The bear , seeing that the traitor had escaped , flung the ladle after him , and it just caught the tip of his tail , and that is how there comes to be a spot of white on the tails of all foxes . -LSB- From Finnische Mahrchen . -RSB- How The Beggar Boy Turned Into Count Piro Once upon a time there lived a man who had only one son , a lazy , stupid boy , who would never do anything he was told . When the father was dying , he sent for his son and told him that he would soon be left alone in the world , with no possessions but the small cottage they lived in and a pear tree which grew behind it , and that , whether he liked it or not , he would have to work , or else he would starve . Then the old man died . But the boy did not work ; instead , he idled about as before , contenting himself with eating the pears off his tree , which , unlike other pear trees before or since , bore fruit the whole year round . Indeed , the pears were so much finer than any you could get even in the autumn , that one day , in the middle of the winter , they attracted the notice of a fox who was creeping by . ` Dear me ; what lovely pears ! ' he said to the youth . ` Do give me a basket of them . It will bring you luck ! ' ` Ah , little fox , but if I give you a basketful , what am I to eat ? ' asked the boy . ` Oh , trust me , and do what I tell you , ' said the fox ; ' I know it will bring you luck . ' So the boy got up and picked some of the ripest pears and put them into a rush basket . The fox thanked him , and , taking the basket in his mouth , trotted off to the king 's palace and made his way straight to the king . ` Your Majesty , my master sends you a few of his best pears , and begs you will graciously accept them , ' he said , laying the basket at the feet of the king . ` Pears ! at this season ? ' cried the king , peering down to look at them ; ` and , pray , who is your master ? '
` The Count XXXXX , ' answered the fox .
Mahrchen Pears Piro autumn basketful day foxes king left tip