A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said somuch to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her,that at length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep housetogether. «But we must make a provision for winter, or else we shallsuffer from hunger,» said the cat; «and you, little mouse, cannotventure everywhere, or you will be caught in a trap some day.» Thegood advice was followed, and a pot of fat was bought, but they didnot know where to put it. At length, after much consideration, the catsaid: «I know no place where it will be better stored up than inthe church, for no one dares take anything away from there. We willset it beneath the altar, and not touch it until we are really in needof it.»
So the pot was placed in safety, but it was not long beforethe cat had a great yearning for it, and said to the mouse: «I want totell you something, little mouse; my cousin has brought a little soninto the world, and has asked me to be godmother; he is white withbrown spots, and I am to hold him over the font at the christening.Let me go out today, and you look after the house by yourself.’«Yes, yes,» answered the mouse, «by all means go, and if you getanything very good to eat, think of me. I should like a drop of sweetred christening wine myself.» All this, however, was untrue; the cathad no cousin, and had not been asked to be godmother. She wentstraight to the church, stole to the pot of fat, began to lick at it,and licked the top of the fat off.
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