The country mouse and the city mouse

Once upon a time a city mouse visited his cousin in the country. The country mouse shared his simple but wholesome food. Peas, barley, tasty roots were stored in the mouse’s home in the field – and another store of food in the big farmer’s barn – for when it rained.

The city mouse said to his open-hearted cousin that he found  the countryside charming, but food was plain, and home quite dreary. 

Mouse told his cousin to come to the city and live with him, so they could play in his luxurious home – and would have a banquet each day – all the delicacies their heart desired.

So they left the blossoming green country-side to the busy, yes, even frightening city. The noise, the traffic, the hurrying, bustling crowds jostling each other was almost too much for the simple country mouse.

As they entered into a huge towering mansion the sophisticated city mouse happily proclaimed that there they were at last.

The house was elegant… chandeliers, deep carpets, plush furniture – and a pantry that was full of the best food ever seen. Swiss cheese, salty bacon, delicious fruits, colourful vegetables, jellies and fresh biscuits – all were there, ready to eat.

Hungry from long journey, the city mouse and the country mouse began their feast, tasting one mouth-watering bit of food after another.

Suddenly a heavy door slammed, loud footsteps of big boots were heard – the threatening deep purr of an angry cat chilled the air.

The country mouse asked fearfully what that noise had been.

The city mouse answered that it was the master with his big cat.

The country mouse leaped through the hole in the pantry wall and said good-by to his cousin. He added that he was going back to the meadow in the country, that he prefered to live with the woods, the tall mountains and the fresh gurgling streams rather than in the exciting city.