One of Aesop's Fables
A group of Mice convenes to address the threat posed by a predatory Cat that is decimating their population. They brainstorm various strategies to evade her. An elderly, wise Mouse proposes a solution: attaching a bell to the Cat's neck, which would alert them to her approach. The idea is met with enthusiasm, and the Mice agree it is a clever plan. However, when it comes time to execute the plan, none of the Mice are willing to take the risk of actually hanging the bell on the Cat. They all express their reluctance and quickly retreat to safety. This fable illustrates the theme of inaction in the face of a good idea, highlighting that proposing a solution is easy, but taking the necessary steps to implement it often requires courage and commitment. The Mice's failure to act on the wise suggestion serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of not just discussing problems but also taking decisive action to resolve them.
By James Baldwin · First published 1955 · Genre: Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore · 172 words
First lines
An old Cat was in a fair way to kill all the Mice in the barn.
One day the Mice met to talk about the great harm that she was doing them. Each one told of some plan by which to keep out of her way.
"Do as I say," said an old gray Mouse that was thought to be very wise. "Do as I say. Hang a bell to the Cat's neck. Then, when we hear it ring, we shall know that she is coming, and can scamper out of her way. " "Good! good! " said all the other Mice; and one ran to get the bell. "Now which of you will hang this bell on the Cat's neck? " said the old gray Mouse.
"Not I! not I! " said all the Mice together. And they scampered away to their holes.
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One of Aesop's Fables is listed on Textopian as a fable by James Baldwin, dated 1955 CE.
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- Work type: Fable
- Author: James Baldwin
- Date: 1955 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's Literature, Folklore, Short Story, Animal Fiction
- Length: 172 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Similar titles
- The Cock And The Mouse by Frank Hamilton Cushing
- Time And The Tradesman by Lord Dunsany
- The Disobedient Rooster The Story Of Another Little Hen by Parker Fillmore
- How The Lion Became King by Oliver Herford
- The Lion The Bear And The Fox by Leo Tolstoy
- The Storks by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fable — The story is a classic fable, featuring anthropomorphized animals and conveying a moral lesson.
- Children's Literature — The simple narrative and moral lesson make it suitable for children.
- Folklore — The story is part of traditional folklore, passed down through generations.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and focuses on a single incident.
Tags
Fable · Animal Story · Moral Lesson · Satire · Social Commentary · Classic Literature · Aesop's Fables · Children's Literature · Allegory · Symbolism · Morality Tale · Short Story Collection