451- The Young Mouse and his Grandfather’s Advice

Grandpa was talking with his grandson John. He spoke about sin, especially the evil thoughts which offer a particular sweetness and sense of satisfaction but in fact there hides within them poison to those who accept them. The lips of sin are soft as butter; its mouth drips with honey but it raptures the soul.

John argued with his grandfather and was not convinced by the danger of sin and its animosity to the soul. His grandfather told him the story of a small mouse and his grandfather’s advice.

A small mouse felt hungry, so he asked his grandfather permission to go out to find food. His grandfather said to him, “May safety accompany you my blessed grandson. Be careful of the enemy. If you see him leave everything and run to your burrow, that you may be saved from him.”

The little mouse bowed his head announcing his obedience to his experienced grandfather. The mouse went to a room for rearing chicken, when he saw a big rooster opening his wings and crying in a loud voice he was terrified and returned quickly to his burrow.

“What have you seen my dear grandson?” His grandpa asked.

“I saw a great big creature with a red comb on its head. When it saw me it took a few steps backward and looked at me in bitterness and screamed.”

The grandfather smiled and said, “Don’t fear darling. This is a crowing cock. He can’t harm you. He isn’t our enemy.”

The little mouse calmed down and his soul was comforted and went out again to look for food. Again, he returned in a state of hysteria. “What happened?” Grandpa asked.

“I saw a huge creature three times the size of the cock, black in color, with long yellow legs, a sharp beak and red eyes. It’s for sure a dangerous enemy.”

The grandfather said, “Don’t fear my dear grandson. That was a black turkey who can’t harm you. He isn’t our enemy.”

The mouse was surprised and asked, “Who’s our enemy then?”

The old mouse answered seriously, “Our enemy is often a creature who appears to be quiet. He bows his head until it reaches the ground and closes his eyes as if asleep. His skin is soft fur, appears very beautiful. This is our dangerous enemy. If you see him from far flee immediately lest you fall into his hands, and then he will play with you and destroy you.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: الفأر الصغير ونصيحة جده!

A Battle between a Cat and a Dog

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

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