The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
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Town Mouse came to visit Country Mouse in the fields. They sat down to dinner together. On the table were roots and barleycorns.
Town Mouse wrinkled his nose at the simple meal. "My friend, you eat just like the ants!" he said. "Come and see how I live!"
Country Mouse smiled and said yes. The two friends walked all the way to town together.
Town Mouse opened a big larder door. Inside were figs, honey, dates, and piles of flour. Country Mouse had never seen anything like it.
They sat down and started to eat right away. Everything tasted sweet and wonderful.
Then the larder door swung open with a bang. Quick! They ran and squeezed into a tiny dark hole.
They waited until everything was quiet. Then they crept back out, slowly and carefully.
They had just sat down when the door opened again. Quick! They ran and squeezed into a tiny dark hole.
When everything was quiet again, Country Mouse crept out and shook his head. "Your food is very fine," he said, "but I cannot enjoy it when I am always afraid. Good-bye. I am going home."
Country Mouse walked home to his cozy field. He sat down to a quiet supper of roots and corn.
He took a slow, happy bite and smiled. A simple meal eaten in peace is the sweetest of all.