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There was once upon a time an old fox with nine tails, who

believed that his wife was not faithful to him, and wished to put

her to the test. 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, 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 house-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, Will you be my guest for

supper?'

'No, thank you, miss,' said the fox, 'what is Mrs Fox doing?' The

maid replied:

'She is sitting in her room, Moaning in her gloom, Weeping her

little eyes quite red, Because old Mr Fox is dead.'