The Magic Flutes/Into the World

by Josef Kožíšek

INTO
THE WORLD

Old Mother Mouse wanted to make porridge, but all she could find for it was five lone grains. And all the while her eight sons stood in a row and watched her hungrily out of the corners of their eyes. Each of them could eat that much porridge himself!

Eight children and only five grains! That certainly was no joke! There was no one for Mother Mouse to turn to for help. There’s no doubt of it: her eight sons must each learn to make a living. But where and how?

Trade was out of the question. Their paws are too weak for digging. Honor and pride wouldn’t let a mother lead her children round fences to beg or to thieve.

Eight mouths as hungry as wolves—it is no small cross to bear! There wasn’t even a crust for them to gnaw. “Oh, Father, don’t you hear?—Death is already calling our little ones,“ cried poor Mother Mouse.

 

Father Mouse stroked his whiskers, then he raised his hand: “Come, Mother, don’t cry over the rascals. I’ll teach them to be musicians. That’ll bring them food in a jiffy! I have flutes of maplewood such as even the King doesn’t own. Listen, Mother! These flutes possess a strange power. If you hear their music, all your worries at once disappear, all your griefs vanish away. No sooner does a tune come from them, than every soul that is sad finds its sadness gone.

“Here, you little gymnasts, my sons, take them. Run to carry comfort to those who grieve. Spread happiness with your playing everywhere, and some will also come your way, and bread to eat as well.“

As soon as the youths heard this they eagerly seized on the flutes. They swallowed the five-grain porridge and slipped their knapsacks over their shoulders. At the threshold they nodded a last adieu, and behold: they were off into the world to seek their fortunes!