The Sheep and the Pig Who Built a House

This Scandinavian tale is a good companion for “The Little Red Hen.” In this story, there’s no shortage of animals willing to pitch in and help.

One morning, bright and early, a sheep and a curly-tailed pig started out through the world to find a home.

“We will build us a house,” said the sheep and the curly-tailed pig, “and there we will live together.”

So they went a long, long way, until they came to a rabbit.

“Where are you going?” asked the rabbit of the two.

“We are going to build us a house,” said the sheep and the pig.

“May I live with you?” asked the rabbit.

“What can you do to help?” asked the sheep and the pig.

The rabbit said: “I can gnaw pegs with my sharp teeth; I can put them in with my paws.”

“Good!” said the sheep and the pig. “You may come with us.”

So the three went on, a long, long way farther, until they came to a gray goose.

“Where are you going?” asked the gray goose of the three.

“We are going to build us a house,” said the sheep, the pig, and the rabbit.

“May I live with you?” asked the gray goose.

“What can you do to help?” asked the sheep, the pig, and the rabbit.

The gray goose said: “I can pull moss, and stuff it in the cracks with my broad bill.”

“Good!” said the sheep, the pig, and the rabbit. “You may come with us.”

So the four went on, a long, long way, until they came to a barnyard cock.

“Where are you going?” asked the cock of the four.

“We are going to build us a house,” said the sheep, the pig, the rabbit, and the goose.

“May I live with you?” asked the barnyard cock.

“What can you do to help?” asked the sheep, the pig, the rabbit, and the goose.

The cock said: “I can crow very early in the morning; I can awaken you all.”

“Good!” said the sheep, the pig, the rabbit, and the goose. “You may come with us.”

So the five went on, a long, long way until they found a good place for a house.

Then the sheep hewed logs and drew them.

The pig made bricks for the cellar.

The rabbit gnawed pegs with his sharp teeth, and hammered them in with his paws.

The goose pulled moss, and stuffed it in the cracks with her bill.

The cock crowed early every morning to tell them that it was time to rise.

And they all lived happily together in their little house.

Retold by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey