One day, however, the girl noticed her neighbor’s hen. She liked it so much that she asked, “Will you trade your hen for my rooster?”. Hearing this, the rooster lowered its head sadly, its comb drooping to one side. It had no choice, because its young mistress had already made up her mind. The neighbor agreed, and the girl brought the hen home.
The hen became her new companion. With its soft, warm feathers, it never forgot to lay eggs. Each day it clucked joyfully, “Cluck, cluck! Dear mistress, eat these eggs to stay healthy!”. The girl happily ate the eggs, cuddled the hen in her arms, and rewarded it with millet and fresh water.
Some time later, the neighbor brought home a duck. The girl instantly grew fond of it and said, “Please trade me your duck, and I’ll give you my hen.”. The hen was heartbroken, its feathers ruffled in sorrow, but again the girl’s desire prevailed. Soon, the duck became her new friend. Together, they would swim in the river. The duck paddled alongside her, quacking, “Quack, quack! Don’t swim too far, little mistress, the water is deep!”. The girl laughed and splashed, delighted by its company, and when she came ashore, the duck followed faithfully.
Not long after, a relative came to visit, bringing along a playful little puppy. The girl’s eyes lit up as she exclaimed, “Oh, what a wonderful puppy! Please give it to me, and I’ll give you my duck.”. The duck flapped its wings and cried out loudly, but it was no use. The girl quickly handed over the duck and took the puppy instead.
She hugged the puppy and boasted, “First I had a rooster, which I traded for a hen. Then I traded the hen for a duck. And now I’ve traded the duck for you!”. Hearing this, the puppy tucked its tail and crept under the chair, frightened and unsure. That night, while the girl slept, the puppy quietly scratched open the door and slipped away, whispering in its heart: “I don’t want to stay with someone who doesn’t value friendship.”
When the girl woke the next morning, she looked around and realized that none of her beloved animals were there anymore. Her careless trading and lack of appreciation had left her completely alone.
This old Russian folktale reminds us of an important lesson: true friendship is priceless, and those who fail to cherish it may one day find themselves with nothing at all.
By Valentine Oseeva