Once there were two mice who were friends. One lived in the country, the other in the city. After many years, the Country mouse met the City mouse and invited him to visit his home in the country.
The City mouse came but was unimpressed. "This food is not good, and your house is not good," he said. "Why do you live in a hole in the field? You should come and live in the city. You would live in a nice stone house and have fine food. You must come and see my house in the city."
The Country mouse visited the City mouse's house. It was a fine house with delicious food set out. But just as they began to eat, they heard a great noise. "Run! Run! The cat is coming!" cried the City mouse. They quickly ran away and hid.
After some time, they came out. The Country mouse then said, "I do not like living in the city. I prefer my hole in the field. For it is better to be poor and happy than to be rich and afraid."