The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-08-27
TOWN MUSICIANS OF BREMEN
FROM THE GERMAN.


faithfully served his master, became al
length weak with age, and unfit foI
toll. Then food and shelter were be-
grudged him, and the useless servant
was looked on with an evil eve. lie
left the inhospitable roof, resolved to
earn or beg his living as he could. Op-
pressed with sad and anxious thoughts,
he wandered here and there until he
found himself on the road to Bremen.
There" thought he, II will be town
musician"
He had not proceeded far on his jour.
ney, when he saw by the road side u
hound who painted for breath.
"How now, Hold iastl"
"Alas ~ said the Hound, 81 am old:
each day get weaker, and lag in the
chase; therefore, my master wishes t.
kill me. have fed, but how shall
Inow gain my bread 2"
Friend" replied the Ass, 81 am go,
ing to try my fortune in Bremen, as
town musician; come with me. ! will
play the lutte, you shall beat the kettle.
drum"
The hound jumped at the proposal,
and the partners went on together
Not long after they came to "a cat, sit>
ting at the foot Ola tree, with an aspect
as dismal as three days Of rain.
"How goes it with you, old Beard.
wiperl" cried the Ass.
"Who can be merry" returned the
Cat, "wheu the stone is ready for his
neck2 Because | am somewhat adj
vanced in years, my teeth are not aS
sharp as they have been, and ! would
rather sit behind the stove and purr
than hunt the mice; therefore, my old
woman wants to drown me. have
run away. but how shalt | live nowY
go with us to Bremen; you under
stand serenadiug join our band of town
musicians"
The desponding cat consented, anC
the three wanderers journeyed on unit
they arrived at farm-yard, upon the
gate of which was perchod an old cock
who crowed with all his might.
Your shrieks pierce my bones ant
marrow" said the Ass, what ails you ?
"Alack, a.day p replied the Cock, "al
though | prophesied fine weather, tha
the mistress might wash her god child
little shirts, and dry them well, he
heart is hard: she has no pity: to'mo
row guests arc coming, and she has tolt
the cook to make sonp Of me to-nigh
my head is to be cut off. ! will scream
while breath is left in me !"
Poor Red head" said the Ass, "gc
with us TO Bremen you will certainly
find something there better than death
You have a good voice--it only wants
style"
The Cock was pleased with the pro
posal, and they all four went on to
gether. Bremen, however, was too dis
tant to be reached that day, SO they re
solved to pass the night in a wood, u
which they arrived about evening
The Ass and the Hound stretched them
selves beneath wide spreading tree
the Cat climbed halfway up, and tho
Cock few to the top. Before he com
posed himsclfto sleep, he looked TOWARD
the four winds of heaven, and though
he perceived far away little glimmer
ing spark. He gave the alarm, ant
they all reused up, and looked around
Here said Grey,coat, "is poor ac
commodation; let us go on"
Truly" cried Hold.fast, "a few
bones, with a little meat on them
would do me good"
They hastily set off for the dwelling
whence ohone the light; it beamet
brightly as they approached at las
they stood before a house belonging Il
robbers. The Ass, being the taIIest
peeped in at the window.
What say you, Grey-coatl" asked tn
Cock.
"Hurrah," cried the ASS, 81 see a we
covered table, and some right merf.
robbers around itW
81 wish we were there" quoth Red
head
81 wish we were there p whined tn
Hound.
The hungry musicians held coun
Gil, as TO how they should bring th
men forth aud get in themselves o
length they devised the means. Tn
ASS placed himself at the window, will
his lore-feet on the sill, the ilohn
mounted on the ASS back the cat clan
bered on top of the Hound, and tn
; Cock perched himsefon the Cats heac
I Then, at a signal, they struck up thei
! music the Ass brayed, the Hound ba,
ked, the Cat mewed, the Cock crowet
! and, smashing the glass, they spran
, through the window into the ROOM
The robbers, frightened by the horrl
. clamor, fled trembling to the woo
/ while the Adventures seated then