox thought it would be easy to catch her prey. But it was not there.

The sly ducks swam away to the other side. The fox ravaged duck nests and ran away.

In the Khibiny mountains in the North, you can meet a bear. In the spring, the bear is angry because it is hungry. He slept in a den all winter. And winter is long in the North. The bear is hungry. That is why he is angry.

So he came to the lake. Catch a fish, eat it. Drink water. The lakes in the mountains are clean. The water is fresh and clear.

By the middle of summer, the bear will eat up, get fat. Will become more good-natured. But you shouldn't date him anyway. The bear is a wild beast, dangerous.

By autumn, the bear eats everything: fish, berries, mushrooms. Fat under the skin saves for hibernation. The fat in the den in winter both feeds and warms him.

1. An elephant is a huge animal that lives in Africa and Asia. Elephants are gray, they have two big ears, two long teeth (tusks) and a long nose (a trunk). They eat leaves, plants, fruit and roots. Elephants are mammals.

2. A fox belongs to the dog family. It is a mammal. Foxes are red and they have beautiful fluffy tails. They are very cunning, they catch and eat small animals and birds. They live all over the world.

3. A giraffe is a tall animal with a long neck and thin long legs. Animals live in Africa, they eat tree leaves and fruit. Giraffes are mammals. Their bodies are covered with brown marks.

4. A rhinoceros is a large and heavy mammal that lives in Africa and Asia. It has one or two sharp horns on its head and it has thick skin. Rhinoceroses eat fruit, leaves and grass.

5. A hare is a small mammal with a short tail, long legs and long ears. Hares eat plants and fruit. They can jump and run very fast. Hares live in Europe and America.

6. A hedgehog is a small mammal covered in spines. It can roll in a ball. Hedgehogs hunt for insects, worms and small animals. They live in Asia, Africa and Europe.

7. A lion is a large wild cat. It is called “the king of beasts”. It has sharp teeth and claws, a big head and a long tail. Lions are predators, they hunt for other animals. Animals live in Africa and India in groups called prides. Lions are very strong, smart and cunning.

8. A bear is a large mammal. Bears have large paws with sharp claws. They can climb and swim very well. They live all around the world. Animals like to eat meat, fish, plants, fruit, berries and honey. Bears have a sweet tooth.

9. A camel is a large mammal. It lives in Africa. It eats vegetation: plants, grass and grain. Camels have a long neck and two humps. They can live without water for 10 months.

10. A wolf is a wild mammal. Wolves are of gray color and they look like dogs. They are smart predators and eat other animals. Wolves live in small groups in forests and mountains.

11.A crocodile is a large dangerous animal that lives in rivers and lakes of Africa, Asia, Australia and America. Predators eat fish and mammals. They can swim and run very fast.

12. A zebra belongs to the horse family. It is a striped black-and-white mammal. Zebras live in Africa in groups (herds). They eat vegetation. They can run and kick with their strong legs.

13. A monkey is a small animal with a long tail. Monkeys live in the forests of America, Africa and Asia. Animals are very funny, smart and active. Monkeys can run, jump, climb and play with each other. They like to eat fruit, nuts, berries, eggs and insects.

14. A panda is a white-and-black mammal. It lives in the forests of China. It can climb very well. Pandas look like fluffy bears. They eat bamboo trees, plants and small animals.

15. A kangaroo is a mammal that lives in Australia. It eats plants and leaves. Kangaroos have strong long legs and they can hop very fast. They also have a pocket on their stomach where they can carry their babies.

16. A squirrel is a small pretty animal. It has a fluffy tail. It lives in trees all over the world. Squirrels eat nuts, berries, fruit and insects. They can jump and climb trees.

Translation

1. The elephant is a huge animal that lives in Africa and Asia. Elephants are gray in color, they have two large ears, two long teeth (tusks) and a long nose (trunk). They feed on leaves, plants, fruits and roots. Elephants are mammals.

2. The fox belongs to the canine family. It is a mammal. Foxes are red in color, they have beautiful fluffy tails. They are very cunning, they catch and eat small animals and birds. They live all over the world.

3. Giraffe is a tall animal with a long neck and slender long legs... Animals live in Africa, they feed on tree leaves and fruits. Giraffes are mammals. Their bodies are covered with brown spots.

4. Rhinoceros is a large and heavy mammal that lives in Africa and Asia. It has one or two sharp horns on its head and has thick skin. Rhinos feed on fruits, leaves and grass.

5. The hare is a small mammal with a short tail, long legs and long ears. Hares feed on plants and fruits. They can jump and run very quickly. Hares live in Europe and America.

6. Hedgehog is a small mammal covered with needles. It can curl up into a ball. Hedgehogs hunt insects, worms and small animals. They live in Asia, Africa and Europe.

7. The lion is a big wild cat. He is called "the king of beasts." It has sharp teeth and claws, a large head and a long tail. Lions are predators, they hunt other animals. Animals live in Africa and India in groups called prides. Leos are very strong, intelligent and cunning.

8. The bear is a large mammal. Bears have large paws with sharp claws. They are very good at climbing and swimming. They live all over the world. Animals feed on meat, fish, plants, fruits, berries and honey. Bears are sweet tooth.

9. A camel is a large mammal. He lives in Africa. It feeds on vegetation: plants, grasses and grains. Camels have a long neck and two humps. They can live without water for 10 months.

10. The wolf is a wild mammal. Wolves are gray in color and they look like dogs. They are intelligent predators and eat other animals. Wolves live in small groups in forests and mountains.

11. Crocodile is a large dangerous animal that lives in the rivers and lakes of Africa, Asia, Australia and America. Predators feed on fish and mammals. They can swim and run very fast.

12. Zebra belongs to the equidae family. It is a striped black and white mammal. Zebras live in Africa in groups (herds). They feed on vegetation. They know how to run and kick with their strong legs.

13. A monkey is a small animal with a long tail. Monkeys live in the forests of America, Africa and Asia. The animals are very funny, intelligent and active. Monkeys can run, jump, climb and play with each other. They love to eat fruits, nuts, berries, eggs and insects.

Jackdaw

The brother and sister had a tame jackdaw. She ate from her hands, let herself be stroked, flew free and flew back.

Once my sister began to wash. She took the ring off her hand, put it on the sink and lathered her face with soap. And when she rinsed the soap, she looked: where is the ring? But there is no ring.

She shouted to her brother:

- Give me the ring, don't tease! Why did you take it?

“I didn’t take anything,” my brother replied.

The sister quarreled with him and cried.

Grandma heard.

- What have you got here? - is talking. - Give me glasses, now I will find this ring.

We rushed to look for glasses - no glasses.

“I just put them on the table,” the grandmother cries. - Where can they go? How am I going into a needle now?

And she screamed at the boy:

- It's your business! Why are you teasing grandma?

The boy was offended and ran out of the house. He looked - and a jackdaw was flying over the roof, and something glittered under its beak. Looked closely - yes, these are glasses! The boy hid behind a tree and began to look. And the jackdaw sat on the roof, looked around to see if anyone could see, and began to shove the glasses on the roof with its beak into the slot.

Grandmother came out onto the porch, said to the boy:

- Tell me, where are my glasses?

- On the roof! The boy said.

The grandmother was surprised. And the boy climbed onto the roof and pulled out of his grandmother's glasses. Then he pulled out the ring. And then he took out the glass, and then there are many different pieces of money.

The grandmother was delighted with the glasses, and the sister said the ring to her brother:

- Forgive me, I was thinking at you, and this is a jackdaw-thief.

And they made up with their brother.

Grandma said:

- It's all of them, jackdaws and magpies. What glitters, everything is dragged.

How an elephant saved its owner from a tiger

The Indians have tame elephants. One Indian went with an elephant to the forest for firewood.

The forest was deaf and wild. The elephant trampled the owner's way and helped to cut down trees, and the owner loaded them onto the elephant.

Suddenly the elephant stopped obeying its owner, began to look around, shake its ears, and then raised its trunk and roared.

The owner also looked around, but did not notice anything.

He became angry with the elephant and beat him on the ears with a branch.

And the elephant bent its trunk with a hook to lift the owner onto his back. The owner thought: "I will sit on his neck - so it will be even more convenient for me to rule them."

He sat down on the elephant and began whipping the elephant over the ears with a branch. And the elephant backed up, stomped and twisted its trunk. Then he froze and became alert.

The owner raised a branch to hit the elephant with all his might, but suddenly a huge tiger jumped out of the bushes. He wanted to attack the elephant from behind and jump on its back.

But he hit the wood with his paws, the wood fell. The tiger wanted to jump another time, but the elephant had already turned, grabbed the tiger with its trunk across the belly, squeezed it like a thick rope. The tiger opened its mouth, stuck out its tongue and shook its paws.

And the elephant already lifted him up, then slammed down on the ground and began to trample with his feet.

And the elephant's legs are like pillars. And the elephant trampled the tiger into a cake. When the owner came to his senses from fear, he said:

- What a fool I am to beat an elephant! And he saved my life.

The owner took out of the bag the bread he had prepared for himself and gave it all to the elephant.

Mongoose

I really wanted to have a real, live mongoose. Its own. And I decided: when our steamer comes to the island of Ceylon, I will buy myself a mongoose and give all the money, no matter how much they ask.

And here is our steamer off the island of Ceylon. I wanted to run to the shore as soon as possible, quickly find where they are sold, these animals. And suddenly a black man comes to our steamer (the people there are all black), and all the comrades surrounded him, crowd, laugh, make noise. And someone shouted: "Mongoose!" I rushed, pushed everyone apart and I see: a black man has a cage in his hands, and in it are gray animals. I was so afraid that someone would intercept that I shouted right in the face of this man:

- How many?

He even got scared at first, so I shouted. Then I understood, showed three fingers and thrust the cage into my hands. So, only three rubles, with the cage together, and not one, but two mongooses! I immediately paid off and took a deep breath: I was completely out of breath with joy. He was so glad that he forgot to ask this black man what to feed the mongoose, tame or wild. What if they bite? I caught myself, ran after the man, but his trace was gone.

I decided to find out for myself whether mongooses bite or not. I put my finger through the bars of the cage. And I didn't have time to put it in, as I already hear - it's ready: they grabbed my finger. They grabbed small paws, tenacious, with claws. Fast, fast, the mongoose bites me on the finger. But it doesn’t hurt at all - it’s on purpose, she’s acting like that. And the other is huddled in the corner of the cage and looks askance with a black shining eye.

I rather wanted to take it in my arms, stroke this one that bites for a joke. And as soon as I opened the cage, this very mongoose is a yurk! - and already ran around the cabin. She fussed, ran on the floor, sniffed everything and quacked: krryk! crack! - like a crow. I wanted to catch her, bent down, held out my hand, and in an instant a mongoose flashed past my hand, and already in my sleeve. I raised my hand - and it's done: the mongoose is already in the bosom. She peeked out of her bosom, grunted cheerfully, and hid again. And now I hear - she is already under the arm, sneaks into the other sleeve and jumped out of the other sleeve to freedom. I wanted to stroke her and only raised my hand, when suddenly the mongoose jumped up on all four paws at once, as if there was a spring under each paw. I even pulled my hand away, as if from a shot. And the mongoose from below looked at me with cheerful eyes and again: krryk! And I looked - she herself had climbed onto my knees and then she showed her tricks: it would curl up, then instantly straighten, then the tail like a pipe, then suddenly its head would stick between its hind legs. She was playing with me so affectionately, so merrily, and then suddenly they knocked on the cabin and called me to work.

It was necessary to load about fifteen huge trunks of some Indian trees on the deck. They were gnarled, with broken branches, hollow, thick, in the bark - as they were from the forest. But from the sawn-off end it was clear how beautiful they were inside - pink, red, completely black! We put them in a heap on the deck and fastened them tightly with chains so that they would not get loose in the sea. I worked and kept thinking: “What are my mongooses? After all, I didn’t leave them anything to eat ”. I asked the black movers, the people there who came from the shore, if they knew what to feed the mongoose, but they did not understand anything and only smiled. And ours said:

- Come on whatever, she will figure out what she needs.

I begged the cook for meat, bought bananas, brought bread, a saucer of milk. He put all this in the middle of the cabin and opened the cage. He climbed onto the bed and began to look. A wild mongoose jumped out of the cage, and they, together with the manual one, rushed directly to the meat. They tore it with their teeth, grunt and grumble, lapped milk, then hand grabbed a banana and dragged it into a corner. Wild - jump! - and already next to her. I wanted to see what would happen, jumped out of bed, but it was too late: the mongooses were running back. They licked their faces, and from the banana there were only skins on the floor, like rags.

In the morning we were already at sea. I hung my whole cabin with garlands of bananas.

They swayed on ropes from the ceiling. This is for the mongoose. I'll give a little - that's enough for a long time. I released a tame mongoose, and now it ran over me, and I lay there, half-closed my eyes and motionless.

I looked - a mongoose jumped onto the shelf where there were books. Here she climbed onto the frame of the round steamer window. The frame wobbled slightly, the steamer rocked.

The mongoose settled down more firmly, looked down at me. I hid. The mongoose pushed its paw against the wall, and the frame went sideways. And at the very moment when the frame was against the banana, the mongoose jerked, jumped and grabbed the banana with both paws. She hung for a moment in the air, under the very ceiling. But the banana came off, and the mongoose hit the floor. No! Banana splashed. The mongoose jumped on all four legs. I jumped up to look, but the mongoose was already fumbling under the bunk. A minute later she came out with a smeared muzzle. She quacked with pleasure.

Hey! I had to outweigh the bananas to the very middle of the cabin: the mongoose had already tried to climb higher on a towel. She climbed like a monkey; she has paws like pens. Tenacious, dexterous, agile. She was not afraid of me at all. I let her out on the deck for a walk in the sun. She immediately sniffed everything in a businesslike manner and ran around the deck as if she had never been anywhere else and her house was here.

But on the steamer we had our long-time master on deck. No, not the captain, but the cat. Huge, well-fed, with a brass collar. He walked importantly on the deck when it was dry. It was dry that day too. And the sun rose above the mast itself. The cat came out of the kitchen to see if everything was in order. He saw a mongoose and walked quickly, and then began to sneak cautiously. He walked along an iron pipe. She stretched across the deck. It was just at this pipe that a mongoose was scurrying about. She didn't seem to have seen the cat. And the cat was completely above her. All he could do was stretch out his paw to grab his claws into her back. He waited to get comfortable. I immediately realized what would happen now. The mongoose does not see, she has her back to the cat, she sniffs the deck as if nothing had happened; the cat has already taken aim.

I started running. But I didn't get there. The cat extended its paw. And at the same moment, the mongoose stuck its head between its hind legs, opened its mouth, croaked loudly, and set its tail - a huge fluffy tail - upside down, and it became like a lamp hedgehog that cleaned the glass. In an instant, she turned into an incomprehensible, unprecedented monster. The cat was thrown back as if from a red-hot iron.

He immediately turned and, lifting his tail with a stick, rushed away without looking back. And the mongoose, as if nothing had happened, again fussed and sniffed something on the deck. But since then, the handsome cat has rarely been seen. A mongoose on deck - you won't find a cat. His name was both "kitty-kitty" and "Vassenka". The cook lured him with meat, but the cat could not be found, even though the whole ship had been searched. But the mongooses were now spinning around the kitchen; they quacked, demanded meat from the cook. Poor Vassenka only made his way to the cook's cabin at night, and the cook fed him meat. At night, when the mongooses were in the cage, it was Vaska's time.

But one night I was awakened by a scream on the deck. People shouted alarmingly, frightenedly. I dressed quickly and ran out. The fireman Fyodor shouted that he was now walking from the watch, and from these very Indian trees, from this heap, a snake crawled out and immediately hid back. What a snake - in! - a hand thick, almost two fathoms long. And so she even poked her head at him. Nobody believed Fedor, but nevertheless they looked at the Indian trees with apprehension. What if there really is a snake? Well, not as thick as an arm, but poisonous? So go here at night! Someone said: "They love warmly, they crawl into people's beds." Everyone fell silent. Suddenly everyone turned to me:

- Well, animals here, your mongooses! Well, let them ...

I was afraid that the wild would run away at night. But there was no time to think: someone had already run to my cabin and was already carrying a cage here. I opened it near the pile itself, where the trees ended and the back passages between the trunks were visible. Someone lit an electric chandelier. I saw the tame one duck into the black passage first. And wild behind her. I was afraid that their paws or tail would be pinched among these heavy logs. But it was already too late: both mongooses had gone there.

- Bring the crowbar! Someone shouted.

And Fedor was already standing with an ax. Then everyone fell silent and began to listen. But nothing was heard, except for the creak of decks. Suddenly someone shouted:

- Look, look! Tail!

Fyodor swung his ax, the others shoved away further. I grabbed Fyodor by the arm. With fright, he almost hit the tail with an ax; the tail was not a snake, but a mongoose - it protruded and then retracted. Then the hind legs appeared. The legs clung to the tree. It can be seen that something was pulling the mongoose back.

- Help someone! You see, she can't do it! - shouted Fyodor.

- And then what? What a commander! - answered from the crowd.

Nobody helped, but everyone backed away, even Fedor with an ax. Suddenly the mongoose contrived; you could see how she excused herself, clinging to the decks.

She lunged and drew the serpentine tail behind her. The tail wagged, he threw up the mongoose and banged it on the deck.

- Killed, killed! - shouted around.

But my mongoose - it was wild - instantly jumped on its feet. She held the snake by the tail, she dug into it with her sharp teeth. The snake shrank, pulled the wild again into the black passage. But the wild one rested with all her paws and pulled out the snake more and more. The snake was two fingers thick, and it beat its tail against the deck like a whip, and at the end it held a mongoose, and it was thrown from side to side. I wanted to chop off this tail, but Fedor disappeared somewhere along with the ax. His name was, but he did not respond. Everyone waited in fear for the snake's head to appear. Now is the end, and the whole snake will break out. What's this? This is not a snake head - this is a mongoose! So the tame one jumped onto the deck: it dug into the snake's neck from the side. The snake wriggled, torn, it knocked on the deck with mongooses, and they held on like leeches.

Suddenly someone shouted:

- Hit! - and hit the snake with a crowbar.

All rushed and, with what, began to thresh. I was afraid that the mongoose would be killed in the commotion. I tore off the wild one from the tail.

She was so angry that she bit my hand; she was torn and scratched. I tore off my hat and wrapped it in the face. The hand was torn off by my friend. We put them in a cage. They shouted and torn, grabbed the bars with their teeth. I tossed them a piece of meat, but they paid no attention. I put out the light in the cabin and went to burn my bitten hands with iodine.

And there, on the deck, the snake was still thrashed. Then they threw it overboard.

From that time on, everyone began to love my mongoose very much and dragged them to eat what anyone had. The tame one got to know everyone, and it was difficult to get through to her in the evening: she was always visiting someone. She briskly climbed the tackle. And once in the evening, when the electricity was already lit, the mongoose climbed onto the mast along the ropes that went from the side. Everyone admired her dexterity, looked with raised heads. But then the rope reached the mast. A bare, slippery tree went further. But the mongoose twisted its whole body and grabbed the copper pipes. They walked along the mast. They contain electrical wires to the lamp above. The mongoose quickly climbed even higher. Everyone downstairs clapped their hands. Suddenly the electrical engineer shouted:

- There are bare wires! - and ran to put out the electricity.

But the mongoose has already grabbed the bare wires with its paw. She received an electric shock and fell from a height downward. They picked her up, but she was motionless.

She was still warm. I quickly carried her to the doctor's cabin. But his cabin was locked. I rushed to my room, carefully laid the mongoose on the pillow and ran to look for our doctor. "Maybe he will save my animal?" I thought. I ran all over the ship, but someone had already told the doctor, and he was walking quickly towards me. I wanted to hurry up and pulled the doctor by the hand.

They came to me.

- Well, where is she? The doctor said.

Indeed, where is it? It was not on the pillow. I looked under the bunk.

He began to fumble there with his hand. And suddenly: krryk-krryk! - and the mongoose jumped out from under the bed as if nothing had happened - healthy.

The doctor said that the electric current probably only stunned her for a while, but while I was running after the doctor, the mongoose recovered. How happy I was! I pressed and stroked everything to her face. And then everyone began to come to me, everyone was happy and stroked the mongoose - they loved her so much.

And the wild then completely tamed, and I brought the mongoose to my home.

About the monkey

I was twelve years old and I was in school. Once at recess, my friend Yukhimenko comes up to me and says:

- Do you want me to give you a monkey?

I didn’t believe it - I thought he’d arrange something for me now, so that sparks would fall from his eyes, and he would say: this is the "monkey." I'm not like that.

- Okay, - I say, - we know.

- No, - he says, - in fact. A live monkey. She is good. Her name is Yashka. And dad is angry.

- On whom?

- Yes, on me and Yashka. Take it away, says where you know. I think everything is best for you.

After lessons we went to him. I still didn't believe. Did I really think I would have a live monkey? And he kept asking what she was. And Yukhimenko says:

- You will see, do not be afraid, she is small.

Indeed, it turned out to be small. If it stands on its paws, then no more than a half-arshin. The muzzle is wrinkled, old woman, and the eyes are lively, shiny.

The coat on it is red, and the legs are black. As if human hands in black gloves. She was wearing a blue vest.

Yukhimenko shouted:

- Yashka, Yashka, go, what will I give!

And put his hand in his pocket. The monkey shouted: “Ay! ay! " - Yukhimenka jumped into her arms in two leaps. He immediately thrust it into his greatcoat, into his bosom.

- Let's go, - he says.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. We walk down the street, carry such a miracle, and no one knows what we have in our bosom.

Dear Yukhimenko told me what to feed.

- Everything is eating, everything is coming. Sweet love. Candy is a disaster! If it bursts, it will certainly be devoured. He loves tea that is liquid and sweet. You don't give her up. Two pieces. Do not give a bit of a bite: the sugar will gobble up, but he will not drink tea.

I listened and thought: I won’t regret three pieces for her, dear one, like a toy man. Then I remembered that she had no tail either.

- You, - I say, - cut off her tail at the very root?

- She's a monkey, - says Yukhimenko, - they don't grow tails.

We came to our home. Mom and the girls were sitting at lunch. Yukhimenka and I entered right in our greatcoats.

I'm talking:

- And who do we have!

They all turned around. Yukhimenko threw open his overcoat. No one has yet had time to make out anything, and Yashka will jump from Yukhimenka onto his mother's head; pushed his legs - and onto the sideboard. He reined in my mother's entire hairstyle.

Everyone jumped up, shouted:

- Oh, who, who is it?

And Yashka sat down on the sideboard and builds muzzles, chomps, grins his teeth.

Yukhimenko was afraid that they would scold him now, and hurry to the door. They didn't even look at him - everyone was looking at the monkey. And suddenly the girls all in one voice pulled out:

- What a pretty one!

And my mother adjusted her hair.

- Where does it come from?

I looked around. Yukhimenka is gone. So I remained the master. And I wanted to show that I know how to deal with a monkey. I put my hand in my pocket and shouted, like Yukhimenko had done earlier:

- Yashka, Yashka! Go, I'll give you something!

Everyone was waiting. And Yashka did not even look - he began to scratch himself small and often with a black paw.

Until the evening, Yashka did not go downstairs, but jumped on the tops: from the sideboard to the door, from the door to the wardrobe, from there to the stove.

In the evening, the father said:

- You can't leave her for the night like that, she will turn the apartment upside down.

And I started to catch Yashka. I go to the sideboard - it is on the stove. I brush him out of there - he jumped on the clock. The clock swung and steel. And Yashka is already swinging on the curtains.

From there - to the picture - the picture looked askance - I was afraid that Yashka would throw himself at the hanging lamp.

But then everyone gathered and began to chase Yashka. They threw a ball, coils, matches at him and finally drove him into a corner.

Yashka pressed himself against the wall, bared his teeth and clicked his tongue - he began to frighten. But they covered him with a woolen shawl and wrapped him up, entangled.

Yashka floundered, shouted, but they soon turned him around so that only one head remained sticking out. He turned his head, blinked his eyes, and it seemed that now he would cry from resentment.

Do not swaddle the monkey every night! Father said:

- Snap. By the vest and to the leg, to the table.

I brought the rope, felt a button on Yashka's back, put the rope in a loop and tied it tightly. Yashka's waistcoat on the back was fastened with three buttons.

Then I brought Yashka, as he was, wrapped up, to the table, tied the rope to the leg and only then unwound the handkerchief.

Wow, how he started to ride! But where can he break the rope! He screamed, got angry and sat down sadly on the floor.

I took sugar from the sideboard and gave it to Yashka. He grabbed a piece with a black paw, tucked it behind his cheek. This made his whole face twist.

I asked Yashka for a paw. He held out his pen to me.

Then I looked at what pretty black nails she was wearing. A toy living pen! I began to stroke the foot and think: just like a child. And he tickled his palm. And the baby somehow jerks his paw - once - and me on the cheek. I didn't even have time to blink, but he slapped me in the face and jumped under the table. He sat down and grins.

Here comes the baby!

But then they drove me to sleep.

I wanted to tie Yashka to my bed, but they wouldn't let me. I kept listening to what Yashka was doing, and thought that he certainly needed to make a bed so that he could sleep like people and cover himself with a blanket. I would put my head on a pillow. I thought and thought and fell asleep.

In the morning he jumped up - and, without dressing, to Yashka. There is no Yashka on the rope. There is a rope, a vest is tied on a rope, but there is no monkey. I look, all three buttons in the back are unbuttoned. It was he who unbuttoned his vest, left it on the rope, and ran away himself. I search around the room. I spank with bare feet. Nowhere. I got scared.

How did you run away? I have not been a day, and here you are! I looked at the cabinets, in the stove - nowhere. He ran away, then, into the street. And on the street frost - freeze, poor! And it became cold myself. I ran to get dressed. Suddenly I see something fumbling in my own bed. The blanket moves. I even shuddered. There he is! It became cold for him on the floor, and he ran off to my bed. Huddled under the covers.

And I was asleep and did not know. Yashka did not shy away from sleep, he fell into his hands, and I put on a blue vest on him again.

When they sat down to drink tea, Yashka jumped on the table, looked around, immediately found a sugar bowl, launched his paw and jumped on the door. He jumped so easily that he seemed to fly, not jump. The monkey had fingers on the legs, as on hands, and Yashka could grab with his legs. He did just that. Sits like a child, in someone's arms and folded his hands, and he himself pulls something from the table with his foot.

He pulls off a knife and, well, jump with a knife. This is to be taken away from him, and he will run away. Yasha was given tea in a glass. He hugged the glass like a bucket, drank and smacked. I have not regretted the sugar.

When I left for school, I tied Yashka to the door, to the handle. This time he tied it around his waist with a rope so that he could not break loose. When I came home, I saw from the hallway what Yashka was doing. It hung on the doorknob and rolled on the doors like a merry-go-round. Will push off the jamb and ride to the wall.

He kicks his foot into the wall and drives back.

When I sat down to prepare my lessons, I put Yashka on the table. He really enjoyed basking himself near the lamp. He dozed like an old man in the sun, swayed and, squinting, watched me poke my pen into the ink. Our teacher was strict, and I wrote a page cleanly. I didn't want to get wet so as not to spoil it.

Left to dry. I come and see: Yakov is sitting on a notebook, dipping his finger into an inkwell, grumbles and draws out ink Babylon according to my writing. Oh, you rubbish! I almost cried with grief. I rushed to Yashka. Yes, where! He's on the curtains - all the curtains are stained with ink. That's why Yukhimenkin's dad was angry with him and Yashka ...

But once my dad was angry with Yashka. Yashka was picking off the flowers that stood at our windows. Tear off a leaf and tease. The father caught and gave Yashka. And then he tied him up as punishment on the stairs that led to the attic. Narrow ladder.

And the wide one went down from the apartment.

Here the father goes to the service in the morning. He cleaned himself, put on his hat, and descends the stairs. Clap! The plaster falls. My father stopped and shook it off his hat.

He looked up - no one. Just went - bang, again a piece of lime right on the head. What?

And I could see from the side how Yashka was operating. He broke some lime from the wall, spread it along the edges of the steps, and he himself lay down, hid on the stairs, just above his father's head. As soon as the father went, Yashka quietly pushed the plaster from the step with his foot and tried it on so dexterously that he took revenge on his father's hat - it was he who took revenge on him for the fact that his father had blown him up the day before.

But when the real winter began, the wind howled in the chimneys, the windows were covered with snow, Yashka became sad. I kept heating him, holding him to me. Yashka's muzzle became sad, drooping, he squealed and pressed against me. I tried to put it in my bosom, under my jacket. Yashka immediately settled down there: he grabbed the shirt with all four paws and hung as he stuck. He slept there, not unclenching his paws. Forget another time that you have a living belly under your jacket, and lean against the table. Yashka will now scratch my side with his paw: he lets me know to be more careful.

Once on Sunday the girls came to visit. We sat down to breakfast. Yashka sat quietly in my bosom, and he was not at all noticeable. At the end, candy was handed out. As soon as I began to unfold the first, suddenly from behind the bosom, right from my belly, a shaggy handle stretched out, grabbed the candy and back.

The girls screamed in fear. And it was Yashka who heard that the paper was rustling, and guessed that they were eating sweets. And I say to the girls: “This is my third hand; I put candy in my stomach with this hand, so as not to mess around for a long time. " But everyone guessed that it was a monkey, and from under the jacket you could hear the crunch of candy: it was Yashka gnawing and chomping, as if I were chewing on my stomach.

Yashka was angry with his father for a long time. Yashka reconciled with him because of the sweets. My father had just quit smoking and instead of cigarettes carried small sweets in a cigarette case. And every time after dinner, my father opened the tight lid of the cigarette case with his thumb, fingernail, and took out sweets. Yashka is right there: he sits on his knees and waits - fidgets, stretches. Here father once gave the whole cigarette case to Yashka; Yashka took it in his hand, and with his other hand, just like my father, began to pry the lid with his thumb. His finger is small, and the lid is tight and dense, and nothing comes out of Yashenka. He howled in annoyance. And the candy is blurry. Then Yashka grabbed his father's thumb and with his fingernail, like a chisel, began to pick off the lid. Father was amused by this, he opened the lid and brought the cigarette case to Yashka. Yashka immediately launched his paw, grabbed a full handful, quickly into his mouth and ran away. Not every day is such happiness!

We had a doctor we knew. Loved to chat - a disaster. Especially at lunch.

Everyone has already finished, everything is cold on his plate, then he will just miss it - he will pick it up, hastily swallow two pieces:

- Thank you, I'm full.

Once he is having dinner with us, he poked a fork into the potatoes and brandished this fork - he says. Dispersed - not to appease. And Yasha, I see, is climbing up the back of the chair, quietly crept up and sat by the doctor's shoulder. The doctor says:

- And you understand, this is just ... - And he stopped the fork with potatoes near his ear - for one moment only. Yashenka with his paw gently grabbed the potatoes and took them off the fork - carefully, like a thief.

- And imagine ... - And poke an empty fork into your mouth. He was embarrassed - he thought, shook off the potatoes, when he waved his hands, he looked around. And Yashka is no longer there - he is sitting in the corner and cannot chew potatoes, he scored his whole throat.

The doctor himself laughed, but nevertheless he took offense at Yashka.

They made a bed for Yasha in a basket: with a sheet, a blanket, a pillow. But Yashka did not want to sleep like a human: he wrapped everything around himself in a ball and sat like a stuffed animal all night. They sewed him a dress, green, with a cape, and he looked like a girl with a haircut from an orphanage.

Once I hear a ringing in the next room. What? I make my way quietly and see: Yashka is standing on the windowsill in a green dress, in one hand he has a lamp glass, and in the other - a hedgehog, and he is furiously cleaning the glass with a hedgehog. I was so furious that I did not hear how I entered. He saw how the glass was cleaned, and let's try it for himself.

Otherwise, if you leave him in the evening with a lamp, he will turn the fire away with a full flame - the lamp smokes, soot flies around the room, and he sits and growls at the lamp.

The trouble was with Yashka, even put him in a cage! I scolded and beat him, but for a long time I could not be angry with him. When Yashka wanted to be liked, he became very affectionate, climbed onto his shoulder and began to search in his head. This means that he already loves you very much.

He needs to beg for something - candy there or an apple - now he will climb on his shoulder and carefully begin to fiddle with his paws in his hair: he looks for it and scratches it with his fingernail. He finds nothing, but pretends to have caught the beast: he bites something off his fingers.

Once a lady came to visit us. She thought she was pretty.

Discharged. Everything is so silky and rustles. There is not a haircut on the head, but a whole gazebo of hair is wound - in curls, in curls. And on the neck, on a long chain, a mirror in a silver frame.

Yashka cautiously jumped up to her on the floor.

- Oh, what a pretty monkey! - says the lady. And let's play with Yashka with a mirror.

Yashka caught the mirror, turned it over and jumped on to the lady's knees and began to try the mirror with his teeth.

The lady took away the mirror and held it in her hand. And Yasha wants to get a mirror.

The lady carelessly stroked Yashka with her glove and slowly pushes him off her knees. So Yashka decided to please, to flatter the lady. Jumped onto her shoulder. Firmly grabbed the lace with his hind legs and grabbed his hair. I dug up all the curls and began to search.

The lady blushed.

- Come on, let's go! - is talking.

It was not so! Yashka tries even more: he scratches with his nails, clicks with his teeth.

This lady always sat down in front of the mirror to admire herself, and in the mirror she saw that Yashka had ruffled her - she almost cried. I moved to the rescue. Where there! Yashka grabbed his hair with all his strength and looked at me wildly. The lady tugged at his collar, and Yashka tore off her hair. I looked at myself in the mirror - a stuffed animal. I swung, frightened off Yashka, and our guest grabbed her head and - at the door.

- Disgrace, - he says, - disgrace! - And I didn't say goodbye to anyone.

“Well,” I think, “I’ll keep it until spring and will give it to someone if Yukhimenko doesn’t take it. I've gotten so much for this monkey! " And now spring has come. It got warmer. Yashka came to life and played even more mischief. He really wanted to go out into the yard, free. And our yard was huge, with a tithe.

In the middle of the courtyard, government coal was piled up like a mountain, and around were warehouses with goods. And from the thieves, the watchmen kept a whole pack of dogs in the yard. Dogs are big, angry. And all the dogs were commanded by the red dog Kashtan. At whom Chestnut growls, all the dogs rush at him. Whom Chestnut will miss, and the dogs will not be touched. And Kashtan beat the stranger's dog with a running start. She would hit her, knock her down and stand over her, growls, and she's afraid to move.

I looked out the window - I see there are no dogs in the yard. Let me, I think, go, take Yashenka out for the first time. I put a green dress on him so that he would not catch a cold, put Yashka on my shoulder and walked away. As soon as I opened the doors, Yashka jumped to the ground and ran across the yard. And suddenly, out of nowhere, the whole pack of dogs, and Chestnut in front, right on Yashka. And he, like a green doll, stands small. I already decided that Yashka was gone - they will tear him apart now. Kashtan poked his head towards Yashka, but Yashka turned to him, sat down, took aim. Chestnut stood a step away from the monkey, bared his teeth and grumbled, but did not dare to rush to such a miracle. The dogs all bristled and waited for Chestnut.

I wanted to rush to help out. But suddenly Yashka jumped and at one moment sat on Kashtan's neck. And then the wool flew in tufts from the Chestnut tree. Yashka beat him in the face and eyes, so that the paws were not visible. Chestnut howled, and in such a terrible voice that all the dogs scattered about. Chestnut began to run headlong, and Yashka sits, clutching the wool with his feet, holding on tightly, and tearing Chestnut by the ears with his hands, pinching the wool in shreds. Chestnut has gone mad: he rushes around the coal mountain with a wild howl. Three times Yashka ran around the yard on horseback and jumped down onto the coal as he walked. Climbed slowly to the top. There was a wooden booth; he climbed onto the booth, sat down and began scratching his side as if nothing had happened. Here, they say, I - I do not care!

And Chestnut is at the gate from a terrible beast.

Since then, I boldly began to let Yashka out into the yard: only Yashka from the porch - all the dogs in the gate. Yashka was not afraid of anyone.

Carts will come to the courtyard, the whole courtyard will be hammered, there is nowhere to go. And Yashka flies from cart to cart. The horse will jump on its back - the horse is trampling, shaking its mane, snorting, and Yashka slowly jumps over to another. The cabbies only laugh and wonder:

- Look what Satan is jumping. Look you! Ooh!

And Yashka - for the bags. Looking for cracks. He will stick his paw and feel what is there.

He gropes where the sunflowers are, sits and immediately clicks on the cart. It used to be that Yashka also felt for the nuts. He will beat him by the cheeks and with all four hands tries to wag.

But then Jacob found an enemy. Yes, what! There was a cat in the yard. Nobody's. He lived at the office, and everyone fed him scraps. He got fat, became big as a dog. He was angry and scratchy.

And then one evening Yashka was walking around the yard. I couldn't get through to him at home. I see the cat went out into the yard and jumped on the bench that was under the tree.

Yashka, when he saw the cat, went straight to him. He sat down and walked slowly on four legs. He does not take his eyes off the cat straight to the bench. The cat picked up his paws, bent his back, got ready. And Yashka is crawling closer and closer. The cat widened his eyes, backs away. Yashka on the bench. The cat is all backwards to the other edge, to the tree. My heart sank. And Yakov crawls on the cat on the bench. The cat has already shrunk into a ball, crawled all over. And suddenly - he jumped, but not on Yashka, but on a tree. He clung to the trunk and looked down at the monkey. And Yashka made the same way to the tree. The cat scratched itself higher - used to flee in the trees. And Yashka is at the tree, and all slowly, aiming at the cat with black eyes. The cat higher, higher, climbed onto a branch and sat down from the very edge. Looks at what Yashka will do. And Yakov crawls along the same branch, and so confidently, as if he had never done anything else, but only caught cats. The cat is already at the very edge, on a thin branch, it can hardly hold, it sways. And Yakov crawls and crawls, tenaciously fingering with all four handles.

Suddenly the cat jumped from the very top to the pavement, shook himself and walked away without looking back. And Yashka was chasing him from the tree: "Yau, yau", - in some terrible, animal voice - I have never heard that from him.

Now Jacob has become completely tsar in the courtyard. At home he didn't want to eat anything, he just drank tea with sugar. And since he ate raisins in the courtyard, they barely left him. Yashka groaned, there were tears in his eyes, and looked at everyone capriciously. At first, everyone was very sorry for Yashka, but when he saw that they were busy with him, he began to break down and throw his arms around, throw his head back and howl at different voices. We decided to wrap him up and give him castor oil. Let him know!

And he liked the castor oil so much that he started yelling to be given more.

They swaddled him and did not let him into the yard for three days.

Yashka soon recovered and began to rush to the yard. I was not afraid for him: no one could catch him, and Yashka spent whole days jumping around the yard. At home it became calmer, and I felt less for Yashka. And when autumn came, everyone in the house unanimously:

- Wherever you want, take your monkey or put it in a cage, and so that this Satan does not rush around the whole apartment.

They said how pretty, and now, I think, Satan has become. And as soon as the training began, I began to look in the classroom for someone to float Yashka.

Finally he found a comrade, called aside and said:

- Do you want me to give you a monkey? I'm alive.

I don’t know to whom he then fused Yashka.

But at first, when Yashka was gone, I saw that everyone was a little bored, even though they didn’t want to confess.

Bear

In Siberia, in a dense forest, in the taiga, a Tungus hunter lived with his whole family in a leather tent. Once he went out of the house to break firewood, he sees: on the ground there are traces of a moose elk. The hunter was delighted, ran home, took his gun and knife and said to his wife:

- Soon, don't wait back - I'll go for the elk.

So he followed the tracks, suddenly he sees more tracks - bearish. And where the elk's tracks lead, there the bear's ones lead.

“Hey,” thought the hunter, “I'm not alone after the elk, the bear is driving the elk in front of me. I can't catch up with them. The bear will catch the elk before me. "

After all, the hunter followed in the footsteps. I walked for a long time, I already ate the entire stock that I took from home with me, but everything goes on and on. The footprints began to rise up the mountain, but the forest does not thin out, still the same dense.

The hunter is hungry, exhausted, but everything goes on and looks under his feet, as if not to lose traces. And along the way, pines lie, piled up by a storm, stones overgrown with grass. The hunter is tired, stumbles, barely pulls his legs. And everything looks: where is the grass crushed, where is the ground pressed by a deer hoof?

"I have already climbed high," the hunter thinks, "where is the end of this mountain."

Suddenly he hears: someone is chomping. The hunter hid and crawled quietly. And I forgot that I was tired, where the strength came from. The hunter crawled, crawled and now he sees: there are very few trees, and here the end of the mountain - it converges at an angle - there is a cliff on the right and a cliff on the left. And in the very corner lies a huge bear, gnawing at the elk, grumbling, chomping and not smelling the hunter.

“Aha,” thought the hunter, “you drove the elk here, into the very corner, and then you ate him. Stop! " The hunter got up, knelt down and began to aim at the bear.

Then the bear saw him, got scared, wanted to run, ran to the edge, and there was a cliff. The bear roared. Then the hunter fired a gun at him and killed him.

The hunter tore the skin off the bear, and cut the meat and hung it on a tree so that the wolves would not get it. The hunter ate bear meat and quickly go home.

He folded the tent and went with the whole family, where he left the bear meat.

- Here, - said the hunter to his wife, - eat, and I will rest.

Hunter and dogs

Early in the morning the hunter got up, took a gun, cartridges, a bag, called his two dogs and went to shoot the rabbits.

There was a bitter frost, but there was no wind at all. The hunter was skiing and warmed up from walking. He felt warm.

The dogs ran ahead and chased the hares to the hunter. The hunter shot deftly and filled five of them. Then he noticed that he had gone far.

“It's time to go home,” thought the hunter. - You can see the tracks from my skis, and before it gets dark, I will follow the tracks home. I’ll cross the ravine, and there it’s not far. ”

He went downstairs and saw that in the ravine it was black-black from jackdaws. They were sitting right in the snow. The hunter realized that the matter was amiss.

And rightly so: he had just left the ravine when the wind blew, it started snowing, and a blizzard began. There was nothing to be seen ahead, the tracks were covered with snow.

The hunter whistled the dogs.

If the dogs do not lead me out onto the road, he thought, I am lost. I do not know where to go, I will get lost, it will bring me in snow, and I will freeze. "

He let the dogs go ahead, and the dogs will run off five steps - and the hunter cannot see where to follow them. Then he took off his belt, untied all the straps and ropes that were on him, tied the dogs by the collar and let them go forward. The dogs dragged him, and he came to his village on skis, like on a sleigh.

He gave each dog a whole hare, then took off his shoes and lay down on the stove. And he kept thinking:

"If it weren't for the dogs, I would have disappeared today."