The Power of Friendship

Once upon a time there were three friends: a stag, a tortoise and a bird. One night the stag got caught in a net set by a hunter. At first he tried to get free by his own efforts, but he soon realized that neither his antlers nor his hoofs could tear a hole in the net and he called to his friend the tortoise for help.

The tortoise came up and immediately began to gnaw through the strands one by one. But while the tortoise toiled away, the day began to dawn. The hunter who had set the trap got up, took his bow and arrows and set out for the forest.

Hardly had he entered the forest, when he was observed by the stag's other friend, the bird. To distract the hunter, the bird began flying above his head as though it were wounded. The hunter went after it, while the tortoise freed the stag.

When the hunter finally reached the net he found it gnawed through and empty. In his anger he seized his bow, took up an arrow and aimed at the bird. As he was about to shoot, the tortoise bit his toe. The hunter cried out missing his target, and the bird flew away. The hunter then seized the tortoise, thrust it into his pouch and set off homeward. On the way, he grew hungry. Sitting down in the shade of a tree; he started to eat his meal of rice cakes. As he sat there, the stag approached him from behind, gently lifted the pouch on to his antlers and sped away into the forest. There the bird was waiting for him. It pierced the pouch with its beak and went pecking at it until it had pecked it to pieces and freed the tortoise.

All fool’s day

In England, just as in Russia, the first of April is known as All Fools' Day, or April Fool's Day. In Scotland it is Huntigowk Day. This is a good occasion of befooling each other, and they like this merry custom in Britain. It is especially popular with the children who try to befool their parents and friends. Everybody can become the victim of this widespread custom between the hours of midnight and noon. This is strictly pb-served, and all ends on the stroke of noon.

Most of the tricks used in befooling are traditional. For example, it is possible to say that something is wrong with a person's dress, when everything is in order. A person may be sent to fetch a pint of pigeon's milk, or some other thing that 'does not exist.

Some jokes are not so innocent. For example, you may well step into a basin of water placed secretly where you are sure to step into it, you may also be asked to visit somebody while nobody expects your coming there.

Most people will believe any of your tales. On April 1st, 1698, a crowd came to the Tower of London to see the lions washed in the Thames, because they had been invited to do so a day before by an anonymous joker. This event was described in newspapers. However, the same trick was successfully repeated in 1860, and again a lot of curious Londoners came to enjoy the lions washed.

The persons befooled are called April Fools. When the jokers succeed in their purpose, they usually greet the befooled person with shouts: "April Fool!", and get the traditional answer:

April Fool's past and gone, 'You're the fool for making' me one! Try some tricks of your own on the First of April. Please, do remember, that they should not be offensive. The best joke makes everybody laugh, even the victim. Don't forget that you also may well be befooled when trying to befool somebody.