The Pack of Ragamuffins (Grimm)
Division into chapters is editorial.
The nut expedition and the carriage
A cock proposed to a hen that they should go to the hill together to gather nuts before the squirrel could take them all away. The hen agreed, and they spent the entire bright day on the hill eating their fill.
Now I do not know whether it was that they had eaten till they were too fat, or whether they had become proud, but they would not go home on foot
The cock was forced to build a little carriage from nutshells. When it was ready, the hen seated herself in it and demanded that the cock harness himself to pull it. The cock refused this arrangement, saying he would rather walk home than be harnessed like a beast, though he agreed to be the coachman and sit on the box.
As they argued, a duck approached and angrily accused them of being thieves on her nut-hill.
You thieving folks, who bade you go to my nut-hill? Well, you shall suffer for it! and ran with open beak at the cock.
A fierce battle ensued between the cock and the duck. The cock fought boldly and wounded the duck so severely with his spurs that she begged for mercy and agreed to be harnessed to the carriage as punishment. The cock then seated himself on the box as coachman, and they galloped away with the duck pulling them.
Journey to the inn with new companions
After driving partway, they encountered two foot-passengers, a pin and a needle, who cried for them to stop. The travelers explained that darkness was approaching and they could not continue walking on the dirty road, requesting a ride in the carriage.
They had been at the tailor's public-house by the gate, and had stayed too long over the beer. As they were thin people, who did not take up much room
The cock allowed both to get into the carriage, but they had to promise not to step on his or the hen's feet. Late in the evening, they arrived at an inn. Since they did not want to travel further by night and the duck was unsteady on her feet, they decided to stay. The host initially objected, claiming his house was full and doubting they were distinguished persons. However, they made pleasant speeches and promised him the egg the hen had laid during the journey, plus the duck who laid one daily. The host finally agreed to let them stay the night, and they feasted and celebrated.
Mischievous tricks and escape
Early in the morning, while everyone was still asleep, the cock awoke the hen and they ate the egg she had laid, throwing the shell onto the hearth. Then they went to the sleeping needle and stuck it into the cushion of the landlord's chair, and placed the pin in his towel. Without further ado, they flew away over the heath.
The duck, who preferred sleeping in the open air and had stayed in the yard, heard them leaving. She made herself merry, found a stream, and swam down it, which was much quicker than being harnessed to a carriage.
Two hours later, the host got out of bed and began washing himself. When he tried to dry himself, the pin scraped across his face, making a red streak from one ear to the other. He then went to the kitchen to light his pipe, but when he approached the hearth, the eggshell darted into his eyes.
This morning everything attacks my head, said he, and angrily sat down on his grandfather's chair, but he quickly started up again and cried, Woe is me
The needle had pricked him even worse than the pin, and not in the head. Now thoroughly angry, he suspected the late-arriving guests from the night before. When he looked for them, they were gone.
Then he made a vow to take no more ragamuffins into his house, for they consume much, pay for nothing, and play mischievous tricks into the bargain by way of gratitude