Once there were two nuce．They were friends．One mouse lived inthe country；the other mouse lived in the city．After many years the Coun—try mouse saw the City mouse；he said，“Do come and see me at myhouse in the country．”So the City mouse went．The Country mouse ledhim to his home that was set in a field，and treated this City mouse withall delicious food．The City mouse said，“This food is not good，and yourhouse is not good．Why do you live in a hole in the field？You shouldcome and live in the city．You would live in a nice house made of stone．You would have nice food to eat．You must come and see me at myhouse in the city．”
The Country mouse went to the house of the City mouse．It was avery good house．Nice food was set ready for them to eat．But just as theybegan to eat they heard a great noise．The City mouse cried，“Run！Run！The cat is coming！”They ran away quickly and hid． After some time they came out．When they came out，the Countrymouse said，“I do not like living in the city．I like living in my hole inthe field．For it is nicer to be poor and happy，than to be rich and afraid．”
城里老鼠和乡下老鼠
以前，有两只老鼠是很好的朋友。他们有一只在乡下住，而另一只则住在城里。很多年后，乡下老鼠遇到了城里老鼠，他说：“我在乡下住，你一定要去我家玩玩啊。”于是，城里老鼠就跟着去了。乡下老鼠把他领到了家，他的家在一块田地里。他极尽地主之谊热情款待了城里老鼠，为他准备了一大堆美味的食物。但城里老鼠竟然说：“这东西根本就不好吃，你的家也一点都不好，为什么你要住在田地的洞里呢？你应该搬到城里去住，那样就能住上用石头建的漂亮房子，还能吃上美味佳肴。你应该去我城里的家看看。”
乡下老鼠也就跟着城里老鼠去了他的家。房子确实非常漂亮，也为他们摆好了好吃的东西。可就在他们准备吃的时候，听到一阵很大的响动，城里的老鼠喊道：“快跑！快跑！猫来了！”他们迅速跑开，藏了起来。
过了一会儿，他们才出来。出来后，乡下老鼠说：“我不喜欢住在城里，我还是喜欢住在田野里。穷是穷，但快乐，要比富有但提心吊胆地过日子强。”