Fox of Moon Meadow Farm: Moon Meadow Farm, #2

By Lynne Garner

Nestled in a peaceful valley in the English countryside you'll stumble upon Moon Meadow Farm. You may think life on the farm would be boring, but you couldn't be further from the truth. The animals that make the farm and valley their home make sure life is full of surprises.   

In this second Moon Meadow Farm book enjoy the antics of Fox as he hunts along the banks of the river, surrounded by the flowers of the meadows and among the trees of the orchard. Follow him as he patrols the woods and fields and explores every corner of Moon Meadow Farm. Discover how he fools boastful Cat and clever Dog, how he helps Hedgehog out of a prickly problem and solves a problem created by hapless Hare.

This entertaining collection of ten short stories will appeal to those who love the English countryside. Adults will enjoy sharing them with younger members of the family, whilst older children will delight in discovering Fox and his friends for themselves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mad Moment Media
• Release date: Sep 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386765257

Lynne Garner

Lynne started writing professionally in 1997; mainly for UK-based magazines. Since that time, she has had over 25 books and more than 300 features published. Her books have been published in UK, USA, Canada, Holland, Australia, Korea and Indonesia. Her first picture book, A Book For Bramble, has been translated into five languages, whilst her second book, The Best Jumper, was recorded and aired on the BBC’s CBeeBies radio channel. To learn more about Lynne and her work visit: www.lynnegarner.com

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

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Whilst I was writing Hedgehog of Moon Meadow Farm, I had no intentions of writing a follow-on title. However, as I searched for inspiration for the hedgehog stories I also discovered many fables and myths that featured the cunning, quick thinking and likeable character, Fox.

Some of the oldest stories I stumbled upon are attributed to the Greek fabulist and storyteller Aesop (620-564 BCE). In these stories the fox was given many faces. He was a trickster, a problem solver, sly, cunning and always looking for a way to fool both friends and foe. These fables have been retold and rewritten over many generations and include The Fox and the Grapes, The Fox and the Crow and The Fox and the Stork. Some of these fables I’ve used as inspiration for the stories contained in these pages. As these fables are now in the public domain I’ve included some of the original versions as bonus material.

Another set of stories I unearthed feature the trickster character, Reynard the Fox. These stories were written and shared across Europe as early as the 12th century. Reynard not only spent his days in deception, but he also spent his energies trying to avoid those plotting their revenge against him. He stars in a great many stories, written by numerous writers and appears in Dutch, French, German and English fables.

I also discovered that the Celts saw the fox as a guide, a teacher and honoured him for his wisdom, whilst myths from other cultures explored another side of the fox, that of shapeshifter. In these stories he often took on human form so he could create mischief.

In Finland it was believed that the fox made the Northern Lights. Myth has it that he’d run through the snow and his tail would sweep sparks into the sky, creating the aurora borealis. This is why in Finland this wonder of Mother Nature is known as revontulet which translates to ‘fox fire.’

The attributes given to the fox of being quick thinking, sly, adaptable and cunning have made their way into our everyday language. For example, we know when someone says a person is ‘as cunning as a fox’ or ‘a sly as a fox’ that they’re able to get what they want, often in an underhand way. And to say that you’ve managed to ‘outfox’ someone means you’ve been able to outguess, outsmart or outwit them. To say someone is ‘crazy like a fox’ means they may appear to be a fool or are acting strangely, but they are in fact clever, cunning or even shrewd.

There are also a great many proverbs and sayings that relate to the fox and its perceived abilities. These are just three of them:

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Old foxes want no tutors.

Dutch

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What the lion cannot manage to do the fox can.

German

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An old fox understands the trap.

Unknown

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The fox has also lent its name to a number of plant species. These plants often resemble the wonderful bushy brush of the fox and include the foxtail lily, foxtail palm tree and foxtail sedge. The orange hawkweed is also known by the name of fox and cubs. This is because the orange of the flower is similar to the colouration of a fox’s coat. The main flower is the fox, whilst the buds that grow clustered under the main flower are the cubs.

So, by the time I’d completed writing Hedgehog of Moon Meadow Farm I knew I’d have to write a book that starred the clever, cunning and mischievous Fox.

I hope you enjoy the following stories as much as I’ve enjoyed researching and writing them.

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Please note: To keep the authentic feel of the English countryside we’ve used UK English spellings and terms throughout this book.

With foxes, we must play the fox.

Thomas Fuller (1608-1661)

FOX AND THE FLEAS

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Fox idly scratched as he enjoyed watching the clouds split the sun’s rays and the shadows play games on the hillside. As he watched he felt a tingle behind his ear, which gradually became worse. So he scratched a little harder. Soon the feeling travelled down his neck and along his shoulder. Fox sighed, leaned over slightly and scratched, scratched, scratched. The itch travelled from his shoulder to his knee. Fox sighed again and scratched a little harder. But the more he scratched the worse it became.

What’s going on? Fox asked, standing up and looking around. I must have sat on an ants’ nest. But much to Fox’s astonishment there wasn’t a single ant to be seen.

Fox then noticed a movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked down at his nose and sitting on the very tip of his snout was a plump, golden-brown flea.

Where did you come from? he asked.

The flea turned and stared into Fox’s eyes. It smiled, flexed its six strong legs and jumped from Fox’s nose to the long fur around his ear.

Fox felt an itch which became worse and worse, until he couldn’t resist the urge to scratch any longer.

These aren’t my fleas, said Fox, as he scratched vigorously. I bet you they’re from Hedgehog. He’s always scratching.

Fox continued to scratch his shoulder, then his leg and finally his armpit. I’m not having this, he said. "Hedgehog can just have them back and I know