The Fox Midwife

Once upon a time, there lived a wolf and a fox, who were good friends. They had a small barrel of honey. Now, the fox loved sweet things; she lay in the hut with the wolf and secretly tapped her tail.

"Cuma, cuma," said the wolf, "someone is knocking."

"Ah, perhaps they're calling me to a christening!" muttered the fox.

"Then go and see," said the wolf. So the fox went out of the hut straight to the honey, licked it up, and came back.

"What did God provide?" asked the wolf.

"A little bit," replied the fox. Another time, the fox lay there again, tapping her tail.

"Cuma! Someone is knocking," said the wolf.

"Must be calling me to a christening again!"

"Then go."

The fox went and again headed straight for the honey, licking it until she was full; only a little remained at the bottom. She returned to the wolf.

"What did God provide?" asked the wolf.

"A bit more."

The third time, the fox tricked the wolf again and licked up all the remaining honey.

"What did God provide?" asked the wolf.

"Just a scrap."

After some time, the fox pretended to be sick and asked the wolf to bring her some honey. The wolf went, but there wasn’t a crumb of honey left.

"Cuma, cuma," shouted the wolf, "the honey is all gone!"

"Gone? Who ate it? Who else but you!" the fox accused. The wolf swore and swore he hadn’t.

"Alright then," said the fox. "Let’s lie in the sun. Whoever’s honey melts out is the guilty one."

They went and lay down. The fox couldn’t sleep, but the gray wolf snored loudly. Suddenly, the fox saw honey appear on herself, so she quickly smeared it onto the wolf.

"Cuma, cuma," she nudged the wolf, "what’s this? Here’s who ate it!"

And the wolf, having no choice, confessed.

And that’s the tale, and for me, a jug of butter.

↑ To the top

The Fox Midwife

More fairy tales