Why the Bear Has a Short Tail: a Pourquoi Tale
I think I must have written this one in first or second grade judging by my handwriting. It's obvious to me that I had a story in mind, but couldn't quite get in on paper. I still have that problem.
A Clever Fox
"Can you take my bag while I'm gone?"
"Yes." She took the bag inside.
"Don't open the bag."
She opened the bag because she heard a buzz. Her hen ate it. Then the fox came back.
"Where is my bee?"
"My hen ate it."
He took the hen. He went to another house. He went to town without the bag. He came back.
"Where is my hen?"
The lass said, "my lamb scared it away."
"Then you must give me your lamb." Then he went to a lad's home and went to town. Then he came back.
"Where is my lamb?"
"My brother scared it."
"Then you must give me your brother."
But he gave the fox their dog. And no one saw him since that day.