Once upon a time, there were two little mice who were cousins. One lived in a busy, bustling town, and the other lived in the quiet, peaceful countryside. One day, the Town Mouse decided to visit his cousin in the country. The Country Mouse was so happy to see him! He welcomed his cousin warmly and shared all the food he had: beans, bacon, cheese, and bread. It wasn’t fancy, but he gave it with love.
The Town Mouse nibbled at the food, but he wrinkled his nose. “Cousin,” he said kindly, “how can you eat such simple food? In the town, we have so many delicious things! Why don’t you come with me and see how wonderful life can be?”
The Country Mouse was curious, so he agreed. Off they went to the big town, and when they arrived, the Town Mouse led his cousin into a grand dining room. There, on the table, were leftovers from a splendid feast: jellies, cakes, and all sorts of tasty treats. The two mice began to nibble happily.
But suddenly, they heard a loud growling and barking. “What’s that?” asked the Country Mouse, his ears trembling. “Oh, just the dogs of the house,” said the Town Mouse. But before they knew it, two huge dogs burst into the room! The mice ran as fast as they could to hide.
Shaking, the Country Mouse said, “Thank you, Cousin, but I think I’d rather have simple food in peace than fancy food in fear.” And with that, he went back to his quiet, cozy home in the country, where he lived happily ever after.
“Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear.”