Cat and Mouse in Partnership

by The Brothers Grimm

　　A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said somuch to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her,that at length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep housetogether. "But we must make a provision for winter, or else we shallsuffer from hunger," said the cat, "and you, little mouse, cannot ventureeverywhere, or you will be caught in a trap some day." The good advice wasfollowed, and a pot of fat was bought, but they did not know where to putit. At length, after much consideration, the cat said, "I know no placewhere it will be better stored up than in the church, for no one darestake anything away from there. We will set it beneath the altar, and nottouch it until we are really in need of it." So the pot was placed insafety, but it was not long before the cat had a great yearning for it,and said to the mouse, "I want to tell you something, little mouse; mycousin has brought a little son into the world, and has asked me to begodmother; he is white with brown spots, and I am to hold him over thefont at the christening. Let me go out to-day, and you look after thehouse by yourself." "Yes, yes," answered the mouse, "by all means go, andif you get anything very good, think of me, I should like a drop of sweetred christening wine too." All this, however, was untrue; the cat had nocousin, and had not been asked to be godmother. She went straight to thechurch, stole to the pot of fat, began to lick at it, and licked the topof the fat off. Then she took a walk upon the roofs of the town, lookedout for opportunities, and then stretched herself in the sun, and lickedher lips whenever she thought of the pot of fat, and not until it wasevening did she return home. "Well, here you are again," said the mouse,"no doubt you have had a merry day." "All went off well," answered thecat. "What name did they give the child?" "Top off!" said the cat quitecoolly. "Top off!" cried the mouse, "that is a very odd and uncommon name,is it a usual one in your family?" "What does it signify," said the cat,"it is no worse than Crumb-stealer, as your god-children are called."

　　Before long the cat was seized by another fit of longing. She said tothe mouse, "You must do me a favour, and once more manage the house fora day alone. I am again asked to be godmother, and, as the child has awhite ring round its neck, I cannot refuse." The good mouse consented,but the cat crept behind the town walls to the church, and devoured halfthe pot of fat. "Nothing ever seems so good as what one keeps to oneself,"said she, and was quite satisfied with her day's work. When she went homethe mouse inquired, "And what was this child christened?" "Half-done,"answered the cat. "Half-done! What are you saying? I never heard thename in my life, I'll wager anything it is not in the calendar!"

　　The cat's mouth soon began to water for some more licking. "Allgood things go in threes," said she, "I am asked to stand godmotheragain. The child is quite black, only it has white paws, but withthat exception, it has not a single white hair on its whole body;this only happens once every few years, you will let me go, won'tyou?" "Top-off! Half-done!" answered the mouse, "they are such odd names,they make me very thoughtful." "You sit at home," said the cat, "in yourdark-grey fur coat and long tail, and are filled with fancies, that'sbecause you do not go out in the daytime." During the cat's absence themouse cleaned the house, and put it in order but the greedy cat entirelyemptied the pot of fat. "When everything is eaten up one has some peace,"said she to herself, and well filled and fat she did not return hometill night. The mouse at once asked what name had been given to thethird child. "It will not please you more than the others," said thecat. "He is called All-gone." "All-gone," cried the mouse, "that is themost suspicious name of all! I have never seen it in print. All-gone;what can that mean?" and she shook her head, curled herself up, and laydown to sleep.

　　From this time forth no one invited the cat to be god-mother, but whenthe winter had come and there was no longer anything to be found outside,the mouse thought of their provision, and said, "Come cat, we will goto our pot of fat which we have stored up for ourselves—-we shall enjoythat." "Yes," answered the cat, "you will enjoy it as much as you wouldenjoy sticking that dainty tongue of yours out of the window." They setout on their way, but when they arrived, the pot of fat certainly wasstill in its place, but it was empty. "Alas!" said the mouse, "now Isee what has happened, now it comes to light! You are a true friend! Youhave devoured all when you were standing godmother. First top off, thenhalf done, then —." "Will you hold your tongue," cried the cat, "oneword more and I will eat you too." "All gone" was already on the poormouse's lips; scarcely had she spoken it before the cat sprang on her,seized her, and swallowed her down. Verily, that is the way of the world.