Once upon a time, a mouse, a bird, and a sausage became companions, kept house together, and lived happily, increasing their possessions wonderfully. The bird's task was to fly into the forest each day and bring back wood. The mouse had to carry water, light the fire, and set the table, while the sausage was the cook.
He who is too well off is always longing for something new. One day, the bird met another bird and boasted of his excellent circumstances. The other bird, however, called him a poor simpleton for his hard work, saying the mouse and sausage had it easy at home. When the mouse finished her chores, she rested until called to set the table. The sausage stayed by the pot, and when dinner was nearly ready, it would roll through the broth or vegetables to season them perfectly. When the bird returned, they dined and slept soundly—a splendid life.
The next day, influenced by the other bird, he refused to fetch wood anymore. He declared he had been their servant long enough and demanded they change roles. Despite earnest pleas from the mouse and sausage, the bird insisted. They drew lots: the sausage was to fetch wood, the mouse became cook, and the bird was to fetch water.
What happened? The little sausage went toward the wood, the bird lit the fire, and the mouse waited by the pot. The sausage was gone so long they grew worried. The bird flew out to meet it and encountered a dog who had seized and swallowed the poor sausage as lawful booty. The bird accused the dog of barefaced robbery, but the dog claimed he had found forged letters on the sausage, forfeiting its life to him.
The bird sadly carried the wood home and told the tale. Though troubled, they agreed to carry on together. The bird laid the cloth, and the mouse prepared the food. Trying to season it as the sausage did, she attempted to roll in the pot but was scalded to death.
When the bird came to serve dinner, the cook was missing. In distress, he threw wood about, calling and searching. Carelessly, he started a conflagration. Hastening to fetch water, he dropped the bucket into the well, fell in after it, and drowned.