Grand daughter's sled

  A man named Ivan lived with his elderly father and young daughter. At that time, so long ago, old people were thought to be useless. They were taken to the forest and left to die, all alone. Now that the old man was feeble and could no longer earn a living, Ivan tied to him on to his daughter's sled.
' Where are you taking grand father ?' asked the girl.
" To the forest ," replied Ivan.
" But why, father ? He is too weak to cut down trees or pick berries ."
" Never mind why, daughter. It's something I must do. There is no other way for me. I am helpless."
" Can I come too ?" asked the girl.
" Yes, but ask no more questions ."
The girl ran behind the sled, stopping here and there to pick wild flowers for her grand father. When they came to the middle of the forest, Ivan said, "I'm sorry to leave you here, father, but you know it is the custom of our people ."
" You can't leave grand father out here," said the girl. He will starve or be killed by the wolves.
" He is old and can no longer work. Further more, it is a custom followed by all in our village. I have no choice, dear daughter ."
The wise girl thought for a moment and said, " But we can't leave my sled behind, because when you grow old, I'll need it to carry you into the forest when you become old."
Ivan then realized the truth of the girl's statement and felt very sorry for his action." You are right, daughter. I should not leave my dear father here. Let's take grand father home. But don't tell any of our neighbours that he is still with us."
 They hid the old man in a room at the back and kept his existence a great secret.

Soon afterward, a terrible famine swept the land. Food became scarce and the people starved. Ivan had less and less to take to his aged father. The old man did not complain.
The famine continued and the villagers ate the last of the wheat and rye. They ate even the seed grain and had nothing to plant in the spring. There was no hope of survival.
Ivan took a small piece of hard bread to his father and told him that the people were starving.And nothing remained for them to eat.
" Nonsense" said grand father. " Take the straw roof from the barn and thrash it well. You will find that there is more than a handful of grain left in the thatch. Plant the grain and you will get a healthy crop.
Ivan did as he was told and soon had a fine crop of rye. The villagers were grateful and asked him where he got such excellent advice.
" From my father, a wise man indeed," replied Ivan.
" your father is dead ", said one of the villagers.
" My dear grand father is not dead", explained Ivan's daughter. We have hidden him, but not his wisdom. Grand father has saved all of our lives!
Then grand father came out of hiding and from that time forth, old people were honoured and respected in that village.