Fairy and Wonder Tales 1917

The Farmer and the Fox

By Ramaswami Raju

A FARMER was returning from a fair which he had attended the previous

day at a neighboring market town.  He had a quantity of poultry which

he had purchased.  A Fox observed this, and approaching the Farmer,

said, "Good morning, my friend."

"What cheer, old fellow?" said the Farmer.

"I am just coming from the wood, through which you mean to go with your

poultry.  A band of highwaymen has been tarrying there since daybreak."

"Then what shall I do?" said the Farmer.

"Why," said the Fox, "if I were you I should stay here a while, and

after breakfast enter the wood, for by that time the robbers will have

left the place."

"So be it," said the Farmer, and had a hearty breakfast, with Reynard

for his guest.

They kept drinking for a long time.  Reynard appeared to have lost his

wits; he stood up and played the drunkard to perfection.  The Farmer,

who highly admired the pranks of his guest, roared with laughter, and

gradually fell into a deep slumber.  It was some time after noon when

he awoke.  To his dismay he found that the Fox was gone, and that the

poultry had all disappeared!

"Alas!" said the Farmer, as he trudged on his way home with a heavy

heart, "I thought the old rogue was quite drowned in liquor, but I now

see it was all a pretense.  One must indeed be very sober to play the

drunkard to perfection."