Page:Tales of the Punjab.pdf/223

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THE GRAIN OF CORN 201

Ox won't drink water ;

Water won't quench fire ;

Fire won’t burn stick ;

Stick won’t beat snake ;

Snake won’t bite Queen ;

Queen won't coax King;

King won't kill man;

Man won't cut tree ;

I can’t get the grain of corn

Te save my life from the farmer’s wife!’

But the rope wouldn’t bind the ox; so the crow flew on till he met a mouse, and said—

‘Mouse! mouse! gnaw rape ;

Rope won't bind ox ;

Ox won't drink water ;

Water won’t quench fire;

Fire won’t burn stick ;

Stick won't beat snake ;

Snake won't bite Queen ;

Queen won't coax King;

King won't kill man ;

Man won't cut tree;

I can’t get the grain of corn

To save my life from the farmer’s wife!’

But the mouse wouldn’t gnaw the rope; so the crow flew on until he met a cat, and said—

‘Cat! cat! catch mouse ;

Mouse won’t gnaw rape ;

Rope won't bind ox ;

Ox won't drink water ;

Water won't quench fire;

Fire won't burn stick ;