"The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage.” More tales from Grimm, Brothers Grimm, Wanda Gág, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2006, pp. 27-30.

Tale Summary

There was once a bird, a mouse, and a sausage who all lived together happily, as they all had their designated chores. Everyday the bird flew out into the woods to gather sticks for a fire, the mouse fetched water from the brook, lit the fire, and set the table, and the sausage lit the fire, set the table, and cooked the meals. One day, the bird got to chatting with another bird about her living arrangement, when her companion told her that her living-mates were taking advantage of her because she surely had the hardest job. The bird thought this over and announced to the mouse and the sausage that she would no longer tolerate her chores, and so they drew lots to settle who would do what. The sausage was tasked with gathering wood, and when he was on his way, a dog ate him. The mouse began cooking dinner, but fell in the soup and died. The bird went to set the table but the cook was missing, and when she went rummaging around for the mouse she accidentally caused a fire. She ran for some water, but fell in the well and drowned.