The Louse and the Flea

A louse and a flea kept house together and were brewing beer in an
egg-shell. Then the little louse fell in and burnt herself. On this the
little flea began to scream loudly. Then said the little room-door,
"Little flea, why art thou screaming?" "Because the louse has burnt
herself."

Then the little door began to creak. On this a little broom in the
corner said, "Why art thou creaking, little door?" "Have I not reason
to creak?"

"The little louse has burnt herself,
The little flea is weeping."


So the little broom began to sweep frantically. Then a little cart
passed by and said, "Why art thou sweeping, little broom?" "Have I not
reason to sweep?"

"The little louse has burnt herself,
The little flea is weeping,
The little door is creaking."


So the little cart said, "Then I will run," and began to run wildly.
Then said the ash-heap by which it ran, "Why art thou running so,
little cart?" "Have I not reason to run?"

"The little louse has burnt herself,
The little flea is weeping,
The little door is creaking,
The little broom is sweeping."


The ash-heap said, "Then I will burn furiously," and began to burn in
clear flames. A little tree stood near the ash-heap and said,
"Ash-heap, why art thou burning?" "Have I not reason to burn?"

"The little louse has burnt herself,
The little flea is weeping,
The little door is creaking,
The little broom is sweeping,
The little cart is running."


The little tree said, "Then I will shake myself," and began to shake
herself so that all her leaves fell off; a girl who came up with her
water-pitcher saw that, and said, "Little tree, why art thou shaking
thyself?" "Have I not reason to shake myself?"

"The little louse has burnt herself,
The little flea is weeping,
The little door is creaking,
The little broom is sweeping,
The little cart is running,
The little ash-heap is burning."


On this the girl said, "Then I will break my little water-pitcher," and
she broke her little water-pitcher. Then said the little spring from
which ran the water, "Girl, why art thou breaking thy water-jug?" "Have
I not reason to break my water-jug?"

"The little louse has burnt herself,
The little flea is weeping,
The little door is creaking,
The little broom is sweeping,
The little cart is running,
The little ash-heap is burning,
The little tree is shaking itself."


"Oh, ho!" said the spring, "then I will begin to flow," and began to
flow violently. And in the water everything was drowned, the girl, the
little tree, the little ash-heap, the little cart, the broom, the
little door, the little flea, the little louse, all together.
