A red-and-white Siberian Forest Cat; Lisabeta the vixen managed to con the wolf and the bear into thinking that her new husband, a one-eared old tomcat, was just such a lordly beast. Harrison Weir, the pioneering English cat enthusiast, mentioned Siberians back in 1871, but in Russia they are believed to have been the mousers-in-chief at monasteries for hundreds of years, agile enough to patrol the rafters, fierce enough to deal with most intruders, aloof but loyal. They can be found in all sorts of colours, tabby, tortoiseshell, bi-colour and smokey grey.
Introduction
This Russian folktale is a story about a tom cat who is abandoned by his fastidious owner, but shows all the philosophical resilience of cats, and reinvents himself as Cat Ivanovitch, Head Forester of all the animals of the wood. But he could not have done it without the help of a little vixen called Lisabeta, and a good deal of luck.
ONCE upon a time, a peasant decided that his ginger cat, a battle-scarred mouser with one ear, was not the sort of pet to be seen with. So he popped old Tom in a sack, and dumped him in the forest.
Tom clawed his way out of his sack, and set off to explore his new world. On his way, he met Lisabeta, a pretty little vixen who thought one-eared Tom quite the handsomest creature in the woods; and as Lisabeta was an excellent cook who let a fellow stay in bed and wash his whiskers, they were soon married.
Lisabeta was out poaching chickens next morning when she met a wolf, full of congratulations. ‘When do I meet the lucky fellow?’ he asked, but the vixen dared not disturb Tom. ‘Cat Ivanovitch (for so he called himself) is come from Siberia to be our Head Forester. Perhaps if you presented His Excellency with a sheep?’ suggested Lisabeta sweetly. The wolf, much impressed, promised he would.
Précis
A scarred and one-eared tom cat was discarded by his owner in the woods. There he met a vixen, and the two made a home together. The vixen told a wolf that her new husband was the new Head Forester ‘Cat Ivanovitch’, and that if the wolf wanted a quick peek he must bring a sheep as a gift. (59 / 60 words)
A scarred and one-eared tom cat was discarded by his owner in the woods. There he met a vixen, and the two made a home together. The vixen told a wolf that her new husband was the new Head Forester ‘Cat Ivanovitch’, and that if the wolf wanted a quick peek he must bring a sheep as a gift.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, besides, otherwise, since, unless, until, whether, who.
Word Games
1Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
2Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Post Box : Ask Nicholas
Grok : Ask Grok
You are welcome to share your creativity with me, or ask for help with any of the exercises on Clay Lane. Write to me at this address:
See more at Post Box.
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
