On a cold winter day in Russia, there was a little boy named Ivan. Near his home, there was a large frozen lake. Every winter, the frozen lake was like a huge mirror, and the surrounding woods were covered with snow, as if they were wearing white cotton - padded clothes.
One day, Ivan came to play near the frozen lake as usual. He was dressed in a thick cotton - padded coat and a furry hat, and his face was flushed from the cold. When he walked to a corner of the frozen lake, he heard a faint whimper. Curiously, he followed the direction of the sound and found an injured swan. The swan's wing seemed to be scratched by the ice on the frozen lake. There was blood on its white feathers. It lay weakly on the ice, with fear and helplessness in its eyes.
Ivan felt very sorry for the injured swan. He carefully approached the swan, fearing that his movements would make the swan more frightened. He slowly crouched down and said softly to the swan, "Little swan, don't be afraid. I will help you." But the swan still shrank back in fright. Ivan took out a handkerchief from his pocket. It was the one his mother used to wipe his face. He gently pressed the handkerchief on the swan's injured wing, trying to stop the bleeding first.
During this process, Ivan felt that his hands were also a little numb from the cold, but he only wanted to help the swan. He looked around and found some dry branches not far away. He thought that maybe he could use these branches to make a simple stretcher and take the swan to a warm place. So, he gently let go of the swan and ran to pick up the branches.
Ivan picked up the branches one by one and then tied them together with the rope he carried with him. Although this stretcher looked very crude, he thought it should be able to bear the weight of the swan. He took the finished stretcher and returned to the swan.
This time, the swan seemed to sense Ivan's kindness and did not shrink back anymore. Ivan gently placed the swan on the stretcher, then picked up the stretcher and walked carefully towards his home.
All the way, Ivan walked with one foot deep and one foot shallow. He had to avoid those places with deep snow, for fear of jolting and injuring the swan. He also talked to the swan from time to time, telling it not to worry and that they would be home soon.
Finally, Ivan brought the swan home. He placed the swan beside the warm fireplace and then found some herbs and clean gauze. He learned from the way his father had treated his wounds before. First, he mashed the herbs and then gently applied them to the swan's injured wing, and then carefully wrapped it with gauze.
Under Ivan's meticulous care, the swan's wound slowly healed. With the arrival of spring, the frozen lake began to thaw, and the surrounding trees also grew tender green buds. The swan's wing had fully recovered, and it flapped its wings happily in Ivan's yard.
Ivan knew that the swan belonged to nature. He took the swan to the side of the frozen lake. The swan circled several times above the frozen lake, as if to thank Ivan, and then flew towards the distance. Ivan looked at the swan's receding figure and a happy smile appeared on his face.
