Fairy Tales
By the Grimm Brothers

Presented by

Public Domain Books

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 you be my guest, 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 parlour 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: ’Has the gentleman red stockings on, and has he a pointed mouth?’ ’No,’ answered the cat. ’Then he won’t do for me.’

When the wolf was gone, came a dog, a stag, a hare, a bear, a lion, and all the beasts of the forest, one after the other. But one of the good qualities which old Mr Fox had possessed, was always lacking, and the cat had continually to send the suitors away. At length came a young fox. Then Mrs Fox said: ’Has the gentleman red stockings on, and has a little pointed mouth?’ ’Yes,’ said the cat, ’he has.’ ’Then let him come upstairs,’ said Mrs Fox, and 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 solemnized with young Mr Fox, and there was much rejoicing and dancing; and if they have not left off, they are dancing still.

Continue...

The Golden Bird  •  Hans in Luck  •  Jorinda and Jorindel  •  The Travelling Musicians  •  Old Sultan  •  The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean  •  Briar Rose  •  The Dog and the Sparrow  •  The Twelve Dancing Princesses  •  The Fisherman and His Wife  •  The Willow-Wren and the Bear  •  The Frog-Prince  •  Cat and Mouse in Partnership  •  The Goose-Girl  •  The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet  •  Rapunzel  •  Fundevogel  •  The Valiant Little Tailor  •  Hansel and Gretel  •  The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage  •  Mother Holle  •  Little Red-Cap [little Red Riding Hood]  •  The Robber Bridegroom  •  Tom Thumb  •  Rumpelstiltskin  •  Clever Gretel  •  The Old Man and His Grandson  •  The Little Peasant  •  Frederick and Catherine  •  Sweetheart Roland  •  Snowdrop  •  The Pink  •  Clever Elsie  •  The Miser in the Bush  •  Ashputtel  •  The White Snake  •  The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids  •  The Queen Bee  •  The Elves and the Shoemaker  •  The Juniper-Tree  •  The Turnip  •  Clever Hans  •  The Three Languages  •  The Fox and the Cat  •  The Four Clever Brothers  •  Lily and the Lion  •  The Fox and the Horse  •  The Blue Light  •  The Raven  •  The Golden Goose  •  The Water of Life  •  The Twelve Huntsmen  •  The King of the Golden Mountain  •  Doctor Knowall  •  The Seven Ravens  •  The Wedding of Mrs Fox  •  Second Story  •  The Salad  •  The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was  •  King Grisly-Beard  •  Iron Hans  •  Cat-Skin  •  Snow-White and Rose-Red  •  About the Brothers Grimm

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