Prevod

Once upon a time there was a woman who went out to hire a herdsman, and on her way she met a bear. “Where are you going?” asked the bear. “Oh, I’m off to hire a herdsman,” answered the woman. “Wouldn’t you like to hire me?” asked the bear. “Yes, if you know how to call the cattle,” said the woman. “Ho—ee!” said the bear.

“No, I won’t have you,” said the woman when she heard that, and went on her way. When she had gone a little farther, she met a wolf. “Where are you going?” asked the wolf. “I’m off to hire a herdsman,” answered the woman. “Would you like to hire me?” asked the wolf. “Yes, if you know how to call the cattle,” said the woman. “Oo—oo!” said the wolf. “No, I won’t have you,” said the woman.

When she had gone a little farther still, she met a fox. “Where are you going?” asked the fox. “Oh, I’m off to hire a herdsman,” said the woman. “Wouldn’t you like to hire me?” asked the fox. “Yes, if you know how to call the cattle,” said the woman.

“Dil—dal—holom!” said the fox, so sweetly and clearly. “Yes, I’ll have you for my herdsman,” said the woman, and she set the fox to tend her livestock. The first day the fox tended them, he ate up all the woman’s goats; the second day he made an end of all her sheep; and the third day he ate up all her cows. When he came home that evening, the woman asked him what he had done with all her livestock. “Their heads are in the stream and their bodies in the grove,” said the fox. She was just then churning, but she felt she must go and look for them all the same, and while she was away, the fox slipped into the churn and ate up the cream. When the woman came back and saw what he had done, she grew so angry that she took the little bit of cream that was left and flung it at the fox, splashing the end of his tail. And that is why the fox has a white tip to his tail.