The Fox and the Crane

The fox and the crane became friends. They even became ritual kin—a co-godmother and co-godfather—at another family's celebration for a newborn child.

The fox and the crane became friends. They even became ritual kin—a co-godmother and co-godfather—at another family's celebration for a newborn child.

One day the fox decided to treat the crane and went to invite him to her home:

— Come, dear co-godfather, come, my dear! What a feast I will give you!

The crane came to the invited feast. The fox had cooked semolina porridge and spread it over a flat plate. She served it and urged him:

— Have some, my dear co-godfather! I cooked it myself.

The crane pecked and pecked with his beak, tapped and tapped, but could not get a bite! Meanwhile the fox licked and licked the porridge until she had eaten it all herself.

When the porridge was gone, the fox said:

— Do not take it amiss, dear co-godfather! I have nothing else to offer you.

— Thank you, co-godmother, even for that! Come and visit me.

The next day the fox came. The crane had made okroshka, put it into a narrow-necked jug, set it on the table, and said:

— Eat, co-godmother! Truly, I have nothing else to offer you.

The fox began circling the jug, trying this way and that, licking it and sniffing it, but she could get nothing! Her head would not fit into the jug. Meanwhile the crane pecked and pecked until he had eaten everything.

— Well, do not take it amiss, co-godmother! I have nothing else to offer you.

The fox was furious. She had thought she would eat enough for a whole week, but she went home as hungry as she had come. As the call, so the echo! From that day on, the friendship between the fox and the crane was over.