Town Mouse and Country Mouse
One day, a Town Mouse decided to visit his cousin in the country. He was rough, this cousin, but he loved his town friend, and made him heartily welcome. Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all that he had to offer, but he offered them freely.
The Town Mouse turned up his long nose at this country fare and said,
“ I can not understand cousin, how can you put up with such poor food as this? But of course, you can not expect anything better in the country. Come 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 food and drink 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 sweets and everything 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 dogs!“
Just at that moment, the door flew open. In came two huge dogs, and the two mice had to scamper down and run off.
“Goodbye cousin“
said the Country Mouse.
Beans and bacon in peace are better than cakes and ale in fear.
