"Any similarity to anyone you know is purely coincidental." "Somewhere there is a little town, and in this town is a little street." "In the street there is a little house, where two small children live:" "Lars and Lotte, and their father." "He owns a little music shop." "But not many people come around to buy things from him." "Lars and Lotte's dad is so unhappy." "He wants his children to learn how to play." "But they always play pranks in order to avoid practising." "They play so poorly and make such a racket that customers just hurry by." "He is at his wits' end because of his naughty children." "Your turn to practise, Lotte." "Hey, Lotte." "Watch this." "This is fun!" "That was fun!" "But look at your bow." "Turn off the light!" "Lotte..." "We sure handled that well." " Yes." "Think we can skip practising now?" " Of course." "On those silly instruments." "Lars and Lotte certainly do not seem to be very fond of practising." "But that evening, after they have gone to sleep, something peculiar happens." "A little fellow comes floating over the town." "He makes straight for the little house in the little street." "This is the Sandman, who wants to see if all the children have been good and are well tucked up in bed." "What will he think about Lars and Lotte 's behaviour?" "Perhaps he knows how to make them realize that they not only spoil it for themselves, but also for their father." "Not to mention his little music shop." "The Sandman brings both his umbrella and his trumpet." "He will certainly make the children dream many strange dreams." "I thought I heard something in the attic." "Yes." "It almost sounds like someone is trying to play." "But there is nothing up there." "Only old instruments." " Listen!" " Someone is actually playing." "Come, Lotte." "Let's go and have a look." "Beautiful, Harp!" "Splendid!" "We'll show them that there's life in the old instruments still." "Here we go!" "Now we'll play it together, Harp." "You have to come and help me, Bass." "I can't go any lower." "You are right, my dear Cello." "Without me you won't get very far in a truly noble orchestra." "Let's continue, now." "Let us make music." "Well, that sounds just dandy." "But wouldn't it be nicer if some more instruments would join us?" "You are right." "Maybe some wind instruments would sound good." " What do you think, Bass?" " Well..." "We string instruments would probably manage well on our own." "Don't you agree, Harp?" "But if they play real well..." "Clarinet should also join us." " She hasn't arrived yet." " Ah, she is always late." "We will have to begin." "Ready, go." "Well now, where is she?" "Let's try once more." "Howdy, folks!" "Here I am!" "Phew!" "Stop it!" "Horrible!" "Oh no!" "Never heard anything like it." "What kind of music is that?" "Now then, Accordion." "We didn't mean to offend you." "Not at all." "You played beautifully." " Let's play something together." " Great!" "We can play a canon." "You start, Bass." "After the dream, the Sandman flies on." "And he may safely do so." "Because in the little town, in the little street, in the little house Lars and Lotte now have a different idea about music and instruments." "Now they practise as much as they can, and have become very proficient." "People pause outside the little shop in order to listen to the children play." "The happiest of all is their father, because his customers are returning." "And every evening before Lars and Lotte go to bed they play the melody they learned from the old instruments in the attic." "And as for the Sandman every night he flies over the town and keeps vigil over the children." "He makes them dream many peculiar dreams." "But only dreams which he has a purpose with." "THE END"