A well-known story about a dog, a smart, kind setter Bim, and about people, kind and different, whom Bim meets. The author passionately defends all life on Earth, speaks of the great responsibility of man to nature.

White Bim Black Ear

"... Reader, friend! ... Think about it! If you write only about kindness, then for evil it is a find, a brilliance. If you write only about happiness, then people will stop seeing the unfortunate and, in the end, will not notice them. If you write only about seriously sad, then people will stop laughing at the ugly ... "... And in the silence of the passing autumn, fanned by its gentle slumber, in the days of the short-lived oblivion of the coming winter, you begin to understand: only truth, only honor, only a clear conscience, and about all this - word.

A word to little people who will be adults later, a word to adults who have not forgotten that they were once children.

Maybe that's why I write about the fate of the dog, about its loyalty, honor and devotion.

... No dog in the world considers ordinary devotion to be something unusual. But people came up with the idea of ​​exalting this feeling of a dog as a feat only because not all of them, and not so often, have loyalty to a friend and loyalty to duty so much that this is the root of life, the natural basis of the being itself, when the nobility of the soul is a self-evident state.

…That's the way it is among us, humans: there are modest people with a pure heart, "imperceptible" and "small", but with a huge soul. It is they who decorate life, containing all the best that is in humanity - kindness, simplicity, trust. So the snowdrop seems like a drop of heaven on earth ... "

1. Two in one room

Pitifully and, it seemed, hopelessly, he suddenly began to whine, clumsily waddling back and forth - he was looking for his mother. Then the owner put him on his knees and put a nipple with milk into his mouth.

Yes, and what was left for a month-old puppy to do if he still did not understand anything in life at all, and his mother still does not exist, despite any complaints. So he tried to ask sad concerts. Although, however, he fell asleep in the arms of the owner in his arms with a bottle of milk.

But on the fourth day, the baby has already begun to get used to the warmth of human hands. Puppies very quickly begin to respond to affection.

He did not yet know his name, but a week later he established for sure that he was Bim.

At two months old, he was surprised to see things: a desk high for a puppy, and on the wall - a gun, a hunting bag and a face of a man with long hair. I quickly got used to all this. There was nothing surprising in the fact that the man on the wall was motionless: since he did not move, there was little interest. True, a little later, then, no, no, yes, and he will look: what would it mean - the face looks out of the frame, like out of a window?

The second wall was more interesting. It all consisted of different bars, each of which the owner could pull out and insert back. At the age of four months, when Bim was already able to reach out on his hind legs, he himself pulled out a block and tried to examine it. But for some reason he rustled and left a piece of paper in Bim's teeth. It was very funny to tear that leaf into small pieces.

What else is this?! shouted the owner. - It is forbidden! - and poked Bim's nose into the book. - Beam, you can't. It is forbidden!

After such a suggestion, even a person will refuse to read, but Bim - no: he looked at the books for a long time and carefully, bowing his head first to one side, then to the other. And, apparently, he decided this: since this one is impossible, I'll take another. He quietly grabbed the spine and dragged it under the sofa, there he chewed first one corner of the binding, then the second, and forgetting himself, dragged the unlucky book to the middle of the room and began to torment it with his paws playfully, and even with a jump.

It was then that he learned for the first time what "hurt" and what "impossible" means. The owner got up from the table and said sternly:

It is forbidden! and patted his ear. - You to me, your stupid head, tore up the "Bible for believers and unbelievers". - And again: - It is impossible! Books are not allowed! He tugged at his ear again.

Beam squealed yes and raised all four paws up. So lying on his back, he looked at the owner and could not understand what, in fact, was happening.

It is forbidden! It is forbidden! - he hollowed deliberately and thrust the book to his nose again and again, but no longer punished. Then he picked up the puppy in his arms, stroked it and said the same thing: - You can't, boy, you can't, silly. - And sat down. And put me on my knees.

So at an early age, Beam received morality from the owner through the "Bible for believers and unbelievers." Beam licked his hand and carefully looked into his face.

He already loved it when the owner talked to him, but so far he understood only two words: "Bim" and "impossible." And yet it is very, very interesting to watch how white hair hangs on the forehead, kind lips move, and how warm, gentle fingers touch the fur. But Bim already absolutely knew how to determine whether the owner is now cheerful or sad, whether he scolds or praises, calls or drives away.

And he was also sad. Then he spoke to himself and turned to Bim:

This is how we live, fool. Why are you looking at her? he pointed to the portrait. She, brother, is dead. There is no her. No ... - He stroked Bim and said in full confidence: - Oh, you are my fool, Bimka. You don't understand anything yet.

But he was only partly right, since Bim understood that they would not play with him now, and he took the word "fool" personally, and "boy" too. So when his big friend called out a fool or a boy, Bim went immediately, as if to a nickname. And since he, at that age, mastered the intonation of his voice, then, of course, he promised to be the smartest dog.

But is it only the mind that determines the position of a dog among its fellows? Unfortunately no. In addition to mental inclinations, Beam was not all right.

True, he was born from thoroughbred parents, setters, with a long pedigree. Each of his ancestors had a personal sheet, a certificate. The owner could, using these questionnaires, not only reach Bim's great-grandfather and great-grandmother, but also know, if desired, great-grandfather's great-grandfather and great-grandmother's great-grandmother. This is all good, of course. But the fact is that Beam, with all his virtues, had a big drawback, which later greatly affected his fate: although he was from the breed of Scottish setters (Gordon Setter), the color turned out to be absolutely atypical - that's the point. According to the standards of hunting dogs, the Gordon Setter must be black, with a brilliant bluish tint - the color of a raven, and always with clearly demarcated bright markings, reddish tan, even white markings are considered a great vice in Gordons. Bim degenerated like this: the body is white, but with red tan marks and even a slightly noticeable red speck, only one ear and one leg are black, really like a raven's wing, the second ear is a soft yellowish-red color. Even a surprisingly similar phenomenon: in all respects - a Gordon setter, and the color - well, nothing like that. Some distant, distant ancestor took it and jumped out in Bima: his parents are Gordons, and he is an albino breed.

In general, with such a multi-colored ear and with tan marks under the big intelligent dark brown eyes, Bim's muzzle was even prettier, more noticeable, maybe even smarter or, how to say, more philosophical, more thoughtful than that of ordinary dogs. And really, all this cannot even be called a muzzle, but rather a dog's face. But according to the laws of cynology, white color, in a particular case, is considered a sign of degeneration. In everything - a handsome man, and by the standards of the coat - clearly dubious and even vicious. Beam had such a problem.

Of course, Bim did not understand the guilt of his birth, since puppies are not given by nature to choose their parents before they are born. Bim is simply not allowed to even think about it. He lived for himself and was happy.

But the owner was worried: would they give Bim a pedigree certificate that would secure his position among hunting dogs, or would he remain a lifelong outcast? This will be known only at the age of six months, when the puppy (again, according to the laws of cynology) will be determined and formed into something close to what is called a purebred dog.

The owner of Bima's mother, in general, had already decided to cull the white from the litter, that is, to drown, but there was an eccentric who felt sorry for such a handsome man. That eccentric was the current owner of Bim: he liked his eyes, you see, smart. Wow! And now the question is: will they give or not give a pedigree?

Pitifully and, it seemed, hopelessly, he suddenly began to whine, awkwardly waddling back and forth, looking for his mother. Then the owner put him on his knees and put a nipple with milk into his mouth.

Yes, and what was left for a month-old puppy to do if he still did not understand anything in life at all, and his mother still does not exist, despite any complaints. So he tried to ask sad concerts. Although, however, he fell asleep in the arms of the owner in his arms with a bottle of milk.

But on the fourth day, the baby has already begun to get used to the warmth of human hands. Puppies very quickly begin to respond to affection.

He did not yet know his name, but a week later he established for sure that he was Bim.

At two months old, he was surprised to see things: a desk high for a puppy, and on the wall - a gun, a hunting bag and a face of a man with long hair. I quickly got used to all this. There was nothing surprising in the fact that the man on the wall was motionless: since he did not move, there was little interest. True, a little later, later, no, no, yes, and he will look: what would it mean - the face looks out of the frame, like out of a window?

The second wall was more interesting. It all consisted of different bars, each of which the owner could pull out and insert back. At the age of four months, when Bim was already able to reach out on his hind legs, he himself pulled out a block and tried to examine it. But for some reason he rustled and left a piece of paper in Bim's teeth. It was very funny to tear that leaf into small pieces.

– What is that?! shouted the owner. - It is forbidden! - and poked Bim's nose into the book. - Beam, you can't. It is forbidden!

After such a suggestion, even a person will refuse to read, but Bim - no: he looked at the books for a long time and carefully, bowing his head first to one side, then to the other. And, apparently, he decided this: since this one is impossible, I'll take another. He quietly grabbed the spine and dragged it under the sofa, there he chewed first one corner of the binding, then the second, and forgetting himself, dragged the unlucky book to the middle of the room and began to torment it with his paws playfully, and even with a jump.

It was then that he learned for the first time what “it hurts” and what “impossible” means. The owner got up from the table and said sternly:

- It is forbidden! and patted his ear. - You to me, your stupid head, tore the "Bible for believers and unbelievers" to pieces. - And again: - You can't! Books are not allowed! He tugged at his ear again.

Beam squealed yes and raised all four paws up. So lying on his back, he looked at the owner and could not understand what, in fact, was happening.

- It is forbidden! It is forbidden! - he hollowed deliberately and thrust the book to his nose again and again, but no longer punished. Then he picked up the puppy in his arms, stroked it and said the same thing: - You can’t, boy, you can’t, silly. - And sat down. And put me on my knees.

So at an early age, Beam received morality from the owner through the "Bible for believers and unbelievers." Beam licked his hand and carefully looked into his face.

He already loved it when the owner talked to him, but so far he understood only two words: “Bim” and “no”. And yet it is very, very interesting to watch how white hair hangs on the forehead, kind lips move, and how warm, gentle fingers touch the fur. But Bim already absolutely knew how to determine whether the owner is now cheerful or sad, whether he scolds or praises, calls or drives away.

And he was also sad. Then he spoke to himself and turned to Bim:

“That’s how we live, fool.” Why are you looking at her? He pointed to the portrait. She, brother, is dead. There is no her. No ... - He stroked Bim and said in full confidence: - Oh, you are my fool, Bimka. You don't understand anything yet.

But he was only partly right, since Beam understood that they would not play with him now, and he took the word “fool” personally, and “boy” too. So when his big friend called out a fool or a boy, Bim went immediately, as if to a nickname. And since he, at that age, mastered the intonation of his voice, then, of course, he promised to be the smartest dog.

But is it only the mind that determines the position of a dog among its fellows? Unfortunately no. In addition to mental inclinations, Beam was not all right.

True, he was born from thoroughbred parents, setters, with a long pedigree. Each of his ancestors had a personal sheet, a certificate. The owner could, using these questionnaires, not only reach Bim's great-grandfather and great-grandmother, but also know, if desired, great-grandfather's great-grandfather and great-grandmother's great-grandmother. This is all good, of course. But the fact is that Beam, with all his merits, had a big drawback, which later greatly affected his fate: although he was from the breed of Scottish setters (Gordon Setter), the color turned out to be absolutely atypical - that's the point. By the standards of hunting dogs, the Gordon Setter must be black, with a brilliant bluish tint - the color of a raven, and always with clearly demarcated bright markings, reddish tan, even white markings are considered a great vice in Gordons. Bim degenerated like this: the body is white, but with red tan marks and even a slightly noticeable red speck, only one ear and one leg are black, really - like a raven's wing, the second ear is a soft yellowish-red color. Even a surprisingly similar phenomenon: in all respects - a Gordon setter, and the color - well, nothing like that. Some distant, distant ancestor took it and jumped out in Bima: his parents are Gordons, and he is an albino breed.

In general, with such a multi-colored ears and with tan marks under the big intelligent dark brown eyes, Bim's muzzle was even prettier, more noticeable, maybe even smarter or, how to say, more philosophical, more thoughtful than that of ordinary dogs. And really, all this cannot even be called a muzzle, but rather a dog's face. But according to the laws of cynology, white color, in a particular case, is considered a sign of degeneration. In everything - a handsome man, and by the standards of the coat - clearly dubious and even vicious. Beam had such a problem.

Of course, Bim did not understand the guilt of his birth, since puppies are not given by nature to choose their parents before they are born. Bim is simply not allowed to even think about it. He lived for himself and was happy.

But the owner was worried: would they give Bim a pedigree certificate that would secure his position among hunting dogs, or would he remain a lifelong outcast? This will be known only at the age of six months, when the puppy (again, according to the laws of cynology) will be determined and formed into something close to what is called a purebred dog.

The owner of Bim's mother, in general, had already decided to cull the white from the litter, that is, drown him, but there was an eccentric who felt sorry for such a handsome man. That eccentric was the current owner of Bim: he liked his eyes, you see, smart. Wow! And now the question is: will they give or not give a pedigree?

Meanwhile, the owner was trying to figure out where Bim had such an anomaly. He turned all the books on hunting and dog breeding in order to get a little closer to the truth and prove over time that Bim was not to blame. It was for this that he began to write out from various books in a thick common notebook everything that could justify Beam as a real representative of the setter breed. Beam was already his friend, and friends always need to be rescued. Otherwise - do not walk Bima as a winner at exhibitions, do not rattle gold medals on his chest: no matter how golden he is on the hunt, he will be excluded from the breed.

What an injustice in this world!

Hunter's Notes

In recent months, Beam quietly entered my life and took a firm place in it. What did he take? Kindness, boundless trust and affection - feelings that are always irresistible, if sycophancy has not rubbed between them, which can later, gradually, turn everything into false - kindness, and trust, and affection. This terrible quality is a toady. God forbid! But Bim is still a baby and a cute little dog. Everything will depend on me, on the owner.

“... Reader, friend! ... Just think! If you write only about kindness, then for evil it is a godsend, a brilliance. If you write only about happiness, then people will stop seeing the unfortunate and, in the end, will not notice them. If you write only about the seriously sad, then people will stop laughing at the ugly ... "... And in the silence of the passing autumn, fanned by its gentle slumber, in the days of the short-lived oblivion of the coming winter, you begin to understand: only truth, only honor, only a clear conscience, and about all this - word.

A word to little people who will be adults later, a word to adults who have not forgotten that they were once children.

Maybe that's why I write about the fate of the dog, about its loyalty, honor and devotion.

... No dog in the world considers ordinary devotion to be something unusual. But people came up with the idea of ​​exalting this feeling of a dog as a feat only because not all of them, and not so often, have loyalty to a friend and loyalty to duty so much that this is the root of life, the natural basis of the being itself, when the nobility of the soul is a self-evident state.

... This is how it is among us, humans: there are modest people with a pure heart, “inconspicuous” and “small”, but with a huge soul. It is they who decorate life, containing all the best that is in humanity - kindness, simplicity, trust. So the snowdrop seems like a drop of heaven on earth ... "

1. Two in one room

Pitifully and, it seemed, hopelessly, he suddenly began to whine, clumsily waddling back and forth - he was looking for his mother. Then the owner put him on his knees and put a nipple with milk into his mouth.

Yes, and what was left for a month-old puppy to do if he still did not understand anything in life at all, and his mother still does not exist, despite any complaints. So he tried to ask sad concerts. Although, however, he fell asleep in the arms of the owner in his arms with a bottle of milk.

But on the fourth day, the baby has already begun to get used to the warmth of human hands. Puppies very quickly begin to respond to affection.

He did not yet know his name, but a week later he established for sure that he was Bim.

At two months old, he was surprised to see things: a desk high for a puppy, and on the wall - a gun, a hunting bag and a face of a man with long hair. I quickly got used to all this. There was nothing surprising in the fact that the man on the wall was motionless: since he did not move, there was little interest. True, a little later, then, no, no, yes, and he will look: what would it mean - the face looks out of the frame, like out of a window?

The second wall was more interesting. It all consisted of different bars, each of which the owner could pull out and insert back. At the age of four months, when Bim was already able to reach out on his hind legs, he himself pulled out a block and tried to examine it. But for some reason he rustled and left a piece of paper in Bim's teeth. It was very funny to tear that leaf into small pieces.

What else is this?! shouted the owner. - It is forbidden! - and poked Bim's nose into the book. - Beam, you can't. It is forbidden!

After such a suggestion, even a person will refuse to read, but Bim - no: he looked at the books for a long time and carefully, bowing his head first to one side, then to the other. And, apparently, he decided this: since this one is impossible, I'll take another. He quietly grabbed the spine and dragged it under the sofa, there he chewed first one corner of the binding, then the second, and forgetting himself, dragged the unlucky book to the middle of the room and began to torment it with his paws playfully, and even with a jump.

It was then that he learned for the first time what “it hurts” and what “impossible” means. The owner got up from the table and said sternly:

It is forbidden! and patted his ear. - You to me, your stupid head, tore the "Bible for believers and unbelievers" to pieces. - And again: - It is impossible! Books are not allowed! He tugged at his ear again.

Beam squealed yes and raised all four paws up. So lying on his back, he looked at the owner and could not understand what, in fact, was happening.

It is forbidden! It is forbidden! - he hollowed deliberately and thrust the book to his nose again and again, but no longer punished. Then he picked up the puppy in his arms, stroked it and said the same thing: - You can't, boy, you can't, silly. - And sat down. And put me on my knees.

So at an early age, Beam received morality from the owner through the "Bible for believers and unbelievers." Beam licked his hand and carefully looked into his face.

He already loved it when the owner talked to him, but so far he understood only two words: “Bim” and “no”. And yet it is very, very interesting to watch how white hair hangs on the forehead, kind lips move, and how warm, gentle fingers touch the fur. But Bim already absolutely knew how to determine whether the owner is now cheerful or sad, whether he scolds or praises, calls or drives away.

And he was also sad. Then he spoke to himself and turned to Bim:

This is how we live, fool. Why are you looking at her? he pointed to the portrait. She, brother, is dead. There is no her. No ... - He stroked Bim and said in full confidence: - Oh, you are my fool, Bimka. You don't understand anything yet.

But he was only partly right, since Beam understood that they would not play with him now, and he took the word “fool” personally, and “boy” too. So when his big friend called out a fool or a boy, Bim went immediately, as if to a nickname. And since he, at that age, mastered the intonation of his voice, then, of course, he promised to be the smartest dog.

But is it only the mind that determines the position of a dog among its fellows? Unfortunately no. In addition to mental inclinations, Beam was not all right.

True, he was born from thoroughbred parents, setters, with a long pedigree. Each of his ancestors had a personal sheet, a certificate. The owner could, using these questionnaires, not only reach Bim's great-grandfather and great-grandmother, but also know, if desired, great-grandfather's great-grandfather and great-grandmother's great-grandmother. This is all good, of course. But the fact is that Beam, with all his virtues, had a big drawback, which later greatly affected his fate: although he was from the breed of Scottish setters (Gordon Setter), the color turned out to be absolutely atypical - that's the point. According to the standards of hunting dogs, the Gordon Setter must be black, with a brilliant bluish tint - the color of a raven, and always with clearly demarcated bright markings, reddish tan, even white markings are considered a great vice in Gordons. Bim degenerated like this: the body is white, but with red tan marks and even a slightly noticeable red speck, only one ear and one leg are black, really like a raven's wing, the second ear is a soft yellowish-red color. Even a surprisingly similar phenomenon: in all respects - a Gordon setter, and the color - well, nothing like that. Some distant, distant ancestor took it and jumped out in Bima: his parents are Gordons, and he is an albino breed.

Gabriel Troepolsky

White Bim Black Ear: novels and short stories, essays

White Bim Black Ear

Dedicated to Alexander Trifonovich Tvardovsky

Chapter first

Two in one room

Pitifully and, it seemed, hopelessly, he suddenly began to whine, awkwardly waddling back and forth, looking for his mother. Then the owner put him on his knees and put a nipple with milk into his mouth.

Yes, and what was left for a month-old puppy to do if he still did not understand anything in life at all, and his mother still does not exist, despite any complaints. So he tried to ask sad concerts. Although, however, he fell asleep in the arms of the owner in his arms with a bottle of milk.

But on the fourth day, the baby has already begun to get used to the warmth of human hands. Puppies very quickly begin to respond to affection.

He did not yet know his name, but a week later he established for sure that he was Bim.

At two months old, he was surprised to see things: a desk high for a puppy, and on the wall - a gun, a hunting bag and a face of a man with long hair. I quickly got used to all this. There was nothing surprising in the fact that the man on the wall was motionless: since he did not move, there was little interest. True, a little later, later, no, no, yes, and he will look: what would it mean - the face looks out of the frame, like out of a window?

The second wall was more interesting. It all consisted of different bars, each of which the owner could pull out and insert back. At the age of four months, when Bim was already able to reach out on his hind legs, he himself pulled out a block and tried to examine it. But for some reason he rustled and left a piece of paper in Bim's teeth. It was very funny to tear that leaf into small pieces.

– What is that?! shouted the owner. - It is forbidden! - and poked Bim's nose into the book. - Beam, you can't. It is forbidden!

After such a suggestion, even a person will refuse to read, but Bim - no: he looked at the books for a long time and carefully, bowing his head first to one side, then to the other. And, apparently, he decided this: since this one is impossible, I'll take another. He quietly grabbed the spine and dragged it under the sofa, there he chewed first one corner of the binding, then the second, and forgetting himself, dragged the unlucky book to the middle of the room and began to torment it with his paws playfully, and even with a jump.

It was then that he learned for the first time what “it hurts” and what “impossible” means. The owner got up from the table and said sternly:

- It is forbidden! and patted his ear. - You to me, your stupid head, tore the "Bible for believers and unbelievers" to pieces. - And again: - You can't! Books are not allowed! He tugged at his ear again.

Beam squealed yes and raised all four paws up. So lying on his back, he looked at the owner and could not understand what, in fact, was happening.

- It is forbidden! It is forbidden! - he hollowed deliberately and thrust the book to his nose again and again, but no longer punished. Then he picked up the puppy in his arms, stroked it and said the same thing: - You can’t, boy, you can’t, silly. - And sat down. And put me on my knees.

So at an early age, Beam received morality from the owner through the "Bible for believers and unbelievers." Beam licked his hand and carefully looked into his face.

He already loved it when the owner talked to him, but so far he understood only two words: “Bim” and “no”. And yet it is very, very interesting to watch how white hair hangs on the forehead, kind lips move, and how warm, gentle fingers touch the fur. But Bim already absolutely knew how to determine whether the owner is now cheerful or sad, whether he scolds or praises, calls or drives away.

And he was also sad. Then he spoke to himself and turned to Bim:

“That’s how we live, fool.” Why are you looking at her? He pointed to the portrait. She, brother, is dead. There is no her. No ... - He stroked Bim and said in full confidence: - Oh, you are my fool, Bimka. You don't understand anything yet.

But he was only partly right, since Beam understood that they would not play with him now, and he took the word “fool” personally, and “boy” too. So when his big friend called out a fool or a boy, Bim went immediately, as if to a nickname. And since he, at that age, mastered the intonation of his voice, then, of course, he promised to be the smartest dog.

But is it only the mind that determines the position of a dog among its fellows? Unfortunately no. In addition to mental inclinations, Beam was not all right.

True, he was born from thoroughbred parents, setters, with a long pedigree. Each of his ancestors had a personal sheet, a certificate. The owner could, using these questionnaires, not only reach Bim's great-grandfather and great-grandmother, but also know, if desired, great-grandfather's great-grandfather and great-grandmother's great-grandmother. This is all good, of course. But the fact is that Beam, with all his merits, had a big drawback, which later greatly affected his fate: although he was from the breed of Scottish setters (Gordon Setter), the color turned out to be absolutely atypical - that's the point. By the standards of hunting dogs, the Gordon Setter must be black, with a brilliant bluish tint - the color of a raven, and always with clearly demarcated bright markings, reddish tan, even white markings are considered a great vice in Gordons. Bim degenerated like this: the body is white, but with red tan marks and even a slightly noticeable red speck, only one ear and one leg are black, really - like a raven's wing, the second ear is a soft yellowish-red color. Even a surprisingly similar phenomenon: in all respects - a Gordon setter, and the color - well, nothing like that. Some distant, distant ancestor took it and jumped out in Bima: his parents are Gordons, and he is an albino breed.

In general, with such a multi-colored ears and with tan marks under the big intelligent dark brown eyes, Bim's muzzle was even prettier, more noticeable, maybe even smarter or, how to say, more philosophical, more thoughtful than that of ordinary dogs. And really, all this cannot even be called a muzzle, but rather a dog's face. But according to the laws of cynology, white color, in a particular case, is considered a sign of degeneration. In everything - a handsome man, and by the standards of the coat - clearly dubious and even vicious. Beam had such a problem.

Of course, Bim did not understand the guilt of his birth, since puppies are not given by nature to choose their parents before they are born. Bim is simply not allowed to even think about it. He lived for himself and was happy.

But the owner was worried: would they give Bim a pedigree certificate that would secure his position among hunting dogs, or would he remain a lifelong outcast? This will be known only at the age of six months, when the puppy (again, according to the laws of cynology) will be determined and formed into something close to what is called a purebred dog.

The owner of Bim's mother, in general, had already decided to cull the white from the litter, that is, drown him, but there was an eccentric who felt sorry for such a handsome man. That eccentric was the current owner of Bim: he liked his eyes, you see, smart. Wow! And now the question is: will they give or not give a pedigree?

Meanwhile, the owner was trying to figure out where Bim had such an anomaly. He turned all the books on hunting and dog breeding in order to get a little closer to the truth and prove over time that Bim was not to blame. It was for this that he began to write out from various books in a thick common notebook everything that could justify Beam as a real representative of the setter breed. Beam was already his friend, and friends always need to be rescued. Otherwise - do not walk Bima as a winner at exhibitions, do not rattle gold medals on his chest: no matter how golden he is on the hunt, he will be excluded from the breed.

What an injustice in this world!

Hunter's Notes

In recent months, Beam quietly entered my life and took a firm place in it. What did he take? Kindness, boundless trust and affection - feelings that are always irresistible, if sycophancy has not rubbed between them, which can later, gradually, turn everything into false - kindness, and trust, and affection. This terrible quality is a toady. God forbid! But Bim is still a baby and a cute little dog. Everything will depend on me, on the owner.

It's strange that sometimes I notice things in myself that weren't there before. For example, if I see a picture where there is a dog, then first of all I pay attention to its color and thoroughbredness. Anxiety comes from the question: will they give or not give a certificate?

A few days ago I was in the museum at an art exhibition and immediately drew attention to the painting by D. Bassano (XVI century) “Moses cuts water from a rock”. There, in the foreground, a dog is depicted - clearly a prototype of a setter breed, with a strange, however, color: the body is white, the muzzle, dissected by a white blaze, is black, the ears are also black, and the nose is white, there is a black spot on the left shoulder, the back rump is also black. Exhausted and emaciated, she greedily drinks long-awaited water from a human bowl.

The second dog, long-haired, also with black ears. Exhausted from thirst, she laid her head on her master's knees and humbly awaits water.

Nearby - a rabbit, a rooster, on the left - two lambs.

What did the artist want to say?

After all, a minute before that, they were all in despair, they did not have a drop of hope. And they spoke into the eyes of Moses who saved them from slavery:

“Oh, that we would die by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the cauldrons of meat, when we ate our fill of bread! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to starve all who have assembled.”

Moses realized with great sorrow how deeply the slave spirit had taken possession of the people: bread in abundance and cauldrons of meat are dearer to them than freedom. And so he carved water out of the rock. And at that hour it was good for everyone who followed him, which is felt in Bassano's picture.

Or maybe the artist placed dogs in the main place as a reproach to people for their cowardice in misfortune, as a symbol of loyalty, hope and devotion? Everything can be. It was a long time ago.

The painting by D. Bassano is about four hundred years old. Is it really black and white in Bima comes from those times? It can't be. However, nature is nature.

However, this is unlikely to help somehow remove the charge against Beam in his anomalies in the coloring of his body and ears. After all, the older the examples are, the more strongly he will be accused of atavism and inferiority.

No, you need to look for something else. If one of the cynologists reminds of D. Bassano's painting, then, in extreme cases, one can simply say: what does Bassano have black ears to do with it?

Let's look for data closer to Beam in time.

An extract from the standards of hunting dogs: “Gordon Setters were bred in Scotland… The breed had developed by the beginning of the second half of the 19th century… Modern Scottish setters, having retained their power and massiveness of the backbone, acquired a faster move. Dogs of a calm, gentle nature, obedient and non-violent, they get to work early and easier, they are successfully used both in the swamp and in the forest ... A distinct, calm, high stance with a head not lower than the level of the withers is characteristic ... "

“If we take into account that the setter is based on the most ancient race of hunting dogs, which for many centuries received, so to speak, home education, then we will not be surprised that the setters represent perhaps the most cultured and intelligent breed.”

So! Bim, therefore, is an intelligent dog breed. This might come in handy.

From the same book by L.P. Sabaneeva:

“In 1847, Parland brought from England two wonderful beautiful setters of a very rare breed as a gift to Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich ... The dogs were not for sale and were exchanged for a horse that cost 2000 rubles ...” Here. Carried for a gift, and tore off the price of twenty serfs. But are the dogs to blame? And what about Bim? This is unsuitable.

From a letter from a well-known nature lover, hunter and dog breeder S.V. Pensky to L.P. Sabaneev:

"During the Crimean War, I saw a very good red setter at Sukhovo-Kobylin, the author of Krechinsky's Wedding, and yellow and piebald ones in Ryazan at the artist Pyotr Sokolov."

Yep, that's pretty close. Interesting: even the old man had a setter then. And the artist has yellow-piebald.

Isn't that where your blood comes from, Bim? That would be! But why then ... Black ear? Unclear.

From the same letter:

“The breed of red setters was also led by the Moscow palace doctor Bers. He paired one of the red bitches with the black setter of the late Emperor Alexander Nikolayevich. What kind of puppies came out and where they went - I don’t know; I only know that Count Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy raised one of them in his village.”

Stop! Isn't it here? If your leg and ear are black from the dog of Leo Tolstoy, you are a happy dog, Bim, even without a personal breed sheet, the happiest of all dogs in the world. The great writer loved dogs.

More from the same letter:

“I saw the imperial black dog in Ilyinsky after dinner, to which the sovereign invited members of the board of the Moscow hunting society. It was a very large and very beautiful lap dog, with a fine head, well dressed, but there was little of the setter type in it, besides, the legs were too long, and one of the legs was completely white. They say that this setter was presented to the late emperor by some Polish pan, and there was a rumor that the male was not entirely blooded.

It turns out that the Polish pan cheated the emperor? Could be. It could have been on the dog front as well. Oh, this black imperial male to me! However, right next to it is the blood of the yellow bitch Bers, who had "an unusual flair and a wonderful mind." So, even if your leg, Bim, is from the black dog of the emperor, then all of you may well be a distant descendant of the dog of the greatest writer ... But no, Bimka, pipes! About the imperial - not a word. It was not - and that's it. Something else was missing.

What remains in case of a possible dispute in defense of Beam? Moses is excluded for obvious reasons. Sukhovo-Kobylin disappears both in time and in color. Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy remains: a) closest in time; b) his dog's father was black and his mother was red. Everything is suitable. But the father, something black, is imperial, that's the snag.

No matter how you turn it, you have to keep silent about the search for Bim's distant blood. Consequently, cynologists will determine only by the pedigree of Bim's father and mother, as they should: there is no white in the pedigree and - amen. And Tolstoy has nothing to do with them. And they are right. And indeed, in this way, everyone can bring the origin of his dog to the writer's dog, and there he himself is not far from L.N. Tolstoy. And indeed: how many of them we have, Tolstoy something! The horror of how much has been revealed, a shockingly large number.

It's a shame, but my mind is already ready to come to terms with the fact that Bimu will be an outcast among purebred dogs. Badly. One thing remains: Bim is a dog of an intelligent breed. But this is not proof (that's what the standards are for).

“It’s bad, Bim, it’s bad,” the owner sighed, putting down his pen and thrusting a common notebook into the table.

Bim, having heard his nickname, got up from the lounger, sat down, tilting his head to the side of the black ear, as if he only listened to the yellow-red. And it was very cute. With all his appearance, he said: “You are a good, my good friend. I'm listening to. What do you want? The owner immediately cheered up at Bim's question and said:

- Well done, Beam! We will live together, even without a pedigree. You are a good dog. Everyone loves good dogs. - He took Bim on his knees and stroked his fur, saying: - Good. It's still good, boy.

Beam was warm and comfortable. He immediately understood for the rest of his life: “good” is affection, gratitude and friendship.

And Bim fell asleep. What does he care about who he is, his master? The important thing is that he is good and close.

“Oh, you, black ear, imperial leg,” he said quietly and carried Bim to the sunbed.

He stood in front of the window for a long time, peering into the dark lilac night. Then he looked at the portrait of a woman and said:

“See, I feel a little better. I am no longer alone. - He did not notice how alone he gradually got used to speaking aloud to her or even to himself, and now to Bim. “That’s not the only one,” he repeated to the portrait.

Beam was sleeping.

So they lived together in the same room. Bim grew strong. Very soon he learned that the owner's name was "Ivan Ivanovich". Smart puppy, quick-witted. And little by little he realized that nothing can be touched, you can only look at things and people. And in general, everything is impossible.

If the owner does not allow or even orders. So the word "no" became the main law of Beam's life. And Ivan Ivanovich's eyes, intonation, gestures, clear words-orders and words of affection were the guide in the dog's life. Moreover, independent decisions to any action should in no way contradict the wishes of the owner. But Bim gradually began to even guess some of the intentions of a friend. For example, he stands in front of the window and looks, looks into the distance and thinks, thinks. Then Bim sits next to him and also looks, and also thinks. The man does not know what the dog is thinking about, but the dog says with all his appearance: “Now my good friend will sit down at the table, he will definitely sit down. It looks a little from corner to corner and sits down and runs a stick over a white sheet, and it whispers a little. It will be a long time, so I’ll sit next to him.” Then he sticks his nose into a warm palm. And the owner says:

- Well, Bimka, let's work, - and the truth sits down.

And Bim lies down in a ball at his feet or, if it is said “to the place”, he will go to his sunbed in the corner and will wait. Will wait for a look, a word, a gesture. However, after a while, you can leave the place, deal with a round bone, which is impossible to gnaw, but sharpen your teeth - please, just don’t interfere.

But when Ivan Ivanovich covers his face with his palms, leaning on the table, then Bim comes up to him and puts his razor-eared muzzle on his knees. And worth it. Knows, pat. He knows something is wrong with his friend.

But it was not so in the meadow, where both forgot about everything. Here you can run, frolic, chase butterflies, wallow in the grass - everything was permissible. However, even here, after eight months of Bim's life, everything went according to the commands of the owner: “go, go!” – you can play, “back!” - very clear, "lie down!" - absolutely clear, "up!" - jump over, "search!" - look for pieces of cheese, "next!" - go nearby, but only on the left, "to me!" - quickly to the owner, there will be a piece of sugar. And Bim learned many other words before the year. Friends understood each other more and more, loved and lived on equal terms - a man and a dog.

But one day it happened that Bim's life changed and he matured in a few days. This happened only because Bim suddenly discovered a big, striking flaw in the owner.

Here is how it was. Bim carefully and diligently walked through the meadow in a shuttle, looking for scattered cheese, and suddenly, among the different smells of herbs, flowers, the earth itself and the river, a stream of air burst in, unusual and exciting: it smelled of some kind of bird, not at all like those that Bim knew, - there are different sparrows, funny tits, wagtails and all sorts of little things, there’s nothing to catch up with and try (tried). It smelled of something unknown that stirred the blood. Bim paused and looked back at Ivan Ivanovich. And he turned to the side, not noticing anything. Bim was surprised: a friend does not feel it. Why, he's a cripple! And then Bim made a decision himself: quietly stepping over in a pull, he began to approach the unknown, no longer looking at Ivan Ivanovich. The steps became less and less frequent, as if he chose a point for each paw, so as not to rustle, not to catch the bugle. Finally, the smell was so strong that it was impossible to go any further. And Bim, without lowering his right front paw to the ground, froze in place, froze, as if turned to stone. It was a statue of a dog, as if created by a skilled sculptor. Here it is, the first stand! The first awakening of hunting passion to the complete oblivion of oneself.

Oh no, the owner quietly approaches, strokes Bim, who is slightly trembling in awe:

“Okay, okay, boy. Okay, - and takes the collar. - Go-go…

But Bim cannot - there are no forces.

- Forward ... Forward ... - Ivan Ivanovich pulls him.

And Beam went! Quietly. It remains quite a bit - it seems, the unknown is nearby. But suddenly the order is sharp:

- Forward!!!

Bim rushed. The quail fluttered noisily. Beam rushed after him and-and-and ... He drove, passionately, with all his might.

- Naza-hell! the owner shouted.

But Bim did not hear anything, as if there were no ears.

- Naza-hell! - and a whistle. - Naza-hell! - and a whistle.

Beam raced until he lost sight of the quail, and then, cheerful and joyful, returned. But what does this mean? The owner is gloomy, looks strictly, does not caress. Everything was clear: his friend did not smell anything! Unfortunate friend. Beam somehow cautiously licked his hand, thereby expressing touching pity for the outstanding hereditary inferiority of the creature closest to him.

The owner said:

- You're not talking about that at all, fool. - And more fun: - Come on, let's start, Bim, for real. - He took off the collar, put on another (uncomfortable) and fastened a long belt to it. - Seek!

Now Beam was looking for the smell of quail - nothing more. And Ivan Ivanovich directed him to where the bird had moved. Bim was unaware that his friend saw where the quail approximately sat down after the shameful chase (of course, he did not smell it, but he saw it).

And that's the same smell! Bim, not noticing the belt, narrows the shuttle, pulls, pulls, raised his head and pulls on horseback ... Again a stand! Against the background of the sunset, it is striking in its extraordinary beauty, which is not given to many to understand. Trembling with excitement, Ivan Ivanovich took the end of the belt, tightly wrapped it around his arm, and quietly ordered:

- Go-go…

Beam went to the submarine. And paused again.

- Forward!!!

Bim rushed in the same way as the first time. The quail now fluttered with a hard chirping of wings. Beam again rushed recklessly to catch up with the bird, but ... A jerk of the belt made him bounce back.

- Back!!! the owner shouted. - It is forbidden!!!

Bim, overturned, fell. He didn't understand why. And he pulled the belt again towards the quail.

- Lie!

And once again everything repeated, already on a new quail. But now Bim felt the tug of the belt earlier than then, and by order he lay down and trembled with excitement, passion, and at the same time with despondency and sadness: all this was in his appearance from nose to tail. Because it hurts so much! And not only from a hard, nasty belt, but also from the thorns inside the collar.

- That's it, Bimka. There's nothing you can do - that's how it is. - Ivan Ivanovich, caressing, stroked Bim.

From that day on, a real hunting dog began. From the same day, Bim realized that only he, only he alone could find out where the bird was, and that the owner was helpless, and his nose was attached only for show. The real service began, it was based on three words: no, back, good.

And then - oh! - then a gun! Shot. The quail fell as if scalded with boiling water.

And it turns out that you don’t need to catch up with him at all, you just need to find him, lift him on the wing and lie down, and the rest will be done by a friend. Equal game: the owner without instinct, the dog without a gun.

Thus, warm friendship and devotion became happiness, because each understood each and each did not demand from the other more than he could give. This is the basis, the salt of friendship.

By the age of two, Bim has become an excellent hunting dog, trusting and honest. He already knew about a hundred words related to hunting and home: tell Ivan Ivanovich “give me” - it will be done, say he “give slippers” - he will give, “bring a bowl” - he will bring, “on a chair!” - sit on a chair. What is there! I already understood by the eyes: the owner looks good at the person, and he, familiar to Bim from that very moment, will look unfriendly - and Bim sometimes even growls, he even caught flattery (affectionate flattery) in the voice of a stranger. But Bim never bit anyone - even step on the tail. Laem will warn at night that a stranger is coming to the fire, please, but to bite - in no case. Such an intelligent breed.

As for intelligence, Bim even knew how: he learned himself, came up with his own mind, to scratch at the door to open it. It used to happen that Ivan Ivanovich would fall ill and would not go for a walk with him, but let him out alone.

Bim runs a little, manages, as expected, and hurries home. He scratches at the door, standing on his hind legs, whines a little begging, and the door opens. The owner, heavily spanking along the hallway, meets, caresses and again lies down in bed. This is when he, an elderly man, was sick (by the way, he ached more and more often, which Bim could not help but notice). Beam firmly understood: scratch at the door, they will open it for you; doors exist so that everyone can enter: ask - they will let you in. From a dog's point of view, this was already a firm conviction.

Only Bim did not know, did not know and could not know how many disappointments and troubles there would be from such naive gullibility, did not know and could not know that there are doors that do not open, no matter how much you scratch at them.

It is not known how it will be there further, but so far it remains to say one thing: Bim, a dog with an outstanding instinct, has remained doubtful - a certificate of pedigree has not been issued. Twice Ivan Ivanovich took him to the exhibition: they removed him from the ring without evaluation. So, outcast.

And yet Bim is not a hereditary mediocrity, but a wonderful, real dog: he began to work on the bird from the age of eight months. And how! I want to believe that a good future opens up before him.

Chapter Two

spring forest

And in the second season, that is, in the third year from the birth of Bim, Ivan Ivanovich introduced him to the forest. It was very interesting for both the dog and the owner.

In the meadows and on the field, everything is clear there: space, grass, bread, the owner is always visible, shuttle in a wide search, search, find, make a stand and wait for the order. Charm! But here, in the forest, it's a completely different matter.

It was early spring.

When they first came, the evening dawn was just beginning, and it was already dusk among the trees, although the leaves had not yet appeared. Everything below is in dark tones: trunks, last year's dark brown leaves, brown-gray dry grass stalks, even rose hips, deep ruby ​​in autumn, now, having endured the winter, seemed like coffee beans.

The branches made a slight noise from the light wind, they seemed to feel each other liquidly and barely, now touching the ends, now slightly touching the middle of the branches: is it alive? The tops of the trunks swayed gently - the trees seemed alive, even without leaves. Everything was mysteriously rustling and densely fragrant: both the trees and the foliage underfoot, soft, with the spring smell of forest land, and Ivan Ivanovich's steps, cautious and quiet. His boots rustled too, and the footprints smelled much stronger than in the field. Behind every tree is something unfamiliar, mysterious. That is why Bim did not leave Ivan Ivanovich further than twenty steps: he would run forward - to the left, to the right - and roll back and look in the face, asking: “Why did we get here?”

- Don't you understand what's what? Ivan Ivanovich guessed. - You will understand, Bimka, you will understand. Wait a little.

And so they went, looking after each other.

But then they stopped in a wide clearing, at the intersection of two clearings: roads on all four sides. Ivan Ivanovich stood behind a hazel bush, facing the dawn, and looked up. Beam also began to look out there.

“A hare,” the owner said in a barely audible voice. It's all right, Beam. Good. Hare. Let him run.

Well, if it's "good", then everything is in order. “Hare” is also understandable: more than once, when Bim stumbled upon the trail of an animal, this word was repeated to him. And once he saw the hare himself, tried to catch up with him, but earned a strict warning and was punished. It is forbidden!

Suddenly, someone upstairs, invisible and unknown, grunted: “Chorus-choir! .. Chorus-chorus! .. Chorus-chorus! ..” Bim heard this first and shuddered. The owner too. Both looked up, only up... Suddenly, against the background of a crimson-bluish dawn, a bird appeared along the clearing. She flew right at them, occasionally screaming as if it were not a bird, but an animal, flying and croaking. But it was still a bird. It seemed large, but the wings were completely silent (not like a quail, a partridge or a duck). In a word, the unfamiliar flew overhead.

One of the most famous works of Soviet literature is the story "White Bim Black Ear". Reviews of the book by Gavriil Troepolsky are very positive: this work immediately brought the author all-Union popularity and fame. Based on his motives, a famous film was shot, which received international recognition. A simple touching story of friendship between the owner and the dog immediately fell in love with everyone, so the story deservedly entered the golden fund of Soviet prose. The author was awarded the USSR State Prize, and the film was nominated for an Oscar.

About plot twist

Troepolsky wrote "White Bim Black Ear" in 1971. Reviews of the book show that readers liked the touching image of the dog the most. At the beginning of the work, we learn that they wanted to drown the puppy, but the writer Ivan Ivanovich took him to him. He left the puppy and left it with him. Most readers note a successful plot. According to them, with the apparent simplicity of the storyline, the author managed to masterfully convey the feelings and experiences of the protagonist, his gratitude and affection for the owner, as well as his attitude towards the world around him. From this point of view, many readers rightly compare the beginning of the story with the famous work of the American writer D. London "White Fang", which also tells about the formation of the personality of a wolf cub in the wild.

About the character of Bim

Perhaps the most touching story about animals in Soviet literature is the work "White Bim Black Ear". Reviews of the book show how much this essay was to the liking of the readers. Of course, they focus on the main character in their reviews. In their opinion, the writer managed to very truthfully reproduce Beam's inner world and his character traits. The dog grew up very smart, quick-witted, he grasped everything literally on the fly. After two years, he already knew how to distinguish about a hundred words related to the house and hunting. But most of all, readers like the way Troepolsky portrayed the relationship between Bim and his master. The clever dog, by the expression of his eyes and face, was able to guess the mood of Ivan Ivanovich, as well as his attitude towards the people around him.

About the beginning of the conflict

The work “White Bim Black Ear” is distinguished by a rather simple plot. Reviews of the book, however, indicate that readers liked, first of all, the idea carried out by the author in his story: the theme of friendship, devotion, fidelity, and at the same time denunciation of evil and betrayal. Toward the middle of the story, Beam meets with an evil aunt who immediately took a dislike to the poor dog. She unfairly complained about him, despite the fact that even the chairman of the house committee himself admitted that the dog was not at all dangerous to society. This first encounter of Bim with an evil woman subsequently led to a sad ending.

The search for the owner

One of the famous Soviet writers is Gavriil Troepolsky. "White Bim Black Ear" is his most famous work. The main part of the story is occupied by the story of a dog searching for its owner, who was unexpectedly taken away for a complex operation. According to most readers, this part of the story is the most dramatic and heartbreaking. During the search, Beam experienced many hardships, met both good and bad people who treated him differently. For example, a student Dasha and a little boy Tolik treated him very carefully. The latter even managed to feed the dog, which refused to eat during the absence of the owner. And a kind girl brought him home and attached a sign to the collar explaining the history of the dog. However, after some time, he got to the collector of dog signs Gray (a man in gray clothes), who treated him very rudely and kicked him out of his house.

Loneliness

One of the most soulful and touching stories was presented to the Soviet reader by Troepolsky. "White Bim Black Ear" is a work about the complex relationship between a dog and people. Very soon, schoolchildren and residents of the city learned about the devoted dog. Beam began to look after his friend Tolya. Many children sympathized with the hero, who during the absence of the owner has changed a lot, lost weight. According to readers, this is one of the saddest parts in the story. However, Beam was still looking for the owner. These searches remained fruitless, moreover, one day, having smelled Dasha, he rushed after the train and accidentally hit the rail with his paw. And although the driver braked in time, the dog badly injured his paw. He had a new enemy - Gray wrote to the police a complaint that Bim had bitten him.

At the new owner

In the work "White Bim Black Ear", the main characters of which are the subject of this review, the characters are people of various characters. After some time, the driver sold the dog to the shepherd Khirsan Andreevich. He fell in love with the dog, learned his story and decided to take care of him until the return of Ivan Ivanovich. The shepherd's son Alyosha also became attached to Bim. And Bim fell in love with his new free life: he began to help the owner graze his sheep. However, one day the neighbor of the shepherd Klim took the dog for hunting, who beat Bim painfully because he did not finish off the wounded rabbit. According to readers, in these parts the author skillfully compared the good and evil characters of people through the perception of the protagonist. He fled from his new master, as he was afraid of Klim.

denouement

The story "White Bim Black Ear" ends very sadly. The main characters of the work were both good and evil people. The boys Tolik and Alyosha began to look for the missing dog and became friends. However, Tolya's father did not want his son to be friends with ordinary people and have a dog, so he interfered in every possible way with the search. Meanwhile, the aunt gave Bim to the dog-catchers, and he died in the van, trying to get out. Ivan Ivanovich soon returned after the operation. He learned about the loss of the dog and found him already dead in the quarantine yard. The real master of the image of characters is Troepolsky. “White Bim Black Ear” (you learned a summary of the work from this article) is a touching story that, despite the sad denouement, nevertheless leaves readers with bright feelings. Many of them note that the sad ending is partly brightened up by the description of the children's friendship with Ivan Ivanovich. After some time, he adopted a new puppy, which he also gave the nickname White Bim Black Ear. The breed of the dog also coincided - the Scottish Setter.