nd how poor he was.

But as they ate, a man all at once opened the door, and the Mice were in
such a fear that they ran into a crack.

Then, when they would eat some nice figs, in came a maid to get a pot of
honey or a bit of cheese; and when they saw her, they hid in a hole.

Then the Field Mouse would eat no more, but said to the Town Mouse, "Do
as you like, my good friend; eat all you want and have your fill of good
things, but you will be always in fear of your life. As for me, poor
Mouse, who have only corn and wheat, I will live on at home in no fear
of any one."

211

This simple poem is based upon the old fable
preceding. It does not follow out the idea of
the fable, but limits itself to awakening our
sympathy for the garden mouse.

THE CITY MOUSE AND THE GARDEN MOUSE

CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI

The city mouse lives in a house;--
The garden mouse lives in a bower;
He's friendly with the frogs and toads,
And sees the pretty plants in flower.

The city mouse eats bread and cheese;--
The garden mouse eats what he can;
We will not grudge him seeds and stocks,
Poor little timid furry man.

212

The most famous use of this fable in literature
is found in the _Satires_ of the great Roman
poet, Horace (B.C. 65-8). He is regarded as one
of the most polished of writers, and the
ancient world's most truthful painter of social
life and manners. Horace had a country seat
among the Sabine hills to which he could retire
from the worries and distractions of the world.
His delight in his Sabine farm is shown clearly
in his handling of the story. The passage is a
part of Book II, Satire 6, and is in
Conington's translation. Some well-known
appearances of this same fable in English
poetry may be found in Prior and Montagu's
_City Mouse and Country Mouse_ and in Pope's
_Imitations of Horace_.

THE COUNTRY MOUSE AND THE TOWN MOUSE

HORACE

One day a country mouse in his poor home
Received an ancient friend, a mouse from Rome.
The host, though close and careful, to a guest
Could open still; so now he did his best.
He spares not oats or vetches; in his chaps
Raisins he brings, and nibbled bacon-scraps,
Hoping by varie