A City Mouse once went on a visit to his cousin in the country. His cousin was rough and ready, but he loved him and welcomed him.
Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely.
Instead of eating, the City Mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country food, and said: "I cannot understand, Cousin, how you can put up with such poor fare 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. When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood the country life."
No sooner said than done: the two mice set off for the town and arrived at the City Mouse's residence late
at night. "You will want some refreshment
after our long journey," said the polite Town Mouse, and took his friend into
the grand dining room.
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.Suddenly they heard growling and barking. "What is that?"said the Country Mouse.
"It is only the dogs of the house," answered the other.
"Only!" said the Country Mouse. "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.
"Goodbye, Cousin," said the Country Mouse.
"What! going so soon?" said the City Mouse. "Yes," he replied;
