The Town Musicians of Bremen

An old donkey had carried sacks to the mill for years, but his owner no longer wanted to keep him. His strength was failing, and work was harder each day.

The donkey set out for Bremen, hoping to earn a living as a town musician. Bremen was a city where he hoped his voice might still be useful.

On the road he met an old dog who had escaped because his owner meant to kill him. The dog could no longer hunt as he once had.

“Come to Bremen and make music with me,” said the donkey, and the dog joined him. A loud bark could help their music along.

Farther along, they found an old cat whose owner had wanted to drown her because she no longer caught mice. Her teeth were worn, and she preferred resting by the fire.

The donkey invited the cat to sing with them in Bremen, and she came too. Her night-time meows could join the braying and barking.