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Snowdrop and Other Tales

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<h2>The Marriage of Mrs. Reynard</h2> <p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once an old Fox who thought that his wife was not true to him, and determined to put her to the test. He stretched himself under the bank, lay motionless, and pretended to be as dead as a door nail. Mrs. Reynard went to her chamber, and shut herself in; and her servant, Mistress Cat, sat by the fire, and cooked the dinner.</p> <p>Now, when it became known that the old Fox was dead, suitors began to announce themselves. Soon afterwards, the servant heard some one knocking at the front door. She went and opened the door, and there stood a young Fox, who said—</p> <div class="cpoem"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">‘What are ye doing, pray, Mistress Cat?<br/></span> <span class="i0">Sleeping or waking? or what are ye at?’<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p>She answered—</p> <div class="cpoem"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">‘I’m not asleep; I’m wide awake.<br/></span> <span class="i0">D’ye want to know what now I make?<br/></span> <span class="i0">I’m warming beer, with butter in it;<br/></span> <span class="i0">I beg ye’ll taste it in a minute.’<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p>‘I’m much obliged, Mistress,’ said the Fox. ‘What is Mrs. Reynard doing?’</p> <p>The Maid answered—</p> <div class="cpoem"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">‘In chamber sad she sits alone,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And ceases not with grief to moan.<br/></span> <span class="i0">She weeps until her eyes are red,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Because the dear old Fox is dead.’<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p>‘Well, just tell her, Mistress, that there’s a young Fox here, who would be glad to woo her.’</p> <p>‘Very well, young gentleman.’</p> <div class="cpoem"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></SPAN></span> <span class="i0">‘Then went the Cat with pit-a-pat<br/></span> <span class="i0">And smote the door, rat-tata-tat!<br/></span> <span class="i0">“Pray, Mrs. Reynard, are you in?<br/></span> <span class="i0">Outside a wooer waits below!”’<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p>‘Well, what’s he like? I want to know. Has he got nine such beautiful tails as the late lamented Mr. Reynard?’</p> <p>‘Oh dear no,’ answered the Cat. ‘He has only got one.’</p> <p>‘Then I won’t have him.’</p> <p>Mistress Cat went down, and sent the wooer away.</p> <p>Soon after this there was knocking again, and another Fox appeared at the door, who wished to pay his addresses to Mrs. Reynard. He had two tails, but he came off no better than the first. Afterwards others came, each with one tail more; but they were all rejected, till at last one came that had nine tails like old Mr. Reynard.</p> <p>When the widow heard this, full of joy, she said to the Cat—</p> <div class="cpoem"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">‘Open the gates and doors; be swift.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Old Mr. Reynard turn adrift.’<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p>But when the wedding was about to be celebrated, then old Mr. Reynard under the bank roused himself, and gave the whole crew a good drubbing, and sent them, Mrs. Reynard and all, helter-skelter out of the house.</p> <h3 class="smcap">Second Tale</h3> <p>When old Mr. Reynard really died, the Wolf came as a suitor, and knocked at the door, and the Cat who acted as servant to Mrs. Reynard, opened it.</p> <p>The Wolf greeted her, and said—</p> <div class="cpoem"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">‘Good-day, Miss Cat, of sprightly wit,<br/></span> <span class="i0">How comes it that alone you sit?<br/></span> <span class="i0">What are you making there, so good?’<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p>The Cat answered—</p> <div class="cpoem"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">‘Tumbling milk and butter up.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Will your Lordship have a sup?’<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></SPAN></span> ‘Thank you kindly, Mistress Cat. Mistress Reynard is not at home, I suppose.’</p> <div class="cpoem"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">‘Upstairs in her chamber she sits,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And weeps as her sorrow befits.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Her sad case she doth much deplore,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Because Mr. Reynard’s no more.’<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p>The Wolf answered—</p> <div class="cpoem"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">‘“If now she wants to wed again,<br/></span> <span class="i0">She must come down the stairs, ’tis plain.”<br/></span> <span class="i0">The Cat ran up without delay,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Nor did her claws their clatter stay<br/></span> <span class="i0">Until she reached the long saloon.<br/></span> <span class="i0">There, tapping with her five gold rings,<br/></span> <span class="i0">“Is Mrs. Reynard in?” she sings.<br/></span> <span class="i0">“If now she wants to wed again,<br/></span> <span class="i0">She must come down the stairs, ’tis plain.”’<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p>Mrs. Reynard asked: ‘Does the gentleman wear red breeches, and has he a pointed muzzle?’</p> <p>‘No,’ answered the Cat.</p> <p>‘Then he is no use to me.’</p> <p>When the Wolf was rejected, there came a Dog, a Stag, a Hare, a Bear, and one after another every sort of wild animal. But in every one there was wanting some of the good qualities which old Mr. Reynard had possessed, and the Cat was obliged to dismiss the suitors every time. At last there came a young Fox. Then Mrs. Reynard asked: ‘Does the gentleman wear red breeches, and has he got a pointed muzzle?’</p> <p>‘Yes,’ said the Cat. ‘He has both.’</p> <p>‘Then let him come up,’ said Mrs. Reynard, and ordered the maid to make ready the wedding feast.</p> <div class="cpoem"> <div class="poem"> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">‘Now, Cat, set to and sweep the room.<br/></span> <span class="i0">Then fling the old Fox from the house;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Bring in many a good fat mouse,<br/></span> <span class="i0">But eat them all yourself alone,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Nor give your mistress e’er a one.’<br/></span></div> </div></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></SPAN></span> Then the wedding with young Mr. Fox was held, and there was merry-making and dancing, and if they haven’t stopped, they are dancing still.</p> <div class="figcenter"> <SPAN name="ill24" id="ill24"></SPAN> <ANTIMG src="images/ill24.png" width-obs="240" height-obs="390" alt="A fox on a riverbank" /></div> <p class="caption">Does the gentleman wear red breeches, and has he a pointed muzzle?</p> <p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></SPAN></span></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />

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