Once upon a time, an old man and an old woman lived in a clean little cottage at the edge of the village. One day, the old woman said, "I will bake a gingerbread cookie in the shape of a little man to cheer us up."

The old woman kneaded the fragrant dough, rolled it out, cut out a smiling little man, and gave him raisin eyes, shiny buttons, and a curved sugar mouth. She placed him on a tray and put him in the oven.

When the house filled with a sweet smell, the old woman opened the oven door. Suddenly, hop! The Gingerbread Man jumped out of the tray, landed on the floor, and took off running towards the door.

"Stop!" shouted the old woman. "Stop!" shouted the old man too. But the little man laughed and sang: "Run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!" And he darted down the road.

On the road, he met a muddy pig. "Mmm, you smell good! Little man, let me taste you," grunted the pig. "No, no! Run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!" he shouted, and the pig started running after him.

Shortly after, a chewing cow lifted her head. "Moo! What a cute snack," she said. "Not you either! Run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!" And the cow joined the pig and the two old people, all running in a long line.

A strong horse heard them and galloped alongside. "Neigh! I'll catch you in no time," he neighed. "You can't catch me! Run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!" sang the little man, taking quick, small steps. The horse joined the chase too.

The little man ran across fields, past fences, over small bridges. His dough legs pounded the ground: thud-thud, thud-thud. Everyone was panting, but no one could catch him.

Finally, the Gingerbread Man reached a wide river. The water flowed swiftly, and the glistening foam splashed the banks. "Oh, if I go in, I'll get soggy and float away," he complained. "What shall I do?" Meanwhile, the others were getting closer and closer.

Then, from the bushes stepped a reddish fox with sly eyes. "Hello, little one," she said gently. "You seem in a hurry. I can help you cross. Hop on my tail, it's dry and safe." The little man climbed onto the fox's tail, and she entered the water.

"Oops, the water is a bit deep," said the fox after a few steps. "Better climb on my back to stay dry." The little man climbed onto the fox's back. "Oh dear, the water is rising!" said the fox. "Climb onto my neck." Then, after a few more steps, the fox said, "Just a little more and we'll get wet. It's best on my head." And right at the bank, she urged, "Only on my snout is it completely dry. Hop up here."

The Gingerbread Man, boastful and sure of himself, perched on the fox's snout. But, hop! The fox threw her head to the side and, with a snap!, caught him in one swift gulp.

"And that's that," said the fox, licking her lips. The Gingerbread Man was gone. The old woman, the old man, the pig, the cow, and the horse arrived then. They stopped at the bank and sighed. "Oh, he was so fast... and so boastful," murmured the old woman.

Since then, people in the village tell the story of the Gingerbread Man, who ran and shouted: Run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man! But all the children know something else too: don't boast too loudly and be careful who you trust, especially when the words are too sweet.