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Grimms' Fairy Tales
Gossip
Wolf and the Fox
The she-wolf brought forth a young one, and
invited the fox to be godfather. "After all, he is
a near relative of ours," said she, "he has a
good understanding, and much talent; he can instruct my
little son, and help him forward in the world." The
fox, too, appeared quite honest, and said, "Worthy
Mrs. Gossip, I thank you for the honour which you are doing
me; I will, however, conduct myself in such a way that you
shall be repaid for it." He enjoyed himself at the
feast, and made merry; afterwards he said, "Dear Mrs.
Gossip, it is our duty to take care of the child, it must
have good food that it may be strong. I know a sheep-fold
from which we might fetch a nice morsel." The wolf
was pleased with the ditty, and she went out with the fox
to the farm-yard. He pointed out the fold from afar, and
said, "You will be able to creep in there without being
seen, and in the meantime I will look about on the other
side to see if I can pick up a chicken." He, however,
did not go there, but sat down at the entrance to the forest,
stretched his legs and rested. The she-wolf crept into the
stable. A dog was lying there, and it made such a noise
that the peasants came running out, caught Gossip Wolf,
and poured a strong burning mixture, which had been prepared
for washing, over her skin. At last she escaped, and dragged
herself outside. There lay the fox, who pretended to be
full of complaints, and said, "Ah, dear Mistress Gossip,
how ill I have fared, the peasants have fallen on me, and
have broken every limb I have; if you do not want me to
lie where I am and perish, you must carry me away."
The she-wolf herself was only able to go away slowly, but
she was in such concern about the fox that she took him
on her back, and slowly carried him perfectly safe and sound
to her house. Then the fox cried to her, "Farewell,
dear Mistress Gossip, may the roasting you have had do you
good," laughed heartily at her, and bounded off.
From Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household Tales, trans. Margaret
Hunt (London: George Bell, 1884), 1:301-302. |
