September 4. Story of the Day: Old Woman and Crow

This story comes from the journal North Indian Notes and Queries. I have only included the English here; you can see the original verses online at Hathi Trust.

I have had to fill in the English blanks based on the preceding formula when the English is not provided; I am following the formula, not trying to translate the rhymes.

This is yet another example of ATU 2030. The Old Woman and her Pig.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

THE OLD WOMAN AND THE CROW 

(puri)

An old woman was one day frying rich cakes (puri) in a frying-pan when a crow came and said, "Mother, give me a cake!"

"Go and wash your bill first," she said.

So the crow went to the water and said, "Water, water, thou art water's slave! Give me water and let me wash my bill. Then I'll ogle the five cakes."

The water replied, "Bring an earthen pot from the potter and you can take water and wash thy bill."

So the crow went to the potter and said, "Potter, potter, thou art the potter's slave! Give me a pot, I will take water, wash my bill, and ogle cakes five."

But the potter said, "Bring earth and I will make an earthen pot for thee."

So the crow went to the earth and said, "Earth, earth, thou art the earth's slave! Give me earth for a pot, I will take water, wash my bill and ogle cakes five."

The earth said, "Bring the deer's horn and dig the earth." So the crow went to the deer and said, "Deer, deer, thou art the deer's slave! Give me horn to dig earth, potter will make pot, I will take water, wash my bill, and ogle cakes five."

But the deer said, "Go to the dog and he will fight me and break my horn; then I will give it to thee."

So the crow went to the dog and said, "Dog, dog, thou art the dog's slave! Fight with deer to get horn, horn will dig earth, potter will make pot, I will take water, wash my bill, and ogle cakes five."

But the dog said, "Bring me some milk, and when I drink it I will fight the deer."

So the crow went to the cow and said, "Cow, cow, thou art the cow's slave! Give me milk, dog will fight deer, horn will dig earth, potter will make pot, I will take water, wash my bill, and ogle cakes five."

But the cow said, "Bring me some grass, and when I eat it I will give you plenty of milk."

So the crow went to the grass and said, "Grass, grass, thou art the grass's slave! Give me grass, cow will give milk, dog will fight deer, horn will dig earth, potter will make pot, I will take water, wash my bill, and ogle cakes five."

But the grass said, "Bring a spade, and you may collect as much grass as you wish."

So the crow went to the blacksmith and said, "Blacksmith, blacksmith, thou art the blacksmith's slave! Give me a spade, spade will dig grass, cow will give milk, dog will fight deer, horn will dig earth, potter will make pot, I will take water, wash my bill, and ogle cakes five."

The blacksmith said, "How will you take the spade?"

The crow said, "Put it round my neck and I will manage to carry it away."

So the blacksmith heated the spade and hung it round the neck of the crow, and when he tried to fly away with it his neck was burnt and his head fell off and that was the end of him.


NOTES

A nursery rhyme told by Brij Lai, Student of the High School, Bulandshahr. This is one of the cumulative rhymes on the model of "This is the House that Jack built." Mr. Clouston gives other examples in Popular Tales and Fictions, II., 389 sqq. - Editor.