The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

Aesop's Fables : The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

Now you must know that a Town Mouse once upon a

time went on a visit to his cousin in the country. He was

rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved his town friend

and made him heartily welcome. Beans and bacon, cheese

and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them

freely. The Town Mouse rather turned up his long nose at

this country fare, and said: 'I cannot understand, Cousin,

how you can put up with such poor food as this, but of

course you cannot expect anything better in the country;

come you with me and I will show you how to live.

When you have been in town a week you will wonder

how you could ever have stood a country life.' No sooner

said than done: the two mice set off for the town and

arrived at the Town Mouse's residence late at night. 'You

will want some refreshment after our long journey,' said

the polite Town Mouse, and took his friend into the

grand dining-room. There they found the remains of a

fine feast, and soon the two mice were eating up jellies

and cakes and all that was nice. Suddenly they heard

growling and barking. 'What is that?' said the Country

Mouse. 'It is only the dogs of the house,' answered the

other. 'Only!' said the Country Mouse. 'I do not like that

music at my dinner.' Just at that moment the door flew

open, in came two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to

scamper down and run off. 'Good-bye, Cousin,' said the

Country Mouse, 'What! going so soon?' said the other.

'Yes,' he replied;

'Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in

fear.'

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