Make Room for One More - A Yiddish Folk Tale from Poland
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Once upon a time lived a poor man. The man had a wife and nine children. They lived in a one-room shack. It was too crowded for the man. It was too noisy for the man.

 

Mendel was the town’s wise man. The man told Mendel about his problem.

 

“Do you have any animals?” asked Mendel.

 

The man had a cow, two goats, and five chickens.

 

“I can help you,” said Mendel. “Put the cow in your home. Come see me in one week.”

 

A week passed. The man went to Mendel. “I took in the cow. But now there is more noise. Now it is more crowded.”

 

“I see,” said Mendel. “Put the goats in your home. Come see me in one week.”

 

A week passed. The man went to Mendel. “I took in the goats. I took in the cow. Now there is even more noise. Now it is even more crowded.”

 

“I see,” said Mendel. “Put the chickens in your home. Come see me in one week.”

 

A week passed. The man went to Mendel. “I took in the chickens. I took in the goats. I took in the cow. There is noise day and night. There is no room to move.”

 

“I see,” said Mendel. “I can help you. Take all the animals out of your home. Come see me in one week.”

 

A week passed. The man went to Mendel. “Thank you. Thank you,” said the man. “I did as you said. I am so happy. My house is so quiet. It is not at all crowded.”