German

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"The Louse and the Flea" is a cumulative tale from the collection of the Brothers Grimm.

A louse and a flea were brewing beer in an eggshell. The little louse fell in and burnt herself. At this, the little flea began to scream. "Why are you screaming?" asked the little door. "Because the louse has burnt herself."

The little door began to creak. "Why are you creaking?" asked a little broom in the corner. "Have I not reason to creak?

The little broom, on hearing this, began to sweep vigorously. A little cart which was passing by asked, "Why are you sweeping?" "Have I not reason to sweep?

The cart began to run like mad. An ash-heap which it passed asked, "Why are you running so?" "Have I not reason to run?

The ash heap then burst into flame. "Why are you burning" asked a little tree which stood near it. "Have I not reason to burn?

The little tree began shaking herself, so that all her leaves fell off. A girl who came with her water pitcher asked, "Little tree, why are you shaking yourself?" "Have I not reason to shake myself?

So the little girl broke her pitcher. The spring from which the water came asked, "Why do you break your pitcher?" "Have I not reason to break my pitcher?

At this, the little spring began to flow violently. And in the water, everything was drowned, the girl, the tree, the ash-heap, the cart, the broom, the door, the louse, and the flea, all together.

[Grimm], The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales (New York: Pantheon, 1944), 158-160.