Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/279

Rh "No, I won't," said the water; "I'm not going to run to waste for that, be sure."

So the lad told his mother.

"Well, then," she said, "go to the ox, and beg him to drink up the water."

So the lad said to the ox—

"My dear ox! do, ox, drink up the water, for the water won't quench the fire, 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."

"No, I won't," said the ox; "I'm not going to burst asunder in doing that, I trow."

So the lad told his mother.

"Well, then," said she, "you must go to the yoke, and beg him to pinch the ox."

So the lad said to the yoke—

"My dear yoke! do, yoke, pinch the ox, for the ox won't drink up the water, the water won't quench the fire, 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."

"No, that I won't," said the yoke; "I'm not going to break myself in two in doing that."

So the lad told his mother.

"Well, then," she said, "you must go to the axe, and beg him to chop the yoke."

So the lad said to the axe—

"My dear axe! do, axe, chop the yoke, for the yoke