The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy,
the Cat. At least they wished to fnd some way of knowing when she was coming, so
they might 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 plans 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 about the Cat’s neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know
immediately that our enemy is coming.”
All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But
in the midst of 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 bell the Cat?” They all feared going near the cat and then abandoned the idea of belling the cat….
Moral: It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.
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