The Wolf, the Bear and Cat Ivanovitch
A faithful but unprepossessing pet is turned out of hearth and home.
A faithful but unprepossessing pet is turned out of hearth and home.
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.
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Why did the peasant leave Tom in the woods?
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.
A Russian peasant dumped his cat in the forest. The cat was not good-looking. The peasant bought a good-looking cat.