When I was but a wee youngster, not old enough to do REAL work, I helped at chore time by holding the cow's tail. This was a very important task as the person milking did not want the stinging, stinking tail slapped in the face. I would sit on a hand-made milk stool and firmly grab the tail. The cow did not always appreciate what I was doing because it did not allow her to whisk off those pesky flies of all shapes and sizes. She would fidget and kick and toss her head back in attempts to get rid of the crawling, biting creatures.

Often a pussy cat would jump onto my lap and start to purr. It would curl up and expect me to take on the additional job of cat sitting. On occasion the person milking would also provide a squirt of warm milk for the pussy.

The warm, moist air was filled with the smells of hay, milk, and manure. These were smells which a farm family took for granted. While I sat there was ample time for the telling of many a tale. There were stories from books and stories of family experiences. There were riddles and rhymes in German and English. One in particular related to the milking situation itself.

Swei bein zass auf Drei Bein.

Fur Bein nam ein bein und schlug Swei Bein.

Dan nam Swei Bein Drei Bein und schlug Fur Bein.

Dan leis Drei Bein, ein bein fallen.

Two legs sat on three legs.

Four legs took one leg and kicked two legs.

Then two legs took three legs and hit four legs.

Then three legs dropped one leg.

The riddle described a scene in which a cow kicked the person milking. The person took the milk stool and hit the cow and as a result the milk stool lost one leg.

The sound of the German words coming from the mouth of the storyteller never failed to entertain the listeners.

Tell me more riddles! Tell me more tales, begged the listener.

What tales would you have told?