A children's tale.
Once upon a time there took place a mysterious union. It was quite unexplainable but a story passed down by the grandmothers, one old European woman to the next, until it came to me. And I told you.
However it happened, it did, and this is what it was: a large, half- blind mole came together with a pretty little field mouse. They gathered with them a small sparrow, garter snake, and an ant. The five lived together for a very long time until the sparrow felt the urge to fly away. They living underground, she had a hard time while they were together, and wanted to see the sky. But the mole, who naturally distrusted the sky, would not hear of it and, the more he sensed the sparrow's restlessness, the more agitated he became until his own shortsightedness led to an angry irrationality.
Now the snake was different too. She hated these closed confines surrounded by these loud, irritating creatures and, the more the mole and sparrow fought, the darker her attitude became until she felt the urge to snap them all up in her jaws.
And the poor ant, he was so tiny, unnoticed by all but the kindly old field mouse who was so very tired. Even though the ant was so helpful, so strong, so under-appreciated, no one cared; the sparrow would accidentally slap him with her wings, the snake would grind him into the dust, and the mole would shove him aside. So, angered, he started to lash out and spew poison.
But the field mouse was very protective of the three and quarreled with the mole too. However, since the mole was such a large creature, the field mouse was no match and poorly used. She just wanted the mole to go away but she couldn't make him. And things just got worse and worse.
The walls of their little home were crumbling, the food was small and long in coming, and none of them were happy at all. Instead of coming together to live in harmony, they were strangers that happened to share a home. So, sadly enough, a tragedy took place.
With the field mouse's aid, the sparrow flew away. She promised the snake and ant she'd come back for them and the mouse but, once free, she couldn't help herself and never returned.
The mole was furious! He nearly collapsed their home and threw the little mouse. The ant and snake waited but months passed and every day was as the last. And, one day, the mole bit off part of the snake's tail, and the snake swallowed him. It is said that, right after the ant gave the fatal sting, the mouse pleaded for the madness to end, to spit the mole out. But it was too late.
Those remaining three went their separate ways. But one night, sickened nearly to death by the burden of the mole, the snake crawled into a nursery and whispered into the ear of a child all that had happened. Calmed, she curled up to sleep and a panicky maid killed her in her sleep, thinking she'd hurt the child.
It is said that the others too met with sad ends, all save the sparrow who was the only one with wings on which to fly.
The end
Once upon a time there took place a mysterious union. It was quite unexplainable but a story passed down by the grandmothers, one old European woman to the next, until it came to me. And I told you.
However it happened, it did, and this is what it was: a large, half- blind mole came together with a pretty little field mouse. They gathered with them a small sparrow, garter snake, and an ant. The five lived together for a very long time until the sparrow felt the urge to fly away. They living underground, she had a hard time while they were together, and wanted to see the sky. But the mole, who naturally distrusted the sky, would not hear of it and, the more he sensed the sparrow's restlessness, the more agitated he became until his own shortsightedness led to an angry irrationality.
Now the snake was different too. She hated these closed confines surrounded by these loud, irritating creatures and, the more the mole and sparrow fought, the darker her attitude became until she felt the urge to snap them all up in her jaws.
And the poor ant, he was so tiny, unnoticed by all but the kindly old field mouse who was so very tired. Even though the ant was so helpful, so strong, so under-appreciated, no one cared; the sparrow would accidentally slap him with her wings, the snake would grind him into the dust, and the mole would shove him aside. So, angered, he started to lash out and spew poison.
But the field mouse was very protective of the three and quarreled with the mole too. However, since the mole was such a large creature, the field mouse was no match and poorly used. She just wanted the mole to go away but she couldn't make him. And things just got worse and worse.
The walls of their little home were crumbling, the food was small and long in coming, and none of them were happy at all. Instead of coming together to live in harmony, they were strangers that happened to share a home. So, sadly enough, a tragedy took place.
With the field mouse's aid, the sparrow flew away. She promised the snake and ant she'd come back for them and the mouse but, once free, she couldn't help herself and never returned.
The mole was furious! He nearly collapsed their home and threw the little mouse. The ant and snake waited but months passed and every day was as the last. And, one day, the mole bit off part of the snake's tail, and the snake swallowed him. It is said that, right after the ant gave the fatal sting, the mouse pleaded for the madness to end, to spit the mole out. But it was too late.
Those remaining three went their separate ways. But one night, sickened nearly to death by the burden of the mole, the snake crawled into a nursery and whispered into the ear of a child all that had happened. Calmed, she curled up to sleep and a panicky maid killed her in her sleep, thinking she'd hurt the child.
It is said that the others too met with sad ends, all save the sparrow who was the only one with wings on which to fly.
The end