The Boy and the Fox

A boy saw a fox asleep on a hillside.

The boy picked up a stone and said,

"I will kill this fox.

Then I shall sell the fur

and get some money.

I shall buy rye with the money,

and I shall sow the rye

in my father's field.

The people will pass by the field.

They will see my rye and they will say,

'What fine rye that boy has.'

Then I shall say to them,

'Keep out of my rye field.'

But they will not obey.

Then I shall call to them,

'Keep out of my rye field.'

But still they will not obey.

Then I shall shout to them,

'Keep out of my rye field.'

And then they will obey me."

The boy called so loud

that the fox awoke.

The fox sprang to his feet,

and away he went to the woods.

So the boy did not get even a hair

from the tail of the fox.

— Swedish Folk Tale