The Pack Of Ragamuffins

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 pleasure together." Then they went away to the hill, and as it was 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 proud, but they would
not go home on foot, and the cock had to build a little carriage of nut -
shells. When it was already, the little hen seated herself in it and said to
the cock, "Thou canst just harness thyself 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 to 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 in a gallop, with "Duck, go as fast as thou canst." 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 rioted. 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 flew 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
travelling than being harnessed to a carriage. The host did not get out of bed
for two hours after this; he washed himself and wanted to dry himself, then
the pin went over his face and made a red streak 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, "Woe is me,"
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 and looked about for 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.