The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
A country mouse lived in a cozy burrow beneath a tree, in the middle of a bright green meadow. One day, his cousin, the town mouse, came to visit, and the country mouse happily welcomed him with corn and dried beans.
The town mouse looked at the food and shook his head. "Is this all you eat every day? Come visit my home in the city — there's so much delicious food there." Curious, the country mouse agreed to go along.
At the town mouse's home in the city, a grand table was piled high with cake, cheese, and sweet fruit. The country mouse was thrilled to see such a feast.
But just as they took their first few bites, they heard footsteps coming into the room. Both mice had to scramble and hide in terror. The same thing happened again and again, all through the night.
Exhausted and frightened, the country mouse said, "I'd rather go home and eat simple corn in peace." And with that, he happily returned to his quiet, peaceful meadow.
Moral of the story
A simple life lived in peace and safety is worth far more than a luxurious one lived in constant fear.
The original plot is in the public domain. Copyright is reserved in the Hoot Tales retelling, translation, illustrations, and presentation.
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