Welcome back sleepy listeners.
I'm your host Joanne,
And I'm so glad you're here with me tonight.
For tonight's bedtime story,
I'll be reading Muflu.
A Tender Old Fashioned Tale by Wida Adapted by Kate Douglas Wiggin Set in Italy,
This sweet story follows a young boy named Lolo and his beloved white poodle,
Muflu,
And the very special bond they share.
I'll be reading the story through twice,
Giving you a little extra time to relax,
Settle in and drift off to sleep.
So now.
As we get ready to begin.
Make yourself comfortable and cozy.
Let your head rest softly against your pillow.
Feel the bed supporting you beneath you.
And as you settle in.
Begin to let go of the day that has passed.
Whatever filled your hours today can be set aside for now.
There's nothing you need to figure out tonight.
Nothing you need to finish and nowhere else you need to be.
Allow the thoughts of the day to become a little quieter as you bring your attention here to this moment.
Notice the comfort of your bed the softness of your blankets.
And the gentle rhythm of your breathing.
With each breath.
Give yourself permission to relax a little more.
Let your shoulders soften.
Allow your body to grow still.
And know that the day is behind you now.
For the next little while.
You can simply relax and listen.
Allowing the sound of my voice and the words of the story to carry you gently along as you slowly drift closer and closer towards sleep.
And whenever you're ready,
Let's begin.
Lolo and Muflu lived far away from here in a sunny country called Italy.
Lolo was not as strong as you are.
And could never run about and play,
For he was lame,
Poor fellow.
And always had to hop along on the little crutch.
He was never well enough to go to school.
But as his fingers were active and quick,
He could plate straw matting and make baskets at home.
He had four or five rosy,
Bright little brothers and sisters,
But they were all so strong and could play all day so easily that Lolo was not with them much.
So,
Lufu was his very best friend.
And they were together all day long.
Mufulu was a snow-white moodle,
With such soft,
Curly wool that he looked just like a lamb.
And the man who gave him to the children,
When he was a little puppy,
Had called them Mouflon,
Which meant sheep in his country.
Lolo's father had died four years before,
But he had a mother who had worked very hard to keep the children clean and get them enough to eat.
He had a big brother,
Tassel.
Who worked for a gardener.
And every Saturday night brought his wages home to help feed and clothe the little children.
Tasso was almost a man now,
And in that country,
As soon as you are grown to be a man,
You have to go away and be a soldier.
So Lolo's mother was troubled all the time,
For fear that her Tassa would be taken away.
If you have money enough,
You can always pay someone to go in your place.
Pataso had no money and neither had the poor mother,
So every day she was anxious lest her boy might have to go to the wars.
But Lolo and Muflu knew nothing of all this.
And every day,
When Lolo was well enough,
They were happy together.
They would walk up the streets,
Or sit on the church steps,
Or if the day was fair,
Would perhaps go into the country and bring home great bundles of yellow and blue and crimson flowers.
The tumbledown old house in which the family lived was near a tall grey church.
It was a beautiful old church,
And all the children loved it,
But Lolo most of all.
" He loved it in the morning,
When the people brought in great bunches of white lilies to trim it,
And at noon,
When it was cool and shady,
And at sunset,
When the long rays shone through the painted windows and made blue and golden and violet lights on the floor.
One morning,
Lolo and Mufu were sitting on the church steps and watching the people.
When a gentleman who was passing by stopped to look at the dog.
That's a very fine poodle,
" he said.
Indeed he is,
Cried Lolo.
But you should see him on Sundays,
When he is just washed.
Then he is as white as snow.
Can you do any tricks?
" asked the gentleman.
I should say so,
Said Lolo.
For he had taught the dog all he knew.
He can stand on his hind legs.
He can dance.
He can speak.
He can make a wheelbarrow of himself.
And when I put a biscuit on his nose and count one,
Two,
Three,
He will snap and catch the biscuit.
The gentleman said he should like to see some of the tricks.
And Mufu was very glad to do them,
And he loved to do what his little master wished.
Then the gentleman told Lolo that he had a little boy at home.
So weak and so sick that he cannot get up from the sofa.
And that he would like to have Lolo bring the poodle to show him the next day.
So he gave Lolo some money.
And told him the name of the hotel where he was staying.
Lolo went hopping home as fast as his little crutch could carry him.
And went quickly upstairs to his mother.
Oh mama,
He said.
See the money a gentleman gave me?
And all because dear Moofloo did his pretty tricks so nicely.
Now you can have your coffee every morning and Tassel can have his new suit for Sunday.
Then he told his mother about the gentleman.
And that he had promised to take Muthu to see him the next day.
So,
When the morning came,
Muflu was washed as white as snow,
And his pretty curls were tied up with blue ribbon.
And they both trotted off.
Mufu was so proud of his curls and his ribbon that he hardly liked to put his feet on the ground at all.
They were shown to the little boy's room where he lay on the sofa,
Very pale and unhappy.
A bright little look came into his eyes when he saw the dog,
And he laughed when Mufu did his tricks.
How he clapped his hands when he saw him make a wheelbarrow.
And he tossed them both handfuls of cakes and candies.
Neither the boy nor the dog ever had quite enough to eat.
So they nibbled the little cakes with their sharp white teeth and were very glad.
When Lolo got up to go.
The little boy began to cry and said,
Oh,
I want the dog.
Let me have the dog.
Oh,
Indeed I can't,
Said Lolo.
He is my own Moofloo,
And I cannot let you have him.
The little boy was so unhappy and cried so bitterly that Lola was very sorry to see him and he went quickly down the stairs with Muflu.
The gentleman gave him more money this time,
And he was so excited and so glad that he went very fast all the way home,
Swinging himself over the stones on his little crutch.
But when you open the door.
There was his mother crying as if her heart would break.
And all the children were crying in a corner.
And even Tassa was home from his work,
Looking very unhappy.
Oh,
What is the matter?
" called Lolo.
But no one answered him.
And Mufu,
Seeing them all so sad,
Sat down and threw up his nose in the air and howled a long sad howl.
By and by,
One of the children told Lolo that at last Tasso had been chosen to be a soldier and that he must soon go away to war.
The poor mother sat crying,
As she did not know what would become of her little children through the long cold winter.
Lolo shouldered his money.
But she was too unhappy even to care for that.
And so,
By and by,
He went to his bed with Muthlu.
The dog had always slept at Lolo's feet.
But this night,
He crept close up by the side of his little master and licked his hand now and then to show that he was sorry.
The next morning,
Lolo and Muthu went with Tasso to the gardens where he worked.
And all the way along the bright river and among the green trees.
They talked together of what they should do when Tassel had gone.
Tasso said that if he could only get some money,
He would not have to go away to the wars.
But he shook his head sadly and knew that no one would lend it to them.
At noon,
Lola went home with Muflu to his dinner.
And when they had finished It was only bean soup and soon eaten.
The mother told Lolo that his aunt wanted him to go and see her that afternoon and take care of the children while she went out.
So Lolo put on his hat.
Called Muflu and was limping toward the door.
When his mother said,
No,
Don't take the dog today.
Your aunt doesn't like him.
Leave him here with me.
Leave me alone,
Said Lolo.
Why,
I never leave him.
He wouldn't know what to do without me all the afternoon.
Yes,
Leave him,
" said his mother.
I don't want you to take him with you.
Don't let me tell you again.
So Lolo turned around and went down the stairs,
Feeling very sad at leaving his dear Mufu even for a short time.
But the hours went by.
And when night time came,
He hurried back to the little old home.
He stood at the bottom of the long,
Dark stairway and called,
Muflu,
Muflu.
But no doggy came.
Then he climbed halfway up to the landing and called again.
But no little white feet came pattering down.
Up to the top of the stairs went poor tired Lolo and opened the door.
The mother had been crying,
And she looked very sad and did not answer him for a moment.
Where is my Mufu?
Asked Lolo again.
What have you done with my dear Moofloo?
He is sold,
" the mother said at last.
Sold to the gentleman who has the little lame boy.
He came here today.
And he likes the dog so much,
And his little boy was so pleased at the pretty tricks he does.
Then he told me he would give a great deal of money if I would sell him the dog.
Just think Lolo.
He gave me so much money that we can pay somebody now to go to the war for Tasso.
But before she had finished talking,
Lolo began to grow white and cold and to waver to and fro so that his little crutch could hardly support him.
When she had done,
He called out.
My MuFlu.
My MuFlu sold.
And he threw up his hands over his head and fell all in a heap on the floor,
His poor little crutch clattering down beside him.
His mother took him up and laid him on his bed,
But all night long he tossed to and fro,
Calling for his dog.
When the morning came.
His little hands and his head were very,
Very hot.
And by and by the doctor came and said he had a fever.
He asked the mother what it was the little boy was calling for.
And she told him that it was his dog and that he had been sold.
The doctor shook his head and then went away.
Day after day,
Poor Lolo lay on his bed.
His hair had been cut short.
He did not know his brothers and sisters,
Nor his mother,
And his little aching head went to and fro,
To and fro,
On the pillow from morning till night.
Once Tassel went to the hotel to find the gentleman.
He was going to tell him to take the money and give him back the dog,
But the gentleman had gone many miles away on the cars and taken Muflu with him.
So every day,
Lolo grew weaker,
Until the doctor said that he must die very soon.
One afternoon,
They were all in the room with him.
The windows were wide open.
His mother sat by his bed and the children on the floor beside her.
Evan Tostle was at home,
Helping to take care of his little brother.
All was so still that you could hear poor Lolo's faint breath when,
Suddenly,
There was a scampering and a pattering of little feet on the stairs.
And a white poodle dashed into the room and jumped on the bed.
It was Moofloo.
But you would never have known him,
For he was so thin that you could count all his bones.
" His curls were dirty and matted and full of sticks and straws and burrs.
His feet were dusty and bleeding,
And you could tell in a moment that he had travelled a great many miles.
When he jumped on the bed,
Lolo opened his eyes a little.
He saw it was Muflu,
And laid one little thin hand on the dog's head.
Then he turned on his pillow,
Closed his eyes,
And went quietly to sleep.
Muflu would not get off the bed and would eat nothing unless they brought it to him there.
He only lay close by his little master,
With his brown eyes wide open,
Looking straight into his face.
By and by,
The doctor came and said that Lolo was really a little better.
And that perhaps he might get well now.
The mother and tussle were very glad indeed.
But they knew that the gentleman would come back for his dog.
And they scarcely knew what to do.
Nor what to say to him.
Lolo grew a little stronger every day,
And at the end of the week,
A man came upstairs,
Asking if Mufu was there.
They had taken him a long way off.
But he had run away from them one day,
And they had never been able to find him.
Taso asked the messenger to let Mufu stay until he had seen the gentleman.
And he took the money and put on his hat and went with him to the hotel.
The sick boy was in the room with his father.
And Taso went straight to them and told them all about it,
That Lolo nearly died without his dear Muflu.
That day after day he lay in his bed calling for his dog.
And then at last one afternoon,
Mufu came back to them.
Thin and hungry and dirty.
But so glad to see his little master again.
Nobody knew,
Said Tasso,
How he could have found his way so many miles alone.
But there he was,
And now he begged the gentleman to be so kind as to take back the money.
He would go and be a soldier if he must.
But Lolo and his dog must never be parted again.
The gentleman told Hasso that he seemed to be a kind brother and that he might keep the money and the dog too,
If only he would find them another poodle and teach him to be as wise and faithful as Muflu was.
Tassa was so glad that he thanked them again and again.
And hurried home to tell Lolo and his mother the good news.
He soon found a poodle almost as pretty as Muflu.
And every day,
Lolo,
Who has grown strong now,
Helps Tasso to teach him all of Muflu's tricks.
Sometimes Lolo turns and puts his arms around Mufu's neck and says,
Tell me,
My Moofloo.
How you ever came back to me.
Over all the rivers and all the bridges and all the miles of road.
Mufu can never answer him,
But I think he must have found his way home because he loved his master so much.
And the grown people always say,
Love will always find the way.
Lolo and Muflu lived far away from here in a sunny country called Italy.
Lolo was not as strong as you are.
And could never run about and play,
For he was lame,
Poor fellow.
And always had to hop along on the little crutch.
He was never well enough to go to school.
But as his fingers were active and quick,
He could plate straw matting and make baskets at home.
He had four or five rosy,
Bright little brothers and sisters,
But they were all so strong and could play all day so easily that Lolo was not with them much.
So,
Lufu was his very best friend.
And they were together all day long.
Mufulu was a snow-white moodle,
With such soft,
Curly wool that he looked just like a lamb.
And the man who gave him to the children,
When he was a little puppy,
Had called them Mouflon,
Which meant sheep in his country.
Lolo's father had died four years before,
But he had a mother who had worked very hard to keep the children clean and get them enough to eat.
He had a big brother,
Tassel.
Who worked for a gardener.
And every Saturday night brought his wages home to help feed and clothe the little children.
Tasso was almost a man now,
And in that country,
As soon as you are going to be a man,
You have to go away and be a soldier.
So Lolo's mother was troubled all the time,
For fear that her Tassa would be taken away.
If you have money enough,
You can always pay someone to go in your place.
But Tasso had no money,
And neither had the poor mother,
So every day she was anxious,
Lest her boy might have to go to the wars.
But Lolo and Muflu knew nothing of all this.
And every day,
When Lolo was well enough,
They were happy together.
They would walk up the streets,
Or sit on the church steps,
Or if the day was fair,
Would perhaps go into the country and bring home great bundles of yellow and blue and crimson flowers.
The tumbledown old house in which the family lived was near a tall grey church.
It was a beautiful old church,
And all the children loved it,
But Lolo most of all.
He loved it in the morning,
When the people brought in great bunches of white lilies to trim it,
And at noon,
When it was cool and shady,
And at sunset,
When the long rays shone through the painted windows and made blue and golden and violet lights on the floor.
One morning,
Lolo and Muflu were sitting on the church steps and watching the people.
When a gentleman who was passing by stopped to look at the dog.
That's a very fine poodle,
He said.
Indeed he is,
Cried Lolo.
But you should see him on Sundays,
When he is just washed.
Then he is as white as snow.
Can you do any tricks,
Asked the gentleman.
I should say so,
Said Lolo.
For he had taught the dog all he knew.
He can stand on his hind legs.
He can dance.
He can speak.
He can make a wheelbarrow of himself.
And when I put a biscuit on his nose and count 1,
2,
3,
He will snap and catch the biscuit.
The gentleman said he should like to see some of the tricks.
And Mufu was very glad to do them,
And he loved to do what his little master wished.
Then the gentleman told Lolo that he had a little boy at home.
So weak and so sick that he cannot get up from the sofa.
And that he would like to have Lolo bring the poodle to show him the next day.
So he gave Lolo some money.
And told him the name of the hotel where he was staying.
Lolo went hopping home as fast as his little crutch could carry him.
And went quickly upstairs to his mother.
Oh mama,
He said.
See the money a gentleman gave me?
And all because dear Moofloo did his pretty tricks so nicely.
Now you can have your coffee every morning and Tassel can have his new suit for Sunday.
Then he told his mother about the gentleman.
And that he had promised to take Muthu to see him the next day.
So,
When the morning came,
Muflu was washed as white as snow,
And his pretty curls were tied up with blue ribbon.
And they both trotted off.
Mufu was so proud of his curls and his ribbon that he hardly liked to put his feet on the ground at all.
They were shown to the little boy's room where he lay on the sofa,
Very pale and unhappy.
A bright little look came into his eyes when he saw the dog,
And he laughed when Mufu did his tricks.
How he clapped his hands when he saw him make a wheelbarrow.
And he tossed them both handfuls of cakes and candies.
Neither the boy nor the dog ever had quite enough to eat.
So they nibbled the little cakes with their sharp white teeth and were very glad.
When Lolo got up to go.
The little boy began to cry and said,
Oh,
I want the dog.
Let me have the dog.
Oh,
Indeed I can't,
Said Lolo.
He is my own Muflu,
And I cannot let you have him.
The little boy was so unhappy and cried so bitterly.
That Lola was very sorry to see him,
And he went quickly down the stairs with Muflu.
The gentleman gave him more money this time,
And he was so excited and so glad that he went very fast all the way home,
Swinging himself over the stones on his little crutch.
But when you open the door.
There was his mother crying as if her heart would break.
And all the children were crying in a corner.
And even Tassa was home from his work,
Looking very unhappy.
Oh,
What is the matter?
" called Lolo.
But no one answered him.
And Mufu,
Seeing them all so sad,
Sat down and threw up his nose in the air and howled a long,
Sad howl.
By and by,
One of the children told Lolo that at last Tasso had been chosen to be a soldier and that he must soon go away to war.
The poor mother sat crying,
As she did not know what would become of her little children through the long cold winter.
Lolo shoulder his money.
But she was too unhappy even to care for that.
And so,
By and by,
He went to his bed with Muthlu.
The dog had always slept at Lolo's feet.
But this night,
He crept close up by the side of his little master and licked his hand now and then to show that he was sorry.
The next morning,
Lolo and Muthu went with Tasso to the gardens where he worked.
And all the way along the bright river and among the green trees,
They talked together of what they should do when Tasso had gone.
Tasso said that if he could only get some money,
He would not have to go away to the wars.
But he shook his head sadly and knew that no one would lend it to them.
At noon,
Lola went home with Muflu to his dinner.
And when they had finished,
It was only bean soup and soon eaten.
The mother told Lolo that his aunt wanted him to go and see her that afternoon and take care of the children while she went out.
So Lolo put on his hat.
Called Muflu and was limping toward the door.
When his mother said,
No,
Don't take the dog today.
Your aunt doesn't like him.
Leave him here with me.
Leave me alone,
Said Lolo.
Why,
I never leave him.
He wouldn't know what to do without me all the afternoon.
Yes,
Leave him,
Said his mother.
I don't want you to take him with you.
Don't let me tell you again.
So Lolo turned around and went down the stairs,
Feeling very sad at leaving his dear Mufu even for a short time.
But the hours went by.
And when night time came,
He hurried back to the little old home.
He stood at the bottom of the long,
Dark stairway and called,
Muflu,
Muflu.
But no doggy came.
Then he climbed halfway up to the landing and called again.
But no little white feet came pattering down.
Up to the top of the stairs went poor tired Lolo and opened the door.
The mother had been crying,
And she looked very sad and did not answer him for a moment.
Where is my Mufu?
Asked Lolo again.
What have you done with my dear Moofloo?
He is sold,
The mother said at last.
Sold to the gentleman who has the little lame boy.
He came here today.
And he likes the dog so much.
And his little boy was so pleased at the pretty tricks he does.
Then he told me he would give a great deal of money if I would sell him the dog.
Just think Lobo.
He gave me so much money that we can pay somebody now to go to the war for Tasso.
But before she had finished talking.
Lolo began to grow white and cold,
And to waver to and fro,
So that his little crutch could hardly support him.
When she had done,
He called out.
My MuFlu.
My MuFlu sold.
And he threw up his hands over his head and fell all in a heap on the floor,
His poor little crutch clattering down beside him.
His mother took him up and laid him on his bed,
But all night long he tossed to and fro,
Calling for his dog.
When the morning came,
His little hands and his head were very,
Very hot.
And by and by the doctor came and said he had a fever.
He asked the mother what it was the little boy was calling for.
And she told him that it was his dog and that he had been sold.
The doctor shook his head and then went away.
Day after day,
Poor Lolo lay on his bed.
His hair had been cut short.
He did not know his brothers and sisters,
Nor his mother,
And his little aching head went to and fro,
To and fro,
On the pillow from morning till night.
Once Tassel went to the hotel to find the gentleman.
He was going to tell him to take the money and give him back the dog.
But the gentleman had gone many miles away on the cars and taken Muflu with him.
So every day,
Lolo grew weaker,
Until the doctor said that he must die very soon.
One afternoon,
They were all in the room with him.
The windows were wide open.
His mother sat by his bed and the children on the floor beside her.
Evan Tostle was at home,
Helping to take care of his little brother.
All was so still that you could hear poor Lolo's faint breath when,
Suddenly,
There was a scampering and a pattering of little feet on the stairs.
And a white poodle dashed into the room and jumped on the bed.
It was MooFloo.
But you would never have known him,
For he was so thin that you could count all his bones.
His curls were dirty and matted and full of sticks and straws and burrs.
His feet were dusty and bleeding,
And you could tell in a moment that he had travelled a great many miles.
When he jumped on the bed,
Lolo opened his eyes a little.
He saw it was Muflu,
And laid one little thin hand on the dog's head.
Then he turned on his pillow,
Closed his eyes,
And went quietly to sleep.
Muflu would not get off the bed and would eat nothing unless they brought it to him there.
He only lay close by his little master,
With his brown eyes wide open,
Looking straight into his face.
By and by,
The doctor came and said that Lolo was really a little better.
And that perhaps he might get well now.
The mother and tassel were very glad indeed.
But they knew that the gentleman would come back for his dog.
And they scarcely knew what to do.
Nor what to say to him.
Lolo grew a little stronger every day,
And at the end of the week,
A man came upstairs asking if Mufu was there.
They had taken him a long way off.
But he had run away from them one day,
And they had never been able to find him.
Taso asked the messenger to let Mufu stay until he had seen the gentleman.
And he took the money and put on his hat and went with him to the hotel.
The sick boy was in the room with his father.
And Taso went straight to them and told them all about it,
That Lolo nearly died without his dear Muflu.
That day after day he lay in his bed calling for his dog.
And then at last one afternoon,
Mufu came back to them.
Thin and hungry and dirty.
But so glad to see his little master again.
Nobody knew,
Said Tasso,
How he could have found his way so many miles alone.
But there he was,
And now he begged the gentleman to be so kind as to take back the money.
He would go and be a soldier if he must.
But Lolo and his dog must never be parted again.
The gentleman told Hasso that he seemed to be a kind brother and that he might keep the money and the dog too,
If only he would find them another poodle and teach him to be as wise and faithful as Muflu was.
Tassa was so glad that he thanked them again and again.
And hurried home to tell Lolo and his mother the good news.
He soon found a poodle almost as pretty as Muflu.
And every day,
Lolo,
Who has grown strong now,
Helps Tasso to teach him all of Muflu's tricks.
Sometimes Lolo turns and puts his arms around Mufu's neck and says,
Tell me,
My Moofloo.
How you ever came back to me.
Over all the rivers and all the bridges and all the miles of road.
Mufu can never answer him,
But I think he must have found his way home because he loved his master so much.
And the grown people always say,
Love will always find the way.
Sweet dreams my friends.
Sleep well.
