A Bag of Apples

A multi-child Hare went into the forest to forage for his large family. He gathered a full bag of apples, but on his way home, he met various forest dwellers and generously shared the ripe fruits with all of them. First, he treated the bear, then the squirrel kits, the hedgehog, the goat with her kids, and the mole. And the very last apple was given by the magnanimous Hare to the grumpy Crow. And she took it, even though she grumbled that the hungry little hares would get nothing.

The Hare had to return to the apple tree to gather more apples, but it wasn't that simple. First, he was caught in a downpour with a thunderstorm, and when he reached the apple tree, he saw a Wolf, who was very pleased – such delicious prey had come right into his paws. But the Hare threw an empty bag over the wolf's head and was gone.

Meanwhile, as the mother hare and her kits waited for Father Hare, animals to whom our hero had given apples began to come to their house with treats. The squirrel kits brought nuts, the hedgehog a basket of mushrooms, the goat cabbage and milk, the mole brought carrots, potatoes, parsley, and beets.

When the unfortunate, wet, and tired Hare returned home with empty paws, his well-fed children were already asleep. And then, finally, scaring everyone with a loud knock, the bear appeared with a barrel of honey as a thank-you for the apples.

The next day, the large hare family sat at a table full of all sorts of treats. And the Crow wondered how so much good had come from an empty bag.

Good deeds are always rewarded. Be generous and responsive – and everything will come back in greater measure. But it's not worth imitating the envious and malicious Crow. This is told in the fairy tale about the kind and selfless Hare, which was written and illustrated by the artist and storyteller Vladimir Grigoryevich Suteev.