Once, a small
lady mouse lived under a wise man's house. At first,
she was just a nuisance to everyone. She chewed wood and ate
any food that the wise man and his family left in the house at
night. But she was not happy.
One evening, she came out
of her hiding place and sat in front of the
wise man. "Can you change me into a beautiful girl?" she
asked. "I'm tired of being a mouse."
"Are you
sure that's what you want?"
"Yes,
I'm quite sure. I've seen how you human beings enjoy yourselves. I'd like to
be a beautiful girl and marry a rich husband."
"Very well,"
said the wise man, "I'll change you into a beautiful girl."
Then something very strange happened. The mouse started changing into a
beautiful woman dressed in a lovely sarong kebaya. There was a delicious
perfume in the room.
Next day, when the girl
was on her way to the market, the sun was shining brightly. Many people wished
her good morning and some young wren turned
round to look at her. Suddenly, a dark cloud covered the sun. The girl
felt cold.
"Oh,
I would
like to be a cloud," the girl said to herself. "It's stronger than the sun. If I turn into a cloud,
there'll be no need for
me to many a rich husband."
The wise man
heard what the girl said.
"If
it will make you happy," he said, "I can change you into a cloud." The girl
felt herself floating up into the sky. She was as light as a cloud. But
soon she was tossed this way and that by the wind. She saw the wind fill
the sails of boats on the sea far below her
and carry them along until they were out of sight. She then cried out that she wanted to be changed into
a strong wind.
The
wise man appeared again. "All right. I'll change you into a strong wind. But
why are you never satisfied?"
But before he could hear
what the girl said — "Whoosh!"—he was almost blown over by a strong
wind. The wind rushed past and threw itself against a tall mountain.
"Stop! Stop!" the girl called out.
She had been changed into a wind. "I'll be hurt if I'm thrown
against the mountain."
The wind tried to climb
over the top of the mountain but it was not able to do so. The mountain was so
hard and slippery.
"Why did you think
you were stronger than IT' the mountain
shouted at the wind. "I'll teach you a good lesson."
. The wind dropped from
the top of the mountain to the bottom. "Oh, I think I'm going to be
sick," the girl sobbed.
"Why, you're not even
as strong as a mouse! Even a mouse can make a hole and live inside me!"
the mountain said.
"0 wise man," the girl called out, "please, won't you
help me?"
"Well
now," said the wise man, who was never far away, "that depends. Will
you promise never to be dissatisfied again with what you are?"
"Yes,
yes," the girl said.
"And if I change you
back into a mouse again you'll never want to be anything else?"
"I
promise, I promise," said the girl.
So the wise man changed
her into a mouse again and she went back to live under his house.
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