Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/278

256 So the lad told his mother.

"Well, then," she said, "go to the fir, and beg him to fall on the Finn."

So the lad said to the fir—

"My dear fir! do, fir, fall on the Finn, for the Finn won't shoot the bear, the bear won't slay the wolf, the wolf won't tear the fox, the fox won't bite Hairlock, and Hairlock won't come home in good time for tea to-day."

"No, that I won't," said the fir; "I'm not going to break off my boughs for that."

So the lad told his mother.

"Well, then," said she, "go to the fire and beg it to burn the fir."

So the lad said to the fire—

"My dear fire! do, fire, burn the fir, for the fir won't fall on the Finn, the Finn won't shoot the bear, the bear won't slay the wolf, the wolf won't tear the fox, the fox won't bite Hairlock, and Hairlock won't come home in good time for tea to-day."

"No, that I won't," said the fire; "I'm not going to burn myself out for that, that I won't."

So the lad told his mother.

"Well, then," she said, "go to the water and beg it to quench the fire."

So the lad said to the water—

"My dear water! do, water, quench the fire, for the fire won't burn the fir, the fir won't fall on the Finn, the Finn won't shoot the bear, the bear won't slay the wolf, the wolf won't tear the fox, the fox won't bite Hairlock, and Hairlock won't come home in good time for tea to-day."