Aesop's Fable

One day, a Town Mouse went to visit his cousin in the country. The Country Mouse loved his town cousin and made him welcome. He gave him beans and bacon, cheese and bread. The Town Mouse didn’t like the food. “I don’t know how you can eat such poor food,” he said, “Of course, you don’t have any better food in the country. Come with me and I will show you how to live. After you live in town for a week, you won’t want to go back to country life.”

The next day they arrived at the Town Mouse’s house. The Town Mouse took his cousin to the big dining-room. There they saw the leftovers of the fine dinner: cakes, ice-cream, and jellies. They started eating the delicious food. Suddenly they heard loud barking. “What is that?” asked the Country Mouse. “It is only the dogs of the house,” answered the other mouse. “Only the dogs!” cried the Country Mouse, “I don’t like such noise at my dinner.” At that very moment the door opened and two huge dogs came running into the room. The two mice had to run away as fast as they could.

“Good-bye, Cousin” said the Country Mouse. “Why are you leaving so soon?” said the other. “Because,” replied the Country Mouse, “it is better to eat beans and bacon in peace than cakes and jellies in fear.”

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