The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-10-14
THE YOUNG FOLKS.
The Musicians Of Bremen.

for work. So his master was thinking |
how much he could make of the skin,
but the Donkey perceiving that no good
wind was blowing, ran away along the
road TO Bremen. "There," thought he,
"I can be town musician" When he
had run some way, he found Hound
lying by the roadside, yawning like
one who was very tired. "What are
you yawning for now, you big fellow?"
asked the Ass.
"Ah," replied the Hound, "because
every day grow older and weaker;
cannot go any more to the hunt, and
my master has well-nigh beaten me to
death, so that l took to flight and now
l do not know how to earn my bread"
swell do you know" said the Ass,
81 am going to Bremen, to be town-mu-
sician there; suppose you go with me
and take share In the music 1 will
play on the lutte, and you shall beat the
kettle-drums." The Dog was satisfied,
and Off they set.
Presently they came to Cat, sitting
in the middle of the path, with face
like three rainy days! Snow then, old
shaver, what has crossed you ?" asked
| the Ass.
"How can one be merry when ones
neck has been pinched like mine ?" an
swered the Cat. "Because am grow
ing old, and my teeth are all worn TO
stumps, and because L would rather sit
by the fire and spin, than run after
mice, my mistress wanted to drown
me; and so l ran away. But now good
advice is dear, and 1 do not know what
| to do"
$50 with us to Bremen. You under
stand nocturnal music, SO you can be
town musician" The Cat consented,
and went with them The three vaga-
bonds soon came near Farm yard,
where, upon the barn-door, the Cock
was sitting growing with all his might.
"You crow through marrow and bone,"
said the Ass, "what do you do that for?"
"This is the way prophesy fine
weather." said the Cock "but, because
grand guests are coming for the Sun
day, the housewife has no pity, and has
told the cookmaid to make me into
soup for the morrow; and this evening
my head Will be cut off Now / am
growing with full throat as long as I
can."
"Ah, but you, Red-comb," replied
the Ass, "rather come away with us.
We are going to Bremen, to find there
something better than death you have
good voice, and if we make music to.
gether it will have full play"
The Cock consented to this plan, and
so all four travelled on together. They
could not, however, reach Bremen in
one day, and at evening they came in
to a forest, where they meant to pass
the night. The Ass and the Dog laid
themselves down under q large tree,
the Cat and the Cock climed up into
the branches, but the latter flew right
to the top, where he was most safe. Be-
fore he went to sleep he looked all
round the four quarters, and soon
thought he saw little spark in the
distance so, calling his companions,
he said they were not far from house,
for he saw light. The Ass said, eff it
is so, we bad better get up and 60 furth-
er; for the pasturage here is very bad )"
and the Dog continued, "Yes, indeed
a couple of bones with some meat on
would also be very acceptablew So
they made haste towards the spot
where the light was, and which shown
now brighter and brighter, until they
came to well-lighted robbers cottage.
The Ass, as the biggest, went to the
window and peeped in. "What do you
see, Gray-horse ?" asked the Cock.
"What do see ?" replied the ASS "a
table laid out with savoury meats and
drinks, with robbers sitting around en-
joying themselves"
"That were the right sort of thing for
u.s." said the Cock.
"Yes, yes, 1 wish we were there" re-
piled the Ass. Then these animals
took counsel together how they should
C ontrive to drive away the robbers, and
at last they thought of way. The Ass
places his fore feet upon the window
ledge, the Hound got on his back, the
Cat climbed up upon the Dog, and last
ly the Cock flew up and perched upon
the head of the Cat. When this was
acc omplished, at given signal they
com menced together to perform their
music: the Ass brayed, the Dog barked,
the Cat mewed, and the Cock crew /;
and they made such tremendous noise
and so loud, that the panes OF the win.
dow were shivered! Terrified at these
: unearthly sounds, the robbers got up
with great ipitation, thinking moth
ing less than that some spirits had come
and fed off into the forest. The four
companions Immediately sat down al
the table, and quickly ate up all that
was left, as if they had been fasting foI
six weeks.
As soon as the four players had fin.
ished, they extinguished the light, and
each sought for himself sleeping place
according to his nature and custom
The Ass laid himself down upon some
straw, the Hound behind the door, the
Cat upon the hearth, near the warm
ashes, and the Cock flew up upon a
beam which ran across the room.
Weary with their long walk, they soon
went to sleep.
At midnight, the robbers perceived
from their retreat that no light was
burning in their house, and all appear
ed quiet so the captain said, "We need
not to have been frightened into fits -
and, calling one of the band, he sent
him forward to reconnoitre. The mess
enger, finding all still, went into the
kitchen to strike a light, and, taking
the glistening fiery eyes Of the Cat for
live Goals, he held a lucifer-match to
them, expecting it to take fire. But
the Cat, not understanding the Joke,
which dreadfuily frightened him, Sc
that he made for the back door; but
the Dog, who laid there, sprang up and
bit his leg; and as he limped upon the
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