The Wonderful Musician

Once there was a talented musician who walked alone through a thick forest. He played his violin beautifully and thought of many things. When he had no more thoughts, he said, "I am lonely in this forest. I will find a friend." He took out his violin and began to play a lovely tune that echoed through the trees.

Soon, a wolf came walking through the forest towards him. "Oh, a wolf!" thought the musician. "I do not want a wolf for a friend." But the wolf came closer and said, "Dear musician, you play so wonderfully. Can you teach me to play like you?" The musician replied, "It is easy to learn. You just need to do everything I tell you." The wolf agreed happily.

The musician led the wolf to an old oak tree with a split in the middle. "If you want to learn to play the violin, put your front paws into this crack," he instructed. The wolf did as he was told. The musician quickly picked up a stone and wedged the wolf’s paws so tightly that the wolf was stuck. "Wait here until I return," said the musician, and he walked away.

After a while, the musician felt lonely again. "I will find another friend," he said, and he began to play his violin once more. This time, a fox came sneaking through the bushes. "Oh, a fox!" said the musician. "I do not want a fox for a friend." But the fox came closer and said, "Dear musician, you play so beautifully. Can you teach me to play like you?" The musician replied, "It is easy to learn. You just need to do everything I tell you." The fox agreed.

The musician led the fox to a path with high bushes on each side. He bent a young bush to the ground and stepped on it. Then he bent a tree on the other side and said, "If you want to learn to play the violin, give me your left front paw." The fox did as he was told. The musician tied the fox's paw to the bush. "Now give me your right front paw," he said, and tied it to the tree. When the musician let go, the bushes sprang back, lifting the fox into the air. "Wait here until I return," said the musician, and he walked away.

Again, the musician felt lonely. "I will find another friend," he said, and he played his violin once more. This time, a little hare came hopping towards him. "Oh, a hare!" said the musician. "I do not want a hare for a friend." But the hare said, "Dear musician, you play so beautifully. Can you teach me to play like you?" The musician replied, "It is easy to learn. You just need to do everything I tell you." The hare agreed.

The musician led the hare to an open space in the forest where a tree stood. He tied a long string around the hare's neck and fastened the other end to the tree. "Run around the tree twenty times," he instructed. The hare obeyed, and as it ran, the string wrapped around the tree, trapping the hare. "Wait here until I return," said the musician, and he walked away.

Meanwhile, the wolf had been struggling to free itself from the tree. After much effort, it managed to escape. Angry and wanting revenge, the wolf ran after the musician. On the way, it heard the fox crying for help. "Brother wolf, help me! The musician has tricked me!" The wolf freed the fox, and together they continued their chase. Soon, they found the hare and set it free as well. The three animals decided to catch the musician together.

The musician had continued playing his violin as he walked, hoping to find a human friend. This time, a poor woodcutter heard the music and came with his axe to listen. "This is the right friend," thought the musician, "for I was seeking a human, not a wild animal." The musician played so beautifully that the woodcutter stood amazed, his heart filled with joy.

As the woodcutter stood there, the wolf, fox, and hare arrived. The woodcutter saw their angry faces and knew they meant harm. He raised his sharp axe and stood protectively in front of the musician. "If you want to harm him, you will have to face me!" he warned. The animals were scared and ran back into the forest.

Grateful, the musician played another happy tune for the woodcutter. Then, he continued on his way, leaving the forest with a new friend.