Christmas scenario "three ears of rye". Topelius "Three ears of rye" Topelius three ears of rye Lithuanian fairy tale
Theatrical performance “Three ears of rye” (fairy tale).
Host: It all started around Christmas. There lived a rich peasant in a village. The village is located on the shore of the lake, and in the most prominent place. There was a rich man's house - with outbuildings, barns, sheds, behind blind gates. And on the other bank, near the forest itself, huddled a poor little hut - open to all the winds. It was cold outside. The trees were crackling from the frost, and clouds of snow were swirling over the lake.
Rich man's wife: Listen, master
Presenter: said the rich man's wife
The rich man's wife: let's put at least three ears of rye on the roof for the sparrows. After all, today is a holiday, Christmas.
Rich man: I’m not so rich as to throw away so much grain to some sparrows.
Presenter: the rich man said.
Rich man's wife: Yes, that's the custom...
Host: the wife said again.
Rich man: I’m telling you that I’m not so rich as to throw grain to the sparrows.
Presenter: he said how the rich man snapped. But the wife did not let up. Probably the poor man who lives on the other side of the lake.
Presenter: she said.
The rich man's wife: I didn't forget about the sparrows on Christmas Eve. But you sow ten times more grain than he does.
Rich man: don't talk nonsense
Presenter: the rich man shouted at her.
Rich man's wife: well, it's a custom...
Rich man: know your business, bake bread and take care that the ham doesn’t burn. And sparrows are not our concern.
Host: And so in a rich peasant house they began to prepare for Christmas: they baked, and fried, and stewed, and boiled. The table was literally bursting with bowls. Only the hungry sparrows that jumped on the roof did not get a single crumb. In vain they circled over the hut - not a single grain, not a single bread crumb was found. But in the poor hut on the other side of the lake, it was as if they had forgotten about Christmas. The table and stove were empty, but a rich treat was prepared for the sparrows on the roof - three whole ears of ripe rye.
The poor man's wife: if we had threshed these ears of corn instead of giving them to the sparrows, we would have had a holiday today. What kind of cakes I would bake for Christmas!
Presenter: the poor peasant’s wife said with a sigh.
Peasant: what flat cakes!
Presenter: the peasant laughed. Well, how much grain could you thresh from these ears? Just right for a sparrow feast.
The poor man's wife: that's true
The poor man's wife agreed
Peasant: don’t be sad wife, I saved some money for Christmas. Gather the children, let them go to the village and buy us fresh bread and a jug of milk there.
Poor man's wife: good. Take the kids a sled and buy what dad said.
Presenter: and so little Vanya and his sister Masha took a sled, a bag for bread, a jug for milk and went to the village. The kids bought everything that the adults punished. By the time we returned, it was already dark, and the snow was falling and falling. Suddenly, something moved and they saw a she-wolf.
She-wolf: wow, what a blizzard! My wolf cubs have nothing to eat, share some bread.
Children: here you go. We've had enough.
Presenter: The she-wolf thanked them. The children moved on. Suddenly they see a bear standing.
Ursa: mor-r-roz, what a mor-r-rose! Everything is frozen, and I’m so thirsty. Share some milk with me, please.
Children: take a mug of milk, we have enough.
Presenter: The bear thanked them and disappeared from sight. The children came home. Their parents greeted them joyfully. The table was set. And the whole family sat down at the table, and outside the window stood the she-wolf and the bear, as if smiling at everyone.
Peasant: these are miracles, no matter how much I cut off the bread and pour in the milk, everything remains as if untouched. All the same, children are good when you know how to share with each other and with our smaller brothers... And when spring came, the cheerful chirping of sparrows seemed to lure the sun's rays to the poor peasant's field, and he had a harvest such as no one had ever known. And no matter what business the peasant’s family took on, everything went well and went well for them. What happened in the rich man's family?
Rich man's wife: look how everything works out for the peasant! Maybe we're doing something wrong? Let's try to give something, but from a good heart.
Rich man: listen, wife, we have a small sheaf of unmilked rye left. Take out three ears of corn and save them for Christmas for the sparrows. Let's start with them!
Presenter: This is such an instructive tale!
Poetry
Z Hello, dear visitors of the Orthodox website “Family and Faith”!
TO As we know, a kind person is a happy person! Even when, out of his kindness, a person gives his last to his neighbor, he feels sincere joy!
AND A hellish and tight-fisted person, on the contrary, is unhappy... Living only for himself, he does not know sincere joy for his neighbors, his life is dark and hopeless...
Z. Topelius, in his wonderful fairy tale-parable, reveals a picturesque picture of bright kindness and dark stinginess, concluding the parable with an anecdotal and funny conclusion of a stingy rich peasant.
Based on the tale of Z. Topelius
Abramova A. A.
« WITH It happened just before Christmas.
There lived a rich peasant in one village. They began to prepare for the holy holiday in his house, so his wife said:
- Listen, master, let's put at least three ears of rye on the roof - for the sparrows! After all, today’s holiday is the Nativity of Christ.
The peasant answers:
“I’m not so rich that I should throw away so much grain to some sparrows!”
But the wife does not let up and asks her husband:
“Probably even that poor man who lives on the other side of the lake did not forget about the sparrows on Christmas evening.” But you sow ten times more grain than he does...
The old man shouted at her:
- Don't talk nonsense! What else did you come up with: throw away the grain to the sparrows! Better get down to the festive table.
In a rich house they began to bake, cook, fry, and stew. Only the sparrows that were jumping on the roof did not get a single crumb. They circled over the house: not a single grain, not a single crust of bread was found, and they flew away.
Suddenly they look, and on the roof of a poor house, open to all the winds, a rich treat is prepared on the roof - three whole ears of ripe rye. The sparrows were delighted and began to peck the grains!
We heard sparrows in the house. The hostess sighed:
- Eh, our oven is empty these days and there’s not much on the table. If only we had taken those three ears of corn, if only they had threshed them, if only they had kneaded the dough, if only I had baked cakes from that dough - then we would have had a treat for the holiday! It’s a joy for the children, it’s a consolation for us!
The peasant laughed:
- That's enough, wife! If only... What kind of flatbreads there are! How much grain can you grind from three ears? Just in time for a sparrow feast! Better gather the children, let them go to the village and buy us fresh bread and a jug of milk - after all, I have saved some pennies for the holiday! We will also have a holiday - no worse than the sparrows!
The children were happy: Vanya and Masha.
- Let's go to! Let's go to! We'll bring you a treat!
And the mother is restless:
- It’s cold outside! And the road is not close! And it’s getting dark, come on! Yes, and wolves...
And the children don’t care:
- Give us, father, a strong stick, with this stick we will scare away every wolf!
Vanya's father gave him a stick, their mother crossed them, and the children went to the village.
Whether long or short, they bought four loaves of fresh bread and a jug of milk and went home.
They are walking, but the snow keeps falling and falling, the snowdrifts are growing and growing, but they are still not close to the house.
Suddenly a wolf, huge and thin, came towards them. It opened its mouth, stood across the road and howled. Vanya was not afraid, he swung his stick, and his voice trembled:
- Don’t be afraid, Masha, I’ll drive him away now!
And the wolf suddenly howled, so pitifully:
- Oooh, what a stu-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o, my wolf cubs have absolutely nothing to eat! They'll starve to death! From hunger!
Masha felt sorry for the wolf and her cubs, looked at her brother and whispered:
“We have nothing but bread, let’s give the wolf cubs two loaves!”
Vanya thought, and handed the wolf some bread. The wolf was delighted and wagged his tail like a dog:
- I will never forget your kindness!
The wolf grabbed two loaves of bread with his teeth and ran away. And the children moved on. They are walking, hurrying, and suddenly they hear: someone behind them is heavily stepping behind them in the deep snow. Vanya and Masha looked back and froze in place: a huge bear was following them. The bear stopped and growled:
- Mor-r-roz, mor-r-roz! The r-r-r-streams are frozen, the r-r-rivers are frozen!.. What, what should we give the cubs to drink? The cubs are crying, the cubs are drinking!
Vanya perked up:
- Avon, what's the matter! Don’t worry, we’ll pour you milk, give the cubs something to drink, and you’ll sleep like other bears in your den until spring!
Lo and behold, the bear is already holding out a birch bark bucket. The children poured him half a jug of milk.
“Good children, good children,” muttered the bear and went on its way, shifting from paw to paw.
And Vanya and Masha moved on. It's very close to home. They suddenly hear a noise overhead. They looked: an owl swooped down on them, flapping its wings, shouting in a creaky voice:
- Give me the bread! Give me the milk! Bread for me! Milk! - The owl spreads its sharp claws, trying to grab its prey.
Vanya waved his stick:
- I’ll give it to you now, robber!
The owl had to get away! And the children soon reached home. The mother rushed to meet them, kisses and shows mercy:
- I was so worried about you! Why haven’t I changed my mind! Suddenly, I think, they met a wolf, suddenly they met a connecting rod bear!..
And the children responded:
– And we actually met a wolf! And we gave him bread for his wolf cubs.
– And we met a connecting rod bear! We gave him milk for the cubs.
The mother clasped her hands: that’s how the heart felt! And the father asks:
“Did they bring anything home?” Or did you treat anyone else along the way?
Vanya and Masha laughed:
– We also met a robber owl! We threatened her with a stick! And we brought home two loaves of bread and half a jug of milk. So now we will have a real feast!
The first star lit up in the sky, and people began to glorify the Nativity of Christ.
Sing, Christians -
To save the world
In the poor camp of Bethlehem
God lies on the hay!
They prayed to God and sat down at the table. They look: what a miracle - no matter how much the father cuts off the loaf, no matter how many pieces of bread he distributes, the loaf remains intact! The mother began to pour milk - no matter how much she poured it, the milk in the jug did not decrease!
- Well well! What miracles!
But everything has its turn: the holidays have passed.
The owners began to get down to business. Whatever the peasant and his wife undertake, everything works out well for them. Where it was empty, it became dense. What a miracle?
But for the rich peasant, the farm went wrong. The owner laments:
- It’s all because we don’t take care of what’s good! Give to this, lend to this. No, we are not so rich, wife, we are not so rich as to think about others. Drive all the beggars away from the yard!
They began to drive away everyone who approached their gates. But they still had no luck in anything.
– Maybe we eat too much or too fat? – the old man thought thoughtfully. And he punishes his wife: “That’s right, we need to cook the food differently somehow!” Go to those who live on the other side of the lake and learn how to cook!
The old woman went, and the old man waited and waited. Long or short, the wife has returned. The old man can't wait:
- What, wife, have you gained some sense? Did you find out why everything is going well in their house?
“I got enough,” says the old woman, “I found out.”
- Tell me quickly what their secret is!
And the old woman answered:
- Well, listen! Whoever comes into their yard, they welcome him, seat him at the table and give him food with him. The stray dog will be fed too. And always from a good heart... That’s why, old man, they are lucky.
The owner marveled:
- Wonderful! I have never heard of people getting rich because they help others. Well, okay, let's check: take a whole loaf and give it to the beggars on the highway. Yes, tell them to get away on all four sides!
- No, this won’t help... You have to give from a good heart...
The old man grumbled:
- Here's another! Not only do you give what you have, but also from the good heart. Well, okay, give from the good heart. But the only agreement is this: let them work it out later. We are not so rich as to give away our goods for free.
But the old woman stands her ground:
- No, if you give it, it will be without any agreement.
The old man almost choked with frustration:
- What is it! Give away what you have acquired for free!
And the old woman again:
- So if for anything, it won’t be from the bottom of my heart!
The old man became thoughtful, shook his head, and suddenly said:
- Wonderful things!.. Well, wife, we have a small sheaf of unthreshed rye left.
You know what, take out three ears of corn and save them... for the sparrows. Let's start with them!..
About the filmstrip fairy tale
Fairy tale Three ears of rye
Everyone knows that miracles happen on New Year's Eve. The same story happened in the wonderful filmstrip “Three Ears of Rye”. The author of the fairy tale of the same name is Finnish writer Topelius Zacharias. Wonderful pictures invite children into a world of magical adventures. Read and watch a wise filmstrip that teaches selflessness and mutual assistance. Text in large font in Russian.
This fairy tale tells about the girl Nilla and her brother Johan, who find themselves in the forest on the night before the New Year. On the holiday, in every house they prepared a treat not only for their own family, but also placed three ears of rye on the roof for the sparrows. This custom was observed by all village residents. Only one rich man was sorry to share grain with the birds. But simple but generous peasants gave their last. The father of one poor family sent his children to the village for milk and fresh bread. On the road he gave me a large stick to fight off wild animals.
The journey was long and Nilla and Johan returned home at dusk. Out of nowhere, a wolf appeared in front of them. He was very cold and told the children that hungry wolf cubs were waiting for him at home. The children felt sorry for the kids, and they shared one loaf with the wolf. Having thanked him, he ran headlong to his children, and Johan and Nilla wandered further through the deep snow.
After some time, a large brown bear caught up with them. He growled with frustration, because the frost froze everything, and the cubs had nothing to drink. They poured half the milk for the grumbler, he said thank you to the guys and headed to his den. And only the angry owl got the stick.
At home, Johan and Nilla told their parents about their adventures and that they brought home half of the bread and milk. But the parents were happy about this too. At midnight, a grateful wolf and bear looked through the window, as if wishing them a Happy New Year.
From that night on, the peasant family always had wealth, not only at the table, but also in the field. And the rich man’s farm suffered a loss. Greed and anger never lead to good.
Three spikelets
(The script for the play was developed by A.N. Filinkova)
Characters: Rich
Rich Man's Wife
Mother father
Children: Egor and Dasha
Wolf
Bear
Owls
Music (Russian, intro)
Child reader.
We will tell you a Christmas tale now. You sit down more comfortably. Let's begin our story.
Leading. It happened around Christmas. There lived a rich peasant in a village. The village was located on the shore of a lake, and in the most prominent place stood a rich man’s house - with outbuildings, barns, sheds, blind gates. And on the other bank, near the forest itself, huddled a small hut, open to all the winds. But the wind had nothing to get hold of there. It was cold outside. The trees were crackling from the frost, and clouds of snow were swirling over the lake. Let's take a look into the rich man's house
Russian music is playing. The rich come out.
Scene 1.
The rich man's wife. Listen, master, let's put at least three ears of rye on the roof for the sparrows. After all, the holiday today is Christmas.
Rich. I'm not rich enough to throw away so much grain to some sparrows.
The rich man's wife. Yes, this is the custom.
Rich. But I tell you that I am not so rich as to throw grain to the sparrows.
The rich man's wife. Already. Probably that poor man who lives on the other side of the lake did not forget about the sparrows on Christmas evening. But you sow ten times more grain than he does.
Rich. Don't talk nonsense. I already feed a lot of mouths. What else did you come up with: throw away the grain to the sparrows!
The Rich Man's Wife. That’s how it is, but it’s a custom...
Rich. Well, that's it. know your business, bake bread and take care that the ham doesn’t burn! And sparrows are not our concern.
Leading. And so in a rich peasant house they began to prepare for Christmas. And they baked, and fried, and stewed, and boiled. The table was literally bursting with pots and bowls. Only the hungry sparrows that jumped on the roof did not get a single crumb.
Music (sparrows come out).
Scene 2.
1 sparrow.
Chick-chirp, chick-chir.
Christmas holiday is coming soon
The Savior of the world was born.
It’s amazing how beautiful it is everywhere.
2 sparrow
Chick-chira. chik-chiras
There are no treats for us.
You know, the owners are poor.
There will be a holiday without food.
Leading.
In vain they circled over the hut - not a single grain, not a single crust of bread was found.
And in the poor hut on the other side of the lake, it was as if they were not preparing for Christmas. The table and stove were empty, but a rich treat was prepared for the sparrows on the roof - three whole ears of ripe rye.
1 sparrow
Chick-chirp, chick-chiras.
There is a treat for us.
2 sparrow
Bless.
Lord, masters,
For love and kindness,
And happiness, and being.
And abundance in everything...
Music (sparrows fly away, poor people come out).
Scene 3.
Mother. If only these ears of corn had been threshed and not given to the sparrows, we would have had a holiday today. What kind of cakes I would bake for Christmas!
Father. What kind of cakes are there?” Well, how much grain could you thresh from these ears? Just for the sparrow’s feast.
Mother. And that’s true, but still...
Father. Don't grumble, mother, I saved some money for Christmas. Gather the children quickly, let them go to the village and buy us fresh bread and a jug of milk. We will also have a holiday no worse than the sparrows.
Mother. Children, come here quickly.
Children. Yes mom? What mom?
Father. Get ready for the journey quickly, buy fresh bread and milk in the village.
Mother. I'm afraid to send them at such a time, father. There are also wolves roaming here.
Father. It’s okay, I’ll give Yegorka a strong stick, with this stick he’ll scare away any wolf.
Leading. And so little Yegorka and his sister Dasha took a bread basket, a milk jug, grabbed a hefty stick and headed to the village on the other side of the lake, to the rich man’s house.
Music (go).
Scene 4
Egorka. Let's knock on that rich house over there.
Music (Sing a carol).
Dasha. Hello, hostess!
Children. Merry Christmas!
The Rich Man's Wife. Happy holiday, children!
Egorka. Our parents sent us to buy milk and bread for the Christmas table!
The Rich Man's Wife. Well, come in!
Leading. And the rich man's wife put four loaves of bread and a jug of milk in their basket. Then I thought and, for the sake of celebration, quickly slipped them a piece of pie.
Rich Man's Wife Now go, go quickly, before the owner returns home.
They are running.
Leading. Dusk was deepening, and the blizzard formed large snowdrifts on the lake. Egorka and Dasha dragged the basket with difficulty, every now and then falling into deep snow.
Music (blizzard).
Leading. But the snow kept falling and falling, the snowdrifts grew and grew, the darkness thickened more and more, and it was still far from home. Suddenly, in the darkness in front of them, something moved. It was a wolf, huge and thin.
Music (the wolves come out).
Scene 5.
The children back away.
Dasha. Egorka, I'm scared!
Egorka Now I'll drive him away! (raises a stick).
Wolf. Woohoo! What a stu-u-u-z! What a bitter cold! My wolf cubs have nothing to eat! They will starve!
Dasha. It's a pity for your wolf cubs, but we ourselves have nothing but bread. Here, take two fresh loaves for your wolf cubs, and two will be left for us.
Wolf. Thank you, I will never forget your kindness! Leaves.
Leading. The children walked only a short distance when they suddenly heard someone heavily stepping behind them in the deep snow.
Dasha. Who else is this?
Music (the bear comes out).
Bear. Mor-r-roz, what a pest-r-rose. all the streams are frozen, all the rivers are frozen
Egorka. Why are you wandering around? I would sleep in my den like other bears and dream
Bear. My cubs are crying and asking for something to drink! And all the rivers froze, all the streams froze! How can I get my cubs to drink?
Egorka. Don't worry, we'll pour you some milk. Give me your bucket.
Bear. Good children, good children 1
Music (children are coming).
Leading. Soon the children reached home
Scene 6.
Children. Mother! Dad!
Mother. Finally! Why haven’t I changed my mind! What if, I think, they meet a wolf...
Egorka. He met us, but he didn’t do anything bad to us. And we gave him some bread for his hungry wolf cubs.
Dasha. We also met a bear. He's not scary at all either. We gave him milk for his cubs.
Mother. And at least they brought something home 1 ?
Dasha. And we brought home two loaves of bread and half a jug of milk, so now we will have a real feast.
Mother. Come here quickly!
Leading. And the whole family sat down at the table. The father cut the bread and the mother poured the milk into the mugs. But no matter how much the father cut off the loaf, the loaf still remained intact. And the milk in the jug did not decrease either.Father. What miracles!Mother. That's how much the kids bought!There is a knock on the door. Mother Who's there?Music (animals come out). The cubs are rolling a barrel of honey. Wolf cubs carry a Christmas tree.
Leading. These forest animals, in gratitude for the children's kindness, brought their gifts to the poor man's house.Bear. Here's a barrel of honey for you,
May you live for many years.
Wolf. Here's a Christmas tree for you,
And I will help you in any way I can.Music (the animals leave).
Leading. The next day, when the children ran to the table, two fresh loaves and half a jug of milk stood as if untouched. And this happened every day. And when spring came, the cheerful chirping of the sparrows seemed to attract the sun's rays to the poor peasant's small field, and his harvest was such as no one had ever known. And no matter what business the peasant and his wife took up, everything went well and went smoothly in their hands
But for the rich peasant everything went wrong.Music (sparrows fly).
The sun seemed to avoid his fields, and his bins became empty.Scene 7.
Music. Rich people come out
Rich. All because we do not take care of what is good. Give to this, lend to this. We are famous for being rich! Where's the gratitude? No, not so rich, wife, not so rich as to think about others! Drive all beggars out of the yard!
Leading. And they drove away everyone who approached their gates. But they still had no luck in anything.
Rich. Maybe we eat too much?
Leading. And the old man ordered to gather for the table only once a day. Everyone sits there hungry, but there is no increase in wealth in the house.
Rich. That's right, we eat too much fat. Listen, wife, go to those on the other side of the lake and learn how to cook. They say you can add fir cones to bread and cook lingonberry green soup.
The rich man's wife. Well, I'll go.
(Leaves.)
Leading. She returned only in the evening.
Rich. Well, I've finally gained some sense.
The rich man's wife. I got enough. They just don’t add anything to the bread.
Rich. Have you tried their bread? It’s true that they keep their bread away from guests.
The rich man's wife. No, no matter who comes to them, they sit you down at the table and give you something to take with you. A stray dog will be fed. That's why they are lucky in everything.
Rich. Wonderful. I have never heard of people getting rich from helping others. Well, okay, take the loaf and give it to the beggars on the highway. Yes, tell them. to get away on all four sides.
The rich man's wife. No (with a sigh), that won't help. We must give from a good heart.
Rich. Here's another! Not only do you give what you have, but also from the good heart. Well, okay, give from the good heart. But the only agreement is this: let everyone work it out later. We are not so rich as to give away our goods for free.
The rich man's wife. No, if you give it away, it will be without any agreement
Rich. What is it! Give away what you have acquired for free!
The rich man's wife. So if for something, it will no longer be from the heart.
Rich. Wonderful things! (Sighs heavily). Listen, wife, we have a small sheaf of unmilked rye left. Take out three ears of corn and save them for Christmas for the sparrows. Let's start with them.
Music (all artists appear)
The one who wants to be happy
May your life be filled with goodness.
We thank you all
And a big bow to you.
Music (leave). A curtain.
Leading. Dear children! Christmas is a bright, cheerful and holy holiday. Everyone congratulates each other, sings songs, reads poems.
The first child is a reader.
On the snow carpet
Winter is spinning -
And they pass next to her
Holy days of Christmas,
On Christmastide -
Songs, joy and fun.
What could be better?
What is Russian winter like?
Reader's second child.
And now, my friend,
Get into a circle.
Handles - clap, clap, clap, clap.
Legs - top, top, top, top.
A cheerful round dance - around the green Christmas tree,
Let us say together now:
“Merry Christmas to you!” Everyone dances around the tree to the music. Then the leader invites the children to sing a familiar Christmas song. After this, the participants of the holiday are invited to the festive table. Everyone congratulates each other and gives gifts made with their own hands.
It all started on New Year's Eve.
There lived a rich peasant in one village. The village stood on the shore of a lake, and in the most prominent place stood the rich man’s house - with outbuildings, barns, sheds, behind blind gates.
And on the other bank, near the forest edge, huddled a small house, open to all the winds. But the wind couldn’t get hold of anything here.
It was cold outside. The trees were crackling from the frost, and clouds of snow were swirling over the lake.
Listen, master,” said the rich man’s wife, “let’s put at least three ears of rye on the roof for the sparrows?” After all, today is a holiday, New Year.
“I’m not so rich as to throw away so much grain to some sparrows,” said the old man.
“But that’s the custom,” the wife began again. - They say it's fortunate.
“And I’m telling you that I’m not so rich as to throw grain to the sparrows,” the old man said as he snapped.
But the wife did not let up.
“Probably the poor man who lives on the other side of the lake,” she said, “didn’t forget about the sparrows on New Year’s Eve.” But you sow ten times more grain than he does.
Don't talk nonsense! - the old man shouted at her. - I already feed a lot of mouths. What else did you come up with - throw the grain to the sparrows!
That’s how it is,” the old woman sighed, “but it’s a custom...
Well, here’s what,” the old man cut her off, “know your job, bake bread and take care that the ham doesn’t burn.” And sparrows are not our concern.
And so in a rich peasant house they began to prepare for the New Year - they baked, fried, stewed, and boiled. The table was literally bursting with pots and bowls. Only the hungry sparrows that jumped on the roof did not get a single crumb. In vain they circled over the house - not a single grain, not a single crust of bread was found.
And in the poor house on the other side of the lake, it was as if they had forgotten about the New Year. The table and stove were empty, but a rich treat was prepared for the sparrows on the roof - three whole ears of ripe rye.
If only we had threshed these ears of corn instead of giving them to the sparrows, we would have had a holiday today! What kind of cakes I would bake for the New Year! - said the poor peasant’s wife with a sigh.
What kind of flatbreads are there! - the peasant laughed. - Well, how much grain could you thresh from these ears! Just in time for a sparrow feast!
And that’s true,” the wife agreed. - But still...
Don’t grumble, mother,” the peasant interrupted her, “I saved some money for the New Year.” Gather the children quickly, let them go to the village and buy us fresh bread and a jug of milk. We will also have a holiday - no worse than the sparrows!
“I’m afraid to send them at this time,” said the mother. - There are wolves roaming here...
It’s okay,” the father said, “I’ll give Johan a strong stick, with this stick he will scare away any wolf.”
And so little Johan and his sister Nilla took a sled, a bread bag, a milk jug, and a huge stick just in case and went to the village on the other side of the lake.
When they returned home, dusk had already deepened. The blizzard created large snowdrifts on the lake. Johan and Nilla dragged the sled with difficulty, continually falling into deep snow. But the snow kept falling and falling, the snowdrifts grew and grew, and it was still far from home.
Suddenly, in the darkness in front of them, something moved. A man is not a man, and does not look like a dog. And it was a wolf - huge, thin. It opened its mouth, stood across the road and howled.
“Now I’ll drive him away,” said Yukhan and raised his stick.
But the wolf didn’t even move from his spot. Apparently, he wasn’t at all frightened by Johan’s stick, but he didn’t seem to be planning on attacking the children either. He only howled even more pitifully, as if he was asking for something. And oddly enough, the children understood him perfectly.
Oooh, what a cold, what a fierce cold,” the wolf complained. - My wolf cubs have absolutely nothing to eat! They will starve!
It’s a pity for your wolf cubs,” said Nilla. “But we ourselves have nothing but bread.” Here, take two fresh loaves for your wolf cubs, and two will be left for us.
“Thank you, I will never forget your kindness,” said the wolf, grabbed two loaves of bread with his teeth and ran away.
The children tied the bag with the remaining bread tighter and, stumbling, wandered on.
They had walked only a short distance when they suddenly heard someone treading heavily behind them in the deep snow. Who could it be? Johan and Nilla looked around. And it was a huge bear. The bear growled something in its own way, and at first Johan and Nilla could not understand it. But soon they began to make out what he was saying.
