Mouse and Mouser
by Joseph Jacobs · from Collected Folk Tales
Adapted Version
One day, a little Mouse saw a Cat. The Cat sat by a door. She was spinning thread.
"What are you doing?" asked the Mouse. "I am spinning thread," said the Cat. "I hope it goes well," said the Mouse. "I will use it up," said the Cat.
"I swept my room today," said the Mouse. "You are clean," said the Cat. "I found some money," said the Mouse. "You are rich now," said the Cat.
"I went to the store," said the Mouse. "That is far," said the Cat. "I bought some food," said the Mouse. "Was it good?" asked the Cat. "It was very good," said the Mouse. "I put it by the window," said the Mouse. "You should eat it soon," said the Cat. "Then, a cat ate it," said the Mouse. "Then I will catch you!" said the Cat. She jumped.
But the Mouse ran away fast. She was safe.
Remember, do not trust those who might hurt you.
Original Story
MOUSE AND MOUSER
The Mouse went to visit the Cat, and found her sitting behind the hall
door, spinning.
MOUSE. What are you doing, my lady, my lady, What are you doing, my lady?
CAT ( sharply ). I'm spinning old breeches, good body, good body I'm
spinning old breeches, good body.
MOUSE. Long may you wear them, my lady, my lady, Long may you wear them,
my lady.
CAT ( gruffly ). I'll wear' em and tear 'em, good body, good body.
I'll wear 'em and tear 'em, good body.
MOUSE. I was sweeping my room, my lady, my lady, I was sweeping my room,
my lady.
CAT. The cleaner you'd be, good body, good body, The cleaner you'd be,
good body.
MOUSE. I found a silver sixpence, my lady, my lady, I found a silver
sixpence, my lady.
CAT. The richer you were, good body, good body, The richer you were, good
body.
MOUSE. I went to the market, my lady, my lady, I went to the market, my
lady.
CAT. The further you went, good body, good body The further you went, good
body.
MOUSE. I bought me a pudding, my lady, my lady, I bought me a pudding, my
lady.
CAT ( snarling ). The more meat you had, good body, good body, The
more meat you had, good body.
MOUSE. I put it in the window to cool, my lady, I put it in the window to
cool.
CAT. ( sharply ). The faster you'd eat it, good body, good body, The
faster you'd eat it, good body.
MOUSE ( timidly ). The cat came and ate it, my lady, my lady, The cat
came and ate it, my lady.
CAT ( pouncingly ). And I'll eat you, good body, good body, And I'll
eat you, good body.
( Springs upon the mouse and kills it. )
Story DNA
Moral
Do not trust your natural enemies, no matter how friendly they may seem.
Plot Summary
A naive Mouse visits a Cat and engages in a lengthy, repetitive conversation about her daily activities, including finding money and buying a pudding. As the Mouse recounts how 'the cat' ate her pudding, the Cat's responses grow increasingly menacing. Finally, the Cat reveals her true predatory intent, pounces on the Mouse, and kills her.
Themes
Emotional Arc
false security to terror
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Joseph Jacobs collected and retold English fairy tales, often preserving their traditional, sometimes stark, endings.
Plot Beats (18)
- Mouse visits Cat, who is spinning.
- Mouse asks Cat what she is doing.
- Cat replies she is spinning old breeches.
- Mouse wishes Cat well with the breeches.
- Cat states she will wear and tear them.
- Mouse describes sweeping her room.
- Cat comments on the Mouse's cleanliness.
- Mouse recounts finding a silver sixpence.
- Cat notes the Mouse's increased wealth.
- Mouse tells of going to market.
- Cat remarks on the distance traveled.
- Mouse mentions buying a pudding.
- Cat, snarling, implies the pudding had meat.
- Mouse states she put the pudding in the window to cool.
- Cat sharply suggests the Mouse should eat it faster.
- Mouse timidly reveals 'the cat came and ate it'.
- Cat pounces, declaring she will eat the Mouse.
- Cat kills the Mouse.
Characters
Mouse ★ protagonist
Small, grey or brown fur, typical mouse features.
Attire: None, as an animal.
Timid, naive, conversational.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young anthropomorphic mouse with large, curious black eyes and sleek brown fur. He wears a small leather vest over a cream-colored tunic, sturdy little boots, and a determined, hopeful expression. He stands proudly in a heroic pose, one paw resting on a tiny satchel at his side. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Cat ⚔ antagonist
Sleek, predatory, likely domestic cat size.
Attire: None, as an animal, but described as 'spinning' suggesting a domestic setting.
Aggressive, cunning, predatory, impatient.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sleek anthropomorphic cat with sharp, intelligent green eyes and a sly, calculating expression. He wears a dark velvet tailcoat with silver embroidery over a ruffled black shirt, paired with fitted trousers and polished boots. His fur is midnight black, sleek and well-groomed, with a single white streak above one eyebrow. He stands tall in a confident, slightly hunched posture, one hand resting on a silver-topped cane, the other holding a pocket watch. The scene is a moonlit forest clearing with twisted trees. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Behind the Hall Door (Cat's Location)
A specific, somewhat hidden spot within a hall, where the Cat is found spinning.
Mood: initially domestic, quickly turns tense and predatory
The initial meeting between Mouse and Cat, where the Cat is engaged in a domestic activity.
Image Prompt & Upload
Deep within the castle's stone halls, a forgotten alcove behind a heavy oak door. Twilight filters through a high, narrow slit window, casting a long, dusty beam across the flagstone floor. A single, ancient wooden spinning wheel sits in the center, its spindle gleaming faintly. Thick cobwebs drape from the low, vaulted ceiling and the edges of a tattered tapestry. The air is still and cool, smelling of old stone and dry herbs. Warm, flickering light from a single iron wall sconce dances across the scene, illuminating the rough-hewn stone walls and the deep shadows in the arched doorway. Muted colors of gray stone, warm brown wood, and deep red fabric. No border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Mouse's Room
The Mouse's personal living space, which it was sweeping.
Mood: humble, domestic, safe (before the Cat's intervention)
The Mouse's account of finding a silver sixpence and preparing for the market.
Image Prompt & Upload
A cozy, miniature room nestled within a hollow tree trunk, viewed from a low angle. Evening light filters through a small, round window, casting a warm glow on rustic wooden furniture—a tiny bed, a shelf carved into the wall. The floor is packed earth, with a small straw broom leaning against a wall. A stone fireplace with a gentle flicker of embers illuminates the thatched ceiling. Scattered seeds and a thimble-sized cup sit on a stump table. The atmosphere is intimate and warm, with deep browns, soft oranges, and golden highlights. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
The Market
A bustling public place where goods are bought and sold.
Mood: lively, transactional
The Mouse's journey to purchase a pudding with its newfound wealth.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vibrant medieval market square at mid-morning, golden sunlight filtering through colorful fabric awnings draped over wooden stalls. Cobblestone paths wind between tables laden with woven baskets, clay pots, and exotic fruits. Stalls overflow with bolts of silk, hanging brass lanterns, and stacked barrels. Flower boxes burst with red geraniums from second-story windows of timber-framed buildings. A central stone fountain catches the light, surrounded by scattered straw. Bright pennants flutter in a gentle breeze against a soft blue sky with wispy clouds. Rich colors of saffron, indigo, and terracotta dominate. Detailed textures of rough-hewn wood, woven cloth, and glistening produce. Atmospheric perspective with a sense of depth and bustling activity implied through arrangement of goods. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Window (for cooling pudding)
A window ledge or sill, used to cool a freshly bought pudding.
Mood: briefly safe, then vulnerable
The Mouse's attempt to cool its pudding, leading directly to the Cat's theft and the Mouse's demise.
Image Prompt & Upload
A weathered stone window ledge at sunset, bathed in warm golden light, on the side of an old-world European cottage. On the sill sits a small, steaming pudding in a ceramic dish, its sweet aroma visualized as delicate, shimmering wisps of vapor. The wooden window frame is slightly ajar, revealing a glimpse of a cozy, dimly lit kitchen within. Enchanted fireflies begin to glow among the climbing ivy and evening primroses framing the scene. The background is a soft-focus blur of a lush, magical garden at dusk. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
