The Little Red Hen

Once upon a time, in a cozy little cottage nestled by the edge of a forest, there lived a small but industrious red hen. She was always busy with some task or another, never wasting a moment of her day. The red hen was known throughout the countryside for her tireless work ethic, and she prided herself on taking care of her home and her patch of land where she grew all manner of fruits and vegetables. However, the red hen had neighbors who were not nearly as industrious as she was. They were a cat, a dog, and a duck, and while they were her friends, they did not share her enthusiasm for work. Whenever there was a task to be done, the red hen would ask for their help, but they would always find excuses.

One sunny morning, while walking through her garden, the little red hen discovered a few scattered grains of wheat. They were golden and shimmering under the sunlight, catching her attention immediately.

"This is marvelous!" she exclaimed to herself. "If I plant these grains, they will grow into wheat, and then I can use that wheat to make bread!"

Excited by the prospect of making fresh bread, the little red hen turned to her lazy companions. She called out to the cat, the dog, and the duck, who were lounging in the meadow nearby.

"Who will help me plant these grains of wheat?" the little red hen asked, holding up the handful of seeds for them to see.

The cat stretched lazily in the grass, yawning as she spoke. "Not I," said the cat, her tail flicking idly.

The dog, who was snoozing in the shade, merely rolled over and grumbled, "Not I."

The duck, floating lazily on the pond, quacked in response, "Not I."

The little red hen sighed. "Very well," she said. "I shall plant the wheat myself."

And so, the little red hen went to work. She tilled the soil, planted the seeds, and watered them carefully every day. As time passed, the wheat grew tall and golden, swaying gently in the breeze. The little red hen was very pleased with her work.

One day, the wheat was ready to be harvested. The little red hen knew that it was time to gather the ripe wheat and turn it into flour, but it was a big job, and she would need help.

Once again, she called to her friends. "Who will help me harvest the wheat?" she asked.

The cat, curled up in a patch of sunlight, merely blinked lazily and said, "Not I."

The dog, still lounging in the shade, wagged his tail slowly but replied, "Not I."

And the duck, drifting lazily in the pond, quacked, "Not I."

The little red hen shook her head but remained undeterred. "Very well," she said. "I shall harvest the wheat myself."

With determination, the little red hen set to work. She cut the wheat, bundled it, and carried it to the mill. It was hard work, but she managed to do it all by herself. When she arrived at the mill, she asked the miller to grind the wheat into fine flour, and soon she had sacks full of fresh, soft flour, perfect for making bread.

Once she returned home, the little red hen knew it was time to bake the bread. She thought once more of her lazy friends and wondered if perhaps they would help her this time.

"Who will help me bake the bread?" she called out to the cat, the dog, and the duck.

The cat, cleaning her paws on a nearby fence, purred, "Not I."

The dog, lounging near the garden, gave a sleepy grunt and said, "Not I."

The duck, splashing lazily in the pond, quacked once again, "Not I."

The little red hen sighed, but she wasn’t surprised. "Very well," she said. "I shall bake the bread myself."

And so, she did. She mixed the flour with water, yeast, and a pinch of salt, kneading the dough until it was smooth and elastic. She shaped the dough into loaves, placed them in the oven, and waited for them to rise and turn golden brown. Soon, the delicious smell of freshly baked bread filled the air, wafting through the meadow and reaching the noses of the cat, the dog, and the duck.

The scent was irresistible, and soon the three lazy animals came trotting over to the little red hen’s cottage.

As they reached her door, the little red hen stood proudly in front of her oven, holding the freshly baked bread in her hands.

"Who will help me eat this bread?" she asked, knowing full well what their answer would be.

The cat, licking her lips, said, "I will."

The dog, wagging his tail enthusiastically, barked, "I will."

The duck, quacking excitedly, said, "I will."

But the little red hen was not about to let them off so easily.

"No, no, no!" she said firmly. "You did not help me plant the wheat, you did not help me harvest the wheat, and you did not help me bake the bread. So, I shall eat the bread myself."

And with that, the little red hen sat down at her table, sliced the warm, crusty bread, and enjoyed it all by herself. It was delicious, and she savored every bite, knowing that her hard work had paid off.

The cat, the dog, and the duck hung their heads in shame and slunk away, realizing that they had missed out on a wonderful treat because of their laziness.

The little red hen, on the other hand, continued to work hard every day, and her efforts always paid off. From that day forward, whenever she had a task to do, she did it gladly, knowing that her work would be rewarded. As for the cat, the dog, and the duck, they learned a valuable lesson. Whenever the little red hen asked for help, they were quick to lend a hand, knowing that there was always something to be gained from hard work and cooperation.

And so, the little red hen lived happily ever after, always busy, always productive, and always enjoying the fruits of her labor.

*

One quiet evening, after the events had settled, the little red hen sat on her porch, gazing out over her neatly kept garden. It was a peaceful moment, one where she could reflect on the lesson her friends had learned. Her garden, now full of growing crops, was a testament to what hard work could accomplish. The cat, the dog, and the duck occasionally stopped by to help her tend to the crops, but they were not always as diligent as the hen.

Despite the occasional laziness that crept back into their habits, the little red hen was kind-hearted and patient with them. She continued to lead by example, hoping that one day they might fully embrace the joy of work and its rewards.

But life continued, and each season brought new tasks for the little red hen. In the spring, she planted new seeds; in the summer, she watered and weeded the garden; and in the autumn, she harvested the fruits of her labor. Each year, her crops grew more bountiful, and her bread became more delicious. The cat, the dog, and the duck helped from time to time, but it was clear that the little red hen remained the true heart of the cottage.

One afternoon, as the red hen baked another loaf of bread, she thought about the changes that had come over her little group of friends. There was still a gap between her work ethic and theirs, but she noticed that they were no longer as quick to avoid helping. They had seen how her efforts led to success and enjoyment, and they began to appreciate the satisfaction of contributing to something worthwhile.

However, the little red hen also recognized that change takes time. The cat, for example, would often lounge in the sun, watching the clouds drift by. The dog, though loyal and friendly, still preferred to nap by the fire. And the duck, while helpful in moments, was easily distracted by the shiny ripples on the pond. Yet, she could see small improvements in each of them.

One chilly day in late autumn, the red hen found herself needing to prepare the garden for winter. The work was tedious and required extra hands. As usual, she asked her friends for help.

"Who will help me prepare the garden for winter?" she called.

The cat, sitting in the window, yawned but replied, "I will help."

The dog, curled up near the hearth, wagged his tail and said, "I will help."

And the duck, paddling in the pond, quacked cheerfully, "I will help."

Surprised but pleased, the little red hen welcomed their offers and soon found herself working alongside them. Though their pace was slower than hers, and they took breaks more often, they worked together to clear the garden and store the vegetables for the colder months ahead.

As the winter winds began to blow, the little red hen felt a sense of contentment. She had not only nurtured her crops but had also helped nurture a sense of responsibility and cooperation among her friends. The bond between them grew stronger as they shared the work, and in turn, they shared the rewards.

In the months that followed, the little red hen and her friends spent many cozy evenings around the fireplace, enjoying warm bread and hearty soups made from the garden’s produce. The cat, the dog, and the duck became more involved in the tasks around the cottage, realizing that when they worked together, they could accomplish so much more.

The little red hen, ever diligent and thoughtful, continued to

lead by example. She understood that the most valuable lessons are learned through experience, and her friends had come a long way from their earlier days of laziness and excuses.

And so, the seasons passed, and life on the farmstead carried on. The little red hen remained the pillar of hard work and perseverance, while the cat, the dog, and the duck slowly embraced the joy of contributing to their shared life. Together, they forged a new way of living—one that was not just about the work itself but about the bonds they formed through cooperation and mutual respect.

Every loaf of bread that came from the little red hen’s oven was a reminder of the importance of effort, and every meal they shared was a celebration of their friendship and teamwork.

*

In time, the little red hen’s story became well-known throughout the countryside, not just because of the delicious bread she baked, but because of the lesson it carried. Villagers would often visit her farmstead to ask for advice or to share a meal, hoping to learn from her wisdom. And the little red hen, always generous, would offer her thoughts with a warm smile, knowing that the key to a fulfilling life was found in hard work, kindness, and the willingness to lend a helping hand.

The end.