The Good-Kind Boy.
“One cloudy morning soon before a storm—the time when our race are liveliest—Mouseroun called Phi, his wisdom cat, and the two set forth upon their travels. After proceeding quite a distance they came in sight of a small boy with a porridge pot, sitting under a tree, eating porridge. A white cat close to his feet begged for the porridge, and a big dog stood by and licked the boy’s face and begged for porridge, and put his nose in the boy’s bread-bag.
“‘Of what kind is the boy?’ asked Mouseroun of Phi.
“‘Of the good kind,’ replied Phi.
“‘How knowest thou that, oh Phi?’
“‘Because the dog and cat come close and show no fear. They ask for food, sure of getting it.’
“‘Tell me, oh learned Phi, why a boy has long claws only on his fore legs.’
“‘Because his hind legs are for walking and standing,’ replied Phi; ‘and for walking and standing, short claws are better than long claws.’
“‘Tell me further,’ inquired Mouseroun, ‘why a cat mews and a dog barks.’