The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
(Aesop Fable)
A Country Mouse invited a Town Mouse,
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 Mouse 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
shall have an ample share of my dainties." The Country Mouse was easily
persuaded, and returned to town with his friend. On his arrival, the Town Mouse
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 Mouse,
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 some one else
entered to take something out of a cupboard, on which the two Mice, more
frightened than before, ran away and hid themselves. At last the Country Mouse,
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."
Better a little in
safety, than an abundance surrounded by danger.
Grateful thanks to Project Gutenberg
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