[Illustration: THE COUNTRY MOUSE AND THE CITY MOUSE.]
An honest, plain, sensible Country Mouse, is said to have entertained at
his hole one day a fine Mouse of the Town. Having formerly been
playfellows together, they were old acquaintance, which served as an
apology for the visit. However, as master of the house, he thought
himself obliged to do the honours of it, in all respects, and to make as
great a stranger of his guest as he possibly could. In order to this, he
set before him a reserve of delicate grey peas and bacon, a dish of fine
oatmeal, some parings of new cheese, and, to crown all with a dessert, a
remnant of a charming mellow apple. In good manners, he forbore to eat
any himself, lest the stranger should not have enough; but, that he
might seem to bear the other company, sat and nibbled a piece of a
wheaten straw very busily. At last says the spark of the town, 'Old
crony, give me leave to be a little free with you; how can you bear to
live in this nasty, dirty, melancholy hole here, with nothing but woods
and meadows, and mountains, and rivulets, about you? Do not you prefer
the conversation of the world to the chirping of birds, and the
splendour of a court to the rude aspect of an uncultivated desert! Come,
take my word for it, you will find it a change for the better. Never
stand considering, but away this moment. Remember, we are not immortal,
and therefore have no time to lose. Make sure of to-day, and spend it as
agreeably as you can; you know not what may happen to-morrow.' In short,
these and such like arguments prevailed, and his Country Acquaintance
was resolved to go to town that night. So they both set out upon their
journey together, proposing to sneak in after the close of the evening.
They did so; and, about midnight, made their entry into a certain great
house, where there had been an extraordinary entertainment the day
before, and several tit-bits, which some of the servants had purloined,
were hid under the seat of a window. The Country Guest was immediately
placed in the midst of a rich Persian carpet: and now it was the
Courtier's turn to entertain; who, indeed, acquitted himself in that
capacity with the utmost readiness and address, changing the courses as
elegantly, and tasting every thing first as judiciously, as any clerk of
a kitchen, the other sat and enjoyed himself like a delighted epicure,
tickled to the last degree with this new turn of his affairs; when, on a
sudden, a noise of somebody opening the door made them start from their
seats, and scuttle in confusion about the dining-room. Our Country
Friend, in particular, was ready to die with fear at the barking of a
huge mastiff or two, which opened their throats just about the same
time, and made the whole house echo. At last, recovering
himself--'Well,' says he, 'if this be your town life, much good may do
you with it: give me my poor quiet hole again, with my homely, but
comfortable, grey peas.'