The Country Rat And The Town Rat

: FABLES
: Boys And Girls Bookshelf

A Country Rat invited a Town Rat, an intimate friend, to pay him a

visit, and partake of his country fare. As they were on the bare

plough-lands, eating their wheat-stalks and roots pulled up from the

hedge row, the Town Rat said to his friend, "You live here the life of

the ants, while in my house is the horn of plenty. I am surrounded with

every luxury, and if you will come with me, as I much wish you would,

you shal
have an ample share of my dainties." The Country Rat was

easily persuaded, and returned to town with his friend. On his arrival,

the Town Rat placed before him bread, barley, beans, dried figs, honey,

raisins, and last of all, brought a dainty piece of cheese from a

basket. The Country Rat being much delighted at the sight of such good

cheer, expressed his satisfaction in warm terms, and lamented his own

hard fate. Just as they were beginning to eat, some one opened the door,

and they both ran off squeaking as fast as they could to a hole so

narrow that two could only find room in it by squeezing. They had

scarcely again begun their repast when someone else entered to take

something out of a cupboard, on which the two Rats, more frightened than

before, ran away and hid themselves. At last the Country Rat, almost

famished, thus addressed his friend: "Although you have prepared for me

so dainty a feast, I must leave you to enjoy it by yourself. It is

surrounded by too many dangers to please me. I prefer my bare

plough-lands and roots from the hedge row, so that I only can live in

safety and without fear."



#Peace is more desirable than wealth#



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