Tales of Laughter — The Lad and the Fox

_The Lad and the Fox_ There was once upon a time a little lad, who was on his way to church, and when he came to a clearing in the forest he caught sight of a fox, that was lying on the top of a big stone so fast asleep that he did not know the lad had seen him.

“If I kill that fox,” said the lad, taking a heavy stone in his fist, “and sell the skin, I shall get money for it, and with that money I shall buy some rye, and that rye I shall sow in father’s corn-field at home.

When the people who are on their way to church pass by my field of rye they’ll say: ‘Oh, what splendid rye that lad has got!

’ Then I shall say to them: ‘I say, keep away from my rye!

’ But they won’t heed me.

Then I shall shout to them: ‘I say, keep away from my rye!

’ But still they won’t take any notice of me.

Then I shall scream with all my might: ‘Keep away from my rye!

’ and then they’ll listen to me.

” But the lad screamed so loudly that the fox woke up and made off at once for the forest, so that the lad did not even get as much as a handful of his hair.

No; it’s best always to take what you can reach, for of undone deeds you should never screech, as the saying goes.