Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/281

Rh "Well, then," she said, "you must go to the rope, and beg it to hang the smith."

So the lad said to the rope—

"My dear rope! do, rope, hang the smith, for the smith won't hammer the axe, the axe won't chop the yoke, the yoke won't pinch the ox, 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," said the rope, "that I won't; I'm not going to fray myself out for that."

So the lad told his mother.

"Well, then," she said, "you must go to the mouse, and beg him to gnaw the rope."

So the lad said to the mouse—

"My dear mouse! do, mouse, gnaw the rope, for the rope won't hang the smith, the smith won't hammer the axe, the axe won't chop the yoke, the yoke won't pinch the ox, 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, I won't," said the mouse; "I'm not going to wear down my teeth for that."

So the lad told his mother.

"Well, then," she said, "you must go to the cat, and beg her to catch the mouse."