Once upon a time, many years ago, there was a red fox who was always looking for ways to catch a chicken in Farmer's Brown chicken coop. Each time he would try the chickens would hear him and began making loud cackling sounds. Immediately Farmer Brown would come outdoors with his shot gun ready to shoot any animal that approached his chickens. The fox was so discouraged. He wanted to steal a chicken. His mouth would water every time he would think of eating a chicken. One day as the fox was lying down in the grass moping about his lack of opportunity in catching a chicken, a mischieveous fairy approached him saying, "What's the matter with you?"
The fox replied, "I want to catch a chicken but the chickens keep hearing me and making so much noice that Farmer Brown comes running to see what is disturbing the chickens."
The fairy smiled and said, "I know of a way to help you catch those chickens without them hearing you. Do you see that plant in the garden? It is called Digitalis. Remove four of the blossoms and put them on your feet. Wear them the next time you want to catch a chicken."
That evening when darkness arrived, the fox put the four blossoms on his feet and crept carefully and quietly to the chicken coop. He slipped inside and stole a chicken. He ran all the way home to his den without any of the chickens making any sound. He was so pleased with himself. However, little did he know that the fairy had played a trick on him. From that day on every Digitalis plant will be called a foxglove because inside each blossom there are footprints left by the fox.
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