The Pack of Ragamuffins
The cock once said to the hen, it is now the
time when the nuts are ripe, so let us go to the hill together and for once eat our fill
before the squirrel takes them all away. Yes, replied the hen, come, we will have some fun
together. Then they went away to the hill, and as it was a bright day they stayed till
evening. Now I do not know whether it was that they had eaten till they were too fat, or
whether they had become too proud, but they would not go home on foot, and the cock had to
build a little carriage of nut-shells. When it was ready, the little hen seated herself in
it and said to the cock, you can just harness yourself to it. I like that. Said the cock.
I would rather go home on foot than let myself be harnessed to it. No, that is not our
bargain. I do not mind being coachman and sitting on the box, but drag it myself I will
not. As they were thus disputing, a duck quacked at them, you thieving folks, who bade you
go to my nut-hill. Wait, you shall suffer for it, and ran with open beak at the cock. But
the cock also was not idle, and fell boldly on the duck, and at last wounded her so with
his spurs that she begged for mercy, and willingly let herself be harnessed to the
carriage as a punishment. The little cock now seated himself on the box and was coachman,
and thereupon they went off at a gallop, with the cock crying, duck, go as fast as you
can. When they had driven a part of the way they met two foot-passengers, a pin and a
needle. They cried, stop. Stop. And said that it would soon be as dark as pitch, and then
they could not go a step further, and that it was so dirty on the road, and asked if they
could not get into the carriage for a while. They had been at the tailor's public-house by
the gate, and had stayed too long over the beer. As they were thin people, who did not
take up much room, the cock let them both get in, but they had to promise him and his
little hen not to step on their feet. Late in the evening they came to an inn, and as they
did not like to go further by night, and as the duck also was not strong on her feet, and
fell from one side to the other, they went in. The host at first made many objections, his
house was already full, besides he thought they could not be very distinguished persons.
But at last, as they made pleasant speeches, and told him that he should have the egg
which the little hen had laid on the way, and should likewise keep the duck, which laid
one every day, he at length said that they might stay the night. And now they had
themselves well served, and feasted and had a high good time. Early in the morning, when
day was breaking and every one was asleep, the cock awoke the hen, brought the egg, pecked
it open, and they ate it together, but they threw the shell on the hearth. Then they went
to the needle which was still asleep, took it by the head and stuck it into the cushion of
the landlord's chair, and put the pin in his towel, and at last without more ado they fled
away over the heath. The duck who liked to sleep in the open air and had stayed in the
yard, heard them going away, made herself merry and found a stream, down which she swam,
which was a much quicker way of traveling than being harnessed to a carriage. The host did
not get out of bed until a couple of hours later. He washed himself and was about to dry
himself, when the pin went over his face and made a red scratch from one ear to the other.
After this he went into the kitchen and wanted to light a pipe, but when he came to the
hearth the egg-shell darted into his eyes. This morning everything attacks my head, said
he, and angrily sat down on his grandfather's chair, but he quickly started up again and
cried, ow, for the needle had pricked him still worse than the pin, and not in the head.
Now he was thoroughly angry, and suspected the guests who had come so late the night
before. And when he went in search of them, they were gone. Then he made a vow to take no
more ragamuffins into his house, for they consume much, pay for nothing, and play
mischievous tricks into the bargain by way of gratitude.
--The End-- |
