Beschrijving
Doves in the Letter. A fool is to take two doves (crayfish, eels, bunches of grapes, gingerbread) in a basket to a farmer, along with an explanatory letter. On the way the doves escape (the fool eats the food). The farmer reads the letter and asks, “Where are the two doves that are in the letter?” – “They escaped from the basket. It’s lucky they are still in the letter.”
In some variants a servant (girl) is sent to bring a basket of fruit along with a letter. On the way, he eats one of the fruits. The letter states how much fruit there was, so the recipient asks the servant what happened to one of the pieces. He replies that it was not in the basket. He is sent again on the same errand the following day. He hides the letter before he eats the fruit, because he thinks it can observe him.
In some variants a servant (girl) is sent to bring a basket of fruit along with a letter. On the way, he eats one of the fruits. The letter states how much fruit there was, so the recipient asks the servant what happened to one of the pieces. He replies that it was not in the basket. He is sent again on the same errand the following day. He hides the letter before he eats the fruit, because he thinks it can observe him.
Motief
J2327
Combinaties
1313.
Oorspronkelijk Verhaaltype
1296B
Subgenre
mop