Puddock, Mousie, and Ratton
by Unknown · from More English Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Puddock the frog lived in a meadow. He lived in a cool, wet well. Mousie the Mouse lived too. She lived in a busy, noisy mill.
Puddock the Frog wanted a wife. He wanted to marry. He put on a tiny sword. He put on a tiny pistol. They looked very funny.
Puddock the Frog hopped to the mill. He came to Mousie the Mouse's door. He knocked on the door. "Mousie the Mouse, are you inside?" he asked. He waited for her answer.
Mousie the Mouse was inside. She sat and spun her thread. "Yes, kind Sir, I am here," she said. "I sit and spin softly."
Puddock said, "I came to woo you. I want to marry you. I want to be your husband." He looked very hopeful.
Mousie the Mouse shook her head. "I cannot marry you now," she said. "My Uncle Ratton is not home. I must wait for my uncle. He must come home first." She was very polite.
Just then, Uncle Ratton came in. "Uncle Ratton is here!" Puddock the Frog cried. "Now we can marry!" Mousie the Mouse smiled. They started to get ready. A happy wedding day began.
Mousie the Mouse sat by the wall. She was slim and small. Puddock the Frog sat next to her. He had his yellow side. They were ready for the feast. Everyone was happy.
But then, Duckie came in. Sir Drake came with her. Duckie was big. She walked right to Puddock the Frog. She picked up Puddock the Frog. Puddock the Frog let out a tiny squeak. This was a surprise!
Then the Old Cat came in. He had a fiddle on his back. He looked around the room. "Do you need any music?" he asked. The Old Cat looked very sly. This was a funny sight.
Duckie and Sir Drake went to the brook. Puddock the Frog went with them. Sir Drake carried Puddock the Frog. They swam to their pond. Puddock the Frog was gone.
The Old Cat saw Uncle Ratton. He started to chase Uncle Ratton. Little kittens came too. They tried to catch Uncle Ratton. They pounced near his tail. Uncle Ratton ran away fast. He was safe from them.
Mousie the Mouse was very smart. She saw all the trouble. She crept into a small hole. It was a hole in the wall. "Squeak!" she said. "I am safe here!"
Original Story
Puddock, Mousie, and Ratton
There lived a Puddock in a well,
And a merry Mousie in a mill.
Puddock he would a-wooing rid
Sword and pistol by his side.
Puddock came to the Mousie's inn,
"Mistress Mousie, are you within?"
MOUSIE.
"Yes, kind Sir, I am within,
Softly do I sit and spin."
PUDDOCK.
"Madam, I am come to woo,
Marriage I must have of you."
MOUSIE.
"Marriage I will grant you none
Till Uncle Ratton he comes home."
PUDDOCK.
"See, Uncle Ratton's now come in
Then go and bask the bride within."
Who is it that sits next the wall
But Lady Mousie both slim and small?
Who is it that sits next the bride
But Lord Puddock with yellow side?
But soon came Duckie and with her Sir Drake;
Duckie takes Puddock and makes him squeak.
Then came in the old carl cat
With a fiddle on his back:
"Do ye any music lack?"
Puddock he swam down the brook,
Sir Drake he catched him in his fluke.
The cat he pulled Lord Ratton down,
The kittens they did claw his crown.
But Lady Mousie, so slim and small,
Crept into a hole beneath the wall;
"Squeak," quoth she, "I'm out of it all."
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Puddock the frog decides to woo Mousie the mouse, who agrees to consider marriage only after her Uncle Ratton arrives. Once Ratton is present, a wedding feast begins, but it is abruptly interrupted by Duckie and Sir Drake, who attack Puddock. Subsequently, a cat attacks Uncle Ratton. Amidst the chaos, Lady Mousie cleverly escapes into a hole in the wall, leaving the others to their unfortunate fates.
Themes
Emotional Arc
anticipation to chaos to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This is a traditional Scottish nursery rhyme or folk song, often passed down orally, explaining its simple structure and rhyming scheme.
Plot Beats (13)
- Puddock, a frog, lives in a well, and Mousie, a mouse, lives in a mill.
- Puddock decides to go wooing, armed with a sword and pistol.
- Puddock arrives at Mousie's dwelling and asks if she is home.
- Mousie confirms she is home, spinning softly.
- Puddock proposes marriage to Mousie.
- Mousie refuses to marry until her Uncle Ratton returns home.
- Uncle Ratton arrives, and the wedding preparations begin.
- Lady Mousie and Lord Puddock are seated for the wedding.
- Duckie and Sir Drake suddenly appear, with Duckie seizing Puddock.
- An old carl cat arrives with a fiddle, asking if music is needed.
- Puddock is caught by Sir Drake in the brook and killed.
- The cat attacks Lord Ratton, and kittens claw him.
- Lady Mousie escapes the entire ordeal by creeping into a hole in the wall, declaring her safety.
Characters
Puddock ★ protagonist
A robust, medium-sized frog with a noticeable yellow underside. His skin is likely a mottled green or brown, typical of a common frog, with a slightly warty texture. He is agile in water but perhaps a bit clumsy on land.
Attire: For his wooing, he is described with a 'sword and pistol by his side,' implying a miniature, perhaps toy-like, set of weaponry strapped to his body, possibly with a tiny belt or harness made of woven reeds or thin leather.
Wants: To find a wife, specifically Mousie, and to elevate his social standing through marriage.
Flaw: Overconfidence and vulnerability to larger predators, particularly those of the water.
He begins as a confident suitor but ends up as prey, learning the harsh realities of the food chain.
Bold, somewhat arrogant, determined, a bit naive, and persistent in his romantic pursuits.
Image Prompt & Upload
A robust adult frog with mottled green and brown skin, a prominent yellow underside, and large golden eyes. He stands upright, facing forward, with a puffed-up chest. Around his waist is a thin, woven reed belt from which hangs a tiny, decorative silver sword and a small, dark pistol. He has a self-important expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Mousie ◆ supporting
A small, delicate mouse, described as 'slim and small.' She has soft grey fur, a long, thin tail, and delicate paws. Her movements are quick and precise.
Attire: She is described as 'softly do I sit and spin,' implying a domestic setting. She might wear a simple, homespun dress of natural linen or wool, perhaps in a muted brown or grey, suitable for a working mouse. Perhaps a small thimble on one paw.
Wants: To live a peaceful, domestic life and to ensure her safety, especially by consulting her family.
Flaw: Her small size makes her vulnerable to predators.
She maintains her cautious nature and successfully escapes danger, reinforcing her survival instincts.
Cautious, industrious, polite, and resourceful. She is not easily swayed and values family input.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, delicate mouse with soft grey fur, a long thin tail, and large, dark, intelligent eyes. She stands upright, facing forward. She wears a simple, muted brown linen dress with a small, white lace collar. Her tiny paws are delicate, and she holds a miniature wooden spinning spindle in her right paw. She has a cautious but demure expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Ratton ◆ supporting
A larger, more robust rodent than Mousie, with coarse grey-brown fur, a thick, scaly tail, and strong paws. He would appear older and more weathered than Mousie.
Attire: As an 'Uncle,' he might wear something slightly more formal or distinguished than Mousie, perhaps a small, dark waistcoat made of felt or rough wool, suggesting a figure of authority within the rodent community.
Wants: To protect his niece and maintain the family's well-being and honor.
Flaw: His size, while larger than Mousie, still makes him vulnerable to larger predators like cats.
He arrives to oversee the marriage proposal but becomes a victim of the cat, highlighting the dangers of their world.
Protective, authoritative, traditional, and perhaps a bit gruff. He is the decision-maker for Mousie.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, adult rat with coarse grey-brown fur, a thick, scaly tail, and strong paws. He stands upright, facing forward, with a confident and slightly gruff expression. He wears a small, dark grey felt waistcoat over his fur. His snout is long and whiskered, and his eyes are small and dark. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Duckie ⚔ antagonist
A plump, domestic duck with smooth white feathers, a bright orange bill, and webbed feet. She is larger and more powerful than Puddock.
Attire: Natural feathers, no clothing.
Wants: To hunt and feed, fulfilling her natural instincts.
Flaw: None apparent in the story; she is a successful predator.
Appears as a force of nature, disrupting the wedding and fulfilling her role as a predator.
Predatory, opportunistic, efficient, and decisive.
Image Prompt & Upload
A plump adult domestic duck with smooth white feathers, a bright orange bill, and dark, beady eyes. She stands upright, facing forward, with a focused, predatory expression. Her webbed feet are visible. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Sir Drake ⚔ antagonist
A large, handsome drake, likely with iridescent green head feathers, a white neck ring, and grey-brown body feathers, typical of a mallard or similar domestic drake. He is powerful and agile in water.
Attire: Natural feathers, no clothing.
Wants: To hunt and feed, acting on natural instinct.
Flaw: None apparent in the story.
Appears as a force of nature, assisting Duckie in capturing Puddock.
Predatory, efficient, and a strong hunter.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, adult drake with iridescent green head feathers, a white neck ring, and grey-brown body feathers. He stands upright, facing forward, with a powerful and alert expression. His strong, yellowish bill is slightly open. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Old Carl Cat ⚔ antagonist
An old, perhaps scruffy, domestic cat with matted fur, possibly grey or tabby. He might have battle scars or a slightly hunched posture, indicative of his age and experience. His claws are sharp and ready.
Attire: His most distinctive item is a fiddle on his back, implying a small, worn instrument strapped to him, perhaps with a piece of twine or leather.
Wants: To hunt and feed, and perhaps to entertain (or lure prey with entertainment).
Flaw: None apparent in the story; he is a successful predator.
Appears as a sudden, disruptive force, acting as a predator to Ratton and his family.
Cunning, opportunistic, and predatory, but also with a touch of showmanship (carrying a fiddle).
Image Prompt & Upload
An old, scruffy domestic cat with matted grey tabby fur, a long, scarred tail, and shrewd green eyes. He stands upright, facing forward, with a cunning, slightly hunched posture. A small, worn wooden fiddle is strapped to his back with a piece of twine. His whiskers are long, and one ear might be slightly torn. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Kittens ○ minor
Small, playful, and sharp-clawed kittens, likely sharing similar fur patterns to the Old Carl Cat, but softer and less scarred. They are agile and quick.
Attire: Natural fur, no clothing.
Wants: To play and to participate in the hunt, following their natural instincts.
Flaw: Their small size and inexperience compared to the Old Carl Cat.
They appear briefly to assist in attacking Ratton, demonstrating their developing predatory instincts.
Playful, predatory (instinctively), and mischievous.
Image Prompt & Upload
Three small, playful kittens with soft grey tabby fur, bright curious eyes, and tiny twitching whiskers. They stand upright, facing forward, in various playful pouncing stances, with their tiny claws slightly extended. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Well
A dark, damp well, likely stone-lined and mossy, where Puddock resides.
Mood: solitary, damp
Puddock's initial dwelling place before he goes wooing.
Image Prompt & Upload
A deep, circular stone well, its inner walls slick with dark green moss and algae, descending into murky, still water at the bottom. A faint, cool light filters down from the opening above, creating dappled patterns on the wet stone. The air is visibly damp and cool. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Mousie's Inn
A cozy, humble inn, likely a small, rustic Scottish cottage or croft, where Mousie lives and spins. It has a wall with a hiding hole.
Mood: cozy, domestic, then chaotic
The setting for Puddock's proposal, the wedding feast, and the subsequent chaotic attack.
Image Prompt & Upload
The interior of a small, rustic Scottish croft, with rough-hewn timber walls and a low, smoky hearth where embers glow. A simple wooden spinning wheel stands near a small, leaded window, through which soft daylight enters. A sturdy wooden table is set with humble fare. In one corner, a small, dark hole is visible at the base of the wall. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Brook
A small, flowing stream or brook, likely near the inn, where Puddock attempts to escape.
Mood: desperate, natural
Puddock's final attempt to flee and his capture by Sir Drake.
Image Prompt & Upload
A shallow, clear brook meanders over smooth river stones, its surface reflecting the bright daytime sky. Lush green grass and reeds line the banks, with a few willow branches gently dipping into the water. The current is gentle but steady, creating small ripples and glints of light. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
