Robin's Christmas Song
It was Christmas day, and Old gray Cat walked down to the edge of the field. She looked up and saw wee Robin Redbreast hopping along on top of the gate. Robin fluttered his wings preparing to fly.
“Where are you going, wee Robin?” asked the Cat.
“I am going to see the King to sing him a song this fine Christmas morning,” said the Robin. Robin fluttered his wings once more.
“Come here, wee Robin, purred the Cat. I’ll show you the white fur collar I have around my neck.”
“No, thank you,” said wee Robin. “I saw you show your neck to the mouse before you ate it. You’ll not eat me.” Then Robin flew away and landed on a stone wall. There he saw a brown Hawk.
The Hawk said, “Where are you going, wee Robin?”
“I am going to see the King to sing him a song this fine Christmas morning,” said the Robin.
"Come here,” called the Hawk. “I will show you the red feather in my brown wing."
“No, thank you,” said wee Robin. “I saw you show your feather to the finch before you ate him. You’ll not eat me.” Robin flew away and landed on the top of the hedge.” Robin looked down and saw a red Fox.
“Good morning, wee Robin,” said the Fox. “Where are you going?”
Wee Robin said, “I am going to see the King to sing him a sing this fine Christmas morning.”
“Come here before you go,” said the Fox. “I will show you the beautiful white tip at the end of my tail.”
“No, thank you,” said wee Robin. “I saw you show your tail to the tiny lamb before you ate her.” Robin flew on until she came to the King’s palace. Robin sat on the window ledge of the palace. There, he sang a beautiful song for the King.
Both the King and his wife, the Queen, heard the music. It was beautiful. How wonderful to hear such lovely music on a Christmas morning.
“What shall we give wee Robin for the lovely gift of music,” they asked each other.
“I know,” said the Queen. "We’ll give him the wee Wren to be his bride.”
The King and Queen walked hand in hand to the palace gardens. They called to wee Wren. The little bird came out of her small wooden birdhouse.
Wee Wren flew behind the King and Queen. She followed then as they walked back inside the palace. The three stopped where wee Robin was singing another song.
“Come here before you go, wee Robin.”
“We will show you our wee friend,” said the Queen.
“I think you will like our friend,” said the King.
Wee Robin has said NO to the Cat
Wee Robin had said NO to the Hawk.
Wee Robin had said NO to the Fox.
Wee Robin looked at the King and Queen’s friend.
“Yes, please,” said wee Robin. “I would like to meet your friend.”
The King and Queen smiled at each other. They knew they had found a way to make the Robin happy.
The Robin and Wren were soon married. Everyone ate. Then everyone danced to the music of wee Robin and wee Wren.
What a fine Christmas day it was for everyone.
Adapted from Tales from the Norse, Sir George William Dasent, E. P. Dutton and Co, Inc, 1904.