“The Fox and the Wolf's Daughter." A book of fairy-tale foxes: selections from favorite folk-lore stories, edited by Clifton Johnson, Boston: Houghton Mifflin; 1914, pp. 15-20.

Tale Summary

There was once a wolf with a beautiful daughter who was very popular among all the man animals, but never wanted to settle down with any of them. Her father was sick of the way she would have them over at his house, sitting in his best armchairs, and keeping him up all night with the noise. One day, the wolf said to his daughter that he would not stand it any longer, and that she would have to settle down. After much pouting, she said she would marry Mr. Fox, and the wolf was none too pleased but did not push the matter further. In the middle of the wedding preparations, Mr. Fox came to visit and brag about how fine his clothes were coming along at the tailor’s. He pointed here and there on himself to indicate where the shiny new buttons were to be placed, but just then, he was bit by a flea. The wolf family was very sensitive about their flea problem and did not like anyone drawing attention to being bitten. Mr. Fox was bitten again and again all over, and had to pretend that instead of slapping the bugs away, he was pointing out where more buttons would be on his suit. Finally, a flea bit him directly on the nose. After slapping his snout as if to point out a button, Mr. Wolf could stand it no longer, and chased him out of the house. He had his daughter married to a lean timber wolf, and since then never had anything else to do with any fox.