Grimm's Household Tales

FIRST STORY

Once upon a time there was an old fox with nine tails, who believed that his wife was not faithful to him and wished to test her. He stretched himself out under the bench, did not move a limb, and behaved as if he were stone dead. Mrs. Fox went up to her room and shut herself in, and her maid, Miss Cat, sat by the fire and did the cooking. When it became known that the old fox was dead, suitors presented themselves. The maid heard someone standing at the front door, knocking. She went and opened it, and it was a young fox, who said,

“What may you be about, Miss Cat? / Do you sleep or do you wake?”

She answered,

“I am not sleeping, I am waking, / Would you know what I am making? / I am boiling warm beer with butter so nice, / Will the gentleman enter and drink some likewise?”

“No, thank you, miss,” said the fox. “What is Mrs. Fox doing?” The maid replied,

“She sits all alone, / And makes her moan, / Weeping her little eyes quite red, / Because old Mr. Fox is dead.”

“Do just tell her, miss, that a young fox is here, who would like to woo her.” “Certainly, young sir.”

The cat goes up the stairs trip, trap, / The door she knocks at tap, tap, tap, / “Mistress Fox, are you inside?” / “Oh yes, my little cat,” she cried. / “A suitor stands at the door out there.” / “Tell me what he is like, my dear?”

“But does he have nine beautiful tails like the late Mr. Fox?” “Oh, no,” answered the cat, “he has only one.”

“Then I will not have him.” Miss Cat went downstairs and sent the suitor away. Soon afterward there was another knock, and another fox was at the door who wished to woo Mrs. Fox. He had two tails, but he did not fare any better than the first. After this still more came, each with one more tail than the one before, but they were all turned away, until at last one came who had nine tails, like old Mr. Fox. When the widow heard that, she said joyfully to the cat,

“Now open the gates and doors all wide, / And carry old Mr. Fox outside.”

But just as the wedding was about to be celebrated, old Mr. Fox stirred under the bench, beat all the rabble with a cudgel, and drove them and Mrs. Fox out of the house.

SECOND STORY

When old Mr. Fox was dead, the wolf came as a suitor and knocked at the door, and the cat who was servant to Mrs. Fox opened it for him. The wolf greeted her and said,

“Good day, Mrs. Cat of Kehrewit, / How comes it that alone you sit? / What are you making good?”

The cat replied,

“In milk I’m breaking bread so sweet, / Will the gentleman please come in and eat?”

“No, thank you, Mrs. Cat,” answered the wolf. “Is Mrs. Fox not at home?”

The cat said,

“She sits upstairs in her room, / Bewailing her sorrowful doom, / Bewailing her trouble so sore, / For old Mr. Fox is no more.”

The wolf answered,

“If she’s in want of a husband now, / Then will it please her to step below?” / The cat runs quickly up the stair, / And lets her tail fly here and there, / Until she comes to the parlor door. / With her five gold rings at the door she knocks, / “Are you within, good Mistress Fox? / If you’re in want of a husband now, / Then will it please you to step below?”

Mrs. Fox asked, “Does the gentleman have red stockings on, and does he have a pointed mouth?” “No,” answered the cat. “Then he won’t do for me.”

When the wolf was gone, a dog came, then a stag, a hare, a bear, a lion, and all the beasts of the forest, one after the other. But one of the good points that old Mr. Fox had possessed was always lacking, and the cat had to keep sending the suitors away. At length a young fox came. Then Mrs. Fox said, “Does the gentleman have red stockings on, and does he have a little pointed mouth?” “Yes,” said the cat, “he does.” “Then let him come upstairs,” said Mrs. Fox, and she ordered the servant to prepare the wedding feast.

“Sweep me the room as clean as you can, / Up with the window, fling out my old man! / For many a fine fat mouse he brought, / Yet of his wife he never thought, / But ate up every one he caught.”

Then the wedding was celebrated with young Mr. Fox, and there was much rejoicing and dancing. If they have not stopped, they are dancing still.