And then the fox went home into his hole and the man rode home on his donkey.

Once there was a little ladybug.  She was tired of sitting around in her father’s house.  “I am young and pretty,” she said, “I will go out into the world to find my luck.”

The next morning she set out wrapped in her finest veil.  She walked along a bug-path all day until she came to a river.  “I will have to cross it,” she said, “but it is a big river and I am small and weak and a dainty lady.  How in the world shall I do it?”  She looked around for a frog or anybody to carry her across, but there was nobody, and so she took a deep breath and jumped—and fell into the water.  “Oh dear, oh dear,” she cried, “this will be the end of the prettiest bug in the world.”

The water carried her downstream to a piece of driftwood.  She hung on to it and floated to the other side of the river.  “Oh me, oh my,” she thought, “this was a close call.  I think I need somebody to take care of me.  I had better look for a husband.”

She walked across a pasture and met a cowherd.  She said: “Cowherd, will you marry me?”

“Sure,” said the cowherd, “I can use a wife.”

“What will you hit me with when you get mad at me?” asked the bug.

“With this, my big heavy club,” said the cowherd.

“Oh me, oh my, I won’t marry you,” cried the bug and ran away on her many little legs.  She ran until she was out of breath, and there happened to be a herd of sheep.  She said to the shepherd: “Will you marry me?”

“Why not?” said the shepherd, “I can use a wife.”

“What will you hit me with when you get mad at me?” asked the bug.