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Updated: June 1, 2025
"Good-afternoon, cousin," said the house-mouse. "The same to you, cousin," said the wood-mouse. "A fine sunny day," said the house-mouse. "The same to you, cousin," said the wood-mouse. When they had greeted each other in this fashion, they sat and looked at each other for a little while.
A black animal came running over the snow. "I positively believe it is our cousin the black rat," said the house-mouse. "I didn't think there were any of them left. Yes, there's no doubt about it, it's the black rat." "Good afternoon, cousin," said the wood-mouse and backed down into her hole until only her nose peeped out. "Welcome to the country.
"Big enough?" said the rat. "Big enough? That great brown brute is bigger than I am! And then there are so many of them! I am the last of my race. When I am dead, there will be no more black rats in this part of the country. And now I am going to die." "Stop a bit! Cousin!" said the house-mouse. "Let us talk it over first!... Perhaps we can hit upon something or other!..." But it was too late.
The wood-mouse set up her tail and shook her little head sorrowfully: "Cousin," she said, "you have touched me on my very sorest point." "I am really sorry, cousin," said the house-mouse. "But it appears to me that it was you who began to talk about it." "So it was, cousin," said the wood-mouse. "And we don't do any good by holding our tongues.
"Our cousin must be awfully hungry," said the house-mouse. "Or perhaps he has a big family." "Both," said the wood-mouse. "Both. He is awfully greedy and he always has the house full of children. Well, that doesn't concern us: it's his affair.
The house-mouse stared at her in dismay: "Cousin," she said, "you're terrible. I'm afraid of you." "That's very sensible of you," said the rat. "And you mustn't call me cousin. I have never troubled about distant connections; and it would only make it unpleasant if I were to eat you one day. But, for the present, I have had my fill, as I said; so you run no risk."
True, the forester was a grumpy sort of man, who could not hear the word "mouse" mentioned without flying into a rage. But he was a very old man and the house was managed by his daughter. She never forgot the house-mouse; and this came of a meeting that once took place between the two. One morning, you must know, the young lady went to the sideboard to get out the sugar for her father's coffee.
This morning, I was sitting in my hole while they were drinking tea. Then my young mistress cried, 'There's the mouse! and in a jiffy Aunt Petronella was up on the chair, though I wasn't there at all. I tell you, it's great fun." "I daresay, cousin," said the wood-mouse. "And I'm very glad indeed that you've such a good time." "And haven't you just as good a time?" asked the house-mouse.
"I have heard a little about him," said the wood-mouse. "But I have never seen him. Is he of the same kind as the field-mouse?" "He is much worse," said the house-mouse. "To begin with, he is so awfully big. I should say he is as big as five fat mice put together. He is quite black, with a long, scaly tail and small ears. He has horrid teeth and a long tongue.
And when it happens to be a cousin ... and the goods are hers...." "Well, they weren't exactly," said the house-mouse. "The case really belonged to the forester." "According to that, nothing is ours," said the wood-mouse. "I work it out differently. I say that the mast and nuts out here are mine. And the larder in the forester's house is yours.
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