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The Sheep and the Pig That Made a Home

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By Staff Middle Land

September 9, 2024
4:48 pm
Los Angeles, CA

A Norse Folk Tale ONCE upon a time there was a Sheep, and he started out into the world to build himself a home. First he went to the Pig and he said:“There is nothing like having a home of your own. If you are of my way of thinking, we will go into the woods and build a house and live by ourselves.” Yes, the Pig was quite willing. “It’s nice to be in good company,” said he, and off they started. When they had got a bit on the way, they met a Goose. “Good day, my good people. Where are you ofF to?” said the Goose. “Good day,” answered the Sheep. “We’re off to the woods to build a house and live by ourselves.” “Why shouldn’t

A Norse Folk Tale

ONCE upon a time there was a Sheep, and he started out into the world to build himself a home. First he went to the Pig and he said:“There is nothing like having a home of your own. If you are of my way of thinking, we will go into the woods and build a house and live by ourselves.”

Yes, the Pig was quite willing. “It’s nice to be in good company,” said he, and off they started.

When they had got a bit on the way, they met a Goose. “Good day, my good people. Where are you ofF to?” said the Goose.

“Good day,” answered the Sheep. “We’re off to the woods to build a house and live by ourselves.”

“Why shouldn’t I join you?” said the Goose.

“No house can be built by gobbling and quacking,” said the Pig. “What can you do to help build?”

“I can pluck moss and stuff it into the holes between the logs so the house will be warm and cozy,” said the Goose.

“Very well, you may come along then,” said the Sheep and the Pig. When they had gone a bit farther, they met a Hare.

“Good day, my good people,” said the Hare. “Where are you going today?”

“Good day,” answered the Sheep. “We’re off to the woods to build a house and live by ourselves.”

“I’ve a good mind to go with you,” said the Hare.

“But what can you do to help us build?” asked the Pig. “Nothing at all, I should say.”

“There is always something for willing hands to do in this world,” said the Hare. “I have sharp teeth to gnaw pegs with, and I have paws to knock them into the walls; so I’ll do very well for a carpenter.”

Well, you may come along with us then,” said the Sheep, the Pig, and the Goose.

When they had gone a bit farther, they met a Cock.

“Good day, my good people,” said the Cock. “Where are you all going today?”

“Good day,” said the Sheep. “We’re off to the woods to build a house and live by ourselves.”

“Well, it’s better to have your own roost

than to sit on a neighbor’s roost and crow,” said the Cock.

“I should like to go to the woods and build a house with you.”

“Flapping and crowing is fine for noise, but it won’t build a house,” said the Pig. “How can you help us build?”

“It is not well to live in a house where there is neither a dog nor a cock to awaken you in the morning,” said the Cock. “I rise very early and can awaken you all with my crowing.”

“Early to rise makes one happy and wealthy and wise,” said the Pig, who found it very hard to wake up in the morning. “Let the Cock come along then.”

So they all set off to the woods and built the house. The Pig cut down the trees and the Sheep dragged them home; the Hare was the carpenter, and gnawed pegs and hammered them into walls and roof; the Goose plucked moss and stuffed it into the little holes between the logs; the Cock crew and took care that they did not oversleep themselves in the mornings. And when the house was finished, they all lived happily together. And they often said: