The Hare's Hut – A Russian Folk Tale about Friendship and Justice

Summary

The tale "The Hare's Hut" tells the story of how the hare and the fox built their own huts: the hare built his from sand, and the fox built hers from snow. When spring came, the fox's hut melted, while the hare's remained. The fox took the opportunity, drove the hare out, and claimed his hut for herself. The hare asks the wolf, the bear, and the rooster for help, but only the rooster is able to drive the fox away and return the hare's home to him.

The Tale

Once upon a time, in a forest, there lived a hare and a fox. They lived near each other. Autumn arrived, and the forest became cold. The fox and the hare decided to build themselves huts for the winter. The fox built her hut from loose snow, and the hare built his from loose sand.

They spent the winter in their huts. When spring came, the sun warmed the land, and the fox's hut melted, while the hare's remained intact. The fox, seeing this, went to the hare's hut, drove him out, and moved into his hut.

The hare left his yard, sat down under a birch tree, and cried. Suddenly, the wolf passed by, saw the hare, and asked:

“Why are you crying, hare?”

“How can I not cry?” replied the hare. “The fox and I lived near each other. We both built huts: I built mine from sand, and she built hers from snow. When spring came, her hut melted, but mine stayed. The fox came, drove me out, and took my hut.”

“Don’t cry, hare! I’ll help you. Let’s go, I’ll drive the fox out of your hut!”

The wolf and the hare went to the hut. The wolf stood at the door and shouted:

“Why have you entered the hare’s hut? Get down, fox, from the stove, or I’ll throw you down and beat you!”

The fox was not scared and replied:

“Oh, wolf, beware! My tail is like a stick – if I strike, it will be the end of you right here!”

The wolf got scared, turned around, and ran away. The hare stayed alone, sat back under the birch tree, and cried again.

Suddenly, the bear came by. He also saw the hare and asked:

“Why are you crying, hare?”

“How can I not cry? The fox drove me out of my hut!”

“Don’t cry, hare! I’ll help you. Let’s go, I’ll drive the fox out of your hut!”

The bear and the hare went to the hut, and the bear shouted loudly:

“Why did you take the hare’s hut? Get down, fox, from the stove, or I’ll throw you down and beat you!”

But the fox was not scared and answered:

“Oh, bear, beware! My tail is like a stick – if I strike, it will be the end of you right here!”

The bear got scared, ran away, and left the hare alone.

The hare went back to his yard, sat under the birch tree, and cried bitterly. Suddenly, the rooster came by. He saw the hare and walked over to him:

“Why are you crying, hare?”

“How can I not cry?” replied the hare. “The fox drove me out of my hut!”

“Don’t cry, hare, I will help you! Let’s go, I’ll drive the fox away!”

The rooster and the hare went to the hut. The rooster went inside and shouted loudly:

“I am the rooster-chebetukh,
I am the singer, the chatterbox,
With short legs,
With tall heels,
I carry a sickle on my shoulder,
I will chop off the fox’s head!”

The fox, lying on the stove, was frightened, but did not give up:

“Oh, rooster, beware! My tail is like a stick – if I strike, it will be the end of you right here!”

But the rooster jumped from the doorframe into the hut, pecked the fox in the back, and she ran away in fright. The hare slammed the door behind her and once again lived in his hut.

Lesson

The tale teaches us that friendship and help can always overcome evil. Even when fear seems overwhelming, it’s important to find strength and never give up. Also, remember that you can always rely on the help of true friends.

Questions about the Tale

• Why couldn’t the hare drive the fox out of his hut on his own?
• How did the bear and the wolf try to help the hare, but fail to defeat the fox?
• What role did the rooster play in the story?
• What does this story teach us about fear and friendship?