Foreword:
This fable represents the necessity of safety and security, over troublesome gains. It is found numbered 352 in the Perry Index (as 352. The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse), and also popular as 'City Mouse and the Country Mouse'. The story had widespread popularity in the Classical Times, and source of the idiom, "town mouse and country mouse".
ADVERTISEMENTS
Once, a mouse went to visit his cousin in the country.
He lived in an important town, filled with busy and affluent people. Always dressed in fine attire, the Town Mouse carried an aura of great finesse about himself.
His cousin, on the other hand, lived in an uneventful country side. The Country Mouse was rough and hardworking. He was honest, simple, but sensible.
No sooner did the Town Mouse reach the country, he started making faces, dislikening the stench and disorderliness.
"This must be the place where my cousin lives", he said to himself, as he neared his cousin's home, "Oh. My god! Look at how plain and ordinary it looks and feels!"
But as former playmates, he loved his cousin, which was the reason for his visit.
His cousin, the Country Mouse, was delighted to see him. He heartily welcomed the Town Mouse, took upon himself to entertain him at best he could, and served him the best food and drinks that he could possibly arrange for.
"Here is a good dish of beans and bacon", he said, "I also have some oatmeal, nice dried peas, wheat stalks, and roots, with a dash of cold water for drink."
The Town Mouse ate very sparingly, nibbling a little of this and a little of that, and by his manner, made it obvious that he ate the simple food only to be polite.
"How could you live in such a small hole, like ants?", he said to the Country Mouse, "And, how could you bear to eat such ordinary and poor food?"
After the meal, the cousins had a long talk. And, the Town Mouse described his life of luxuries and delights in the city, while the Country Mouse listened in awe.
"Here, you have no life!", the Town Mouse said, "How you can keep in such spirits in this dismal kind of place, surprises me!"
"Come with me, to the town", he continued, "I shall show you how to live, and we can have a jolly good time together!"
Impressed by the good things he heard and imagined, the Country Mouse consented, "Yes! I think you are right. I am leisurely wasting my life in this quiet and dull place!"
As agreed, they departed in the evening, and reached a great house in the city around midnight. The Country Mouse exclaimed, "How beautiful and big, your house is!"
ADVERTISEMENTS
"I am sure that you will want some refreshment, after our long journey", said the Town Mouse, "Come with me to the dining room, and see for yourself, what life I lead."
They entered a room through a hole, where the people of the house had just finished a fine feast.
The two mice found plenty of good scraps left at the table. They began feasting on jellies and cakes, and all that was nice and meaty, with some ale to wet their throats.
Hesitating, from time to time, to choose what to eat next, "Wow! Wow!", is all the Country Mouse could say, while munching food and licking his paws. He was living a dream!
Suddenly, the door of the dining room burst open with a loud crash, and a huge dog entered the room, barking loudly.
"Oh my goodness!", jumped the Country Mouse, "What is that sound? What creature is that?"
"Run for your life!", said the Town Mouse, already on the run, "He is the master's dog, and the master or his son will follow soon!"
They ran, and they hid behind furnitures, while the huge dog followed their trail, sniffing every place they have been to. From one hiding place to another, the frightened mice finally rushed into the hole they had entered the room.
It wasn't easy. The dog chased after them, as a last ditch effort to catch them and impress his master, and the two mice had barely escaped unscathed to enter their hole!
The dog sniffed down the hole, with half his nose inside, as they waited together in silence, holding their breaths, for the dog to depart.
After some time, what seemed like eternity, the dog and his master were gone.
The Country Mouse had never seen a dog as huge, and trembled at the thought of what could have been the end of his life, only a moment ago.
The Town Mouse, however, was used to such interruptions, and called upon his cousin to resume their supper.
"If this what the city life means, you can keep it!", replied the Country Mouse, already picking his bags to leave, "I am not sacrificing my life, for foods that I do not even know the names of."
Moral:
Better beans and bacon in peace, than cakes and ale in fear.
Or,
Poverty with security, is better than plenty in the midst of fear and uncertainty.
Summary:
Once, a mouse who lived in a town, visited his cousin who lived in the country-side. With a warm welcome, the 'country mouse' offered the best food that he could collect of beans, bacon, cheese, and bread. But the 'town mouse' did not like the food, and complained of the untidy and jungle-like environment of the village, too. To flaunt how he lives on jellies, cakes, meat and ale, he invited the 'country mouse' to his home in the town. Soon, the 'country mouse' paid a visit to the 'town mouse', and he was accompanied to the remains of a fine feast. The 'country mouse' was extremely impressed at the view and aroma. But as they prepared to eat, they were attacked by the house-owner's dog. They ran for their lives, and barely escaped unhurt. The 'country mouse' realized that he would rather enjoy beans and bacon in his secure village home, than risk his life for cakes and ale.
