Hi everyone! Welcome or welcome back to my blog. Today, I have come to you with something new- a fairytale! Now I know that all of you must be thinking fairytales is stuff for kids, what with princes, and princesses and castles. But all fairytales do not necessarily have to be based on those lines. In fact, the one I am about to tell you right now, stars not men, but chicken! This Grimm’s-brothers fairytale, called The Pack of Ragamuffins is not very well know by everyone, but is very fun to read, all the same.
The Fairytale Story
The rooster once said to the hen: “It is now 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 fun together.” Then they went away to the hill, and as it was a sunny 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 too proud, but they did not want tot go home on foot, and the rooster had to build a little carriage of nut-shells. When it was ready, the little hen seated herself in it and said to the rooster: “You can just harness yourself to it.” “I like that!” said the rooster, “I would rather go home on foot than let myself be harnessed to it; no, that is not our bargain. I do not mins being coachman and sitting on the box, but drag it myself I will not.”
As they were thus disputing, a duck quacked at them: “You thieving folks, who bade you come to my nut-hill? Wait, you shall suffer for it!” and ran with an open beak at the rooster. But the rooster was not idle either, and fell boldly on the duck, and at last wounded him with spurs that he begged for mercy, and willingly let himself be harnessed to the carriage as a punishment. The little rooster now seated himself on the box and was now coachman, and then off they went at a gallop, with the rooster crying: “Duck, go as fast as you can.” When they had driven a part of their 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 would not be able to 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 their beer. As they were thin people, who did not take much room, the rooster 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 was not strong on his feet either, and fell from one side to the other, they went in.
The host at first made many objections, his house was already full and besides he thought they could not be very distinguished persons; but at last, as they made many 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, he at length said that they might stay the night. And now they had themselves served well and feasted and had a high time. Early in the morning, when day was breaking, and every one was asleep, the rooster 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 on the cushion of the landlord’s chair, and put the pin in his towel, and without more ado fled away over the heath. The duck who liked to sleep in the open air and had stayed in the yard, heard them going away, was merry and found a stream down which he swam, which was a much quicker way of travelling than being harnessed to a carriage.
The host did not get out of bed until a couple of hours later; he washed himself and was about to dry himself, when the pin went over his face and made a red scratch 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 flew 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 crying: “Ow!” 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 in search of 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 things into the bargain by way of gratitude.
Outro
That’s it for today, everyone! I hope you enjoyed the fairytale. I will, from time-to-time, try to bring to you more such fun, but lesser-know tales not only from the Grimms brothers, but from all around the world. Please subscribe to my blog if you haven’t already, and stay tuned for more.