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