The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

: Aesop's Fables

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 su
h 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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