So heavily, wearily trudged he home,

And kept shifting the sack about;

And when at last he came to his door,

There was old Mother Fox looking out.

She said to him, "You look tired, my dear,"

And he answered, "Ah, she's caught!"

And he puffed and licked his lips and said

"She's twice as fat as I thought!"

[43]

He asked, "My love, is the pot on the boil?"