mischievous. Write a paragraph explaining why the fox’s
character is mischievous. Use details from the story to support
your answer.
The Fox as Herdsman
Once upon a time there was a woman who went out to hire a
herdsman for her animals. On her way she met a bear.
“Where are you going?” asked the bear.
“I’m going to hire a herdsman,” answered the woman.
“Why not have me for a herdsman?” said the bear.
“Well, why not,” said the woman, “if you only know how to call
the flock? Let me hear you.”
“Ow, Ow!” growled the bear.
“No, no! That will not do,” said the woman. And she went on her
way.
When she had gone a little farther she met a wolf.
“Where are you going?” asked the wolf.
“I’m going to hire a herdsman,” said the woman.
“Why not have me for a herdsman?” said the wolf.
“Well, why not, if you can call the flock? Let me hear you call,”
said the woman.
“Oooo, Oooo!” howled the wolf.
“Oh no, that will not do,” said the woman.
After she had gone on a while longer she met a fox.
“Where are you going?” asked the fox.
“I’m just going out to hire a herdsman,” answered the woman.
“Why not have me for a herdsman?” asked the fox.
“Well, do you know how to call the flock?” asked the woman.
“Dil-dal-holom!” sang out the fox in a fine clear voice.
“That’s perfect!” said the woman. “I’ll have you for my
herdsman.” She sent the fox to herd her flocks.
The first day the fox was herdsman he ate up all the woman’s
goats. The next day he made an end of all her sheep. The third
day he ate up all her cows. When he came home that day the
woman asked what he had done with all her flocks.
“Oh!” said the fox, “they are playing in the meadow over the
hill.”
The woman was busy churning cream when he said this, but she
thought she had better go and have a look at her flocks. While
she was away the fox crept into the churn and ate up all the
cream. Unable to find any of her flocks the woman hurried back
to her house and found the fox eating up her cream. Now she
understood what the fox had done, and she yelled at him to
leave her house. She snatched up the last bit of cream that was
left and threw it at the fox as he ran off. A dab landed on the
end of his tail, and still today foxes have white tips on their tails.