Das Sperlingsnest
by Hans Wachenhusen · from In der Mondnacht: Märchen
Adapted Version
A mother sparrow and her babies lived in a church window. Inside the church, a pastor talked about goodness.
Mother Sparrow listened to the pastor. She heard his words about being good.
"Mother, what is goodness?" asked the Baby Sparrows.
"You are too young," said Mother Sparrow.
Next morning, the Baby Sparrows flew out. They scratched seeds from the ground.
"Was that good?" they asked.
"No, that was not good," said Mother Sparrow.
The next morning, they flew out again. They bit other little birds.
"Was that good?" they asked.
"No, that was not good," said Mother Sparrow.
The next morning, they flew out again. They ate melons from a garden.
"Was that good?" they asked.
"No, that was not good," said Mother Sparrow.
Next morning, Mother Sparrow went to find food. A red-haired boy climbed a ladder. He put a net over the nest.
"Oh no!" cried the Baby Sparrows.
Mother Sparrow flew back. She saw the boy with her babies. "Oh no!" she cried.
Then the Sexton came. He saw the boy. He took the nest from the boy. He put the nest back in the window.
"That was good! That was good!" said the Baby Sparrows.
"See?" said Mother Sparrow. "Now you know what is good. You ate the Sexton's melons. But he was kind to you. Goodness is being kind, even when others are not. Now you must be kind too."
"We will be good," said the Baby Sparrows.
The sparrow family was safe in their nest. They felt happy and grateful.
Original Story
Das Sperlingsnest.
Es war ein wunderschöner Sommermorgen. Die Sonne spiegelte sich in dem großen Teiche, der mitten im Dorfe lag und auf dem wohl zehn alte Enten mit ihren Familien umherschwammen, die Dorfjugend spielte auf dem freien Platze vor dem Herrenhause, die Bäume streckten ihre mit süßen Früchten beladenen Zweige über den alten von Brombeerranken durchwachsenen Zaun, vor dem Bauernhause las ein alter Mann mit schneeweißem Haar und einer großen Brille auf der Nase in der Bibel und vor des Pfarrers Hause spielten seine Kinder mit einem weißen Zicklein, das die tollsten Kapriolen machte, obwohl es Kirchzeit war, in der man sich hübsch sittsam und still verhalten soll.
Der Pfarrer war nicht zu Hause, denn er stand in der Kirche auf der Kanzel und predigte der Dorfgemeinde, man solle nur Gutes thun; ja der ehrwürdige Mann hielt eine so wunderschöne Predigt, daß die Gemeinde nach dem Schluß derselben ganz gerührt nach Hause ging.
Draußen an dem großen Kirchfenster, dicht an einer der kleinen, zerbrochenen Scheiben hing ein Sperlingsnest, darin saß die Mutter mit ihren Jungen, die nun bald flügge waren. Die Sperlingsmutter horchte sehr andächtig auf die Predigt, denn sie war ausnahmsweise sehr fromm, und das war kein Wunder, denn wenn man in einer Kirche wohnt, kann selbst ein Sperling wohl fromm werden.
– Was ist das Gute, von dem der Pfarrer sagte? so fragten die Jungen die Sperlingsmutter, als die Predigt zu Ende war.
– Das werde ich Euch später sagen, denn jetzt seid Ihr noch zu dumm, es zu begreifen, sagte die Sperlingsmutter, ganz gerührt von der Predigt.
Am Abend fragten die Jungen wieder, was das Gute sei, und die Sperlingsmutter gab ihnen dieselbe Antwort.
Den nächsten Morgen flogen die Jungen aus dem Nest und kratzten dem armen Büdner seine Wintersaat aus.
– War das gut? fragten sie die Mutter, als sie nach Hause kamen.
– Nein, antwortete diese, das war nicht gut.
Am zweiten Morgen flogen die Jungen aus dem Nest und bissen die zarten Schwalben, die sich auf einer Dachröhre im Fliegen übten.
– War das gut? fragten sie die Mutter, als sie nach Hause kamen.
– Nein, antwortete diese, das war nicht gut.
– Aber was ist denn gut? fragten sie wieder.
– Das werde ich euch sagen, wenn ihr das Gelbe an den Schnäbeln abgelegt habt, denn jetzt seid ihr noch zu dumm, antwortete die Sperlingsmutter.
Am dritten Morgen flogen die Jungen aus dem Nest und fraßen dem Küster alle seine schönen Melonen an.
– War das gut? fragten sie die Mutter, als sie wieder nach Hause kamen.
– Nein, das war nicht gut.
Am vierten Morgen erwachten die Jungen in ihrem Nest, als die Mutter schon ausgeflogen war, um Frühstück für sie zu besorgen. Zu ihrem Schrecken sahen sie ein Netz über ihr Nest ausgebreitet und vor ihnen stand ein rothköpfiger Knabe auf der Leiter, der das ganze Nest aushob.
Die Sperlingsmutter kam gerade nach Hause, umflog den bösen Knaben und rief ängstlich: piep, piep! als sie das Unglück sah.
Da aber kam der Küster des Weges, er nahm dem rothköpfigen Knaben das Nest ab, stieg die Leiter hinauf und setzte es wieder an seinen Platz.
– Ach, das ist gut, das ist gut! riefen die Jungen, noch zitternd vor Schreck.
– Seht ihr! sprach die Sperlingsmutter. Jetzt wißt Ihr mit einem Male, was gut ist. Ihr habt gestern dem Küster alle seine schönen Melonen angefressen, und doch hat er euch Gutes gethan. Macht's künftig ebenso! – Kinder wissen überhaupt immer, was gut ist, sie wollen es oft nur nicht wissen.
Story DNA
Moral
True goodness is understood through experience and by receiving kindness, especially from those you have wronged.
Plot Summary
A family of sparrows lives in a church window, where the mother overhears a sermon on 'goodness.' Her young ask what 'good' is, but she defers the answer, saying they are too young. The young sparrows repeatedly engage in minor destructive acts, always asking if it was 'good,' and are always told 'no.' One day, they are captured by a boy, but the sexton, whose melons they had eaten, rescues them. Through this act of unexpected kindness, the young sparrows finally understand what 'goodness' truly means, as explained by their mother.
Themes
Emotional Arc
ignorance to fear to understanding
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Hans Wachenhusen was a 19th-century German writer. This story reflects common didactic themes in children's literature of the era, often using animal fables to teach moral lessons.
Plot Beats (11)
- A beautiful summer morning in a village, with various activities, including a pastor preaching about 'goodness' in church.
- A sparrow family lives in a nest by the church window, and the mother sparrow listens intently to the sermon.
- The young sparrows ask their mother what 'goodness' is, but she tells them they are too young to understand.
- On the first morning out of the nest, the young sparrows scratch out a poor cottager's winter seeds, and their mother says it was 'not good.'
- On the second morning, they bite young swallows, and their mother again says it was 'not good,' still deferring the explanation of 'goodness.'
- On the third morning, they eat the sexton's melons, and their mother confirms it was 'not good.'
- On the fourth morning, while their mother is away, a red-headed boy captures the young sparrows in their nest with a net.
- The mother sparrow returns, sees the danger, and cries out in distress.
- The sexton, whose melons were eaten, arrives, takes the nest from the boy, and returns it to the window.
- The young sparrows, trembling, exclaim that this act was 'good.'
- The mother sparrow explains that they now understand 'goodness' because the sexton, despite their wrongdoing, showed them kindness, and urges them to act similarly.
Characters
The Sparrow Mother
A small, agile sparrow with typical brown and grey plumage, a compact body, and quick, darting movements.
Attire: Natural sparrow plumage, consisting of mottled brown, grey, and black feathers, providing camouflage.
Wants: To teach her children the true meaning of 'goodness' and to protect them from harm.
Flaw: Her initial reluctance to directly explain 'goodness', hoping her children would discover it themselves, which leads to their mischievous behavior.
She starts by deferring the explanation of 'goodness' but ultimately delivers a profound lesson after a frightening experience, realizing that direct experience is the best teacher.
Observant, patient, initially somewhat evasive, wise, and protective of her young.
The Sparrow Young
Small, fledgling sparrows, slightly less developed than their mother, with soft, downy feathers and noticeable yellow at the corners of their beaks.
Attire: Soft, developing sparrow plumage, lighter and less defined than an adult's, with hints of brown and grey.
Wants: To understand 'goodness' as taught by their mother, and to explore the world around them, often leading to trouble.
Flaw: Their immaturity and lack of understanding, leading them to misinterpret 'goodness' and engage in harmful actions.
They begin as mischievous and disobedient, unable to grasp abstract concepts. Through a terrifying experience and the Sexton's kindness, they finally understand 'goodness' through direct action.
Curious, mischievous, easily influenced, initially disobedient, and prone to destructive behavior, but ultimately capable of learning.
The Pastor
A dignified man of the cloth, likely of average height and build, with a serious and benevolent demeanor.
Attire: Formal clerical attire appropriate for a 19th-century German village pastor, likely a black cassock or frock coat, a white clerical collar, and possibly a dark waistcoat.
Wants: To guide his congregation towards righteous living and to preach the importance of doing 'good'.
Flaw: His teachings are abstract and not immediately understood by all, especially the young sparrows.
Remains a consistent figure of moral authority, his sermon serving as the initial catalyst for the story's central theme.
Pious, eloquent, inspiring, and deeply committed to teaching moral values.
The Sexton
A practical, perhaps slightly gruff but ultimately kind man, likely of a sturdy build from his work.
Attire: Practical, sturdy clothing suitable for a church caretaker and gardener in 19th-century Germany, such as a simple linen shirt, dark trousers, and a waistcoat, possibly with a work apron. His clothes would be functional rather than fashionable.
Wants: To maintain the church and its grounds, and to protect his garden. He is driven by a sense of justice and kindness.
Flaw: His initial frustration over his damaged melons.
Initially a victim of the sparrows' mischief, he becomes the embodiment of 'goodness' by saving them, demonstrating forgiveness and compassion.
Diligent, protective of his property (melons), but ultimately compassionate and forgiving.
The Red-headed Boy
A young boy, likely slender and agile enough to climb a ladder, with distinctive red hair.
Attire: Simple, everyday clothes typical for a village boy in 19th-century Germany, such as a plain linen shirt, knee-length breeches, and possibly a simple cap. His clothes might be a bit worn or dusty from play.
Wants: To capture the sparrows or their nest, driven by childish curiosity or a desire for a pet, without malicious intent but with harmful actions.
Flaw: His lack of empathy and understanding of the impact of his actions.
Serves as a catalyst for the sparrows' fear and the Sexton's act of goodness. He is stopped and his actions are reversed.
Mischievous, thoughtless, and potentially cruel, acting without considering the consequences for others.
Locations
Village Square and Pond
A beautiful summer morning scene in a German village. A large pond reflects the sun, with ten old ducks and their families swimming. The village youth play on a free space in front of the manor house. Fruit-laden tree branches extend over an old, blackberry-entwined fence. An old man reads a Bible in front of a farmhouse, and children play with a white kid goat in front of the parsonage.
Mood: Peaceful, idyllic, lively, traditional village life
Introduction to the village setting and its inhabitants on a beautiful morning.
Village Church Interior
The interior of a village church where the pastor preaches from the pulpit. The sermon is so beautiful that the congregation is deeply moved.
Mood: Reverent, solemn, inspiring, peaceful
The pastor delivers a sermon about 'doing good', which the sparrow mother overhears.
Sparrow's Nest at the Church Window
A sparrow's nest hanging outside a large, slightly broken church window. The mother sparrow sits with her nearly fledged young.
Mood: Cozy, vulnerable, observational, later fearful
The sparrows live here, observing the world and learning about 'good'. It is later threatened by a boy and saved by the sexton.