The Old Man's Mitten

THE OLD MAN'S MITTEN

Source:LatvianFolkTale: TaleAboutAnimals
Translated:Nataļja Kozireva

AnOld Man waswalkingthroughtheforestoneday. He walkedandhedroppedhismitten.Just then a Mouse cameandwhenhesawthemittenshestoppedandsaid:

"ThisiswhereI'mgoing to live."

After a while a Frogcamehoppingupandwhenhesawthemittenshestoppedandsaid:

"Croak! Croak! Whoislivinginthismitten?"

"I amCrunch-Munchthe Mouse. Andwhoareyou?"

"I'mHop-StoptheFrog. Letmein!"

"Allright. Jumpin!"

SotheFrog jumpedinandthe Mouse movedoverandthetwoofthemmadetheirhomeinthemitten.After a while a Rabbitcameandwhenhesawthemittenhestoppedandsaid:

"Hello!Whoislivinginthismitten?"

"WeareCrunch-Munchthe Mouse andHop-StoptheFrog. Andwhoareyou?"

"I'mFleet-FeettheRabbit.Letmein!"

"Allright. Jumpin!"

SotheRabbitjumpedinandthe Mouse andtheFrogmovedoverandthethreeofthemmadetheirhomeinthemitten.After a while a Foxcameandsaid:

"WOW. Whoislivinginthismitten?"

"WeareCrunch-Munchthe Mouse, Hop-StoptheFrogandFleet-FeettheRabbit. Andwhoareyou?"

"I'mSmily-WilytheFox. Letmein!"

Sothe Mouse andtheFrogandtheRabbitmovedoverandtheFoxclimbedinandthefourofthemmadetheirhomeinthemitten.After a while a wolfcame andwhenhesawthemittenhestoppedandsaid:

"Hello, friends! Whoislivinginthismitten?"

WeareCrunch-Munchthe Mouse, Hop-StoptheFrog, Fleet-FeettheRabbitandSmily-WilytheFox. Andwhoareyou?"

"I'mHowly-ProwlytheWolf.Letmein!"

"Verywell. Goahead!"

SotheWoIfclimbedinandthe Mouse andtheFrogandtheRabbitandtheFoxmovedoverandthefiveofthemmadetheirhomeinthemitten.After a while a Bearcameandwhenhesawthemittenhestoppedandsaid :

"Hello, goodpeople! Whoislivinginthismitten?"

"WeareCrunch-Munchthe Mouse, Hop-StoptheFrog, Fleet-FeettheRabbit, Smily-WilytheFox, Howly-ProwlytheWolf. Andwhoareyou?"

"Ho,ho-ho!I'mGrumbly-RumblytheBear. And I knowyou'llmakeroomforme!"

"Howcanwe? Therearenotplaces!

"Wherethere's a will, there's a way!"

"Ok,butdon'tforgetthatyou'renottheonlyone."

SotheBearsqueezedin, too, andnowthereweresixoftheminside. Sixfriendsweresojoyfulandthatiswhytheybegan to dance. Joyedandjoyed. Andtore to pieces themitten, afraidtheyranaway.Thatwastheendofthetale.