Little stories about animals. Stories about good feelings and friendliness of animals

The stories about animals by K.D. Ushinsky are very heartfelt. Full of kindness and warmth. Ushinsky wrote them as a boy.
It calls for respectful treatment of our smaller brothers.

Stories about animals

Bishka (story)

Come on, Bishka, read what’s written in the book!

The dog sniffed the book and walked away.

The Lively Cow (short story)

We had a cow, but it was so characteristic and lively that it was a disaster! Maybe that’s why she had little milk.

Both her mother and sisters suffered with her. It used to be that they would drive her into the herd, and she would either come home at noon or end up dead - go help her out!

Especially when she had a calf - I couldn’t resist! Once she even tore up the whole barn with her horns, she fought towards the calf, and her horns were long and straight. More than once, her father was going to saw off her horns, but somehow he kept putting it off, as if he had a presentiment of something.

And how evasive and quick she was! If he raises his tail, lowers his head, and waves, you won’t be able to catch him on a horse.

One day in the summer she came running from the shepherd, long before evening: she had a calf at home. The mother milked the cow, released the calf and said to her sister, a girl about twelve years old:

- Drive them to the river, Fenya, let them graze on the bank, and be careful that they don’t get in the way. Night is still so far away that it is useless for them to stand.

Fenya took a twig and drove both the calf and the cow; she drove her to the bank, let her graze, and she sat down under a willow tree and began to weave a wreath from cornflowers that she had picked along the way in the rye; weaves and sings a song.

Fenya heard something rustling in the vines, and the river was overgrown with thick vines on both banks.

Fenya looks like something gray is pushing through the thick vines, and show the stupid girl that this is our dog Serko. It is known that a wolf is very similar to a dog, only the neck is clumsy, the tail is sticky, the muzzle is downcast, and the eyes are shining; but Fenya had never seen a wolf up close.

Fenya has already begun to beckon the dog:

- Serko, Serko! - as he looks - the calf, and behind him the cow, rush straight at her like mad. Fenya jumped up, pressed herself against the willow, and didn’t know what to do; the calf to her, and the cow pressed both of them with her backside to the tree, bowed her head, roared, dug the ground with her front hooves, and pointed her horns straight at the wolf.

Fenya got scared, grabbed the tree with both hands, wanted to scream, but had no voice. And the wolf rushed straight at the cow, and jumped back - the first time, apparently, it hit him with its horn. The wolf sees that you can’t take anything unceremoniously, and he began to rush from one side to the other, in order to somehow grab a cow from the side, or grab a carcass - but wherever he rushes, horns are everywhere to meet him.

Fenya still doesn’t know what’s going on, she wanted to run, but the cow wouldn’t let her in, and kept pressing her against the tree.

Here the girl began to scream, calling for help... Our Cossack was plowing here on a hillock, he heard that the cow was braying and the girl was screaming, he threw his plow and ran to the cry.

The Cossack saw what was happening, but did not dare to attack the wolf with his bare hands - he was so big and furious; The Cossack began to call his son that he was plowing right there in the field.

When the wolf saw that people were running, he calmed down, snapped one more time, twice, howled and into the vines.

The Cossacks barely brought Fenya home - the girl was so scared.

Then the father was glad that he did not saw off the cow’s horns.

In the forest in summer (story)

There is no such expanse in the forest as there is in the field; but it’s good to wear it on a hot afternoon. And what can you see in the forest! Tall, reddish pines hung their needle-like tops, and green fir trees arched their thorny branches. A white, curly birch tree with fragrant leaves flaunts; the gray aspen trembles; and the stocky oak spread its carved leaves like a tent. A little white strawberry eye peeks out from the grass, and next to it a fragrant berry is already turning red.

The white catkins of the lily of the valley sway between the long, smooth leaves. Somewhere a strong-nosed woodpecker is chopping; the yellow oriole screams pitifully; A homeless cuckoo is counting down the years. The gray bunny darted into the bushes; high between the branches a tenacious squirrel flashed its fluffy tail.

Far away in the thicket, something is cracking and breaking: is a clumsy bear bending an arc?

Vaska (story)

Kitty-cat - gray pubis. Vasya is affectionate and cunning; The paws are velvety, the claw is sharp. Vasyutka has sensitive ears, a long mustache, and a silk fur coat.

The cat caresses, bends over, wags its tail, closes its eyes, sings a song, but a mouse is caught - don’t be angry! The eyes are big, the paws are like steel, the teeth are crooked, the claws are protruding!

Raven and Magpie (story)

A spotted magpie jumped along the branches of a tree and chatted incessantly, and the raven sat silently.

- Why are you silent, kumanek, or don’t you believe what I’m telling you? - the magpie finally asked.

“I don’t believe it well, gossip,” answered the raven, “whoever talks as much as you do probably lies a lot!”

Viper (story)

Around our farm, in the ravines and wet places, there were many snakes.

I’m not talking about snakes: we are so used to the harmless snake that we don’t even call it a snake. He has small ones in his mouth sharp teeth, he catches mice and even birds and, perhaps, can bite through the skin; but there is no poison in these teeth, and the snake’s bite is completely harmless.

We had a lot of snakes; especially in the piles of straw that lay near the threshing floor: as soon as the sun warms them, they will crawl out of there; they hiss when you approach, they show their tongue or sting, but it’s not the sting that snakes bite. Even in the kitchen, there were snakes under the floor, and when the children would sit on the floor and slurp milk, they would crawl out and pull their head towards the cup, and the children would hit it on the forehead with a spoon.

But we also had more than just snakes: there was also a poisonous snake, black, large, without those yellow stripes that are visible near the snake’s head. We call such a snake a viper. The viper often bit cattle, and if they didn’t have time, they used to call old grandfather Okhrim from the village, who knew some medicine against the bite poisonous snakes, then the cattle will certainly fall - it will swell, poor, like a mountain.

One of our boys died from a viper. She bit him near the shoulder, and before Okhrim arrived, the swelling spread from his arm to his neck and chest: the child began to delirium, toss about, and two days later he died. As a child, I heard a lot about vipers and was terribly afraid of them, as if I felt that I would have to meet a dangerous reptile.

They mowed it behind our garden, in a dry ravine, where in the spring a stream runs every year, but in the summer it is only damp and tall, thick grass grows. Every mowing was a holiday for me, especially when the hay was raked into stacks. Here, it happened, you would start running around the hayfield and throw yourself into the haystacks with all your might and wallow in the fragrant hay until the women chased you away so that you wouldn’t break the haystacks.

That’s how this time I ran and tumbled: there were no women, the mowers went far away, and only our black big dog Brovko was lying on a haystack and gnawing on a bone.

I somersaulted into one heap, turned around in it twice and suddenly jumped up in horror. Something cold and slippery brushed my hand. The thought of a viper flashed through my head - so what? The huge viper, which I had disturbed, crawled out of the hay and, rising on its tail, was ready to attack me.

Instead of running, I stand petrified, as if the reptile had fascinated me with its lidless, unblinking eyes. Another minute and I would have died; but Brovko, like an arrow, flew off the hay, rushed at the snake, and a mortal struggle ensued between them.

The dog tore the snake with its teeth and trampled it with its paws; the snake bit the dog in the face, chest, and stomach. But a minute later, only scraps of the viper lay on the ground, and Brovko began to run and disappeared.

But the strangest thing is that from that day on Brovko disappeared and wandered in an unknown place.

Only two weeks later he returned home: thin, scrawny, but healthy. My father told me that dogs know the herb that they use to treat viper bites.

Geese (story)

Vasya saw a string of wild geese flying high in the air.

Vasya. Can our domestic ducks fly the same way?

Father. No.

Vasya. Who feeds the wild geese?

Father. They find their own food.

Vasya. And in winter?

Father. As soon as winter comes, wild geese fly away from us to warm countries, and in the spring they return again.

Vasya. But why can’t domestic geese fly just as well and why don’t they fly away from us to warm countries for the winter?

Father. Because domestic animals have already lost part of their former dexterity and strength, and their feelings are not as subtle as those of wild animals.

Vasya. But why did this happen to them?

Father. Because people care about them and have taught them not to use them on our own. From this you see that people should try to do for themselves everything they can. Those children who rely on the services of others and do not learn to do everything they can for themselves will never be strong, smart and dexterous people.

Vasya. No, now I will try to do everything for myself, otherwise, perhaps, the same thing could happen to me as to domestic geese that have forgotten how to fly.

The Goose and the Crane (story)

A goose swims on the pond and talks loudly to itself:

What an amazing bird I really am! And I walk on the ground, and swim on the water, and fly through the air: there is no other bird like this in the world! I am the king of all birds!

The crane overheard the goose and said to him:

You stupid bird, goose! Well, can you swim like a pike, run like a deer, or fly like an eagle? It’s better to know one thing, but it’s good, than everything, but it’s bad.

Two goats (story)

Two stubborn goats met one day on a narrow log thrown across a stream. It was impossible to cross the stream at both times; one had to turn back, give way to the other and wait.

“Make way for me,” said one.

- Here's another! Look, what an important gentleman,” answered the other, “backing away, I was the first to ascend the bridge.”

- No, brother, I am much older than you in years, and I have to give in to the milksucker! Never!

Here both, without thinking for a long time, collided with strong foreheads, locked horns and, resting their thin legs on the deck, began to fight. But the deck was wet: both stubborn men slipped and flew straight into the water.

Woodpecker (story)

Knock-Knock! In a deep forest, a black woodpecker is carpentering on a pine tree. It clings with its paws, rests its tail, taps its nose, and scares away ants and boogers from behind the bark.

He'll run around the trunk and won't miss anyone.

The ants got scared:

- These rules are not good! They squirm in fear, hide behind the bark - they don’t want to go out.

Knock-Knock! The black woodpecker knocks with its nose, chisels the bark, long tongue launches into holes, drags ants around like a fish.

Playing dogs (short story)

Volodya stood at the window and looked out onto the street, where a large dog, Polkan, was basking in the sun.

A little Pug ran up to Polkan and began to rush and bark at him; he grabbed his huge paws and muzzle with his teeth and seemed to be very annoying to the large and gloomy dog.

Wait a minute, she’ll ask you! - Volodya said. - She'll teach you a lesson.

But Mops did not stop playing, and Polkan looked at him very favorably.

You see,” Volodya’s father said, “Polkan is kinder than you.” When your little brothers and sisters start playing with you, it will certainly end with you beating them up. Polkan knows that it is a shame for the big and strong to offend the small and weak.

Goat (story)

A shaggy goat is walking, a bearded one is walking, waving its faces, shaking its beard, tapping its hooves; walks, bleats, calls goats and kids. And the goats and kids went into the garden, nibbled grass, gnawed bark, spoiled young clothespins, hoarded milk for the children; and the kids, little kids, sucked milk, climbed the fence, fought with their horns.

Wait, the bearded owner will come and give you all order!

Cow (fairy tale)

The cow is ugly, but she gives milk. Her forehead is wide, her ears are to the side; there are not enough teeth in the mouth, but the faces are large; the ridge is pointed, the tail is broom-shaped, the sides are protruding, the hooves are double.

She tears grass, chews gum, drinks swill, moos and roars, calling her mistress: “Come out, mistress; take out the bin, clean toilet! I brought milk and thick cream for the kids.”

Cuckoo (story)

The gray cuckoo is a homeless sloth: it doesn’t build a nest, it lays its eggs in other people’s nests, it gives its cuckoo chicks to be raised, and it even laughs and boasts to its hubby: “Hee-hee-hee! Ha ha ha! Look, hubby, how I laid an egg for the joy of the oatmeal.”

And the tailed hubby, sitting on a birch tree, his tail unfurled, his wings lowered, his neck stretched out, swaying from side to side, calculating the years, counting out stupid people.

Swallow (story)

The killer whale swallow did not know peace, it flew all day long, carried straws, sculpted with clay, made a nest.

She made a nest for herself: she carried testicles. I applied it to the testicles: it doesn’t come off the testicles, it’s waiting for the kids.

I hatched the babies: the babies squeaked and wanted to eat.

The killer whale flies all day long, knows no peace: catches midges, feeds the crumbs.

The inevitable time will come, the babies will fledge, they will all fly apart, blue seas, beyond the dark forests, beyond the high mountains.

The killer whale swallow does not know peace: day after day it searches and searches for small children.

Horse (story)

The horse snores, twists his ears, moves his eyes, gnaws at the bit, bends his neck like a swan, digs the ground with his hoof. The mane is wavy on the neck, the tail is a pipe at the back, bangs are between the ears, and a brush is on the legs; the wool shines silver. There is a bit in the mouth, a saddle on the back, golden stirrups, steel horseshoes.

Sit down and let's go! To distant lands, to the thirtieth kingdom!

The horse runs, the ground trembles, foam comes out of the mouth, steam comes out of the nostrils.

The Bear and the Log (story)

A bear walks through the forest and sniffs around: is it possible to profit from something edible? He smells honey! Mishka raised his face up and saw a beehive on a pine tree, under the beehive there was a smooth log hanging on a rope, but Misha didn’t care about the log. The bear climbed up the pine tree, climbed up to the log, you can’t climb higher - the log is in the way.

Misha pushed the log away with his paw; the log gently rolled back - and the bear knocked on the head. Misha pushed the log harder - the log hit Misha harder. Misha got angry and grabbed the log with all his might; the log was pumped back two fathoms - and it was enough for Misha that he almost fell out of the tree. The bear became furious, he forgot about the honey, he wanted to finish the log: well, he felled it as hard as he could, and he was never left without surrender. Misha fought with the log until he fell out of the tree, completely beaten; There were pegs stuck under the tree - and the bear paid for his insane anger with his warm skin.

Not well cut, but tightly sewn (The Hare and the Hedgehog) (fairy tale)

The white, sleek bunny said to the hedgehog:

What an ugly, scratchy dress you have, brother!

True,” answered the hedgehog, “but my thorns save me from the teeth of the dog and the wolf; does your pretty skin serve you the same way?

Instead of answering, the bunny just sighed.

Eagle (story)

The blue-winged eagle is the king of all birds. He makes nests on rocks and on old oak trees; flies high, sees far, looks unblinkingly at the sun.

The eagle has a sickle nose, hooked claws; the wings are long; bulging chest - well done.

The Eagle and the Cat (story)

Outside the village, a cat was playing happily with her kittens. The spring sun was warm, and the little family was very happy. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a huge steppe eagle: like lightning, he descended from above and grabbed one kitten. But before the eagle had time to rise, the mother had already grabbed onto it. The predator abandoned the kitten and grabbed the old cat. A battle to the death began.

Mighty wings, a strong beak, strong paws with long, curved claws gave the eagle a great advantage: he tore the skin of the cat and pecked out one of her eyes. But the cat did not lose courage, grabbed the eagle tightly with its claws and bit off its right wing.

Now victory began to lean towards the cat; but the eagle was still very strong, and the cat was already tired; however, she gathered her last strength, made a deft leap and knocked the eagle to the ground. At that very moment she bit off his head and, forgetting her own wounds, began to lick her wounded kitten.

Cockerel with his family (story)

A cockerel walks around the yard: there is a red comb on his head, and a red beard under his nose. Petya’s nose is a chisel, Petya’s tail is a wheel, there are patterns on his tail, and spurs on his legs. Petya rakes the pile with his paws and calls the hens and chicks together:

Crested hens! Busy hostesses! Motley-pockmarked! Little black and white! Gather together with the chickens, with the little children: I have saved you some grain!

The hens and chicks gathered and cackled; They didn’t share the grain - they got into a fight.

Petya the cockerel does not like unrest - now he has reconciled his family: one for the crest, that for the cowlick, he ate the grain himself, flew up onto the fence, flapped his wings, shouted at the top of his lungs:

- “Ku-ka-re-ku!”

Ducks (story)

Vasya sits on the bank, he watches how the ducks tumble in the pond: they hide their wide noses in the water, yellow paws dried in the sun. They ordered Vasya to guard the ducks, and they went to the water - both old and young. How can I get them home now?

So Vasya started clicking ducks:

Duck-duck-duck! Gluttonous chatterboxes, wide noses, webbed paws! You've had enough of carrying around worms, plucking grass, swallowing mud, stuffing crops - it's time for you to go home!

Vasya’s ducklings obeyed, went ashore, walked home, shimmering from foot to foot.

The Scientist Bear (short story)

- Children! Children! - the nanny shouted. - Go see the bear.

The children ran out onto the porch, and a lot of people had already gathered there. A Nizhny Novgorod man, with a large stake in his hands, is holding a bear on a chain, and the boy is preparing to beat a drum.

“Come on, Misha,” says the Nizhny Novgorod resident, tugging the bear with a chain, “get up, rise, shift from side to side, bow to the honest gentlemen and show yourself to the pullets.”

The bear roared, reluctantly rose to its hind legs, waddled from foot to foot, bowed to the right, to the left.

“Come on, Mishenka,” continues the Nizhny Novgorod resident, “show how little kids steal peas: where it’s dry - on the belly; and wet - on your knees.

And Mishka crawled: he fell on his belly and raked it with his paw, as if he were pulling a pea.

“Come on, Mishenka, show me how women go to work.”

The bear comes and goes; looks back, scratches behind his ear with his paw.

Several times the bear showed annoyance, roared, and did not want to get up; but the iron ring of the chain, threaded through the lip, and the stake in the hands of the owner forced the poor beast to obey. When the bear had remade all his things, the Nizhny Novgorod resident said:

- Come on, Misha, now shift from foot to foot, bow to the honest gentlemen, but don’t be lazy, but bow lower! Sweat the gentlemen and grab your hat: if they put down the bread, eat it, but return the money to me.

And the bear, with a hat in its front paws, went around the audience. The children put in a ten-kopeck piece; but they felt sorry for poor Misha: blood was oozing from the lip through the ring.

Khavronya (story)

Our sow hare is dirty, dirty and gluttonous; It eats everything, crumples everything, itches on the corners, finds a puddle - like rushing into a feather bed, grunting, basking.

The sow's snout is not elegant: its nose rests on the ground, its mouth reaches to its ears; and the ears dangle like rags; Each leg has four hooves, and when it walks, it stumbles.

The sow's tail is a screw, the ridge is a hump; stubble sticks out on the ridge. She eats for three, gets fat for five; but her mistresses take care of her, feed her, and give her slop to drink; If he breaks into the garden, they will drive him away with a log.

Brave Dog (story)

Dog, why are you barking?

I scare the wolves.

The dog with its tail between its legs?

I'm afraid of wolves.

- END -

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Even Basil the Great defined the purpose of animals this way: “One was created to serve people, and another so that he could contemplate the wonders of creation, while another is scary for us, in order to admonish our negligence.” There are many stories about devotion, concern, selflessness and other spiritual qualities of our little brothers who do not think about what to do when their loved ones - children, parents or even owners - need help, but immediately try to provide it. Animals cannot distinguish good from evil, understand who is right and who is wrong, make the right or wrong choice: they act according to instincts passed on by their relatives. But it often turns out that the actions of unreasonable animals touch the heart and make a person endowed with reason think.

The series of books “Reading for the Soul” are collections of stories about the good feelings of animals, their concern for their fellow humans and devotion to their owners. The author-compiler of the collections, zoopsychologist and writer Tatyana Zhdanova, is sure: studying the behavior of animals is not just interesting, but also very important, because this is another confirmation of how incredibly and wisely everything is thought out in the miracles of Divine creation.

“By their example,” says Tatyana Zhdanova, “animals teach us unaccountable maternal care, devotion, selflessness (and needless to say that the basis modern technology– airplanes, helicopters, tanks – these are the “mechanisms” of the animal world!). And undoubtedly, all those qualities that are inherent in animals only at the level of instinct must be increased in humans.”

The books in the “Reading for the Soul” series are accompanied by kind illustrations by artists L.B. Petrova and N.A. Gavritskova.

We present to your attention a small selection of stories from the “Reading for the Soul” collections, which we recommend reading with your children. We also recommend visiting the website Smart+Kind, where you can purchase books from the series “Reading for the Soul”, “Teaching good words" and "Talking Nature".

Kitten rescue

There are many facts about how dogs help each other or people in trouble. Much less known are stories of dogs rescuing some other helpless animal. But nevertheless, this is also not uncommon.

Listen to the eyewitness account. It is about a dog who, out of compassion, brought back to life a kitten that was drowning in a river.

Having pulled the baby out of the water, she brought him to a man standing on the shore. However, he turned out to be the owner of a kitten who came here with the intention of drowning the poor thing in the river.

The cruel man tried again. And the dog saved the kitten again, but no longer dragged the rescued one to him.

She swam with the unfortunate cub in her teeth to the other shore - to her home. The dog was blown away fast current, she was choking - after all, clenching her teeth too much could strangle the kitten.

But the fearless animal managed to overcome the dangerous river.

With the baby in its mouth, the dog came into the kitchen of its owner’s house and placed the wet lump near the warm stove. Since then, the animals have become inseparable.

We are learning more and more about the selfless actions of a variety of dogs - both purebred and mongrel. And it hurts to realize how many of these homeless wonderful animals wander the streets in search of our care and love.

Friendship between animals

Sometimes animals are capable of true friendship.

An interesting story by a naturalist about the friendship of a beautiful young dog and a goose with a broken wing. They never separated. It turned out that while still a puppy, the dog bit the bird’s wing in a game. Since then, they noticed that her attitude towards the crippled gosling became especially favorable. She took him under her wing and protected him from the healthy geese.

Wherever the dog went, the goose followed, and vice versa. With their extraordinary friendship, the friends earned the nickname “lovebirds.”

Feed and protect

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that animals are able to help each other and empathize not only in difficult times, but also in everyday life.

It is not uncommon for dogs to steal food from home to “treat” friends. Here funny story about the friendship that united a dog with a horse.

Once the owner noticed that from the basket, full of vegetables, the carrots suspiciously disappear. He decided to track down the thief. Imagine his surprise when it turned out that the yard dog was carrying the carrots. Moreover, he did this not in his own interests, but for one of the horses. She invariably met friendly dog joyful grateful neighing.

Or here's a story about an unusual friendship between a cat and its owner's canary. The cat willingly allowed the bird to sit on its back and even play with itself.

But one day the owners saw how their cat, grabbing a canary in its teeth, climbed onto the closet with a dissatisfied rumbling. The family members became alarmed and started shouting. But then they discovered that someone else’s cat had climbed into the room, and they appreciated the actions of their own purr. She was able to assess the danger and protect her friend from the stranger.

Stork Law

Even the ancient Greeks noticed that storks are particularly diligent in caring for the weak birds in their flock. They feed them and do not allow their parents to need anything. Moreover, if a stork’s feathers have faded from old age, then the young birds, surrounding their father, warm him with their wings.

Storks do not leave elderly relatives even when there is a long flight to warmer climes. In flight, the young people support their exhausted parents with their wings on both sides.

That’s why in the distant past, instead of the expression “to repay for good deeds,” they said “to otbuselit” - a stork was then called a busel in Rus'. And the duty of children to take care of their elderly parents was even called the law of storks. And violation of this law was considered an indelible shame and a great sin.

Wise custom among elephants

Young animals can touchingly care for their helpless relatives, showing kindness to their aged parents.

Thus, it is customary among elephants that one day the day comes when the oldest of them leave the herd. They do this, feeling that they are no longer able to keep up with the young people. After all, an elephant herd usually makes quick and long transitions from one pasture to another.

Elephants are by nature not indifferent to the fate of their elderly relatives and surround them special attention. Therefore, if in his declining years an elephant decides to stop his wanderings and go to sedentary image life, assistants remain with him - one or two young elephants.

In case of danger, young animals warn their ward and hide in a shelter. And they themselves boldly rush towards the enemy.

Often elephants accompany an old man until his very last breath. And what is important to note is that the elderly elephant, as if in gratitude for the care, also provides assistance to these young bodyguards. He gradually teaches them the ancient wisdom of elephants.

This is the custom that exists among such large, strong and beautiful animals as elephants.

It may be hard for you to believe that wolves are capable of creating wonderful families, often for life. And at the same time, wolf spouses are very gentle parents. But in the minds of many, wolves are just ferocious predators.

The mother wolf prepares in advance in a remote place a soft and comfortable bed for her future children. Babies are born, like puppies, blind and helpless. Therefore, the she-wolf constantly nurses them and caresses each wolf cub, preventing shocks and falls.

While the wolf cubs are small, the loving mother does not leave them alone for a minute. And then the father becomes the sole breadwinner big family. Usually there are up to eight wolf cubs in it. Even if in summer it is possible to successfully hunt near the den, the father wolf goes further away for prey. He knows from birth that there is no need to attract the attention of other animals to his home.

In the absence of a protective father, the she-wolf diligently guards her babies. To do this, her memory stores all the necessary skills and caution. The she-wolf will always notice suspicious tracks in the area in time or smell the dangerous smell of a person. After all, she has a very sensitive sense of smell. Mom knows well that the smell of a hunter can bring trouble to a family. Therefore, she will immediately take the children doggy style by the scruff of the neck and, one by one, drag them to another, safer place. And at the same time, this method of “transportation” does not cause them pain.

When the wolf cubs reach two months of age, their parents begin to teach them hunting techniques. They leave the den with their children and often never return to it.

Grateful seagull

The next story is about the amazing act of a seagull.

One elderly woman loved to walk along seashore. She happily fed the sea gulls, who were waiting for her in the same place at certain times of her daily walks.

And then one day, while walking, the woman stumbled and fell from a high slope and was badly injured.

Soon the sea gull that always accompanied her to her home sat down next to the victim.

After some time she flew away. It turned out that the seagull headed towards a familiar house, sat down on the windowsill and began desperately beating its beak and wings against the window panes.

This unusual behavior The seagull attracted the attention of the injured woman's sister. She realized that the seagull was clearly calling her somewhere. The sister quickly got dressed and followed the bird, which led to the scene of the tragedy. And then the injured woman was saved.

So a grateful seagull responded kindly to a person’s kindness.

Bear training

Since ancient times, people have been well aware of the amazing abilities of bears. AND big bazaars and fairs were not complete without performances by gypsies with these trained animals.

The most common act is a dancing bear, which was held by a chain from a ring inserted into its nostrils. At the slightest tension on the chain, the animal experienced pain and submitted.

The preparation of the room was harsh. The captured little cubs were fed and taught to dance. At first they forced me to stand on my hind legs for a long time, and then, by pulling the pain ring in my nose, I was forced to walk. And every step the baby took was rewarded with food.

The next stage of training was even more ruthless. They heated a sheet of iron, covered it with a thin rug, and led the future artist onto it. The iron burned the bear’s heels, and he involuntarily shifted from foot to foot. And for this he received honey. When he remembered that on this rug he should raise his legs one by one, the number with the dancing bear was ready.

Now there are no such fair performances, and bears in circus performers prepared according to the method of famous Russian trainers the Durov brothers. They created their own school, where they do not hurt animals, but teach them the necessary movements with affection and love.

It is with such training that man and beast understand each other best. To this we must add the natural intelligence of bears. Then the artists quickly learn to perform particularly complex actions.

As a result of this good union of people and animals, you joyfully watch bears in the circus arena. Grateful for human care and love, they show us the most amazing tricks!

Der Tiger ist ein großes Wildtier. Er hat gelbe Farbe mit schwarzen Streifen. Der Tiger ist stark und gewandt, er kann laut knurren, gut schwimmen, springen und schnell laufen. Dieses Tier lebt in Asien und Russland. Man kann es auch in einem Zoo oder Zirkus sehen.

The tiger is a large wild animal. It is yellow in color with black stripes. The tiger is strong and agile, he can roar loudly, swim well, jump and run fast. This beast lives in Asia and Russia. It can also be seen in the zoo or circus.

Der Bär gehört zu den Wildtieren. Er ist groß und beweglich. Er hat braunes Fell, dicke Beine und kleine Ohren. Der Bär kann gut schwimmen und klettern auf die Bäume. Dieses Tier lebt im Wald. Den ganzen Winter schläft er in seiner Höhle. Obwohl er das Raubtier ist, mag er auch Beeren, Früchte, Korn, Gras und die Wurzeln der Pflanzen.

The bear is a wild animal. He is big and agile. It has brown fur, thick legs and small ears. The bear swims well and climbs trees. This animal lives in the forest. He sleeps in his den all winter. Although it is a carnivore, it also enjoys berries, fruits, grains, grass and plant roots.

Der Wolf ist ein wildes Waldtier. Sein Fell ist meistens grau, aber kann auch unterschiedlich sein, z.B. Weiß oder schwarz. Er ist einem Hund ähnlich. Dieses Tier ist sehr klug und geschickt. Er kann schnell laufen und gut jagen. Er isst nur das Fleisch anderer Tiere.

The wolf is a wild forest animal. His fur is most often gray, but can also be different, for example, be white or black. He looks like a dog. This animal is very smart and dexterous. He can run fast and hunt well. He only eats the meat of other animals.

Der Hase ist ein kleines Wildtier, das lange Ohren, runden flaumigen Schwanz und starke Hinterpfoten hat. Sein Fell ist grau in Sommer und weiß im Winter. Er lebt auf der Wiese oder im Wald. Es ist schwer ihn zu fangen, denn er läuft sehr schnell.

The hare is a small wild animal that long ears, round fluffy tail and strong hind legs. In summer its coat is gray and in winter it is white. It lives in meadows or forests. It's hard to catch him because he runs very fast.

Der Löwe ist ein Raubtier, das in der Savanne lebt. Man nennt ihn den Zar der Tiere. Er hat eine schöne dicke Mähne und starke Pfoten. Er jagt Antilopen, Zebra und andere Tiere. Nach dem Essen schläft der Löwe lange gern. Es ist ein sehr kluges und ausdauerndes Tier. Man kann ihn dressieren, und dann tritt er im Zirkus auf.

A lion is a predatory animal that lives in the savannah. He is called the “king” of animals. He has a beautiful thick mane and strong paws. He hunts antelopes, zebras and other animals. After eating, the lion likes to sleep for a long time. This is a very smart and hardy animal. He can be trained, and then he performs in the circus.

Der Affe ist ein Wildtier, das meistens in Afrika oder Südamerika lebt. Es kann groß oder klein sein. Dieses Tier ist sehr furchtsam und vorsichtig. Deshalb klettert es fast die ganze Zeit auf den Bäumen, auf solche Weise sucht sich die Nahrung. Die Affen essen die Insekten, die Samen, die Beeren und das Obst. Einige von ihnen wohnen im Zoo, andere treten im Zirkus auf.

A monkey is a wild animal that lives mainly in Africa or South America. It can be big or small. This animal is very shy and cautious. Therefore, he climbs trees almost all the time, looking for food in this way. Monkeys eat insects, seeds, berries and fruits. Some of them live in the zoo, others perform in the circus.

The brother and sister had a pet jackdaw. She ate from her hands, let herself be petted, flew out into the wild and flew back.

Once my sister began to wash herself. 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 me! Why did you take it?

“I didn’t take anything,” the brother answered.

His sister quarreled with him and cried.

Grandma heard.

What do you have here? - speaks. - Give me glasses, now I’ll find this ring.

We rushed to look for glasses - no glasses.

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

And she screamed at the boy.

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

The boy got offended and ran out of the house. He looks, and a jackdaw is flying above the roof, and something glitters under her beak. I took a closer look - yes, these are glasses! The boy hid behind a tree and began to watch. And the jackdaw sat on the roof, looked around to see if anyone was watching, and began pushing the glasses on the roof into the crack with her beak.

The grandmother came out onto the porch and said to the boy:

Tell me, where are my glasses?

On the roof! - said the boy.

Grandma was surprised. And the boy climbed onto the roof and pulled out his grandmother’s glasses from the crack. Then he pulled out the ring from there. And then he took out pieces of glass, and then a lot of different pieces of money.

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

Forgive me, I was thinking about you, but this is a thief jackdaw.

And they made peace with their brother.

Grandma said:

That's all them, jackdaws and magpies. Whatever glitters, they drag everything away.

The cow Masha goes to look for her son, the calf Alyosha. Can't see him anywhere. Where did he go? It's time to go home.

And the calf Alyoshka ran around, got tired, and lay down in the grass. The grass is tall - Alyosha is nowhere to be seen.

The cow Masha was afraid that her son Alyoshka had disappeared, and she started mooing with all her strength:

At home they milked Masha, milked a whole bucket fresh milk. They poured it into Alyosha’s bowl:

Here, drink, Alyoshka.

Alyoshka was delighted - he had been wanting milk for a long time - he drank it all to the bottom and licked the bowl with his tongue.

Alyoshka got drunk and wanted to run around the yard. As soon as he started running, suddenly a puppy jumped out of the booth and started barking at Alyoshka. Alyoshka was scared: that’s right, scary beast, if he 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 had gone to bed. And I wanted to sleep myself. He lay down and fell asleep in the yard.

The cow Masha also fell asleep on the soft grass.

The puppy also fell asleep at his kennel - he was tired, he barked all day.

The boy Petya also fell asleep in his crib - he was tired, he had been running around all day.

And the bird has long since fallen asleep.

She fell asleep on a branch and hid her head under her wing to make it warmer to sleep. I'm tired too. I flew all day, catching midges.

Everyone has fallen asleep, everyone is sleeping.

Only the night wind does not sleep.

It rustles in the grass and rustles in the bushes.

About the monkey

I was twelve years old and in school. One day during recess my friend Yukhimenko came up to me and said:

Do you want me to give you a monkey?

I didn’t believe it - I thought he was going to pull some kind of trick on me, so that sparks would fly out of my eyes, and say: this is the “monkey.” I'm not like that.

Okay, I say, we know.

No, he says, really. Live monkey. She is good. Her name is Yashka. And dad is angry.

On whom?

Yes to me and Yashka. Take it away, he says, wherever you want. I think it's best for you.

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

You'll see, don't be afraid, she's small.

Indeed, it turned out to be small. If it stands on its paws, it will be no more than half an arshin. The muzzle is wrinkled, like an old woman, and the eyes are lively and shiny. Its fur is red and its paws are black. It’s like human hands in black gloves. She was wearing a blue vest.

Yukhimenko shouted:

Yashka, Yashka, go, whatever I'll give you!

And he put his hand in his pocket. The monkey shouted: “Ay! ah!” - and in two leaps she jumped into Yukhimenka’s arms. He immediately put it in his overcoat, in his bosom.

Let's go, he says.

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

Dear Yukhimenko told me what to feed.

He eats everything, come on. Loves sweets. Candy is a disaster! If he gets too full, he will definitely overeat. He likes his tea to be liquid and sweet. You're giving her a hard time. Two pieces. Don’t give him a bite: he’ll eat the sugar and won’t drink the tea.

I listened to everything and thought: I won’t spare her even three pieces, she’s so cute, like a toy man. Then I remembered that she didn’t have a tail either.

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

“She’s a macaque,” says Yukhimenko, “they don’t grow tails.”

We arrived at our home. Mom and the girls were sitting at lunch. Yukhimenka and I walked in straight in our greatcoats.

I speak:

And who do we have!

Everyone turned around. Yukhimenko opened his overcoat. No one had time to make out anything yet, but Yashka was about to jump from Yukhimenka onto his mother’s head; pushed with his legs - and onto the buffet. I ruined my mother’s entire hairstyle.

Everyone jumped up and shouted:

Oh, who, who is it?

And Yashka sat down on the sideboard and made faces, slurped, and bared his teeth.

Yukhimenko was afraid that they would scold him now, and quickly went to the door. They didn’t even look at him - everyone looked at the monkey. And suddenly the girls all began to sing in one voice:

How pretty!

And mom kept fixing her hair.

Where does it come from?

I looked back. Yukhimenka is no longer there. So, I remained the owner. And I wanted to show that I know how to handle a monkey. I stuck my hand in my pocket and shouted, like Yukhimenko earlier:

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

Everyone was waiting. But Yashka didn’t even look - he began to itch slightly and often with his black little paw.

Until the evening, Yashka did not go downstairs, but jumped from top to bottom: from the sideboard to the door, from the door to the closet, and from there to the stove.

In the evening my father said:

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

And I started catching Yashka. I go to the buffet - he goes to the stove. I brushed him out of there - he jumped on the clock. The clock swayed and began to swing. And Yashka is already swinging on the curtains. From there - at the painting - the painting looked sideways - I was afraid that Yashka would throw himself at the hanging lamp.

But then everyone had already gathered and began to chase Yashka. They threw balls, spools, 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 scare. But they covered him with a woolen scarf and wrapped him up, entangling him.

Yashka floundered and screamed, but they soon twisted him around so that only his head was left sticking out. He turned his head, blinked his eyes, and seemed like he was about to cry out of resentment.

You can't swaddle a monkey every night! Father said:

Bind. For the vest and to the leg, to the table.

I brought the rope, felt the button on Yashka’s back, threaded the rope into the loop and tied it tightly. Yashka’s vest on the back was fastened with three buttons. Then I brought Yashka, wrapped up as he was, to the table, tied a rope to his leg, and only then unwound the scarf.

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

Boris Zhitkov