HOW THEY
by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
Little Boots and the Stubborn Goat
A boy named Boots lived with Mother. They had a goat named Hairlock. Their home was at a big hill.
Hairlock liked to run away. She ran to the mountain. She did not come home. Mother needed milk. Boots needed milk. Hairlock was not there.
One day, Hairlock ran away again. Mother looked for her. Mother saw Hairlock. She was on a high rock. Hairlock did not come home.
Mother said, "Go to Reynard." Boots ran. Boots said, "Good Reynard, make Hairlock move. She is on the high rock. She will not come home." Reynard said, "No. My teeth are for hunting." Boots went back.
Mother said, "Go to Greylegs." Boots ran. Boots said, "Good Greylegs, bark at Hairlock. She is on the high rock. She will not come home." Greylegs said, "No. My cubs must stay warm." Boots went back.
Mother said, "Go to Bruin." Boots ran. Boots said, "Good Bruin, chase Hairlock. She is on the high rock. She will not come home." Bruin said, "No. I am too big. I am too sleepy." Boots went back.
Mother said, "Go to the Fir Tree." Boots ran to the Fir Tree. Boots said, "Good Fir Tree, trap Hairlock. She is on the high rock. She will not come home." The Fir Tree said, "No. I cannot move. Ask the Woodcutter." Boots went back.
Mother said, "Go to the Woodcutter." Boots ran to the Woodcutter. Boots said, "Good Woodcutter, fell the Fir Tree. Hairlock is on the high rock." The Woodcutter said, "No. I need a buyer. Ask the Joiner." Boots went back.
Mother said, "Go to the Joiner." Boots ran to the Joiner. Boots said, "Good Joiner, buy the wood. The Fir Tree needs felling." The Joiner said, "Yes! I will buy the wood!"
The Joiner told the Woodcutter. The Woodcutter felled the Fir Tree. He gave the wood to the Joiner.
The Joiner made a strong yoke. He gave the yoke to Boots.
Boots and Mother went to Hairlock. They put the yoke on Hairlock. They led Hairlock home. Hairlock was home. They had milk again.
Original Story
HOW THEY
BROUGHT HAIRLOCK HOME.
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Once upon a time, at the foot of a hill, there lived little Boots and his mother and their nanny goat, who was named Hairlock. Now Hairlock loved to run away over the hill to the mountain, and she could never be found when milking time came at night.
One day Boots was ready with his pail and his milking stool, and he called, “Hairlock, Hairlock, come home to Boots,” but Hairlock did not come.
Then Boots’s mother climbed to the top of the hill, and she looked, and she looked, and there she spied Hairlock on the top of a crag, a long way off.
“Naughty Hairlock,” she cried, “come home to Boots. Boots, run to Reynard, the fox, and tell him to bite Hairlock.”
So Boots ran to Reynard, the fox, and he said:
“Good Reynard, bite my nanny goat, Hairlock, who stands on the top of yonder crag, and will not come home to be milked.”
But Reynard said, “Not I, Boots; I’ll not dull my teeth on old Hairlock’s skin, for I hunt to-night. Another time, Boots, another time.”
And Boots went back and told his mother what Reynard had said.
“Then go to Greylegs, the wolf, Boots,” said his mother, “and tell him to bark at naughty Hairlock.”
So Boots ran to Greylegs the wolf, and he said:
“Good Greylegs, bark at my nanny goat, Hairlock, who stands on the top of yonder crag, and will not come home to be milked.”
But Greylegs said, “Some other time, Boots, some other time. The night is cold. I must stay at home and sleep and cover my cubs.”
And Boots went back and told his mother what Greylegs had said.
“Then go to Bruin, the bear,” said his mother, “and bid him chase naughty Hairlock.”
So Boots ran to Bruin, the bear, and he said:
“Good Bruin, chase my nanny goat, Hairlock, who stands on the top of yonder crag, and will not come home to be milked.”
But Bruin said, “Ah, Boots, I am much too fat to chase Hairlock. Go to the fir tree and ask him to trap Hairlock.”
So Boots ran to the fir tree, and he said:
“Good Fir Tree, trap my nanny goat, Hairlock, who stands on the top of yonder crag, and will not come home to be milked.”
But the fir tree only bent and swayed in the wind, and said, “Ask the woodcutter to fell me, Boots.”
So Boots ran to the woodcutter, and he said:
“Good Woodcutter, fell the fir tree, that he may trap my nanny goat, Hairlock, who stands at the top of yonder crag, and will not come home to be milked.”
But the woodcutter said, “Ask the joiner if he will buy my wood, Boots.”
So Boots went to the joiner, and he said:
“Good Joiner, will you buy wood from the woodcutter, that he may fell the fir tree? Then the fir tree will trap my nanny goat, Hairlock, who stands at the top of yonder crag and will not come home to be milked.”
“That I will, Boots,” said the joiner.
Then the woodcutter felled the fir tree and gave the wood to the joiner. The joiner took the wood and made a strong yoke, which he gave to Boots.
Then Boots and his mother ran to the top of the crag and put the yoke on Hairlock.
And that is how they brought Hairlock home.
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Moral of the Story
Perseverance and finding the right incentive can solve even the most stubborn problems.
Characters
Boots ★ protagonist
A small, sturdy boy, likely with the build of a child who lives in a rural setting, accustomed to chores. His height would be typical for a young boy, perhaps around 3-4 feet tall.
Attire: Simple, practical peasant clothing suitable for a child in a rural European setting. Perhaps a coarse linen tunic or shirt, sturdy breeches, and simple leather shoes or bare feet. Colors would be earthy and muted, like browns, greens, or undyed linen.
Wants: To bring Hairlock home so she can be milked, fulfilling his responsibility and helping his mother.
Flaw: His youth and lack of authority, requiring him to seek help from others.
He learns the value of persistence and how a chain of actions can lead to a desired outcome, even if indirectly.
Obedient, persistent, determined, responsible (for his age).
Hairlock ◆ supporting
A nanny goat with shaggy, perhaps slightly matted, hair. She would be of average size for a dairy goat, with strong legs for climbing and a sturdy build.
Attire: None, as she is an animal.
Wants: To enjoy her freedom and the mountain air, avoiding the routine of milking.
Flaw: Her stubbornness eventually leads to her being yoked.
She is brought home and yoked, implying a change from wild freedom to domestic compliance, at least for a time.
Stubborn, independent, playful, disobedient.
Boots's Mother ◆ supporting
A practical, hardworking woman, likely with a sturdy build from a life of rural labor. Her height would be average for a woman of her time and place.
Attire: Simple, functional peasant clothing typical of rural Europe. A long, plain linen or wool dress, possibly with an apron, and sturdy, comfortable shoes. Colors would be muted and natural.
Wants: To bring Hairlock home for milking, ensuring the family's needs are met.
Flaw: Cannot directly retrieve Hairlock herself, requiring her to devise a plan involving others.
She successfully orchestrates the retrieval of Hairlock through a chain of commands, demonstrating her resourcefulness.
Resourceful, determined, practical, patient (with Boots, not Hairlock).
Reynard, the fox ○ minor
A sleek, cunning fox, likely with a bushy tail and sharp features. His size would be typical for a red fox.
Attire: None.
Wants: To preserve his hunting ability and avoid dulling his teeth on Hairlock.
Flaw: His self-interest prevents him from helping others without direct benefit.
Remains unchanged, prioritizing his own needs.
Self-interested, cunning, dismissive, practical (regarding his teeth).
Greylegs, the wolf ○ minor
A large, powerful wolf, likely with a thick coat for warmth in cold weather. His name 'Greylegs' suggests distinctive grey fur on his legs.
Attire: None.
Wants: To stay warm and protect his cubs from the cold night.
Flaw: His desire for comfort and protection for his family makes him unwilling to help.
Remains unchanged, prioritizing his family's warmth.
Protective (of his cubs), comfort-seeking, dismissive, practical (regarding the cold).
Bruin, the bear ○ minor
A large, heavy-set bear, described as 'much too fat'. This implies a significant amount of bulk and perhaps a slow, lumbering appearance.
Attire: None.
Wants: To avoid strenuous activity due to his large size.
Flaw: His laziness and physical bulk prevent him from being active.
Remains unchanged, prioritizing his comfort.
Lazy, self-aware (of his size), good-natured (in his refusal).
The Fir Tree ○ minor
A tall, evergreen fir tree, likely with a straight trunk and conical shape, typical of firs found in mountain regions.
Attire: Its needles and bark.
Wants: To remain rooted unless acted upon by an external force.
Flaw: Its inability to move or act on its own.
Is felled by the woodcutter, becoming wood for the joiner.
Passive, unmoving (unless by wind), direct (in its suggestion).
The Woodcutter ○ minor
A strong, muscular man, accustomed to physical labor. His build would be robust, with broad shoulders and strong arms.
Attire: Sturdy, practical clothing suitable for manual labor in a forest. A thick wool or linen shirt, heavy trousers, and strong boots. Colors would be earthy and durable.
Wants: To sell his wood and make a living.
Flaw: Will not fell a tree without a buyer for the wood.
Fells the fir tree once a buyer is secured, fulfilling his role in the chain.
Practical, business-minded, willing to work for a clear purpose.
The Joiner ○ minor
A skilled craftsman, likely with a lean but strong build from working with wood. His hands would show signs of his trade.
Attire: Practical work clothes, perhaps a leather apron over a linen shirt and trousers, suitable for a workshop. Colors would be muted and functional.
Wants: To acquire wood for his craft and create useful items.
Flaw: Requires materials (wood) to perform his work.
Buys the wood and makes the yoke, completing the chain of actions.
Agreeable, skilled, practical, helpful (once a clear task is presented).
Locations
Boots's Home at the Foot of the Hill
A modest, cozy home, likely a small, half-timbered cottage with a thatched roof, nestled at the base of a rolling green hill in a temperate European landscape. A small, well-trodden path leads away from the house towards the hill. The air is crisp and clean, typical of a rural setting.
Mood: Warm, domestic, slightly anxious due to the missing goat.
Boots attempts to call Hairlock home for milking, initiating the quest.
The Crag on the Mountain
A prominent, rocky outcrop or cliff face on a distant mountain, visible from the top of the local hill. The crag is steep and exposed, with sparse, hardy vegetation clinging to its crevices. The air is cooler and windier at this elevation, with a wide vista stretching out below.
Mood: Exposed, remote, slightly defiant (from Hairlock's perspective).
Hairlock is spotted here, refusing to come home, and is eventually yoked.
The Fir Tree's Location
A dense, dark fir forest, likely on the slopes of the mountain or a nearby hill. The ground is covered with fallen needles and cones, and the air is cool and fragrant with pine. The fir tree itself is tall and sturdy, swaying in the wind, surrounded by similar trees.
Mood: Somber, quiet, slightly imposing.
Boots asks the fir tree to trap Hairlock, and later the woodcutter fells it.
Story DNA
Moral
Perseverance and finding the right incentive can solve even the most stubborn problems.
Plot Summary
Little Boots and his mother struggle to get their runaway nanny goat, Hairlock, home for milking. Hairlock is found on a distant crag, but refuses to move. Boots is sent on a cumulative quest, asking various animals and objects to help, but each refuses, directing him to someone else. The chain of requests finally leads to a joiner who agrees to buy wood from a woodcutter, enabling the woodcutter to fell a fir tree. From the wood, a yoke is made, which Boots and his mother use to finally bring Hairlock home.
Themes
Emotional Arc
frustration to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects a common folk tale structure found across many cultures, often used for teaching children about sequence and cause-and-effect.
Plot Beats (12)
- Boots, his mother, and their nanny goat, Hairlock, live at the foot of a hill.
- Hairlock frequently runs away to the mountain and is missing at milking time.
- One day, Hairlock is spotted on a distant crag, refusing to come home.
- Boots's mother sends him to Reynard the fox to bite Hairlock, but Reynard refuses.
- Boots's mother sends him to Greylegs the wolf to bark at Hairlock, but Greylegs refuses.
- Boots's mother sends him to Bruin the bear to chase Hairlock, but Bruin refuses.
- Boots is sent to the fir tree to trap Hairlock, but the tree says to ask the woodcutter to fell it.
- Boots is sent to the woodcutter to fell the fir tree, but the woodcutter says to ask the joiner to buy the wood.
- Boots asks the joiner to buy the wood, and the joiner agrees.
- The woodcutter fells the fir tree and gives the wood to the joiner.
- The joiner makes a strong yoke from the wood and gives it to Boots.
- Boots and his mother use the yoke to bring Hairlock home from the crag.
