The Tale of Two Squirrel Cubs

Once upon a time, in a great forest, there lived two brother squirrel cubs — Rusty and Fluffy. When they grew up, their mother gave each of them a hollow in an old oak tree and said:

"You're grown now. Gather your own nuts for winter."

Every morning, Rusty rose with the first rays of sun and hopped cheerfully from branch to branch, gathering nuts. If he met a hungry hedgehog or a bunny, he always shared with them. If he saw a little bird that had fallen from its nest, he'd always help it back in.

Fluffy, on the other hand, thought:

"Why get up so early? And why give nuts away to others? Better to gather more for myself!" He got up late, gathered nuts lazily, and when the forest creatures asked for help, he turned away and ran off.

Days passed. Rusty noticed something amazing — the more nuts he gave away, the more new ones he found! As though the forest itself were helping him — branches bent lower, and nuts seemed to fall right at his paws.

But things kept getting worse for Fluffy. The nuts in his hollow spoiled, and some of them went missing altogether. What's more, he began falling ill and feeling sad more often.

One day, a harsh winter came to the forest. Rusty's hollow was full of the finest nuts, while Fluffy's was nearly empty.

Fluffy sat hungry and cold when Rusty knocked at his door.

"Brother, I brought you some nuts! And warm leaves for bedding."

"But why?" Fluffy asked, astonished. "I never helped you..."

"Because you're my brother," Rusty smiled. "And also because when you share good things with others, it comes back to you."

Fluffy wept with shame.

"Forgive me, Rusty! I was greedy and lazy. Teach me to be kind!"

"Of course I will!" Rusty said happily. "Let's start right now!"

Together they went to visit old grandfather bear, who was sick. They brought him nuts and honey. Grandfather bear was so delighted that he told them where the tastiest nuts grew.

Then they helped a family of rabbits repair their burrow after a storm. In gratitude, the rabbits showed them a secret clearing where nuts stayed on the branches even through winter.

From then on, Fluffy became a completely different squirrel. He learned to rise early, to work hard, and to help the forest creatures. And wonder of wonders — the more good he did, the happier he became!

And when spring came, both squirrel cubs saw that their hollows were full of nuts, while grateful butterflies fluttered around them and cheerful birds sang.

Their mother hugged her sons and said:

"Now you've understood the greatest secret of all: a kind heart is the greatest treasure in the whole forest!"

The moral:

When we help others from a pure heart, kindness returns to us like an echo in the forest. But greed and laziness make the soul cold and empty.