NCE on a time there was a fell-mouse and a town-mouse, and they met on a hill brae, where the fell-mouse sat in a hazel thicket and plucked nuts.

"God help you! sister," said the town -mouse. "Do I meet my kinsfolk here so far out in the country?"

"Yes, so it is," said the fell-mouse.

"You gather these nuts and carry them to your house?" said the town-mouse.

"Yes, I must do it," said the fell-mouse, "if we are to have anything to live on."

"The husks are long and the kernels full this year," said the town-mouse, "so I dare say they will help to fill out a starveling body."

"You are quite right," said the fell-mouse; and then she told her how well and happily she lived. But the town-mouse thought she was better off; and the fell-mouse would not give in, but said there was no place so good as wood and fell, and as for herself, she had far the best of it.