The Town Mouse And The Country Mouse

by Aesop

　　A Town Mouse once visited a relative who lived in the country.For lunch the Country Mouse served wheat stalks, roots, andacorns, with a dash of cold water for drink. The Town Mouse atevery sparingly, nibbling a little of this and a little of that,and by her manner making it very plain that she ate the simplefood only to be polite.

　　After the meal the friends had a long talk, or rather the TownMouse talked about her life in the city while the Country Mouselistened. They then went to bed in a cozy nest in the hedgerowand slept in quiet and comfort until morning. In her sleep theCountry Mouse dreamed she was a Town Mouse with all the luxuriesand delights of city life that her friend had described for her.So the next day when the Town Mouse asked the Country Mouse to gohome with her to the city, she gladly said yes.

　　When they reached the mansion in which the Town Mouse lived, theyfound on the table in the dining room the leavings of a very finebanquet. There were sweetmeats and jellies, pastries, deliciouscheeses, indeed, the most tempting foods that a Mouse canimagine. But just as the Country Mouse was about to nibble adainty bit of pastry, she heard a Cat mew loudly and scratch atthe door. In great fear the Mice scurried to a hiding place,where they lay quite still for a long time, hardly daring tobreathe. When at last they ventured back to the feast, the dooropened suddenly and in came the servants to clear the table,followed by the House Dog.

　　The Country Mouse stopped in the Town Mouse's den only longenough to pick up her carpet bag and umbrella.

　　"You may have luxuries and dainties that I have not," she said asshe hurried away, "but I prefer my plain food and simple life inthe country with the peace and security that go with it."

　　Poverty with security is better than plenty in the midst of fearand uncertainty.