The YELLOW FAIRY BOOK - online childrens book

Illustrated classic fairy tales for children by Andrew Lang

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	THE CAT AND THE MOUSE
	IN PARTNERSHIP
	A CAT had made acquaintance with a mouse, -and had spoken so much of the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at last the Mouse consented to live in the same house with her, and to go shares in the housekeeping ' But we must provide for the winter or else we shall suffer hunger,' sard the Cat. 'You, little Mouse, cannot venture everywhere in case you run at last into a trap.' This good counsel was fol­lowed, and a little pot of fat was bought. But they did not know where to put it. At length, after long consultation, the Cat said, ' I know of no place where it could be better put than in the church. No one will trouble to take it away from there. We will hide it in a corner, and we won't touch it till we are in want,' So the little pot was placed in safety ; but it was not long before the Cat had a great longing for it, and said to the Mouse, 'I wanted to tell you, little Mouse, that my cousin lias a little son, white with brown spots, and she wants me to bo god­mother to it. Let me go out to-day, and do you take care of the house alone.' ' Yes, go certainly,' replied the Mouse, ( and when you eat any­thing good, think of me; I should very much like a drop of the red christening wine.' But it was all untrue. The Cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to be godmother. She went straight to the church, slunk to the little pot of fat, began to lick it, and licked the top off. Then she took a walk on the roofs of the town, looked at the view, stretched Y.                                                                                                                                   B