How I caught little men is the full story. Stories about children (with illustrations)

Boris Stepanovich Zhitkov How I caught little men When I was little, they took me to live with my grandmother. Grandmother had a shelf above the table. And on the shelf there is a steamboat. I've never seen anything like this. He was completely real, only small. He had a trumpet: yellow and on it two black belts. And two masts. And rope ladders went from the masts to the sides. At the stern there was a booth, like a house. Polished, with windows and door. And just at the stern there is a copper steering wheel. Below under the stern is the steering wheel. And the propeller shone in front of the steering wheel like a copper rose. There are two anchors on the bow. Oh, how wonderful! If only I had one like this! I immediately asked my grandmother to play with the steamboat. My grandmother allowed me everything. And then she suddenly frowned: “Don’t ask for that.” If you don’t want to play, don’t you dare touch it. Never! This is a dear memory for me. I saw that even if I cried, it wouldn’t help. And the steamboat stood importantly on a shelf on varnished stands. I couldn't take my eyes off him. And grandma: “Give me your word of honor that you won’t touch me.” Otherwise I’d better hide it from sin. - And went to the shelf. I almost cried and shouted with all my voice: “Honest and honest, grandma.” - And grabbed my grandmother’s skirt. Grandmother did not remove the steamer. I kept looking at the ship. He climbed onto a chair to see better. And more and more he seemed real to me. And the door in the booth must certainly open. And probably little people live in it. Small, just the size of the ship. It turned out that they should be slightly lower than the match. I began to wait to see if any of them would look through the window. They're probably peeking. And when no one is home, they go out onto the deck. They are probably climbing ladders to the masts. And a little noise - like mice: they dash into the cabin. Down and hide. I looked for a long time when I was alone in the room. Nobody looked out. I hid behind the door and looked through the crack. And they are cunning, damned little men, they know that I am spying. Yeah! They work at night when no one can scare them away. Tricky. I began to quickly and quickly swallow the tea. And asked to sleep. Grandma says: “What is this?” You can’t be forced into bed, but then you’re asking to sleep so early. And so, when they settled down, the grandmother turned off the light. And the steamboat is not visible. I tossed and turned on purpose, so that the bed creaked. Grandmother: Why are you tossing and turning? “And I’m afraid to sleep without light.” At home they always light a night light. “I lied: the house is completely dark at night.” Grandma cursed, but got up. I spent a long time poking around and made a night light. It didn't burn well. But you could still see how the steamboat glittered on the shelf. I covered my head with a blanket, made myself a house and a small hole. And he looked out of the hole without moving. Soon I looked so closely that I could clearly see everything on the boat. I looked for a long time. The room was completely silent. Only the clock was ticking. Suddenly something rustled quietly.

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Boris Stepanovich Zhitkov
How I caught little men

I immediately asked my grandmother to play with the steamboat. My grandmother allowed me everything. And then suddenly she frowned:

- Don’t ask for that. If you don’t want to play, don’t you dare touch it. Never! This is a dear memory for me.

I saw that even if I cried, it wouldn’t help.

And the steamboat stood importantly on a shelf on varnished stands. I couldn't take my eyes off him. And grandma:

- Give me your word of honor that you won’t touch me. Otherwise I’d better hide it from sin. - And went to the shelf.

- Honest and honest, grandma. - And grabbed my grandmother’s skirt. Grandmother did not remove the steamer.

I kept looking at the ship. He climbed onto a chair to see better. And more and more he seemed real to me. And the door in the booth must certainly open. And probably little people live in it. Small, just the size of the ship. It turned out that they should be slightly lower than the match. I began to wait to see if any of them would look through the window. They're probably peeking. And when no one is home, they go out onto the deck. They are probably climbing ladders to the masts.

And a little noise - like mice: they dash into the cabin. Down and hide. I looked for a long time when I was alone in the room. Nobody looked out. I hid behind the door and looked through the crack. And they are cunning, damned little men, they know that I am spying. Yeah! They work at night when no one can scare them away. Tricky.

I began to quickly and quickly swallow the tea. And asked to sleep.

Grandma says:

- What is this? You can’t be forced into bed, but then you’re asking to sleep so early.

And so, when they settled down, the grandmother turned off the light. And the steamboat is not visible. I tossed and turned on purpose, so that the bed creaked.

- Why are you tossing and turning?

“And I’m afraid to sleep without light.” At home they always light a night light. “I lied: the house is completely dark at night.”

Grandma cursed, but got up. I spent a long time poking around and made a night light. It didn't burn well. But you could still see how the steamboat glittered on the shelf.

I covered my head with a blanket, made myself a house and a small hole. And he looked out of the hole without moving. Soon I looked so closely that I could clearly see everything on the boat. I looked for a long time. The room was completely silent. Only the clock was ticking. Suddenly something rustled quietly. I was wary - this rustling sound was coming from the ship. And it was as if the door had opened slightly. My breath was taken away. I moved forward a little. The damned bed creaked. I scared the little man away!

Now there was nothing to wait for, and I fell asleep. I fell asleep out of grief.

The next day I came up with this. The humans are probably eating something. If you give them candy, it's a whole lot for them. You need to break off a piece of the candy and put it on the steamer, near the booth. Near the doors. But such a piece that it won’t fit through their doors right away. They'll open the doors at night and look out the crack. Wow! Sweets! For them it’s like a whole box. Now they’ll jump out, quickly take the candy to themselves. They are at her door, but she won’t get in! Now they’ll run away, bring hatchets - small, small, but completely real - and start baling with these hatchets: bale-bale! bale bale! And quickly push the candy through the door. They are cunning, they just want everything to be neat. So as not to get caught. Here they are bringing in candy. Here, even if I creak, they still won’t be able to keep up: the candy will get stuck in the door - neither here nor there. Let them run away, but you will still see how they carried the candy. Or maybe someone will miss the hatchet out of fright. Where will they choose! And I will find on the deck of the ship a tiny real hatchet, sharp, very sharp.

And so, secretly from my grandmother, I cut off a piece of candy, just the one I wanted. He waited a minute while the grandmother was busy in the kitchen, once or twice - on the table with her feet and put the lollipop right next to the door on the steamer. Theirs is half a step from the door to the lollipop. He got off the table and wiped away with his sleeve what he had left behind with his feet. Grandma didn't notice anything.

During the day I secretly glanced at the ship. My grandmother took me for a walk. I was afraid that during this time the little men would steal the candy and I wouldn’t catch them. On the way, I purposely whined that I was cold, and we returned soon. The first thing I looked at was the steamboat! The lollipop was still there. Well, yes! They are fools to take on such a thing during the day!

At night, when my grandmother fell asleep, I settled down in the blanket house and began to look. This time the night light burned wonderfully, and the candy sparkled like a piece of ice in the sun with a sharp light. I looked and looked at this light and fell asleep, as luck would have it! The little people outsmarted me. I looked in the morning and there was no candy, but I got up before everyone else and ran around in my shirt to look. Then I looked from the chair - of course, there was no hatchet. Why did they have to give up: they worked slowly, without interference, and there wasn’t even a single crumb lying around - they picked everything up.

Another time I put in bread. I even heard some fuss at night. The damned night light was barely smoking, I couldn’t see anything. But the next morning there was no bread.

There are only a few crumbs left. Well, it’s clear that they don’t particularly care about bread or candy: every crumb is a candy for them.

I decided that they had benches on both sides of the ship. Full length. And during the day they sit there side by side and whisper quietly. About your business. And at night, when everyone is asleep, they have work here.

I thought about little people all the time. I wanted to take a cloth, like a small rug, and place it near the door. Wet a cloth with ink. They will run out, you won’t notice right away, they will get their feet dirty and leave marks all over the ship. At least I can see what kind of legs they have. Maybe some are barefoot to make their feet quieter. No, they are terribly cunning and will only laugh at all my tricks.

I couldn't stand it anymore.

And so I decided to definitely take the steamboat and look and catch the little men. At least one. You just need to arrange it so that you can stay alone at home. My grandmother took me with her everywhere, to all her visits. All to some old women. Sit and you can’t touch anything. You can only pet a cat. And the grandmother whispers with them for half a day.

So I see that my grandmother is getting ready: she began to collect cookies in a box for these old women to drink tea there. I ran into the hallway, took out my knitted mittens and rubbed it on my forehead and cheeks - my whole face, in a word. No regrets. And he quietly lay down on the bed.

Grandma suddenly snapped:

- Borya, Boryushka, where are you?

I remain silent and close my eyes. Grandma to me:

- Why are you lying down?

- My head hurts.

She touched her forehead.

- Look at me! Sit at home. I'll go back and get some raspberries from the pharmacy. I'll be back soon. I won't sit for long. And you undress and lie down. Lie down, lie down without talking.

She began to help me, laid me down, wrapped me in a blanket and kept saying: “I’ll be back now, in spirit.”

Grandma locked me up. I waited five minutes: what if he came back? What if you forgot something there?

And then I jumped out of bed as I was, in my shirt. I jumped up on the table and took the steamer from the shelf. I immediately realized with my hands that it was made of iron, completely real. I pressed it to my ear and began to listen: were they moving? But they, of course, fell silent. They realized that I had grabbed their ship. Yeah! Sit there on the bench and are silent, like mice. I got off the table and began to shake the steamer. They shake themselves off, won’t sit on the benches, and I hear them hanging out there.

But it was quiet inside.

I realized: they were sitting on the benches, their legs were tucked under and their hands were clinging to the seats with all their strength. They sit as if glued.

Yeah! So just wait. I'll dig around and raise the deck. And I’ll cover you all there. I started getting it from the buffet table-knife, but didn’t take his eyes off the steamer so that the little men wouldn’t jump out. I started picking at the deck. Wow, how tightly everything is sealed. Finally I managed to slip the knife a little. But the masts rose along with the deck. And the masts were not allowed to rise by these rope ladders that went from the masts to the sides. They had to be cut off - there was no other way. I stopped for a moment. Just for a moment. But now, with a hasty hand, he began to cut these ladders. I sawed them with a dull knife. Done, they are all hung, the masts are free. I began to lift the deck with a knife. I was afraid to immediately give a big gap. They will all rush at once and run away. I left a crack so I could climb through alone. He will climb, and I will clap him! – and I’ll slam it like a bug in the palm of my hand. I waited and kept my hand ready to grab.

Not a single one climbs! I then decided to immediately open the deck and slam it in the middle with my hand. At least one will come across. You just have to do it right away: they’ve probably already got ready there - you open it, and the little men all jump to the sides.

I quickly threw back the deck and slammed my hand inside. Nothing. Nothing at all! There weren't even these benches. Bare sides. Like in a saucepan. I raised my hand. And, of course, there’s nothing at hand. My hands were shaking as I adjusted the deck back. Everything was becoming crooked. And there is no way to attach ladders. They were hanging out randomly. I somehow pushed the deck into place and put the steamer on the shelf. Now everything is gone!

I quickly threw myself into bed and wrapped my head up.

I hear the key in the door.

- Grandmother! – I whispered under the blanket. - Grandma, dear, dear, what have I done!

And my grandmother stood over me and stroked my head:

- Why are you crying and crying? You are my dear, Boryushka! Do you see how soon I am?

She hasn't seen the ship yet.

Dear friend, we want to believe that reading the fairy tale “How I Caught Little Men” by Boris Zhitkov will be interesting and exciting for you. It is very useful when the plot is simple and, so to speak, life-like, when similar situations arise in our everyday life, this contributes to better memorization. All descriptions environment created and presented with a feeling of deepest love and gratitude to the object of presentation and creation. Probably due to the inviolability of human qualities over time, all moral teachings, morals and issues remain relevant at all times and eras. Of course, the idea of the superiority of good over evil is not new, of course, many books have been written about it, but it’s still nice to be convinced of this every time. The inspiration of everyday objects and nature creates colorful and bewitching pictures of the surrounding world, making them mysterious and enigmatic. Having become familiar with inner world and the qualities of the main character, the young reader involuntarily experiences a feeling of nobility, responsibility and high degree morality. The fairy tale “How I Caught Little Men” by Boris Zhitkov is worth reading for free online for everyone; there is deep wisdom, philosophy, and simplicity of the plot with a good ending.

I immediately asked my grandmother to play with the steamboat. My grandmother allowed me everything. And then suddenly she frowned:

- Don’t ask for that. If you don’t want to play, don’t you dare touch it. Never! This is a dear memory for me.

I saw that even if I cried, it wouldn’t help.

And the steamboat stood importantly on a shelf on varnished stands. I couldn't take my eyes off him.

And grandma:

- Give me your word of honor that you won’t touch me. Otherwise I’d better hide it from sin.

And she went to the shelf.

- Honest and honest, grandma. - And grabbed my grandmother’s skirt.

Grandmother did not remove the steamer.

I began to quickly and quickly swallow the tea. And asked to sleep.

Grandma says:

- What is this? You can’t be forced into bed, but then you’re asking to sleep so early.

And so, when they settled down, the grandmother turned off the light. And the steamboat is not visible. I tossed and turned on purpose, so that the bed creaked.

- Why are you tossing and turning?

“And I’m afraid to sleep without light.” At home they always light a night light. “I lied: the house is completely dark at night.”

Grandma cursed, but got up. I spent a long time poking around and made a night light. It didn't burn well. But you could still see how the steamboat glittered on the shelf.

I covered my head with a blanket, made myself a house and a small hole. And he looked out of the hole without moving. Soon I looked so closely that I could clearly see everything on the boat. I looked for a long time. The room was completely silent. Only the clock was ticking. Suddenly something rustled quietly. I was wary - this rustling sound was coming from the ship. And it was as if the door had opened slightly. I lost my breath. I moved forward a little. The damned bed creaked. I scared the little man away!

Now there was nothing to wait for, and I fell asleep. I fell asleep out of grief.

And so, secretly from my grandmother, I cut off a piece of candy, just the one I wanted. He waited a minute while the grandmother was fiddling around in the kitchen, once or twice, with her feet on the table, and put the candy right next to the door on the steamer. Theirs is half a step from the door to the lollipop. He got off the table and wiped away with his sleeve what he had left behind with his feet. Grandma didn't notice anything.

At night, when my grandmother fell asleep, I settled down in the blanket house and began to look. This time the night light burned wonderfully, and the candy sparkled like a piece of ice in the sun with a sharp light. I looked and looked at this light and fell asleep, as luck would have it! The little people outsmarted me. I looked in the morning and there was no candy, but I got up before everyone else and ran around in my shirt to look. Then I looked from the chair - of course, there was no hatchet. Why did they have to give up: they worked slowly, without interruption, and not even a single crumb was lying around - they picked everything up.

Another time I put in bread. I even heard some fuss at night. The damned night light was barely smoking, I couldn’t see anything. But the next morning there was no bread. There are only a few crumbs left. Well, it’s clear that they don’t really care about bread or candy: every crumb is a piece of candy for them.

I couldn't stand it anymore.

And so - I decided to definitely take the steamboat and look and catch the little men. At least one. You just need to arrange it so that you can stay alone at home. My grandmother took me with her everywhere, to all her visits. All to some old women. Sit and you can’t touch anything. You can only pet a cat. And the grandmother whispers with them for half a day.

Grandma suddenly snapped:

- Borya, Boryushka, where are you? - I remain silent and close my eyes. Grandma to me:

- Why are you lying down?

- My head hurts.

She touched her forehead.

- Look at me! Sit at home. I'll go back and get some raspberries from the pharmacy. I'll be back soon. I won't sit for long. And you undress and lie down. Lie down, lie down without talking.

She began to help me, laid me down, wrapped me in a blanket and kept saying: “I’ll be back now, in spirit.”

Grandma locked me up. I waited five minutes: what if he came back? What if you forgot something there?

I got off the table and began to shake the steamer. They will shake themselves off, will not sit on the benches, and I will hear them hanging out there.

But it was quiet inside.

I realized: they were sitting on the benches, their legs were tucked under and their hands were clinging to the seats with all their strength. They sit as if glued.

Yeah! So just wait. I'll dig around and raise the deck. And I’ll cover you all there. I began to take out a table knife from the cupboard, but I didn’t take my eyes off the steamer so that the little men wouldn’t jump out. I started picking at the deck. Wow, how tightly everything is sealed. Finally I managed to slip the knife a little. But the masts rose along with the deck. And the masts were not allowed to rise by these rope ladders that went from the masts to the sides. They had to be cut off - there was no other way. I stopped for a moment. Just for a moment. But now, with a hasty hand, he began to cut these ladders. I sawed them with a dull knife. Done, they are all hung, the masts are free. I began to lift the deck with a knife. I was afraid to immediately give a big gap. They will all rush at once and run away. I left a crack so I could climb through alone. He will climb, and I will clap him! - and I’ll slam it like a bug in the palm of my hand. I waited and kept my hand ready to grab.

I quickly threw myself into bed and wrapped my head up.

I hear the key in the door.

- Grandmother! - I whispered under the blanket. - Grandma, dear, dear, what have I done!

And my grandmother stood over me and stroked my head:

- Why are you crying, why are you crying? You are my dear, Boryushka! Do you see how soon I am?

She hasn't seen the ship yet.

- How I caught little men

Boris Zhitkov
How I caught little men

When I was little, I was taken to live with my grandmother. Grandmother had a shelf above the table. And on the shelf there is a steamboat. I've never seen anything like this. He was completely real, only small. He had a trumpet: yellow and on it two black belts. And two masts. And rope ladders went from the masts to the sides. At the stern there was a booth, like a house. Polished, with windows and door. And just at the stern there is a copper steering wheel. Below under the stern is the steering wheel. And the propeller shone in front of the steering wheel like a copper rose. There are two anchors on the bow. Oh, how wonderful! If only I had one like this!
I immediately asked my grandmother to play with the steamboat. My grandmother allowed me everything. And then suddenly she frowned:
- Don’t ask for that. If you don't want to play, don't you dare touch it. Never! This is a dear memory for me.
I saw that even if I cried, it wouldn’t help.
And the steamboat stood importantly on a shelf on varnished stands. I couldn't take my eyes off him.
And grandma:
- Give me your word of honor that you won’t touch me. Otherwise I’d better hide it from sin.
And she went to the shelf.
I almost cried and shouted with all my voice:
- Honestly, honestly, grandma. - And grabbed my grandmother’s skirt.
Grandmother did not remove the steamer.
I kept looking at the ship. He climbed onto a chair to see better. And more and more he seemed real to me. And the door in the booth must certainly open. And probably little people live in it. Small, just the size of the ship. It turned out that they should be slightly lower than the match. I began to wait to see if any of them would look through the window. They're probably peeking. And when no one is home, they go out onto the deck. They are probably climbing ladders to the masts.
And a little noise is like mice: they dash into the cabin. Down - and hide. I looked for a long time when I was alone in the room. Nobody looked out. I hid behind the door and looked through the crack. And they are cunning, damned little men, they know that I am spying. Yeah! They work at night when no one can scare them away. Tricky.
I began to quickly and quickly swallow the tea. And asked to sleep.
Grandma says:
- What is this? You can’t be forced into bed, but then you’re asking to sleep so early.
And so, when they settled down, the grandmother turned off the light. And the steamboat is not visible. I tossed and turned on purpose, so that the bed creaked.
Grandmother:
- Why are you tossing and turning?
- And I’m afraid to sleep without light. At home they always light a night light. - I lied: the house is completely dark at night.
Grandma cursed, but got up. I spent a long time poking around and made a night light. It didn't burn well. But you could still see how the steamboat glittered on the shelf.
I covered my head with a blanket, made myself a house and a small hole. And he looked out of the hole without moving. Soon I looked so closely that I could clearly see everything on the boat. I looked for a long time. The room was completely silent. Only the clock was ticking. Suddenly something rustled quietly. I was wary - this rustling sound was coming from the ship. And it was as if the door had opened slightly. I lost my breath. I moved forward a little. The damned bed creaked. I scared the little man away!
Now there was nothing to wait for, and I fell asleep. I fell asleep out of grief.
The next day I came up with this. The humans are probably eating something. If you give them candy, it's a whole lot for them. You need to break off a piece of the candy and put it on the steamer, near the booth. Near the doors. But such a piece that it won’t fit through their doors right away. They'll open the doors at night and look out the crack. Wow! Sweets! For them it’s like a whole box. Now they’ll jump out, quickly take the candy to themselves. They are at her door, but she won’t get in! Now they’ll run away, bring hatchets - small, small, but completely real - and start baling with these hatchets: bale-bale! bale bale! And quickly push the candy through the door. They are cunning, they just want everything to be neat. So as not to get caught. Here they are bringing in candy. Here, even if I creak, they still won’t be able to keep up: the candy will get stuck in the door - neither here nor there. Let them run away, but you will still see how they carried the candy. Or maybe someone will miss the hatchet out of fright. Where will they choose! And I will find on the deck of the ship a tiny real hatchet, sharp, very sharp.
And so, secretly from my grandmother, I cut off a piece of candy, just the one I wanted. He waited a minute while the grandmother was fiddling around in the kitchen, once or twice, with her feet on the table, and put the candy right next to the door on the steamer. Theirs is half a step from the door to the lollipop. He got off the table and wiped away with his sleeve what he had left behind with his feet. Grandma didn't notice anything.
During the day I secretly glanced at the ship. My grandmother took me for a walk. I was afraid that during this time the little men would steal the candy and I wouldn’t catch them. On the way, I purposely whined that I was cold, and we returned soon. The first thing I looked at was the steamboat! The lollipop was still there. Well, yes! They are fools to take on such a thing during the day!
At night, when my grandmother fell asleep, I settled down in the blanket house and began to look. This time the night light burned wonderfully, and the candy sparkled like a piece of ice in the sun with a sharp light. I looked and looked at this light and fell asleep, as luck would have it! The little people outsmarted me. I looked in the morning and there was no candy, but I got up before everyone else and ran around in my shirt to look. Then I looked from the chair - there was no hatchet, of course. Why did they have to give up: they worked slowly, without interruption, and not even a single crumb was lying around - they picked everything up.
Another time I put in bread. I even heard some fuss at night. The damned night light was barely smoking, I couldn’t see anything. But the next morning there was no bread. There are only a few crumbs left. Well, it’s clear that they don’t really care about bread or candy: every crumb is a piece of candy for them.
I decided that they had benches on both sides of the ship. Full length. And during the day they sit there side by side and whisper quietly. About your business. And at night, when everyone is asleep, they have work here.
I thought about little people all the time. I wanted to take a cloth, like a small rug, and place it near the door. Wet a cloth with ink. They will run out, you won’t notice right away, they will get their feet dirty and leave marks all over the ship. At least I can see what kind of legs they have. Maybe some are barefoot to make their feet quieter. No, they are terribly cunning and will only laugh at all my tricks.
I couldn't stand it anymore.
And so - I decided to definitely take the steamboat and look and catch the little men. At least one. You just need to arrange it so that you can stay alone at home. My grandmother took me with her everywhere, to all her visits. All to some old women. Sit and you can’t touch anything. You can only pet a cat. And the grandmother whispers with them for half a day.
So I see that my grandmother is getting ready: she began to collect cookies in a box for these old women to drink tea there. I ran into the hallway, took out my knitted mittens and rubbed it on my forehead and cheeks - my whole face, in a word. No regrets. And he quietly lay down on the bed.
Grandma suddenly snapped:
- Borya, Boryushka, where are you? - I remain silent and close my eyes. Grandma to me:
- Why are you lying down?
- My head hurts.
She touched her forehead.
- Look at me! Sit at home. I'll go back and get some raspberries from the pharmacy. I'll be back soon. I won't sit for long. And you undress and lie down. Lie down, lie down without talking.
She began to help me, laid me down, wrapped me in a blanket and kept saying: “I’ll be back now, in spirit.”
Grandma locked me up. I waited five minutes: what if he came back? What if you forgot something there?
And then I jumped out of bed as I was, in my shirt. I jumped up on the table and took the steamer from the shelf. I immediately realized with my hands that it was made of iron, completely real. I pressed it to my ear and began to listen: were they moving? But they, of course, fell silent. They realized that I had grabbed their ship. Yeah! Sit there on the bench and are silent, like mice.
I got off the table and began to shake the steamer. They will shake themselves off, will not sit on the benches, and I will hear them hanging out there.
But it was quiet inside.
I realized: they were sitting on the benches, their legs were tucked under and their hands were clinging to the seats with all their strength. They sit as if glued.
Yeah! So just wait. I'll dig around and raise the deck. And I’ll cover you all there. I began to take out a table knife from the cupboard, but I didn’t take my eyes off the steamer so that the little men wouldn’t jump out. I started picking at the deck. Wow, how tightly everything is sealed. Finally I managed to slip the knife a little. But the masts rose along with the deck. And the masts were not allowed to rise by these rope ladders that went from the masts to the sides. They had to be cut off - there was no other way. I stopped for a moment. Just for a moment. But now, with a hasty hand, he began to cut these ladders. I sawed them with a dull knife. Done, they are all hung, the masts are free. I began to lift the deck with a knife. I was afraid to immediately give a big gap. They will all rush at once and run away. I left a crack so I could climb through alone. He will climb, and I will clap him! - and I’ll slam it like a bug in the palm of my hand. I waited and kept my hand ready to grab.
Not a single one climbs! I then decided to immediately open the deck and slam it in the middle with my hand. At least one will come across. You just have to do it right away: they’ve probably already got ready there - you open it, and the little men all jump to the sides.
I quickly threw back the deck and slammed my hand inside. Nothing. Nothing at all! There weren't even these benches. Bare sides. Like in a saucepan. I raised my hand. And, of course, there’s nothing at hand. My hands were shaking as I adjusted the deck back. Everything was becoming crooked. And there is no way to attach ladders. They were hanging out randomly. I somehow pushed the deck into place and put the steamer on the shelf. Now everything is gone!
I quickly threw myself into bed and wrapped my head up.
I hear the key in the door.
- Grandmother! - I whispered under the blanket. - Grandma, dear, dear, what have I done!
And my grandmother stood over me and stroked my head:
- Why are you crying, why are you crying? You are my dear, Boryushka! Do you see how soon I am?
She hasn't seen the ship yet.

"How I caught little men"

I immediately asked my grandmother to play with the steamboat. My grandmother allowed me everything. And then suddenly she frowned:

Don't ask for that. If you don't want to play, don't you dare touch it. Never! This is a dear memory for me.

I saw that even if I cried, it wouldn’t help.

And the steamboat stood importantly on a shelf on varnished stands. I couldn't take my eyes off him.

And grandma:

Give me your word of honor that you won’t touch me. Otherwise I’d better hide it from sin.

And she went to the shelf.

Honest and honest, grandma! - And grabbed my grandmother’s skirt.

Grandmother did not remove the steamer.

I kept looking at the ship. He climbed onto a chair to see better. And more and more he seemed real to me. And the door in the booth must certainly open. And, probably, little men live in it. Small, just the size of the ship. It turned out that they should be slightly lower than the match. I began to wait to see if any of them would look through the window. They're probably watching. And when no one is home, they go out onto the deck. They are probably climbing ladders to the masts.

And a little noise is like mice: they dash into the cabin. Down - and hide. I looked for a long time when I was alone in the room. Nobody looked out. I hid behind the door and looked through the crack. And they are cunning little people, they know that I am looking. Yeah! They work at night when no one can scare them away. Tricky.

I began to quickly and quickly swallow the tea. And asked to sleep.

Grandma says:

What is this? You can’t be forced into bed, but then you’re asking to sleep so early.

And so, when they settled down, the grandmother turned off the light. And the steamboat is not visible. I tossed and turned on purpose, so that the bed creaked.

Why are you tossing and turning?

And I'm afraid to sleep without light. At home they always light a night light.

I lied: the house is dark at night.

Grandma cursed, but got up. I spent a long time poking around and made a night light.

It didn't burn well. But you could still see how the steamboat glittered on the shelf.

Only the clock was ticking. Suddenly something rustled quietly. I was wary - this rustling sound was coming from the ship. And it was as if the door had opened slightly. My breath was taken away.

I moved forward a little. The damned bed creaked. I scared the little man away!

Now there was nothing to wait for, and I fell asleep. I fell asleep out of grief. The next day I came up with this. The humans are probably eating something. If you give them candy, it's a whole lot for them. You need to break off a piece of the candy and put it on the steamer, near the booth. Near the doors. But such a piece that it won’t fit through their doors right away. They will open the doors at night and look through the crack. Wow! Sweets! For them it’s like a whole box. Now they’ll jump out, quickly take the candy to themselves. They are at her door, but she won’t get in! Now they’re running away, bringing hatchets - small, small, but completely real -

and they will begin to bale with these axes: bale-bale! bale bale! bale bale! And quickly push the candy through the door. They are cunning, they just want everything to be nimble. So as not to get caught. Here they are bringing in candy. Here, even if I creak, they still won’t be able to keep up: the candy will get stuck in the door - neither here nor there. Let them run away, but you will still see how they carried the candy. Or maybe someone will miss the hatchet out of fright. Where will they choose! And I will find on the deck of the ship a tiny real hatchet, sharp, very sharp.

And so, secretly from my grandmother, I cut off a piece of candy, just the one I wanted. He waited a minute while the grandmother was fiddling around in the kitchen, once or twice - on the table with her feet, and put the candy right next to the door on the steamer. Theirs is half a step from the door to the lollipop. He got off the table and wiped away with his sleeve what he had left behind with his feet.

Grandma didn't notice anything.

During the day I secretly glanced at the ship. My grandmother took me for a walk. I was afraid that during this time the little men would steal the candy and I wouldn’t catch them. On the way, I purposely whined that I was cold, and we returned soon. The first thing I looked at was the steamboat. The lollipop, as it was, is in place. Well, yes! They are fools to take on such a thing during the day!

At night, when my grandmother fell asleep, I settled down in the blanket house and began to look. This time the night light burned wonderfully, and the candy sparkled like a piece of ice in the sun with a sharp light. I looked and looked at this light and fell asleep, as luck would have it! The little people outsmarted me. I looked in the morning and there was no candy, but I got up before everyone else and ran around in my shirt to look. Then I looked from the chair - there was no hatchet, of course. Why did they have to give up: they worked slowly, without interruption, and not even a single crumb was lying around - they picked everything up.

Another time I put in bread. I even heard some fuss at night.

The damned night light was barely smoking, I couldn’t see anything. But the next morning there was no bread. There are only a few crumbs left. Well, it’s clear that they don’t really care about bread or candy: every crumb is a piece of candy for them.

I decided that they had benches on both sides of the ship. Full length. And during the day they sit there side by side and quietly whisper. About your business. And at night, when everyone is asleep, they have work here.

I thought about little people all the time. I wanted to take a cloth, like a small rug, and place it near the door. Wet a cloth with ink.

They will run out, you won’t notice right away, they will get their feet dirty and leave marks all over the ship. At least I can see what kind of legs they have. Maybe some are barefoot to make their feet quieter. No, they are terribly cunning and will only laugh at all my tricks.

I couldn't stand it anymore.

Sit and you can’t touch anything. You can only pet a cat. And the grandmother whispers with them for half a day.

So I see that my grandmother is getting ready: she began to collect cookies in a box for these old women to drink tea there. I ran into the hallway, took out my knitted mittens and rubbed my forehead and cheeks - my whole face, in a word. No regrets. And he quietly lay down on the bed. Grandma suddenly snapped:

Borya, Boryushka, where are you?

I remain silent and close my eyes. Grandma to me:

Why are you lying down?

My head hurts.

She touched her forehead.

Look at me! Sit at home. I'll go back and get some raspberries from the pharmacy.

I'll be back soon. I won't sit for long. And you undress and lie down. Lie down, lie down without talking!

She began to help me, laid me down, wrapped me in a blanket and kept saying: “I’ll be back now, in spirit.”

Grandma locked me up. I waited five minutes: what if he came back?

What if you forgot something there?

And then I jumped out of bed as I was, in my shirt. I jumped up on the table and took the steamer from the shelf. Immediately, with my hands, I realized that it was made of iron, completely real.

I pressed it to my ear and began to listen: were they moving? But they, of course, fell silent. They realized that I had grabbed their ship. Yeah! Sit there on the bench and are silent, like mice. I got off the table and began to shake the steamer. They will shake themselves off, will not sit on the benches, and I will hear them hanging out there. But it was quiet inside.

I realized: they were sitting on the benches, their legs were tucked under and their hands were clinging to the seats with all their strength. They sit as if glued.

Yeah! So just wait. I'll dig around and raise the deck. And I’ll cover you all there. I began to take out a table knife from the cupboard, but did not take my eyes off the steamer so that the little men would not jump out. I started picking at the deck. Wow, how tightly everything is sealed!

Finally I managed to slip the knife a little. But the masts rose along with the deck. And the masts were not allowed to rise by these rope ladders that went from the masts to the sides. They had to be cut off - there was no other way. I stopped for a moment.

Just for a moment. But now, with a hasty hand, he began to cut these ladders.

I sawed them with a dull knife. Done, they are all hung, the masts are free. I began to lift the deck with a knife. I was afraid to make a big gap right away. They will all rush at once and run away. I left a crack so I could get through alone. He will climb, and I will clap him! - and I’ll slam it like a bug in the palm of my hand.

I waited and kept my hand ready to grab.

Not a single one climbs! I then decided to immediately turn the deck and slam it in the middle with my hand. At least one will come across. You just have to do it right away: they’ve probably already got ready there - you open it, and the little men all jump to the sides.

I quickly threw back the deck and slammed my hand inside. Nothing. Nothing at all! There weren't even these benches. Bare sides. Like in a saucepan. I raised my hand. Nothing at hand, of course.

My hands were shaking as I adjusted the deck back. Everything was becoming crooked. And there is no way to attach ladders. They were hanging out randomly. I somehow pushed the deck into place and put the steamer on the shelf. Now everything is gone!

I quickly threw myself into bed and wrapped my head up. I hear the key in the door.

Grandmother! - I whispered under the blanket. - Grandma, dear, dear, what have I done!

And my grandmother stood over me and stroked my head:

Why are you crying, why are you crying? You are my dear, Boryushka!

Do you see how soon I am?

She had not yet seen the steamboat.

Boris Stepanovich Zhitkov - How I caught little men, read the text

How I caught little men is the full story. Stories about children (with illustrations)

Boris Stepanovich Zhitkov
How I caught little men

Boris Zhitkov
How I caught little men

"How I caught little men"

See also Zhitkov Boris Stepanovich - Prose (stories, poems, novels...):

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You need to know this

How I caught little men is the full story. Stories about children (with illustrations)

Boris Stepanovich Zhitkov How I caught little men

Boris Zhitkov How I caught little men

"How I caught little men"

See also Zhitkov Boris Stepanovich - Prose (stories, poems, novels...):

Latest

You need to know this

Boris Stepanovich Zhitkov
How I caught little men

Boris Zhitkov
How I caught little men