Belling the Cat
The Mice once had a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves from their enemy, the Cat. They wanted to find a way of knowing when she was coming, so they could have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.
Many ideas were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last, a very young Mouse got up and said:
“I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful.
All we have to do is to hang a bell around the Cat’s neck. When we hear the bell ringing, we will know immediately that our enemy is coming.”
All the Mice were very surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But amid the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:
“I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will put a bell on the Cat?”
It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.
Moral of the story
Ideas are valuable: Sometimes, the simplest ideas can be the most effective.
Actions speak louder than words: It’s not enough to just talk about doing something; you have to take action.
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the Mice were so afraid of the Cat?
- If you were a Mouse, how would you feel about the plan to put a bell on the Cat?
Post Note: This story is based on Aesop’s fable, written around 600 BC. In this retelling, we’ve used simpler words to make the story easier for young readers to understand.
