Russian Fairy Tales Children's Fairy Tales
THE FOX AND THE BLACKBIRD.
A
fox was walking through the forest when he fell into a deep hole. And
there he sat and sat, till all at once he began to feel hungry. He
started looking
round, but could see nothing. Then he looked up, and there he saw a
blackbird in the tree above weaving its nest, and he said: “Mr.
Blackbird, Mr. Blackbird, what are you doing?”
And the blackbird answered: “I'm weaving my nest.” “What are you weaving your nest for?” asked
the fox. “To bring up my children in,” answered the
blackbird. “But I'm going to eat your children,” said the
fox.
“Don't
eat my children,” answered the blackbird. “Well then, feed
me, I'm hungry,” said the fox. At that the blackbird began to
fret and to worry: how should he feed the fox? Then he flew off into the village, and brought back a chicken for the fox.
And
the fox ate the chicken, and after a little he said: “Mr.
Blackbird, Mr. Blackbird, you fed me, didn't you?” And the
blackbird answered: “Yes.” “Well then,” said
the fox, “give me a drink!” At that the blackbird
began to fret and to worry: how was he to get the fox a drink? Then he
flew off into the village, and brought back a little pailful of water
for the fox.
And
the fox had a good drink, and after a little he said: “Mr.
Blackbird, Mr. Blackbird, you fed me, didn't you?” And the
blackbird answered:“Yes.”
“And you got me a drink?” “Yes.” “Well
then,” said the fox, “come and pull me out of the
hole!” At that the blackbird began to fret and to worry: how
could he pull the fox out of the hole?
Then he began to gather sticks in the forest and started throwing them into the hole. And hekept
throwing them in and throwing them in, till he filled the hole. And the
fox climbed up on to the sticks and out of the hole.
And when he had climbed out, he lay down right under the tree. And there he lay and lay, and he said to the blackbird: “Look here, you fed me, didn't you, Mr. Blackbird?”
And the blackbird answered. “Yes.” “And you got me
a drink?” “Yes.” “And you pulled me out of the
hole?” “Yes.” “Well then,” said the fox,
“now make me laugh!” At that the blackbird began to fret
and to worry: how should he make the fox laugh? At last he said:
“Very well, I'll tell you what I'll do.”
“I'll
fly into the village, and you run after me.” So they agreed to do
that, and the blackbird flew off into the village and perched on the
gate of a rich peasant's
house, while the fox lay down under the gateway. Then the blackbird
began to sing: “Mistress, Mistress, bring a lump of fat!
Mistress, Mistress, bring a lump of fat!” And the fox said:
“That's fine, let's have it again!”
So
the blackbird began once more: “Mistress, Mistress, bring a lump
of fat! Mistress, Mistress, bring a lump of fat!”
Suddenly from under the gate a dog said angrily: “Wow-wow!” and the fox took to his heels and hopped it into the forest as quick as he could!
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