The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FINNISH TALE: CAT, HARE, AND BEAR

ONCE UPON A TIME THE CAT AND HARE WENT HUNTING TOGETHER. WHILE
THEY WERE RESTING AT NIGHT THEY TALKED AND THEY WONDERED, "WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN TO US IF THE BEAR CAME AND ATE US?" THE CAT SAID,
"I WOULD DO ONLY ONE THING." THE HARE BOASTED, "I WOULD HAVE
A HUNDRED OR EVEN A THOUSAND IF THE BEAR WOULD COME."
SO AFTER A WHILE THE BEAR CAME AFTER THEM. THE CAT CLIMBED
THE TREE. THE BEAR DIDN'T FOLLOW BUT WENT AFTER THE HARE. FROM
THERE THE CAT WAS WATCHING THE BEAR CHASE THE HARE. THE BEAR
TRIED TO JUMP ON THE HARE AFTER EACH HOP, BUT THE BEAR JUMPED ON
AND CAUGHT THE HARE AND ATE HIM. SO THE CAT LAUGHED FROM THE
TREE, "SO IT GOES, HE HAD A HUNDRED WAYS, EVEN A THOUSAND, AND
WAS EATEN, HE WHO HAD ONE WAS SAVED."

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; FINLAND

Date learned: 11-00-1968