The lad went to the yoke. “My dear yoke, throttle the ox, for the ox won’t drink the water, the water won’t quench the fire, the fire won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and want my supper.”
“No, I will not,” said the yoke; “I am not going to break myself in two for that.”
So the lad went and told his mother.
“Well, go to the ax,” said she, “and tell it to split the yoke.”
The lad went to the ax. “My dear ax, split the yoke, for the yoke won’t throttle the ox, the ox won’t drink the water, the water won’t quench the fire, the fire won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time, I am so hungry and want my supper.”
“No, I will not,” said the ax; “I am not going to blunt my edge for that.”
So the lad went and told his mother.
“Well, go to the smith,” said she, “and ask him to hammer the ax.”
The lad went to the smith. “My dear smith, hammer the ax, for the ax won’t split the yoke, the yoke won’t throttle the ox, the ox won’t drink the water, the water won’t quench the fire, the fire won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and want my supper.”
“No, I will not,” said the smith; “I’ll not burn my coals and wear out my sledge-hammers for that.”