Week 1 Storytelling: The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

There were once two mice, the town mouse and the country mouse, who grew up together. In school, they were best friends and did everything together. All of their teachers would joke that they must be twins because they were never seen apart. Everyday during class, they would sit next to each other, work on reading assignments together, and help each other with their math problems. After school, they could be seen at each other’s nests, playing among the grass or watching the clouds pass by.



As the two got older, the town mouse met a handsome and wealthy mouse who whisked her away to the big city, promising her joy and riches. The country mouse, who had settled down with a kind, humble mouse from the country where they grew up, was sad to see her friend go. She was happy for her, but she knew that she would miss their long talks and carefree afternoons together.



Several months went by without a word between the friends before the country mouse finally decided to invite the town mouse over for lunch. ‘How fun this will be,’ she thought to herself, ‘I can’t wait to hear about her life in the city and to catch up!’ The town mouse sent a letter with her reply that she could come next Tuesday around noon. The country mouse excitedly started busying herself with the preparations, eager to see her lifelong friend.



As the day rolled around, the country mouse woke up early. She was unable to sleep due to her excitement to see her friend. As the clock struck noon she heard the rustling of the grass outside her nest and knew her friend had arrived. She scurried out through the grass to find her friend. What she saw made her smile- the town mouse was wearing flashy gold earrings and was carrying a pink silk purse. ‘She must be doing so well! Her husband’s promises came true!’ the country mouse thought. She ran towards her friend and reached out to embrace her. The town mouse gave her a quick and light hug back before backing away.



“How do you do?” the town mouse asked.

“Oh! Well, I suppose,” the country mouse replied.



The country mouse was puzzled by her friend’s formal and distant attitude. Weren’t they supposed to be best of friends?



The country mouse set out the food she had prepared. The town mouse hesitantly ate the grains and nuts that the country mouse had provided. ‘She’s just eating this to be polite,’ the country mouse thought to herself with dismay. After the meal, the town mouse continued to rave on and on about her glamourous life in the city. Tall buildings, delicious foods, and elaborate nests in beautiful mansions filled the head of the country mouse as she listened to her friend’s tales. ‘Wow, I would sure love to have all of that,’ the country mouse wistfully thought to herself as she curled up in her humble nest for the night.



The next morning, the town mouse asked the country mouse if she would like to accompany her back to the city to see her home. “Yes!” the country mouse quickly replied, “I would love to!” After a short journey, the two women arrived at the mansion and the country mouse was dumbstruck. She had never seen such a large house, much less so much beauty and splendor in one place. As they scurried inside, they were met by the smell of delicious food left over from a banquet the night before. The country mouse was tempted to ask to stop and sample the food but thought she would embarrass herself.



The two continued down a long hallway when they heard a scratching behind one of the many doors. “Oh no! The cat!” the town mouse exclaimed while pulling her friend into the nearest hiding place. Their little hearts pounding, they hid in the dark for a long time, fearing for their lives.



Finally, the town mouse said it was free to leave the hiding place, the cat had gone. Wiping her brow with her paw, the country mouse sighed with relief as she crept out from safety of the darkness. As soon as she did, however, a dog appeared in a doorway further down the hall. Without any hesitation, the country mouse grabbed her bag and umbrella and scurried out of the mansion.



That night, the country mouse smiled to herself as she curled up in the warm hedgerow next to her family. She felt comforted knowing that she had her loving husband and their safe, cozy nest. As she fell asleep, she thought to herself, ‘I may not have a glamourous life with a nest in a beautiful house and elaborate food, but I would never give up all of this'.

Author's Note

The original story is from Aesop for Children by (anonymous). The specific fable is called The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse and tells the story of a town mouse who lived in the city with relatives that lived in the country. The town mouse visited the country mouse, but it was clear during her visit that she did not approve of the food the country mouse provided and talked of her elaborate life in the city. That night, as the country mouse went to sleep, she felt jealous of all the town mouse had.

The next morning, the town mouse invited the country mouse to visit her home in the city. The country mouse eagerly accepted the invitation. However, during her visit they had to hide from a cat and also encountered a dog. The country mouse left in a hurry and realized that she preferred her safe and comfortable life in the city over the glamorous yet dangerous life in the city.

Bibliography

The story is based off of the fable The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse from Aesop for Children written by an anonymous writer. This edition has a copyright from 1919 and can be found on The Project Gutenberg. 

The photo is a picture of the town mouse and the country mouse drawn by Arthur Rackham. The photo can be found on Wikimedia Commons.