The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

A town mouse went to visit her cousin in the country. The country mouse lived in a quiet hedge and served her guest a plain meal of barley and roots.

The town mouse wrinkled her nose. "How can you eat this?" she said. "Come to town with me, and I will show you how to live."

So the two mice set off. That night they crept into a great house and found a table covered with cheese, cakes and honey. The country mouse could not believe her eyes.

She had just started to eat when the door burst open. In ran two huge dogs, barking loudly. The mice fled and hid, shaking in a dark corner.

When all was quiet, the country mouse picked up her bag.

"Thank you for the feast," she said. "But I am going home. I would rather eat plain food in peace than cakes and cream in fear."