Die Lieben Nachbarn
by Lisa Wenger · from Amoralische Fabeln
Adapted Version
Mice met in a cozy house. They liked to talk and share news. Molly Mouse said, "Listen to this news!" "Mr. Brown will marry Miss Lily." "She is a city mouse!" Molly Mouse was very excited. Her friends listened.
"Miss Lily?" asked one friend. "The white mouse?" asked another. "She was here." "Yes!" Molly Mouse said. The friends were very surprised. They could not believe it.
Betty Mouse was a big mouse. She shook her head slowly. "I know something," she said. "About Miss Lily. It is true. My friend said."
"We must tell Mr. Brown!" they said. "We must tell him." They all nodded. They went to Mr. Brown's house.
Mr. Brown opened his door. He smiled at his friends. "You came to say 'well done'?" he asked. "I will marry soon!" he said. The friends smiled a little.
"Miss Lily is so nice," said Mr. Brown. "She is good and kind." The friends heard his words. Their whiskers shook a little. They waited to tell him. They had a secret.
Molly Mouse pushed Betty Mouse. Betty Mouse cleared her throat. "Mr. Brown," she said slowly. "We must tell you something." "Miss Lily is not so good." "She is not kind." "She does not deserve praise."
Mr. Brown stayed very calm. "What do you know?" he asked. Betty Mouse felt nervous then. He was not angry. She did not know what to say.
"She was with another mouse!" said Betty. "It was a brown mouse." "They walked at night." "They walked in the moonlight." Betty Mouse felt better now.
Mr. Brown did not look sad. Betty Mouse spoke again. "They also kissed!" she said loudly. She felt very proud. She looked at her friends. They looked at Mr. Brown.
Mr. Brown just laughed. He laughed a big, happy laugh. The friends were confused. They felt a little angry. "We did our job," they said.
The friends turned to leave. They felt sad and quiet. "Wait!" said Mr. Brown. "The brown mouse was me!" he said. "I am a big, brown mouse."
"Come to the wedding!" he said. "You are all invited." He smiled a big smile. The mice were happy.
The mice learned a lesson that day. It is not good to talk about others. Only talk if you know the truth. Always ask first! They all went to the wedding. They had much fun!
Original Story
Die lieben Nachbarn
»Habt ihr es schon gehört, der Nachbar von nebenan will eine Stadtmaus heiraten!« sagte eine Feldmaus zu ihren Besucherinnen. Sie glättete ihr braunes Pelzlein und ringelte zierlich den Schwanz.
»Eine Stadtmaus? Doch nicht die Weiße mit den roten Augen, die neulich hier auf Besuch war?«
»Gerade die!«
»Jetzt hört aber doch alles auf!« jammerte eine der drei, eine fette braune Feldmaus. »Also die Weiße! Nun, der Nachbar kann sich gratulieren!«
»Warum? Was wissen Sie von der weißen Maus?« schrien aufgeregt die andern.
»Ich weiß nichts, und ich sage nichts; aber denken tue ich mein Teil.«
»Woher wissen Sie es, Frau Feldmausin?« fragten die drei und rückten näher zusammen.
»Das darf ich nicht sagen. Aber die Person, die es mir mitteilte, ist zuverlässig, durchaus zuverlässig. Wenn das unser Nachbar wüßte! Der würde sich schwer hüten, so eine zu heiraten.«
»Man sollte ihn warnen,« riefen alle; »das ist beinahe unsere Pflicht!«
»Jawohl, es ist eigentlich unsere Pflicht!« Alle nickten mit den Köpfen und sahen sich bedeutungsvoll an. Es glänzte unternehmungslustig in den beerenschwarzen Äuglein. Und die vier machten sich eilig auf, und gingen zum Nachbarn hinüber.
»Herr Nachbar, wir kommen in einer delikaten Angelegenheit.«
»Liebe Freundinnen, ihr kommt gewiß, um mir zu gratulieren. Es ist ja kein Geheimnis mehr, gar nicht.« Die vier lächelten sauersüß und wünschten Glück.
»Meine Braut ist reizend,« rief der Verliebte. Die vier nickten.
»Das ist sie, gewiß; dagegen ist nichts zu sagen.«
»Und tugendhaft,« betonte nochmals der Nachbar.
Die langen Schnurrbarthaare der Feldmäuse zitterten vor Erwartung.
»Jetzt!« sagte leise die eine, und stieß ihre Nachbarin an, damit sie reden solle.
»Herr Nachbar,« begann die Fette und räusperte sich, »es ist leider unsere Pflicht, Ihnen mitzuteilen, daß Ihre Braut ...«
»Daß meine Braut?«
»Das Lob, tugendhaft zu sein, nicht ganz verdient.«
»So,« sagte der Nachbar, »was wissen Sie denn von ihr?« Die fette Maus kam etwas aus der Fassung: Der Bräutigam blieb gar zu gelassen.
»Sie ist ... sie hatte ... kurz, man hat sie mit einer braunen Maus im Mondschein spazieren sehen!« Erleichtert setzte sich die Feldmaus; es war eben keine Kleinigkeit, einem Bräutigam so etwas zu sagen.
»So!« sagte der Nachbar.
»So! So, sagen Sie, Herr Nachbar? Und mit diesen Grundsätzen wollen Sie in die Ehe treten? Bei so etwas bleiben Sie gelassen? Die beiden haben sich nämlich auch geküßt!« Triumphierend sah die Feldmaus im Kreise herum.
Der Nachbar lachte. Da erhoben sich alle vier würdevoll.
»Wir haben unsere Pflicht getan,« sagten sie. »Das Weitere ist Ihre Sache!« Steif wandten sie sich zum Gehen, ihre Schwänzchen fuhren aufgeregt hin und her. Sie waren schwer enttäuscht. »Wir bedauern gestört zu haben!«
»Gar nicht, aber gar nicht!« rief der Nachbar. »Die große, dunkelbraune Maus bin ich nämlich selber gewesen. Übrigens lade ich Sie alle zur Hochzeit ein.«
Und er öffnete die Türe und machte eine tiefe Verbeugung ...
Story DNA
Moral
Do not spread rumors or jump to conclusions, as gossip often stems from misunderstanding and can cause unnecessary harm.
Plot Summary
A group of field mice learns that their neighbor is planning to marry a city mouse. Fuelled by gossip and a sense of duty, they decide to warn him, claiming his fiancée is not virtuous because she was seen with another brown mouse in the moonlight. When they confront the neighbor, he remains calm and then reveals, to their embarrassment, that the 'other brown mouse' was actually himself. He then invites them all to the wedding.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suspicion to embarrassment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Lisa Wenger was a Swiss author and painter, known for her children's books. This story reflects common human foibles (gossip, judgment) through animal characters, a classic fable tradition.
Plot Beats (13)
- A field mouse tells her visitors that their neighbor is going to marry a city mouse.
- The other mice are shocked, especially when they learn it's the white city mouse they've seen before.
- One fat field mouse claims to know something negative about the white mouse but refuses to say what it is, only that the information is reliable.
- The mice decide it's their duty to warn the neighbor about his fiancée.
- The four mice go to the neighbor's house, who assumes they are there to congratulate him on his engagement.
- The neighbor praises his fiancée as charming and virtuous, making the field mice's whiskers tremble with anticipation.
- The fat field mouse, prompted by her companions, awkwardly tells the neighbor that his fiancée does not entirely deserve the praise of being virtuous.
- The neighbor remains calm, asking what they know, which unnerves the fat mouse.
- The fat mouse reveals that the fiancée was seen walking with a brown mouse in the moonlight.
- The neighbor's continued calmness prompts the fat mouse to add, triumphantly, that the two were also seen kissing.
- The neighbor laughs, causing the field mice to become indignant and declare they have done their duty.
- As the disappointed mice turn to leave, the neighbor reveals that the 'large, dark brown mouse' was himself.
- The neighbor then invites all of them to the wedding.
Characters
The Hostess Field Mouse
A small, agile field mouse with a sleek, well-groomed brown coat. Her build is slender and graceful, typical of a wild mouse.
Attire: None, as she is an animal. Her 'braunes Pelzlein' (brown fur coat) is her natural covering.
Wants: To be in the know, to share scandalous information, and to uphold what she perceives as moral standards within her community.
Flaw: Prone to gossip and jumping to conclusions without verifying facts, leading to embarrassment.
She learns a lesson in humility and the dangers of unfounded gossip, though the story implies she might not fully grasp it.
Gossipy, easily excitable, self-righteous, and eager to spread rumors. She believes strongly in her 'duty' to intervene in others' affairs.
The Fat Brown Field Mouse
A noticeably plump and round field mouse with a brown coat. Her build is heavier than the other field mice.
Attire: None, as she is an animal. Her 'fette braune Feldmaus' (fat brown field mouse) is her natural covering.
Wants: To expose what she believes is a moral failing and to prevent a perceived unsuitable marriage, driven by a sense of duty and perhaps a touch of self-importance.
Flaw: Quick to judge and spread rumors based on incomplete information, easily flustered when confronted with calm logic.
She is part of the group that learns a lesson about jumping to conclusions, experiencing embarrassment.
Initially judgmental and secretive, then becomes the primary accuser. She is easily flustered when challenged but also proud of her 'duty'.
The Neighbor (Male Field Mouse)
A large, dark brown field mouse. His build is robust and healthy, suggesting strength and good health.
Attire: None, as he is an animal. His 'große, dunkelbraune Maus' (large, dark brown mouse) is his natural covering.
Wants: To marry his beloved White City Mouse and to live happily. He also enjoys a good-natured jest at the expense of his gossiping neighbors.
Flaw: None apparent in the story; he handles the situation with grace.
He remains consistent throughout the story, serving as the foil to the gossiping mice and revealing the truth.
Calm, good-humored, confident, loving, and a bit mischievous. He is unperturbed by gossip and secure in his relationship.
The White City Mouse
A delicate and charming city mouse with pure white fur and distinctive red eyes. Her build is likely slender, typical of a city mouse.
Attire: None, as she is an animal. Her 'Weiße' (white) fur is her natural covering.
Wants: To marry her beloved Neighbor.
Flaw: None shown in the story; she is an object of others' perceptions.
She remains a static character, her reputation briefly questioned but ultimately affirmed.
Charming, virtuous, and loving, as described by her fiancé. She is the innocent subject of the gossip.
Locations
Feldmaus's Burrow Living Area
A cozy, earthy burrow interior, likely a main living or gathering space for a field mouse. The air might carry a faint scent of damp soil and dried grasses.
Mood: Initially gossipy and conspiratorial, then self-righteous and determined.
The four field mice gather, spread gossip about the neighbor's impending marriage, and decide to 'warn' him.
Neighbor's Burrow Entrance
The immediate area outside and just inside the entrance to the neighbor's burrow, suggesting a brief threshold between the outside world and the private dwelling.
Mood: Initially tense and formal due to the mice's mission, shifting to awkwardness and then amusement.
The four field mice approach and enter the neighbor's burrow to confront him about his fiancée.
Neighbor's Burrow Living Area
The interior of the neighbor's burrow, likely a main chamber, which feels slightly more spacious or well-kept than the gossiping mouse's burrow. It has an air of quiet confidence.
Mood: Initially formal and tense, then increasingly humorous and lighthearted as the truth is revealed.
The field mice confront the neighbor, who calmly reveals the truth about his fiancée and the 'other' mouse.