Green Meadow Stories · Chapter
XXVI: Farmer Brown’s Boy Sets a Trap explained
Farmer Brown's boy discovers that two hens were stolen from the henhouse due to his own carelessness, and finds red hairs on the door, confirming Reddy Fox is the thief.
What happens
Farmer Brown's boy discovers that two hens were stolen from the henhouse due to his own carelessness, and finds red hairs on the door, confirming Reddy Fox is the thief. He decides to set a trap to teach Reddy a lesson, but carefully pads the jaws to avoid hurting him. Meanwhile, Granny Fox warns Reddy to stay away from the henhouse for a while, and Reddy reluctantly agrees. Farmer Brown's boy sets the trap that night, but Reddy does not fall for it because of Granny's wisdom.
Themes in this chapter
Wisdom and Heedlessness
Granny Fox's wisdom prevents Reddy from heedlessly returning to the henhouse, while Farmer Brown's boy's earlier carelessness led to the theft.
Deception and Trust
Farmer Brown's boy sets a deceptive trap, but Granny Fox's caution keeps Reddy from trusting the apparent opportunity.
Characters to notice
- Reddy Fox
Reddy is eager to return to the henhouse for more chickens, but is warned by Granny Fox to stay away.
- Old Granny Fox
Granny Fox shrewdly advises Reddy to avoid the henhouse for a while, preventing him from falling into the trap.
- Farmer Brown
Farmer Brown's boy discovers the theft, sets a trap, and pads it to avoid harming Reddy.
Key passages
“The trouble is that troubles are, More frequently than not, Brought on by naught but carelessness; By someone who forgot.”
Troubles often arise from simple carelessness or forgetfulness.
Opening verse highlighting the theme of heedlessness.
“I suppose it serves me right for my carelessness, and I suppose if the truth were known, those hens were of more real good to him than they ever could have been to me, because the poor fellow must be having pretty hard work to get a living these hard winter days.”
Farmer Brown's boy acknowledges his own fault and sympathizes with Reddy's struggle to survive in winter.
Shows Farmer Brown's boy's empathy despite the theft.
“We’ve had a good dinner, a splendid dinner, and if we are smart enough we may be able to get more good dinners where this one came from. But we certainly won’t if we are too greedy.”
Granny Fox advises that they should not be greedy and risk losing future opportunities.
Granny's wisdom about patience and caution.