30 lines
1.9 KiB
Text
30 lines
1.9 KiB
Text
The Fox and His Cousin
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The she-wolf brought forth a young one, and invited the fox to be
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godfather. "After all, he is a near relative of ours," said she, "he
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has a good understanding, and much talent; he can instruct my little
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son, and help him forward in the world." The fox, too, appeared quite
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honest, and said, "Worthy Mrs. Gossip, I thank you for the honour which
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you are doing me; I will, however, conduct myself in such a way that
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you shall be repaid for it." He enjoyed himself at the feast, and made
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merry; afterwards he said, "Dear Mrs. Gossip, it is our duty to take
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care of the child, it must have good food that it may be strong. I know
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a sheep-fold from which we might fetch a nice morsel." The wolf was
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pleased with the ditty, and she went out with the fox to the farm-yard.
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He pointed out the fold from afar, and said, "You will be able to creep
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in there without being seen, and in the meantime I will look about on
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the other side to see if I can pick up a chicken." He, however, did not
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go there, but sat down at the entrance to the forest, stretched his
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legs and rested. The she-wolf crept into the stable. A dog was lying
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there, and it made such a noise that the peasants came running out,
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caught Gossip Wolf, and poured a strong burning mixture, which had been
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prepared for washing, over her skin. At last she escaped, and dragged
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herself outside. There lay the fox, who pretended to be full of
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complaints, and said, "Ah, dear Mistress Gossip, how ill I have fared,
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the peasants have fallen on me, and have broken every limb I have; if
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you do not want me to lie where I am and perish, you must carry me
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away." The she-wolf herself was only able to go away slowly, but she
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was in such concern about the fox that she took him on her back, and
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slowly carried him perfectly safe and sound to her house. Then the fox
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cried to her, "Farewell, dear Mistress Gossip, may the roasting you
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have had do you good," laughed heartily at her, and bounded off.
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