Æsop's fables in words of one syllable

Chapter 11: THE MICE, THE CAT, AND THE BELL.

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

About This Book

A collection of short, self-contained fables retold in simple monosyllabic language for young readers. Each brief tale stages animal characters in a single situation that leads to a clear outcome and an explicit moral, exploring themes such as honesty, pride, prudence, selfishness, and the consequences of deceit or folly. Lines are spare and direct, often paired with small illustrations, and the arrangement of discrete episodes emphasizes cause-and-effect and memorable aphorisms to make ethical lessons accessible and easy to discuss.

THE MICE, THE CAT, AND THE BELL.

Once on a time some mice were in such great dread of a cat, that they did not dare to stir day or night lest she should kill them. At this rate they thought they should starve, so they all met to talk of the best thing for them to do. While they thus sat in great doubt, a pert young mouse rose and said, “I have thought of a good plan, and that is to tie a bell to the cat’s neck, which would ring at each step she takes, and let us know when she comes near.” This bright speech brought hope with it, and made the mice jump for joy. Then a grave old mouse, who till now had been quite mute, rose and said, “I have heard that you ‘hold a wolf by the ears’ and that you ‘put salt on the bird’s tail,’ but what shall we do to bell the cat?”

Safe bind, safe find.