381- A Dialogue Between Two Mice

A mouse left Alexandria to a nearby village for a friend of his there. As the Alexandrian mouse hungered, his villager friend took him to a store and said to him, “I’ve made a hole in a bag of wheat and another in a bag of barley.”

The other one asked resentfully, “Don’t you have anything other than wheat and barley?”

“No, life here isn’t like the city.”

“Why don’t you then come with me to the city?”

“Is there a place in your house?”

“Yes, and there’s much delicious food.”

They both went to the city and crept to the house. The villager said, “I’m hungry. What would you offer me?”

“Follow me.”

They crept to the kitchen. As the villager smelt the food, he lamented his past life full of deprivation. They made two holes in the sugar bag and ate. The villager then said, “It’s delicious. I never tasted it before.”

Suddenly, the kitchen door opened and the lady stretched her hand to take the flour bag. The city mouse said to his friend, “Hurry up with me.”

They both entered a hole. The villager was frightened. After the lady left, both of them returned to the sugar bag. On their way, the host took his friend to eat from the dried dates and figs. As the guest was eating and lamenting the past, he heard a cat. He asked, “What’s that?”

“Hush, don’t talk. It’s the most dangerous cat in the city. He skillfully hunts mice.”

“Oh, let’s return to the hole.”

They returned to the hole where the cat could not reach them. After the cat left, they both went to the store. The guest moved here and there very amazed. He ate a little of every sort of food so that he would be able to taste everything. At once, the host cried, “Don’t taste this delicious piece of cheese. If you stretched your head to eat it, the trap will smash your head.”

“What?”

“A large strong piece of iron will fall on your head and kill you before you taste the cheese.”

The guest was frightened and said, “Thank you for your loving advice but let me return to my village. There’s very delicious food here but you live frightened. It’s better to live on wheat and barley having peace and safety.”

“Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife" (Prov. 17.1).

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: حوار بين فأرين.

Grant me thanksgiving so that I would never complain,

Or desire what is not mine.

You are Wonderful in Your love O Lord.

Many a time, I thought that I am deprived,

Yet, Your inner peace fills my soul,

And transfers even bitterness into sweetness.

Wednesday or Tuesday!

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Gold or Stones