It Could Always be Worse?

It Could Always be Worse!

It was when one of my sons moved back home that I recalled a story I used to read to his older brother.  It was about an old woman who thought her house was too small and she was told, probably by a wise old man, to move lots of things or animals into the house until it was practically overflowing. Then, after living like this for a while, she was told to move everything out one at a time, and when everything had gone her home didn't feel small anymore!

Unfortunately I can’t remember the title of the book but I was listening to the radio recently and heard someone relating a similar tale, called ‘A Squash and a Squeeze’ by Julia Donaldson, far too recent to be the book I had.  I couldn’t look this tale up fast enough and found it was from an old Jewish folk tale, retold by Margot Zemach, and called ‘It Could Always be Worse’, but this title doesn’t sound familiar either.

Too Much Noise by Ann McGovern is a similar story but this title doesn't ring any bells for me.

I can only assume the book I had was another re-write in a similar vein, it was one of a series of small books that were given to children travelling on Saudia airlines in the 1970s. Also in the series were Goldilocks, Red Riding Hood and Little Red Hen and they were probably published in the USA.

Now, back to my boomerang son moving in, with all of his belongings, cluttering up my home, I can take comfort from this folk tale because one day he will leave again, along with his boxes and amps!

Update:

I have found another version of this tale:

A Big Quiet House

A Yiddish Folktale from Eastern Europe

There was once a man who wished his small, noisy house was larger and quieter. He went to the wise old woman of the town and explained his need. She said, "I can solve your problem. Just do as I say."

The man agreed.

"If you have a chicken, some sheep, a horse, and a cow," she said, "bring them into the house with you."

"That's a silly thing to do," thought the old man. But he did it anyway. Now his house was already small, and with all those animals in it, there was no room at all. He returned to the old woman and cried, "I need more room! The animals are so noisy I can't think!"

"Take all those animals out of your dwelling," she replied.

When he had put all the animals comfortably back in the barn, the man went into his house. To his amazement, it suddenly looked remarkably bigger! Without the animals inside, his house was now quiet too!