There was once a fox and a rabbit. The fox had a house of ice, the rabbit a house of wood. Fair spring came and melted the fox’s house, while the rabbit’s stood firm and strong. So the fox asked the rabbit if she could come in to warm herself, then drove him out. The rabbit went down the road crying, and met two dogs, who asked, “Ruff, ruff, ruff! Why are you crying?” “Leave me alone, dogs! Who wouldn’t cry? I had a wooden house, while the fox had one of ice. She invited herself into mine and drove me out.” “Don’t cry, rabbit,” barked the dogs. “We’ll chase her out.” “No, you won’t.” “Oh, yes we will.” Off they went to the rabbit’s house. “Ruff, ruff, ruff! Come out of there, fox!” “Go away, before I come and tear you to pieces,” she shouted back from the stove. The dogs took fright and fled.

Once more the rabbit went on his way crying. This time he met a bear who asked, “Why are you crying?” “Leave me alone, bear,” said the rabbit. “Who wouldn’t cry? I had a wooden house, while the fox had one of ice. She invited herself into mine and drove me out.” “Don’t cry, rabbit,” said the bear. “I’ll chase her out.” “No, you won’t. The dogs tried and failed; you’ll fare no better.” “Oh, yes I will.” Off they went to chase her out. “Come on out, fox!” roared the bear. But she shouted from the stove: “Go away, before I come and tear you to pieces.” The bear took fright and fled.

Once more the rabbit went on his way crying and met an ox who asked, “Why are you crying?” “Leave me alone, ox! Who wouldn’t cry? I had a wooden house, while the fox had one of ice. She invited herself into mine and drove me out.” “Come with me, I’ll chase her out.” “No, you won’t,” said the rabbit. “The dogs tried and failed, the bear tried and failed; you’ll fare no better.” “Oh, yes I will.” Off they went together to the rabbit’s house. “Come on out, fox!” But she shouted from the stove: “Go away, before I come and tear you to pieces.” The ox took fright and fled.

Once more the rabbit went on his way crying and met a rooster with a scythe. “Cock-a-doodle-do! Why are you crying, rabbit?” “Leave me alone, rooster! Who wouldn’t cry? I had a house of wood, while the fox had one of ice. She invited herself into mine and drove me out.” “Come along with me, I’ll chase her out.” “No, you won’t,” said the rabbit. “The dogs tried and failed; the bear tried and failed; the ox tried and failed. You’ll fare no better.” “Oh, yes I-will.” So they went up to the house. “Cock-a-doodle-do! I’ll cut that fox in two with my scythe so sharp and true!” When the fox heard that, she took fright and called, “I’m getting dressed.” Again the rooster crowed: “Cock-a-doodle-do! I’ll cut that fox in two with my scythe so sharp and true!” And the fox cried: “I’m putting on my fur coat.” A third time the rooster crowed: “Cock-a-doodle-do! I’ll cut that fox in two with my scythe so sharp and true!” The fox got so scared the she rushed out of the door and ran to the hills. So after that, the rabbit and the rooster lived together happily ever after…

Soviet Stories!