FABLES. 



149 



THE CAT AND THE MICE. 



A certain house being much infested with Mice, 

 a Cat was at length procured, who very diligently 

 hunted after them, and killed great numbers every 

 night. The Mice, being exceedingly^ alarmed at 

 this destruction among their family, consulted to- 

 gether upon what was best to be done for their 

 preservation against so terrible and cruel an enemy. 

 After some debate, they came to the resolution, 

 that no one should, in future, descend below the 

 uppermost shelf. The Cat, observing their ex- 

 treme caution, endeavoured to draw them down to 

 their old haunts by stratagem, for which purpose, 

 she suspended herself by her hinder legs upon a 

 peg in the pantry, and hoped by this trick to lull 

 their suspicions, and to entice them to venture 

 within her reach. She had not long been in this 

 posture, before a cunning old Mouse peeped over 



