129 lines
4.1 KiB
Text
129 lines
4.1 KiB
Text
The Wedding of Mrs. Fox
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FIRST STORY
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There was once on a time an old fox with nine tails, who believed that
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his wife was not faithful to him, and wished to try her. He stretched
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himself out under the bench, did not move a limb, and behaved as if he
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were stone dead. Mrs. Fox went up to her room, shut herself in, and her
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maid, Miss Cat, sat by the fire, and did the cooking. When it became
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known that the old fox was dead, wooers presented themselves. The maid
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heard some one standing at the house-door, knocking. She went and
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opened it, and it was a young fox, who said,
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“What may you be about, Miss Cat?
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Do you sleep or do you wake?”
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She answered,
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“I am not sleeping, I am waking,
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Wouldst thou know what I am making?
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I am boiling warm beer with butter so nice,
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Will the gentleman enter and drink some likewise?”
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“No, thank you, miss,” said the fox, “what is Mrs. Fox doing?” The maid
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replied,
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“She sits all alone,
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And makes her moan,
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Weeping her little eyes quite red,
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Because old Mr. Fox is dead.”
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“Do just tell her, miss, that a young fox is here, who would like to
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woo her.” “Certainly, young sir.”
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The cat goes up the stairs trip, trap,
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The door she knocks at tap, tap, tap,
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“Mistress Fox, are you inside?”
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“Oh yes, my little cat,” she cried.
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“A wooer he stands at the door out there.”
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“Tell me what he is like, my dear?”
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“But has he nine as beautiful tails as the late Mr. Fox?” “Oh, no,”
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answered the cat, “he has only one.”
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“Then I will not have him.” Miss Cat went downstairs and sent the wooer
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away. Soon afterwards there was another knock, and another fox was at
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the door who wished to woo Mrs. Fox. He had two tails, but he did not
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fare better than the first. After this still more came, each with one
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tail more than the other, but they were all turned away, until at last
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one came who had nine tails, like old Mr. Fox. When the widow heard
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that, she said joyfully to the cat,
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“Now open the gates and doors all wide,
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And carry old Mr. Fox outside.”
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But just as the wedding was going to be solemnized, old Mr. Fox stirred
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under the bench, and cudgelled all the rabble, and drove them and Mrs.
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Fox out of the house.
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SECOND STORY
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When old Mr. Fox was dead, the wolf came as a wooer, and knocked at the
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door, and the cat who was servant to Mrs. Fox, opened it for him. The
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wolf greeted her, and said,
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“Good day, Mrs. Cat of Kehrewit,
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“How comes it that alone you sit?
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What are you making good?”
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The cat replied,
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“In milk I’m breaking bread so sweet,
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Will the gentleman please come in and eat?”
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“No, thank you, Mrs. Cat,” answered the wolf. “Is Mrs. Fox not at
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home?”
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The cat said,
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“She sits upstairs in her room,
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Bewailing her sorrowful doom,
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Bewailing her trouble so sore,
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For old Mr. Fox is no more.”
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The wolf answered,
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“If she’s in want of a husband now,
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Then will it please her to step below?”
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The cat runs quickly up the stair,
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And lets her tail fly here and there,
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Until she comes to the parlour door.
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With her five gold rings at the door she knocks,
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“Are you within, good Mistress Fox?
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If you’re in want of a husband now,
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Then will it please you to step below?
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Mrs. Fox asked, “Has the gentleman red stockings on’ and has he a
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pointed mouth?” “No,” answered the cat. “Then he won’t do for me.”
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When the wolf was gone, came a dog, a stag, a hare, a bear, a lion, and
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all the beasts of the forest, one after the other. But one of the good
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points which old Mr. Fox had possessed, was always lacking, and the cat
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had continually to send the wooers away. At length came a young fox.
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Then Mrs. Fox said, “Has the gentleman red stockings on, and has he a
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little pointed mouth?” “Yes,” said the cat, “he has.” “Then let him
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come upstairs,” said Mrs. Fox, and ordered the servant to prepare the
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wedding-feast.
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“Sweep me the room as clean as you can,
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Up with the window, fling out my old man!
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For many a fine fat mouse he brought,
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Yet of his wife he never thought,
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But ate up every one he caught.”
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Then the wedding was solemnized with young Mr. Fox, and there was much
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rejoicing and dancing; and if they have not left off, they are dancing
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still.
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