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Camille
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« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2009, 11:30:26 AM » |
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Here's another sample - hope this helps!
chg
Two old friends, the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, only saw each other when they travelled to the other’s distant and distinct dwellings. Of course, the Town Mouse dwelt in the bustling city and the Country Mouse made his abode in the rural land of the woods. Although they are both mice and share many things in common, they also have several differences, namely their homes, their food and their attitudes about life.
Every mouse needs a home, and the Town Mouse and Country Mouse are no different. Each seems to love their own home and they are eager to share it with each other. The Country Mouse can be found in a simple hole, rough and in the woods. In fact, the Town Mouse tells us that the dwelling is like a toad hole. It is this home in the woods that pleases the Country Mouse’s desire for a quiet life, free from excitement and worry. On the other hand, the Town Mouse cannot stand to live in a home this bare. His home is elegant and large and right in the middle of a busy town. Even the home itself is busy with humans and dogs rushing in at anytime. So although these friends both cherish their own homes, they are different enough to make each uncomfortable in the other.
In these homes, they are both eager and willing to share their food with one another. The Country Mouse is the first to host his mouse friend and he offers a meal taken from his carefully stocked pantry. The food he has stored away is simple: peas, barley, cheese and nuts. It is simple, yet given with great love as he freely feeds his guest from his small stores. These small stores are not enough for the Town Mouse. He is used to dining on many gourmet offerings, food fit for a king. He does not have to gather this food; it is simply laid out on the table for him. In all of this, he is quite eager to share the feast with his friend and he too freely offers, although out of his excess. Enjoying a good meal is important to both mice, even though they dine on very different levels.
Both the homes and the food of the mice demonstrate important character qualities of the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. The Country Mouse shows his graciousness in hosting his guest, even if the guest is not always grateful. He even goes beyond graciousness in displaying an eagerness to please his friend at a cost. In his gathering of food, storing of supplies and careful attention to his home, he also shows his great wisdom. The Town Mouse is a giving host, but he is not a gracious guest. He is condescending and quite difficult to please, always looking for more adventure and excitement. He is never totally satisfied outside of his own lavish home, a home which he did not have to maintain. He did not have to demonstrate diligence as all was given to him. These character qualities point out the clear, come differences in these two friends.
Both the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse have homes, enjoy food and display distinct character qualities. Those who value the simple, diligent and virtuous life will see that the Country Mouse is a wonderful model to follow.
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