The Bremen Town Musicians

A donkey had worked for many years carrying sacks. When he realized he could no longer keep the same pace, he took the road to Bremen. “There I will sing and become a musician,” he told himself.

Under a tree, the donkey found an old dog panting with weariness. He could no longer keep up with the hunters. “Come with me to Bremen,” said the donkey. “Your bark will have a place in our music.” The dog rose and went with him.

Farther along, they saw a cat sitting beside the road with a sad look. She was older and no longer wanted to chase mice. “Come with us,” they offered. “Your meow is music too.” The cat set off beside them.

Beside a farm, a rooster crowed so loudly that the three stopped. He feared losing his home the next day. “We need your voice,” said the donkey. “Let us go to Bremen together.” The rooster came down from the fence and joined them.

The four traveled together. The donkey brayed, the dog barked, the cat meowed, and the rooster crowed. Their sounds were different, but by listening they learned to come in one after another.

When night fell, they were still far from Bremen. From a tree, the rooster saw a light in the forest. They approached and discovered a house where three robbers were feasting around a table.

The animals were hungry and needed shelter. The donkey made a plan: he stood before the window, the dog climbed onto his back, the cat onto the dog, and the rooster perched on top. They raised muzzles and beak, ready to launch their chorus.

At a signal, all four sang with all their strength: “Hee-haw, woof, meow, cock-a-doodle-doo!” From outside they pushed the window open and kept shouting. The robbers ran for the back door and fled into the forest.

Only when the robbers were gone did the musicians enter. They shared the supper and found places to sleep: the donkey by the door, the dog behind it, the cat near the hearth, and the rooster on a beam.

Later, the robbers saw that the house was dark. “Perhaps we were frightened for nothing,” said their captain. He decided to go back alone and look. His companions waited among the trees.

The captain tiptoed into the dark house. Near the hearth he saw two small lights, like burning lamps. He stepped closer for a better look, not realizing they were the cat’s eyes.

Startled by those eyes, the captain backed toward the door. The dog sprang awake and bit his leg through his trousers. “Ow!” cried the robber, who kept running.

Escaping the dog, the captain passed the donkey. The donkey lifted his hind legs and kicked the robber’s coat. The robber bounded out toward the yard.

From his beam, the rooster saw the captain cross the yard. He swooped down, pecked the robber’s back through his coat, and gave a mighty “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” The robber ran without looking back.

The captain returned to his companions and told them what had happened. The three decided not to go back. From the glowing doorway, the four friends watched them disappear among the trees: together they had protected their new shelter.

The next morning they thought of Bremen, but they liked the house so much that they decided to stay. Every afternoon they practiced their music, and every night they slept beneath the same roof: four voices and one home.