Cobwebs from an Empty Skull

A cat, waking out of a sound sleep, saw a mouse sitting just out of reach, observing her.  Perceiving that at the slightest movement of hers the mouse would recollect an engagement, she put on a look of extreme amiability, and said: 

“Oh! it’s you, is it?  Do you know, I thought at first you were a frightful great rat; and I am so afraid of rats!  I feel so much relieved—­you don’t know!  Of course you have heard that I am a great friend to the dear little mice?”

[Illustration]

“Yes,” was the answer, “I have heard that you love us indifferently well, and my mission here was to bless you while you slept.  But as you will wish to go and get your breakfast, I won’t bore you.  Fine morning—­isn’t it? Au revoir!”

This fable teaches that it is usually safe to avoid one who pretends to be a friend without having any reason to be.  It wasn’t safe in this instance, however; for the cat went after that departing rodent, and got away with him.