The Fox's Servant by Parker Fillmore

A cunning Fox boasts about his new servant, a creature so fierce that it frightens even the strongest animals. The Fox's friend, a Wolf named Pekka, intrigued by the Fox's claims, decides to investigate. He sneaks to the Fox's kitchen but is startled by the Cat, who mistakes his nose for a mouse and attacks him. Terrified, the Wolf runs back to the forest and shares his experience with a Bear named Osmo. The Bear, curious about the Fox's servant, ventures to the kitchen but also encounters the Cat, who attacks him as well. Both the Wolf and Bear, now convinced of the servant's ferocity, approach the Fox to arrange a feast to lure the servant out. The Fox agrees, suggesting they hide while he fetches the servant. During the feast, the Wolf, unable to see, inadvertently reveals his position, prompting the Cat to pounce on him again. The Wolf flees in panic, causing the Bear to mistakenly believe he is in danger and fall from a tree, injuring himself. The Fox and Cat are left to enjoy the feast undisturbed, having successfully tricked the other animals. The story highlights themes of deception, fear, and the consequences of curiosity.

By Parker Fillmore · First published 1925 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 894 words

First lines

A day or so later the Fox met Pekka, the Wolf. The Fox hadn't seen much of Pekka recently for Pekka had been having a hard time and had been on the verge of starvation. Now he was sleek again and well fed for he had recently killed an Ox.

"Good day, Pekka," the Fox said in a friendly way.

What this Textopian page supports

The Fox's Servant is listed on Textopian as a short story by Parker Fillmore, dated 1925 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: Parker Fillmore
• Date: 1925 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Fable, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Humor, Adventure
• Length: 894 words
• Structure: 1 section, 29 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Fox's Servant by Parker Fillmore
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Fox's Servant?
• How does this short story by Parker Fillmore fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Fable first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Braided Man Of Pyramid Mountain by L. Frank Baum
• The Wise Old Gnome by Anne Frank
• The Magicians Heart by Edith Nesbit
• The Wolf Sings by Parker Fillmore
• The Enchanted Grouse The Story Of Helli And The Little Locked Box by Parker Fillmore
• The Little Sister The Story Of Suyettar And The Nine Brothers by Parker Fillmore

Genres

• Fable — The story features anthropomorphic animals and conveys a moral lesson, characteristic of fables.
• Children's Literature — The simple narrative and engaging characters are designed to appeal to a younger audience.
• Fantasy — The presence of talking animals and fantastical elements places the story within the fantasy genre.
• Humor — The comedic situations and character interactions provide humor throughout the narrative.

Tags

Fiction · Adventure · Fantasy · Mystery · Coming-of-age · Self-discovery · Friendship · Loyalty · Betrayal · Deception · Magic · Supernatural

More by Parker Fillmore

• The Hickory Limb (1907)
• The Laughing Prince: the Story of the Boy who Could Talk Nonsense (1925)
• Beauty and the Horns: the Story of an Enchanted Maiden (1920)
• The Pigeon's Bride: the Story of a Princess who Kissed and Told (1930)
• The Little Lame Fox: the Story of the Youngest Brother who Found the Magic Grape-Vine and Married the Golden Maiden (1920)
• The Enchanted Peafowl: the Story of the Golden Apples, the Wicked Dragon, and the Magic Horse (1930)
• The Dragon's Strength: the Story of the Youngest Prince who Killed the Sparrow (1930)
• The Little Singing Frog: the Story of a Girl Whose Parents were Ashamed of Her (1930)
• All works by Parker Fillmore