THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE

THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE

A country mouse once asked a friend-
A city mouse- to come and stay.
The city mouse came at week’s end
To visit for a night and day.

But when their dinner time was due
The country mouse could but prepare
Some barley corn for them to chew,
With grass seeds for their simple fare.

“You live more like an ant than mouse,”
His city friend said with a smile.
“Come visit me in my town house
And stay with me a little while.”

The two small mice set off at dawn
Before the sun rose in the sky,
And they arrived within the town
Before the morning had gone by.

They slipped beneath the oaken door
Of one important-looking house,
And out onto the kitchen floor
The town mouse led the country mouse.

And there upon the shelves they spied
So many types of food: plump peas,
And bacon waiting to be fried,
And bulging beans and tasty cheese;

Ripe apples and rich honeycombs,
Full jars of dates and brown-baked bread.
“ I’ve never known such food at home! “
The country mouse in wonder said.

But as the mice were looking there,
They heard loud footsteps coming near.
They fled and hid behind a chair
And stood there shivering in fear.

The mice crept out when all was quiet.
But straightaway they heard a sound.
The country mouse squeaked out in fright,
“ Who’s that who’s creeping all around?”

The town mouse cried, “ The cat! The cat!
Quick! To the hole in that wall there! ”
They dashed into the hole and sat
Once more both shivering with fear.

When all was quiet the country mouse
Turned to the town mouse and he said,
“There’s lots of food in your town house,
But there is also fear and dread!”

“ So you may eat your fancy fill.
But, for myself, I’d rather find
My simple food, without the thrill,
And eat it with true peace of mind! “