In their after-dinner chat the Town Mouse said to the Country Mouse, “Really, my good friend, that you can keep in such spirits in this dismal, dead-and-alive kind of place, surprises me altogether. The City Mouse nibbled a little here and there in a dainty manner, wondering at the pleasure his host took in such coarse and ordinary fare. The Country Mouse put before his friend some fine peas, some choice bacon, and a bit of rare old Stilton, and called upon him to eat heartily of the good cheer. “Yes,” he replied “Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear.”Ī Country Mouse, a plain, sensible sort of fellow, was once visited by a former companion of his, who lived in a neighbouring city. “Good-bye, Cousin,” said the Country Mouse, “What! going so soon?” said the other. “I do not like that music at my dinner.” Just at that moment the door flew open, in came two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to scamper down and run off.
“It is only the dogs of the house,” answered the other. Suddenly they heard growling and barking. There they found the remains of a fine feast, and soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes and all that was nice. “You will want some refreshment after our long journey,” said the polite Town Mouse, and took his friend into the grand dining-room. No sooner said than done: the two mice set off for the town and arrived at the Town Mouse’s residence late at night. When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood a country life.” The Town Mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country fare, and said: “I cannot understand, Cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this, but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country come you with me and I will show you how to live. Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely. He was rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved his town friend and made him heartily welcome. Now you must know that a Town Mouse once upon a time went on a visit to his cousin in the country.
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