Fairy tales. The Bremen Town musicians

Number by catalogue:  Michel: 1717   Yvert: 1407   Scott: 1339  

Perforation type: 13 ½x13

Subject:

5 pfenings. The Donkey expelled from a windmill*

Additional:

*The Bremen Town Musicians (German Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten, also translated as The Musicians of Bremen) is a fairy tale recorded by the Brothers Grimm. Despite the title of the fairy tale the animals never actually arrive in Bremen.

In the story a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a cockerel (rooster), all past their prime years in life and usefulness on their respective farms, were soon to be discarded or mistreated by their masters. One by one they leave their homes and set out together. They decide to go to Bremen, known for its freedom, to live without owners and become musicians there.

On the way to Bremen, they see a lighted cottage; they look inside and see four robbers enjoying their ill-gotten gains. Standing on each others backs, they decide to perform for the men in hope of gaining food. Their 'music' has an unanticipated effect; the men run for their lives, not knowing what the strange sound is. The animals take possession of the house, eat a good meal, and settle in for the evening.

Later that night, the robbers return and send one of their members in to investigate. It is dark and he sees the eyes of the Cat shining in the darkness. He reaches over to light his candle, thinking he sees the coals of the fire. Things happen in quick succession; the Cat swipes his face with her claws, the Donkey picks up his hooves and kicks him, the Dog bites him on the leg, and the Rooster crows and chases him out the door, screaming. He tells his companions that he was beset by a horrible witch who scratched him with her long fingers (the Cat), a man with a knife (the Dog), a monster who had hit him with a club (the Donkey), and worst of all, the devil who screamed from the rooftop (the Rooster). The robbers abandon the cottage to the strange creatures who have taken it, where the animals live happily for the rest of their days.