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  • Once upon a time there was an old donkey who lived on a farm.

  • He was too old to work now, but he loved to sing, and used all of his free time to make up songs.

  • Hew-haw! Hew-haw! The roosters are in the chicken pen! Hew-haw!

  • One morning, the old donkey overheard the farmer and his wife talking about him.

  • That donkey is really getting old. I think we should sell him.

  • You're right. He isn't much use here, and we could use the money for a new table.

  • Hearing this, the donkey realized he couldn't stay any longer.

  • He made up his mind and ran away from the farm that very day.

  • As he trotted down the road, the donkey thought about what he would do now.

  • I am free to choose my own way now. I will go to Bremen and become a singer!

  • He came upon an old dog, sitting alone by the side of the road.

  • Hey, are you alright? Why are you so sad?

  • My master has thrown me out. He thinks I am too old to be a guard dog.

  • Oh...Well don't despair! Come with me to Bremen!

  • Bremen?

  • That's right. We will form our own troupe and sing together!

  • The dog liked the idea and joined the Donkey on his way to Bremen.

  • Soon, they became good friends and sang together.

  • The cow in the barn goes "Moo, Moo"...

  • Singing as they walked along they met a rooster and a cat.

  • Where are you two headed? What are you doing here?

  • My master was cruel to me, so I had to run away from home.

  • Me too. We were just deciding where we should go.」

  • Excellent! Come with us, then!

  • But where are you going?

  • We are off to Bremen.

  • And so the four of them set off for Bremen singing together.

  • The cow in the barn goes "Moo, moo"!

  • By nightfall, they were almost in Bremen, but needed somewhere to stop for the night.

  • They saw a house with lights in the windows. Coming closer, they heard raised voices.

  • Oh, I can feel a delicious smell from inside. I am so hungry. Maybe we could ask them for some food?

  • No, wait here. Let me take a look first, Ok?

  • The donkey looked through the window and was surprised by what he saw.

  • Ha ha ha! Look at that, we are rich now! You've done well today. Eat as much as you like.

  • Thank you, boss. Dig in!

  • The house actually served as headquarters for a band of thieves.

  • The animals talked the situation over and came up with a plan.

  • Draping themselves in a white sheet,

  • the climbed one on top of another and stood outside the door making lots of noise.

  • Hew-haw; bow-wow; meow, meow; cock-a-doodle-doo!

  • The thieves were frightened and confused.

  • Huh? What's all that racket?

  • Maybe it's a ghost!

  • What nonsense! There are no ghosts here.

  • In fact, the Boss wasn't so sure himself.

  • You get out there and take a look!

  • M..Me?

  • Just at that instant the animals burst into the house, still wrapped in their white sheet

  • and continued making noise.

  • It's a monster!

  • It's worse, it's a ghost!!! Yikes! Let's get out of this place!

  • The thieves rushed out of the house.

  • As soon as the thieves cleared out, the animals removed their sheet

  • and shared a good laugh.

  • That was so easy!

  • Let's have a feast to celebrate!

  • A brilliant idea! This house belongs to us now.

  • Let's go, I'm starving!

  • The animals were used to eating the scraps their masters left in the barn or on the floor for them.

  • Now, they could have anything they wanted, and joyfully bit into all the delicious food.

  • After enjoying a hearty meal, the animals settled down to sleep.

  • The Cat volunteered for guard duty, nervous that the thieves could come back unexpectedly.

  • Go to sleep, and don't worry. I'm not used to sleeping at night in any case.

  • Comfortable and content, the animals went to sleep.

  • In the meantime, the thieves gathered together in a nearby forest to discuss what had happened.

  • I smell something fishy going on...

  • Yes, I was thinking the same, Boss!

  • What is it?

  • I think the ghost was too white, or something.

  • That's nothing! I think I heard animal voices...

  • Oh....I think I did too.

  • Hey! Go back and take a look. There is definitely something very odd about this!

  • We will stay here and cover for you, and you come back with a report.

  • What, me?

  • Yes, you. Stop being a coward and do as I say!

  • The henchman lit a torch and began to creep up to the house.

  • Suddenly, a gust of wind extinguished his light.

  • Oh, no! Now what? If I turn back, the Boss will be angry with me.

  • I have to go on and see what's happening at the house.

  • Slowly, he snuck into the house.

  • Squinting through the darkness, all he could see was a pair of bright red lights.

  • Aaaaa! It's a monster!

  • He was too scared to realize that he was only seeing the eyes of the animals shining in the dark.

  • He tried to back out, but the animals all rushed straight at him.

  • Ow! Oh, my leg! Help! Help!

  • The Donkey kicked hard at the thief with his strong hind legs and sent him flying.

  • The thief screamed as he flew through the air.

  • After that night, the thieves never came near that house again.

  • The animals took it for their own and called themselves The Bremen Town Musicians.

  • They all lived happily ever after.

  • Hew-haw; bow-wow; meow, meow; cock-a-doodle-doo!

Once upon a time there was an old donkey who lived on a farm.

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