"Yes," says the baker, "I'll give you some bread,
But if you eat my meal, I'll cut off your head."

Then the baker gave mouse bread, and mouse gave butcher bread, and
butcher gave mouse meat, and mouse gave farmer meat, and farmer gave
mouse hay, and mouse gave cow hay, and cow gave mouse milk, and mouse
gave cat milk, and cat gave mouse her own tail again!



THE FISH AND THE RING

Once upon a time, there was a mighty baron in the North Countrie who
was a great magician that knew everything that would come to pass. So
one day, when his little boy was four years old, he looked into the
Book of Fate to see what would happen to him. And to his dismay, he
found that his son would wed a lowly maid that had just been born in a
house under the shadow of York Minster. Now the Baron knew the father
of the little girl was very, very poor, and he had five children
already. So he called for his horse, and rode into York; and passed by
the father's house, and saw him sitting by the door, sad and doleful.
So he dismounted and went up to him and said: "What is the matter, my
good man?" And the man said: "Well, your honour, the fact is, I've
five children already, and now a sixth's come, a little lass, and
where to get the bread from to fill their mouths, that's more than I
can say."

"Don't be downhearted, my man," said the Baron. "If that's your
trouble, I can help you. I'll take away the last little one, and you
wont have to bother about her."