The Field Mouse and the Town Mouse

Once there was a field mouse who lived in a small burrow near a farm.

He had a friend who lived in a house in town.

One day the field mouse invited his friend from town to dine with him in the country. So the town mouse came out the field and sat down to a meal of corn and wheat.

"Do you know, my friend," said the town mouse, "that you live a sad life out here with only corn and wheat to eat. Why, I have all kinds of things at my home. You should come and enjoy them with me!"

So the two mice set out for town. When they arrived the town mouse showed off his beans and his rice, his dates and cheese, and even his fruit and honey. And as the field mouse ate and drank he thought how lucky his friend was, and how poor he was himself.

But, as they ate, a man suddenly opened the door! The mice were scared and ran into the crack in the floor.

When the man went away they continued to enjoy some delicious dates and honey, but then in came a woman to get a pot for her stew. When they saw her they ran and hid in a hole in the wall.

The field mouse decided to eat no more. Instead, he said to the town mouse, "Do as you like my good friend, eat all that you want and have your fill of good things, but you are always afraid for your life. As for me a poor mouse, I have only corn and some wheat. But I will live in my burrow under the ground never in fear of anyone."

So the field mouse returned to his home in the ground and the town mouse wished him good bye. They still shared some meals every once in a while, but the field mouse was happy with only his corn and his wheat.