The Bremen Town Musicians Fairy Tale

For many years a donkey had served his master faithfully. But when he grew old and could no longer carry heavy sacks, his master decided to get rid of him. "I'll go to the town of Bremen and become a musician," said the donkey, and he set off.

On the road he met an old dog who could no longer hunt. "Come with me, and you can play the drum," said the donkey. Then an old cat joined them, and a rooster who had heard he was going to be made into soup the next day.

As night fell, the four friends saw a house in the forest with light shining from its windows. The donkey peeped in and saw robbers sitting at a table, feasting.

The friends thought of a trick. The donkey stood by the window, the dog climbed onto his back, the cat climbed onto the dog and the rooster flew up to the very top. Then they all made their music at once: the donkey brayed, the dog barked, the cat miaowed and the rooster crowed!

The robbers were so frightened that they fled into the forest. The friends sat down at the table, ate their fill and settled down in the house for the night. Later one robber crept back, but the cat scratched him, the dog bit him, the donkey kicked him and the rooster crowed, and he ran away.

The robbers never came near that house again. And the four friends never did get to Bremen. They stayed in the house together and sang their songs every evening.