Stories from Near and Far

The Mouse-deer and the Farmer

DESCRIPTION

The Mouse-deer and the farmer is a delightful trickster tale from Southeast Asia. In this story, the Mouse-deer tricks the farmer not once but twice!

Colour the Mouse-deer and the tiger

Transcript

Mouse-deer loved to eat the fruits, roots, and shoots of the forest. But he loved something else even more.

He loved the vegetables in Farmer’s garden.

Children, what is your favourite vegetable and fruit?

One day, Mouse-deer went to the edge of the forest. He looked out at row after row of vegetables.

“Mmmm,” said Mouse-deer, “Juicy cucumbers! Yummy yams!” He started into the garden.

Snap! “Oh!”

Children, what do you think happened?

His leg was caught in a snare! Mouse-deer pulled and pulled. But he could not getaway.

“Oh, no!” he said. “The farmer will have me for dinner now!”

Then he saw the farmer coming. Mouse-deer thought fast. He lay on the ground and made his body stiff.

The farmer was very excited and bent to look at the Mouse-deer, “Well, well, well, Look what I caught. A mouse deer! Ummmm, but he looks dead.”

The farmer pushed him with his foot. Mouse-deer didn’t move.

“Maybe he’s been dead a long time,” said Farmer. “Too bad! I guess we can’t eat him.”

He pulled the Mouse-deer’s leg out of the snare. Then he tossed the Mouse-deer back into the forest.

So children, who was delighted in spite of getting tossed in the forest?

Yes! It was the mouse deer.

Mouse-deer landed with a soft plop. Then thanking his stars, he jumped up and ran. Behind him, he heard Farmer yell.

“Hey! You tricked me!”

Mouse-deer laughed. “Farmer is smart. But Mouse-deer is smarter!”

A few days passed. Mouse-deer kept thinking about all those vegetables and his mouth started watering.

So, one day, he went back to the edge of the forest.

“Mmmm,” said Mouse-deer. “Tasty gourds! Scrumptious sweet potatoes!”

Then he saw something new. It looked like a man. But its head was coconut, and its body was rubber.

Children, what do you think it was?

“A scarecrow!” said Mouse-deer. “That silly Farmer. Does he think he can scare me with that? I’ll show him how scared I am!”

Mouse-deer marched up to the scarecrow. He gave it a big kick.

Oh no! His leg stuck to the scarecrow. The scarecrow was covered with sticky sap from a rubber tree!

“Let me go!” said Mouse-deer. He pulled and he pulled. Then he pushed with his other front leg.

Oops! That leg got stuck too.

“Turn me loose!” He pulled and he pulled. Then he pushed with his two hind legs.

They stuck too.       

“PUT ME DOWN!” He pulled and he pushed and he pulled and he pushed. But Mouse-deer was trapped.

Then he saw Farmer. Mouse-deer thought fast. But he didn’t have any ideas!

Children, please suggest something to the Mouse-deer.

Let’s listen ahead to find out what happened.

“Well, well,” said the farmer. “How nice of you to come back.”

He pulled Mouse-deer off the scarecrow and carried him to the house. He put him outside in an empty chicken coop.

“I’ll keep you here tonight,” said the farmer, “And tomorrow you’ll be our dinner.”

All that night, the Mouse-deer couldn’t sleep. He didn’t want to be the farmer’s dinner! He kept thinking about how to save himself, but he couldn’t think of any ideas.

When the sun rose, Mouse-deer just lay there sadly.

Then he heard something. “Why, it’s Mouse-deer! So Farmer caught you at last. It serves you right!”

It was Farmer’s dog. Mouse-deer thought fast.

“What do you mean, Dog? Farmer didn’t catch me.”

“Then why are you in the coop?” said the Dog.

“Because there aren’t enough beds in the house. You see, Farmer is holding a feast tomorrow. And I’m the guest of honour.”

“Guest of honour?” said Dog. “That’s not fair! I’ve been his loyal friend for years, and you’re just a thief. The guest of honour should be me!” demanded the dog.

“You know, Dog, you’re right. Why don’t you take my place? When Farmer sees you in here, he’ll make you the guest of honour instead.”

Children, do you think the dog will agree?

“Really?” said Dog. “You don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” said Mouse-deer. “You deserve it.”

“Mouse-deer, you’re not so bad after all. Thank you!” Dog lifted the latch and opened the door.

“You’re welcome, Dog. Enjoy the feast.”

Mouse-deer ran for the forest. Then he watched from the forest’s edge. He saw Farmer come out and stare at Dog. Then he heard the farmer yell.

“You silly dog! You let the mouse deer getaway!”

Mouse-deer laughed. “Farmer will have to find a different dinner now!” Then he went off singing his song.

I am quick and smart as I can be.

Try and try, but you can’t catch me.