The First Story
Once there was an old fox with nine tails. He thought his wife was not faithful to him, so he decided to test her. He lay down under a bench and pretended to be dead.
Mrs. Fox went to her room, and her maid, Miss Cat, began to cook. Soon, a young fox came to the door. He asked Miss Cat, "Is Mrs. Fox at home?"
"She is in her room, weeping because old Mr. Fox is dead," the cat replied.
"Tell her a young fox is here to marry her," he said.
The cat went upstairs and told her mistress. Mrs. Fox asked, "Does he have nine beautiful tails like my late husband?"
"No," said the cat, "he has only one."
"Then I will not marry him," said Mrs. Fox.
Many other foxes came, each with one more tail than the last, but Mrs. Fox sent them all away. Finally, a fox with nine tails arrived. Mrs. Fox was happy and said, "Now, open the doors and throw the old man out!"
But as the wedding was starting, old Mr. Fox jumped up from under the bench. He grabbed a stick and chased everyone—including Mrs. Fox—out of the house.
The Second Story
After old Mr. Fox actually died, many animals came to visit Mrs. Fox. First came the wolf, then a dog, a bear, and even a lion. Each time, the cat asked Mrs. Fox if she wanted to see the suitor.
But Mrs. Fox always asked the same question: "Does the gentleman have red stockings and a pointed nose?"
The cat always answered "No," so Mrs. Fox refused to see them.
At last, a young fox arrived. When the cat told Mrs. Fox about him, she asked, "Does he have red stockings and a pointed nose?"
"Yes, he does," the cat replied.
"Then let him come up," said Mrs. Fox. She told the cat to prepare the wedding feast and to throw the old man out of the window. She said that although the old fox brought home mice to eat, he never shared them with her.
Mrs. Fox and the young fox had a grand wedding, and they lived happily ever after.