A unique collection of moral stories on virtues

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FRAGMENTS FROM THE BOOK "SECRETS OF THE HEART"

CHILDREN's STORIES
ABOUT
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE

IT'S HARD TO BE GOOD

A. Lopatina

The curious squirrels and chattering magpies soon spread all through the forest the news of how the little mouse had dug up the root of life - and then given it to the wolf. It wasn't long before all the creatures had joined in the angry chatter. Stupid mouse! Imagine - giving the root of life to the wolf! Any sensible animal would have kept the root for himself, and for a little creature like the mouse, why, there'd have been enough of it to last a lifetime. And some left over for his children and grandchildren to boot. And they shook their heads.

When Redback got home he found Swiftpaw sharing the astonishing news with their brother. As soon as he caught sight of Redback, Homey lowered his voice.

"Our poor brother has lost his mind," he said. "What should we do?"

"I don't know," Swiftpaw answered, and then he turned to Redback. "Do you have any idea what you've done? The root of life! Why, it takes a hundred years to grow, and it's a rare creature who finds it. It's never happened in all my life. And besides, according to the forest law, if anyone finds the root of life he's supposed to bring it to the forest council, and the council will decide what to do with it."

"What forest council?" Redback asked in surprise. "I never knew there was any council in the forest."

"You don't know because you're too busy dreaming away and don't pay any attention to what's going on around you. Even if this council's got nothing to do with you, at least you might have heard about it. The wolves and bears and other vicious hunters are all part of it. Once a year they get together and divide up the forest between them: a hunting ground for each of 'em. Not a stick of good to us little creatures, of course, but still, we all get stirred up enough when it's going on. When you live in one place for a while you get used to your hunter's tricks," Swiftpaw explained to his brother. "Nobody's in a hurry to change them for new ones."

"What do we need a council for if it doesn't help anyone?" Redback asked. "My friends Sunbeam and Raindrop always help me. They help everyone. You just have to ask them. What did that forest council ever do for you, Swiftpaw?"

Swiftpaw laughed.

"I'm not crazy enough to go and ask a bunch of hunters for help. They'd eat me in a second and not even notice. You're the big hero. I suppose it was your friends from up in the sky who told you to give the root of life to the wolf?"

"Yes, kind of, and no," Redback half admitted. "They're the ones who told me that the light, and the water, and all the plants are for everyone. But I was the one who felt sorry for the wolf. I didn't know how to help her, but Sunbeam showed me."

"Enough is enough!" Homey interrupted, wrinkling his nose. "Just listen to him! Can't you see he's nuts? Sunbeams and raindrops can't talk and tell you how to do things. But the root of life! I don't believe it! Why, that's a fortune! We could have been rich, got ourselves the biggest burrow in the forest, and so many winter stores that I'd never have to work from morning 'til night again in my life! We…"

And then Homey stopped and sighed. "Oh, what's the use? The root's gone now, into that wolf's belly, and that's the end of it."

For a long time nobody said a word. Then Redback, who was very hungry after all his tugging and running, asked Homey for something to eat.

"Go ask those friends of yours in the sky for something to eat, if they're so clever," Homey snapped angrily. Never before had he spoken to his brother so rudely, and Redback didn't know what to do.

"Guys, please don't get mad at me," he pleaded. "Tomorrow morning you can come with me up the pine tree. I'll introduce you to my friend Sunbeam. He's so bright and cheerful, and whenever he talks to you the whole world is different. He makes you feel so happy and good. And he'll show us all kinds of wonderful things…"

Redback stopped because his brothers weren't listening. He could tell they didn't believe him. Redback crept quietly out the door and climbed sadly up to his favorite branch, where he sat down to think about things.

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