“Le Grand Bimerlue.”
Once upon a time a woman had a very tiny little son, who was always called P’tit Jean. He was so small that she was continually losing him. One day he strayed into a field, and was terrified at seeing a large bull rushing towards him, having broken loose from his leash. Hoping for shelter, he ran and hid under a cabbage leaf, but in vain, for the bull ate up the cabbage leaf, and swallowed “P’tit Jean” as well. Soon his mother was heard calling “P’tit Jean! P’tit Jean! je tràche mon P’tit Jean.” (“P’tit Jean! P’tit Jean! I am looking for my P’tit Jean,”) so, as well as he could, he answered “Je suis dans le ventre du Grand Bimerlue.” (“I am in the stomach of the ‘Grand Bimerlue.’”) Astonished and frightened at hearing these unusual sounds coming from the bull, the woman rushed in and implored her husband to kill “Le Grand Bimerlue,” as she was sure he must be bewitched. This was accordingly done, and they cut up the carcase for eating, but the entrails were thrown into the nearest ditch. An old woman was passing by and saw them lying there, so picked them up and put them in her basket, saying—
“Y en a des biaux boudins pour mon diner.”
(“Here are some fine black puddings for my dinner.”)
All the time the boy was calling—
“Trot, trot le vier,
Trot, trot la vieille,
Je suis dans l’ventre
Du Grand Bimerlue.”
“(Trot, trot old man,