The Mice in Council
A cat was chasing all the mice, and eating all the ones she could get. The mice called a great meeting to try and think of some way of making themselves safe from the cat. The meeting lasted a long time. Many ideas were put forward by the mice at the council, but none of them seemed any good. Finally, one bright young mouse stepped forward.
“ I‘ve got it“
he said excitedly.
“ The reason why the cat keeps catching us is because we can hear her coming. Isn‘t that right?“
“Of course it is“
said another mouse.
“ That doesn‘t really help us though.“
“I haven‘t finished yet! What we need is something to warn us that the cat is coming. Well I know what to do we must tie a bell round the cat‘s neck! That way, every time the cat comes near us we will hear the bell tinkling and have time to hide.“
“What a good idea!“
squeaked all the other mice.
“ Well done! You have solved all our problems all we have to do is find a bell a tie it around the cat‘s neck!“
The other mice started to cheer and squeal excitedly. But then a very old and very wise mouse said:
“ just a minute! It may be a good idea but tell me this, is anyone here willing to risk his life by going up to the cat and putting the bell around her neck?“
No one answered. In a moment, all of the mice had left the meeting and the room was empty. No one was prepared to put the bell on the cat.
It‘s no use having bright ideas unless we are willing to put them into practice.
