Pagina 528 de 626

'Do just tell her, miss, that a young fox is here, who would like

to woo her.' 'Certainly, young sir.'

The cat goes up the stairs trip, trap, The door she knocks at

tap, tap, tap, 'Mistress Fox, are you inside?' 'Oh, yes, my

little cat,' she cried. 'A wooer he stands at the door out

there.' 'What does he look like, my dear?'

'Has he nine as beautiful tails as the late Mr Fox?' 'Oh, no,'

answered the cat, 'he has only one.' 'Then I will not have him.'

Miss Cat went downstairs and sent the wooer away. Soon afterwards

there was another knock, and another fox was at the door who

wished to woo Mrs Fox. He had two tails, but he did not fare

better than the first. After this still more came, each with one

tail more than the other, but they were all turned away, until at

last one came who had nine tails, like old Mr Fox. When the widow

heard that, she said joyfully to the cat:

'Now open the gates and doors all wide, And carry old Mr Fox

outside.'