|There was a sly Cat in a house, and the Mice were so plagued with her
at every turn, that they called a council to plan a way by which they
might guard against being caught by her.
“If you will be ruled by me,” says one of the Mice, “there’s nothing
like hanging a bell about the Cat’s neck, to give warning when Puss is
coming.” They all thought that a capital plan.
“Well,” says another, “and now we are agreed upon the bell, say, who
shall hang it upon the Cat’s neck?” But there was no one ready to bell
the Cat.