Even the youngest scarcely dared to scurry across the floor, its little heart beating pit-a-pat, and they found it so hard to get time to look for food that they all grew thin.
They lived in such dread that when they met, no one at first could think of anything to say. But at last a young mouse plucked up his spirits and said: “I will tell you what to do. Fasten a bell on the cat’s neck. As she walks about the bell will ring, and we shall hear it and can tell where she is.”
This seemed so good a plan that the mice all chattered joyously, until an old mouse asked quietly: “Who will go out and bell the cat?”
None of the mice dared; and they quickly realized that what seems an easy plan may be hard to carry out, and some things are easier said than done.
A MILLER, HIS SON,
AND THEIR ASS
A miller and his son were driving their ass to a neighboring fair to sell him. They had not gone far when they met a troop of women collected around a well. “Look,” cried one, “did you ever see such fellows, to be trudging on foot when they might ride?” The old man, hearing this, made his son mount, and continued to walk at his side.
Presently they came to a group of old men in debate. “There,” said one of them, “it proves what I was a-saying: what respect is shown to old age in these days? Do you see that idle lad riding, while his old father has to walk? Get down, you young scapegrace, and let the old man rest his weary limbs.” Upon this the old man made his son dismount, and got up himself.