Old Man and the Fox

Old Man and the Fox

One warm autumn day, Old Man and Red Fox were walking together across the wide plains. The sun still gave warmth, dry grass whispered beneath their feet, and far away on the hills great bison looked dark against the sky. Old Man walked slowly and sighed again and again. “Oh, Brother Fox, I am hungry. Can you not find us a rabbit, or at least something for supper? You are fast, and you have a keen nose and fine ears.” Fox stopped and looked back. “I have been looking for food since morning,” he said. “Today the animals seem to be hiding. And you always say you have lived through many winters and know many clever ways. Perhaps this time you can think of something.” Old Man liked being called wise. He stood straighter, narrowed his eyes, and pointed toward two bison grazing beyond a hill. “Do you see them? I have a plan.” “What kind of plan?” Fox asked carefully. “A very simple one. You must make them laugh.” Fox blinked. “Make bison laugh?” “Exactly. But to make them laugh properly, you must look extremely funny.” Old Man walked around Fox, studying his thick red coat. “If your fur were cut very short, and only the white tip of your tail remained fluffy, you would look so strange that those bison would fall over laughing.” Fox stepped back. “My fur? But the weather will soon grow cold.” “What cold?” Old Man waved a hand. “The wind is warm, the sun is shining, and winter is far away. When we have found food, we will make a great fire and live comfortably.” Fox was not sure. He looked at the sky. He looked at the grass moving gently in the south wind. Then he looked at Old Man. “Are you certain you will take care of me?” “Of course,” Old Man replied quickly. “We are travelling together.” So Fox agreed. Old Man set to work. He trimmed Fox’s thick fur so short that Fox became almost smooth. Only the white tip of his tail remained fluffy. Fox shivered, though the air was still warm. “Do not worry,” said Old Man. “Run to the bison and dance. The funnier you are, the better.” Red Fox went around the hill and stood before the two great bison. At first, the bison were simply surprised. Fox jumped. He spun in place. He raised his front paws and wore such a serious face that it looked as if he were performing the most important dance in the world. One bison snorted. The other gave a puff of breath. Fox jumped again, tangled himself in his own tail, rolled over his back, and sprang right up. The bison could not hold back any longer. They laughed so loudly that the echo rolled across the plains. Fox went on dancing, though he no longer felt cheerful. Meanwhile, Old Man carried out his hunting plan. Before long he had enough food and began taking care of it. “Old Man!” called Fox. “Are we finished?” “Just a little longer!” Old Man answered without looking back. Fox sat on the ground. Just then, the wind changed. The warm breath from the south disappeared, and a cold wind came from the north. At first Fox thought he could bear it. Then he began shifting from paw to paw. “Old Man, I am cold.” “Soon, soon,” Old Man muttered. But he was too busy thinking about himself. The cold wind grew stronger. “Old Man!” Fox called again. “You promised to light a fire.” Old Man mumbled something, but did not even lift his head. Fox tried to shelter behind a rock. He curled into a ball and covered his nose with his tail, but all that was left of the thick tail was one little white tip. Soon Fox was so cold that he could not speak. He only shivered. When Old Man finally finished his work, the sun was low. “Well, Brother Fox, now we can rest,” he said happily. There was no answer. Old Man looked around and saw Fox beside the rock. He lay still, curled into a small ball. “Hello! Why are you so quiet?” Fox did not answer. Only then did Old Man notice the icy wind. He built a fire, but he thought of his friend far too late. Fortunately, other creatures of the plains were passing by. They saw Fox, carried him nearer the warmth, and covered him with dry grass and soft hides. For a long time they warmed him and gave him warm drink in small sips. By morning, Fox opened his eyes. “You are alive!” Old Man cried, as if it were a great surprise. Fox looked at him for a long, quiet moment. “I am alive, not because of you,” he said softly. “You asked me to take a risk for your plan. You promised to care for me. Then you forgot your promise as soon as you got what you wanted.” Old Man tried to smile. “Well, I was very busy…” “That is exactly it,” said Fox. “You were busy only with yourself.” He stood up. His legs still trembled a little, but his strength was returning. The other animals invited him to stay with them until his warm fur grew back. Fox agreed. And Old Man had to travel on alone. People say that on that day he never fully understood why Fox no longer wanted to be his companion. But everyone who heard the story understood. Cleverness may help a plan succeed. But if, for your own advantage, you forget the person who trusted you, that is no longer wisdom. For a true friend remembers more than supper and warmth for himself. A true friend remembers the one standing beside him.

May this story leave a little light in your heart ✨