Page 9 - Poetry-Animals

The Two Mice

A sleek-skinned mouse, who, where a mighty town
Reared many a towering chimney-pot to heaven,
Enjoyed the fare that luxury showers down,
And all the bliss that to town mice is given,

Once (how long since I can’t exactly say—
It may be twenty years or half a dozen)
Took it into his little head to pay
A pleasure-visit to his country cousin.

Arrived, his kinsman—frugal mouse was he—
Brought from his store the best that he was able—
Nigh half his stock, beans, barley, succor—
All that he thought most suitable for table.

The thrifty meal takes short time to prepare;
Of simple food the rustic board is soon full;
But the town mouse, unused to homely fare,
Turns up his nose, and scarcely tastes a spoonful.

At length, the dinner o’er, “My friend,” cries he,
“Your rural life with all my heart I pity;
But why starve on? just come to town with me,
I’ll show you what’s worth eating in the city.”

And then he tells full many a tempting tale,
Of bounteous feast, and revelry, and riot;
“Why waste your time in such a tightened pale?
Life is but short; be merry, and enjoy it.”

The rustic hears, and on his simple mind
Each word persuasive makes impression stronger:
That very eve he’ll leave his home behind,
And be a country mouse, and starve—no longer.

They sally forth ‘neath shade of sheltering night:
The rustic mouse at fancied terrors quivered,
And shook in timid agonies of fright,
Though but some aspen in the darkness shivered.

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