Mrs. Fox's Wedding

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

First Tale

Once upon a time there was an old fox with nine tails. He did not believe that his wife was faithful to him and wanted to put her to the test. He stretched himself out beneath the bench, did not move a limb, and pretended to be stone dead.

Mrs. Fox locked herself in her room, and her maid, Miss Cat, sat on the hearth and cooked.

As soon as it became known that the old fox had died, suitors began to appear. The maid heard someone knocking at the front door. She opened it, and there stood a young fox, who said:

What are you doing, Miss Cat?
Are you asleep, or are you awake?

She answered:

I'm not asleep; I am awake.
Do you want to know what I am doing?
I am cooking warm beer with butter in it.
Would you like to be my guest?

"No thank you, Miss," said the fox. "What is Mrs. Fox doing?"

The maid answered:

She is sitting in her room
Mourning and grieving.
She has cried her eyes red,
Because old Mr. Fox is dead.

"Miss, tell her that a young fox is here who would like to court her."

"I'll do that, young man."

The cat went upstairs and knocked on the door.

"Mrs. Fox, are you there?"

"Yes, my dear, yes."

"A suitor is outside."

"What does he look like? Does he have nine bushy tails like the late Mr. Fox?"

"No," answered the cat. "He has but one."

"Then I'll not have him."

Miss Cat went downstairs and sent the suitor away.

Soon afterward there was another knock at the door. Another fox was there who wanted to court Mrs. Fox. He had two tails, but he did not fare any better than the first one. Then others came, each with one additional tail, but all were turned away until finally one came who had nine tails, just like old Mr. Fox. When the widow heard that, she spoke joyfully to the cat:

Open up the door
And throw old Mr. Fox out.

They were just about to celebrate the wedding when beneath the bench old Mr. Fox began to stir. He attacked the entire party with blows and drove them all out of the house, including Mrs. Fox.

---

Second Tale

Following the death of old Mr. Fox, the wolf presented himself as a suitor. The cat, who was serving as Mrs. Fox's maid, opened the door. The wolf greeted her, saying:

Good day, Mrs. Cat,
Why are you sitting alone?
What good things are you making there?

The cat answered:

Bread and milk.
Would you like to be my guest?

"No thank you, Mrs. Cat." answered the wolf. "Isn't Mrs. Fox at home?"

The cat said:

She's upstairs in her room
Mourning and grieving,
Bemoaning her plight,
Because old Mr. Fox is dead.

The wolf answered:

If she wants another man,
Just have her come downstairs.

The cat ran upstairs
To give her the news.
She ran to the great room,
And knocked on the door
With her five golden rings.
"Mrs. Fox, are you in there?
Do you want another man?"

Mrs. Fox asked, "Is the gentleman wearing red breeches, and does he have a pointed little face?"

"No," answered the cat.

"Then he's of no use to me."

After the wolf had been sent away there came a dog, a deer, a hare, a bear, a lion, and all the other animals of the forest, one after the other. But each one lacked one of the good qualities that old Mr. Fox had had, and the cat had to send each of the suitors away. Finally a young fox came.

Mrs. Fox asked, "Is the gentleman wearing red breeches, and does he have a pointed little face?"

"Yes," said the cat, "that he does."

"Then let him come upstairs," said Mrs. Fox, and she told the maid to make preparations for the wedding feast.

Cat, sweep out the kitchen,
And throw the old fox out the window.
He brought home many a big fat mouse,
But he ate them all alone,
And never gave me a one.

Then Mrs. Fox married young Mr. Fox, and everyone danced and celebrated, and if they have not stopped, then they are dancing still.

The Frog King or Iron Heinrich

The Frog King or Iron Heinrich
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

In olden times, when wishing still did some good, there lived a king whose daughters were all beautiful, but the youngest was so beautiful that the sun itself, who, indeed, has seen so much, marveled every time it shone upon her face. In the vicinity of the king's castle there was a large, dark forest, and in this forest, beneath an old linden tree, there was a well. In the heat of the day the princess would go out into the forest and sit on the edge of the cool well. To pass the time she would take a golden ball, throw it into the air, and then catch it. It was her favorite plaything.

Now one day it happened that the princess's golden ball did not fall into her hands, that she held up high, but instead it fell to the ground and rolled right into the water. The princess followed it with her eyes, but the ball disappeared, and the well was so deep that she could not see its bottom. Then she began to cry. She cried louder and louder, and she could not console herself.

As she was thus lamenting, someone called out to her, "What is the matter with you, princess? Your crying would turn a stone to pity."

She looked around to see where the voice was coming from and saw a frog, who had stuck his thick, ugly head out of the water. "Oh, it's you, old water-splasher," she said. "I am crying because my golden ball has fallen into the well."

"Be still and stop crying," answered the frog. I can help you, but what will you give me if I bring back your plaything?"

"Whatever you want, dear frog," she said, "my clothes, my pearls and precious stones, and even the golden crown that I am wearing."

The frog answered, "I do not want your clothes, your pearls and precious stones, nor your golden crown, but if you will love me and accept me as a companion and playmate, and let me sit next to you at your table and eat from your golden plate and drink from your cup and sleep in your bed, if you will promise this to me, then I'll dive down and bring your golden ball back to you."

"Oh, yes," she said, "I promise all of that to you if you will just bring the ball back to me." But she thought, "What is this stupid frog trying to say? He just sits here in the water with his own kind and croaks. He cannot be a companion to a human."

As soon as the frog heard her say "yes" he stuck his head under and dove to the bottom. He paddled back up a short time later with the golden ball in his mouth and threw it onto the grass. The princess was filled with joy when she saw her beautiful plaything once again, picked it up, and ran off.

"Wait, wait," called the frog, "take me along. I cannot run as fast as you." But what did it help him, that he croaked out after her as loudly as he could? She paid no attention to him, but instead hurried home and soon forgot the poor frog, who had to return again to his well.

The next day the princess was sitting at the table with the king and all the people of the court, and was eating from her golden plate when something came creeping up the marble steps: plip, plop, plip, plop. As soon as it reached the top, there came a knock at the door, and a voice called out, "Princess, youngest, open the door for me!"

She ran to see who was outside. She opened the door, and the frog was sitting there. Frightened, she slammed the door shut and returned to the table. The king saw that her heart was pounding and asked, "My child, why are you afraid? Is there a giant outside the door who wants to get you?"

"Oh, no," she answered. "it is a disgusting frog."

"What does the frog want from you?"

"Oh, father dear, yesterday when I was sitting near the well in the forest and playing, my golden ball fell into the water. And because I was crying so much, the frog brought it back, and because he insisted, I promised him that he could be my companion, but I didn't think that he could leave his water. But now he is just outside the door and wants to come in."

Just then there came a second knock at the door, and a voice called out:

Youngest daughter of the king, Open up the door for me, Don't you know what yesterday, You said to me down by the well? Youngest daughter of the king, Open up the door for me.

The king said, "What you have promised, you must keep. Go and let the frog in."

She went and opened the door, and the frog hopped in, then followed her up to her chair. He sat there and called out, "Lift me up next to you."

She hesitated, until finally the king commanded her to do it. When the frog was seated next to her he said, "Now push your golden plate closer, so we can eat together."

She did it, but one could see that she did not want to. The frog enjoyed his meal, but for her every bite stuck in her throat. Finally he said, "I have eaten all I want and am tired. Now carry me to your room and make your bed so that we can go to sleep."

The princess began to cry and was afraid of the cold frog and did not dare to even touch him, and yet he was supposed to sleep in her beautiful, clean bed.

The king became angry and said, "You should not despise someone who has helped you in time of need."

She picked him up with two fingers, carried him upstairs, and set him in a corner. As she was lying in bed, he came creeping up to her and said, "I am tired, and I want to sleep as well as you do. Pick me up or I'll tell your father."

With that she became bitterly angry and threw him against the wall with all her might. "Now you will have your peace, you disgusting frog!"

But when he fell down, he was not a frog, but a prince with beautiful friendly eyes. And he was now, according to her father's will, her dear companion and husband. He told her how he had been enchanted by a wicked witch, and that she alone could have rescued him from the well, and that tomorrow they would go together to his kingdom. Then they fell asleep.

The next morning, just as the sun was waking them, a carriage pulled up, drawn by eight horses. They had white ostrich feathers on their heads and were outfitted with chains of gold. At the rear stood the young king's servant, faithful Heinrich. Faithful Heinrich had been so saddened by his master's transformation into a frog that he had had to place three iron bands around his heart to keep it from bursting in grief and sorrow. The carriage was to take the king back to his kingdom. Faithful Heinrich lifted them both inside and took his place at the rear. He was filled with joy over the redemption. After they had gone a short distance, the prince heard a crack from behind, as though something had broken.

He turned around and said, "Heinrich, the carriage is breaking apart."

No, my lord, the carriage it's not, But one of the bands surrounding my heart, That suffered such great pain, When you were sitting in the well, When you were a frog.

Once again, and then once again the prince heard a cracking sound and thought that the carriage was breaking apart, but it was the bands springing from faithful Heinrich's heart because his master was now redeemed and happy.

Crazy computer

George is in his bedroom. He is playing on his computer - again! George plays on his computer every day. His mum shouts, "George! Your dinner is ready!" but George doesn"t hear. He just plays on his computer. But George feels sad. He plays on his computer because he doesn"t have any friends. Sometimes he dreams he is playing football with lots of friends, but it never happens.

Today George is playing a computer football game. He is playing against the computer and he is winning. Suddenly the computer speaks to George.
"Hello George. What game can we play now?"

George is surprised and jumps up from his chair. He can"t believe it. Maybe he is dreaming. Then the computer speaks again.
"I am your friend, George."

George looks at the computer with big eyes.
"You can speak!"
"Yes, of course. I can do many amazing things!"
"Can you do maths homework?"
"That"s easy!"

The computer looks at George"s book and in two seconds all the answers are on the computer screen. George writes the answers in his book.
"Great!" says George.

George"s mum arrives. She brings George a pizza.
"Here you are George! Oh good, your maths homework is finished! What a good boy!"
And she goes out of the room.

"Oh yum, I love pizza!" says the computer. An arm shoots out of the side of the computer and takes the pizza.
"Delicious!" says the computer. Another arm shoots out of the computer. And then two legs. Suddenly the computer is walking!

"Let"s go for a walk," says the computer and it goes down the stairs and out of the front door. George follows him.
"Where are we going?" asks George.
"To find a friend," says the computer. It walks along the road, turns left and goes into the High Street. It stops outside the television shop.
"No good!" it says and laughs at the televisions.

The computer runs along the road. Its metal legs run faster and faster. It goes past the post office and the bank and into the library. In the library there are lots of books - and lots of computers. The crazy computer goes into the room full of computers. There is a boy sitting there, doing his homework.
"Hello," says the boy, "I"m Tommy."
Tommy looks at the crazy computer.
"What"s this?" he cries, "a computer with arms and legs?"
"It"s my computer," says George. "He"s gone crazy - eating pizza and running around!"

They look at George"s computer. It is connecting to the other twenty computers in the room. The computers make lots of strange noises. Maybe they are talking to each other.

Words and strange characters flash across the screens. Coloured lights go on and off - green, blue, red, yellow. The computers go faster and faster. Suddenly one explodes, then the next, then the next... then they all explode.

George"s computer is in the middle of the room. It is getting bigger and bigger. Its screen is flashing with millions of different characters and messages. It is laughing.

"Now, I have enough power!" says George"s computer. "Soon I will be the only computer on Earth. I can destroy all other computers. I am the Supercomputer of the World."

Tommy looks at George. "We must stop him!" he says.

George"s computer is out of control. The lights in the library are flashing on and off. People are running out of the library. They are scared.

"Quick!" says George. He grabs a stick and smashes his computer. There is a loud bang and it explodes into the air and falls to the ground in tiny pieces.
"He"s gone," says Tommy.

Tommy and George leave the library together. Tommy lives in the next street to George.
"That"s my house," says Tommy. "Do you want to play football in the garden?"
"Yes," says George, smiling and smiling. "Who needs computers?"

Sam`s secret zoo

There was once a boy called Sam. He lived with his mum and dad in a large, low bungalow with a red roof. It was very, very hot in this country and all the adults used to spend long afternoons asleep.

But Sam never slept. He spent every afternoon in his amazing magical garden with all his animals. Sam was really crazy about animals - he had all the usual pets such as a dog and a cat and a bird, but Sam also had an amazing collection of unusual pets as well.
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The garden at the back of the bungalow was a very exciting place. It was surrounded by huge trees at the back and had lush, tropical plants with big leaves on every side. This was perfect for hiding his pets.

When you came out of the back door there was a low wall at the bottom of the steps, which divided the terrace and the garden. Now inside this wall there lived a whole family. Sam came down the steps and pulled out a brick at the bottom of the wall. And there before his eyes was the whole family.... of scorpions.

Sam was terribly interested in scorpions. He thought their red colour was wonderful. And he also liked the way that the baby scorpions climbed onto their mother`s back. Sam didn`t seem to care that scorpions have a sting in their tail - they didn`t seem to notice when he looked at them unless he brought them a few nice juicy insects to eat.

Sam put the brick back in the wall and then walked further along the path which went through the trees. He looked up into a tree. This particular tree had bright red flowers and lots of leaves. But Sam saw something else. He saw the bird who lived in the tree - a bright red and green parrot.
"Hello," said Sam.
"Hello yourself," said the parrot. It really was quite friendly.

Sam continued his round of the garden. At the next tree he stopped again. This tree was much bigger and had very thick branches. Sam stared into the tree.
"Aha!" he said.

Sam saw a long green snake moving slowly round the branch. It was difficult to see the snake as its dark green markings looked just like the tree. But Sam knew where to look. Sam thought it was a pretty friendly snake - he didn`t know that green mambas are extremely poisonous.

Sam went further along the path and looked into the next tree. Inside the two main branches he looked very closely. Yes... there it was! Sitting in the fork of the tree was a huge greeny-brown coloured monitor lizard. It had a large head and scales on its back. Its tail thumped the tree and made a noise."Thwack!" The monitor lizard turned round, closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

Finally Sam turned back towards the house. He stopped at a big rock on the other side of the garden. He lifted the rock carefully. Under the rock was a hole. Sam looked inside. Ah yes ... there it was - his pride and joy.. a very large, hairy tarantula! Sam thought it was the most beautiful spider he had ever seen.

Just then his sister Susie came down the steps. Susie was two years older than Sam and always tried to tell him what to do.
"What are you doing?" said Susie. "What have you got there?"
Susie came over to Sam and looked under the rock.
She saw the tarantula and screamed.
"Aagh! It`s a spider! Aagh! It`s going to kill me!"

When the spider heard Susie screaming it woke up in a very angry mood. It was used to having a nice afternoon nap. The spider ran out of its hole under the rock towards Susie. This made Susie scream even more.
"Help! Mum! Sam"s got a spider. Help! It`s going to kill us all!"

At this point Sam`s mum came rushing out of the house together with Mrs Trout who lived next door. Mrs Trout was a horrible woman who always shouted at Sam and made horrible ugly faces.
"Sam," shouted his mum, "what have you got there?"

By this time the spider had had enough. It decided to look for somewhere more comfortable to sleep. So up the steps it went while everyone else was running around in confusion looking for it.

Just as the spider reached the kitchen door Susie saw it.
"Oh no! It`s going into the house!"
They all turned and looked at the door... and saw the spider disappear into the kitchen.

Sam ran up the steps as fast as he could. Inside the kitchen there was total chaos. Archie the dog was barking and running round in circles. Horatio the cat jumped on the table and screamed loudly.

Where was the spider? Sam looked up and saw the spider disappearing into the living room. By this time Susie, his mum and Mrs Trout had also rushed into the kitchen and were screaming their heads off.

Sam decided to get Archie to help. Maybe the dog could find the spider. The two of them walked slowly into the living room and looked around. There was no sign of the spider.

Suddenly they heard more loud screaming from the kitchen. The spider was heading towards Mrs Trout, who took one look and fainted into a heap on the floor.

Now the spider was getting faster. It went upstairs and looked for a comfortable bed to sleep in. Sam followed it with Archie at his heels. At the end of the corridor was Sam`s bedroom. They went in and saw the spider sitting next to the window.

That was Sam`s chance! He picked up the spider and threw it out of the window, far, far into the garden. Oh well, now it would have a new home in a different part of the garden.

Sam`s mum and Susie rushed upstairs.
"You horrible boy!" shouted Susie.
"No, he`s not horrible!" said Sam`s mum. "He saved us from the spider! Let`s go and have some cake!"
Sam laughed and Susie glared at him.
What a good thing they didn`t know about Sam`s secret zoo!