A louse and a flea¹ kept house together and were brewing² beer in an egg-shell. Then the little louse fell in and burnt herself. At this the little flea began to scream loudly. Then said the little room-door, little flea, why are you screaming. Because the louse has burnt herself. Then the little door began to creak. At this a little broom in the corner said, why are you creaking, little door. Have I not reason to creak. The little louse has burnt herself, the little flea is weeping. So the little broom began to sweep frantically³. Then a little cart passed by and said, why are you sweeping⁴, little broom. Have I not reason to sweep. The little louse has burnt herself, the little flea is weeping, the little door is creaking. So the little cart said, then I will run, and began to run like mad. Then said the ash-heap by which it ran, why are you running so, little cart. Have I not reason to run. The little louse has burnt herself, the little flea is weeping, the little door is creaking, the little broom is sweeping. The ash-heap said, then I will burn furiously⁵, and began to burn in clear flames. A little tree stood near the ash-heap and said, ash-heap, why are you burning. Have I not reason to burn. 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 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 are you shaking yourself. Have I not reason to shake myself. 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. At 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 are you breaking your water-pitcher. Have I not reason to break my water-pitcher. 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. 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.