Aesop
|
Greece

The Mouse in the Wine Jar and the Cat

A trapped mouse promises a cat anything for help, but later refuses, teaching the cat about broken promises made under the influence.
Deception
Caution
Consequences
Aesop's Fables - The Mouse in the Wine Jar and the Cat
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a big, old kitchen, a tiny mouse found himself trapped inside a jar full of wine. He tried to climb out, but the jar was too slick and steep.

Nearby, a smart cat was walking around the kitchen. He heard a small sound coming from a jar. He jumped up and saw the mouse inside, struggling in the wine.

"Help me, please!" cried the mouse, waving his small arms. "I will give you anything you want!"

Hoping for a reward, the cat carefully tipped the jar. The mouse slid out, covered in wine, and ran away to dry off and sleep.

A few days later, the cat was very hungry. He remembered the mouse's promise. He went to the mouse's hole and said, "I'm here for my reward. I'm hungry."

The mouse, feeling safe in his hole, replied, "I was not thinking clearly when I made that promise because I was drunk from the wine. I cannot just give myself up to you. Find your food somewhere else."

And so the cat was left with an empty belly, having learned that promises made when someone is not thinking clearly might not be kept. It's important to think about this when making deals.

Once upon a time, in a big, old kitchen, there was a little mouse. One day, the mouse accidentally fell into a jar full of wine. The jar was very slippery, and the mouse couldn’t climb out.

Nearby, a clever cat was walking around the kitchen. He heard a tiny noise coming from the jar. Curious, the cat jumped up and saw the mouse inside, struggling in the wine.

"Help me, please!" cried the mouse, waving his small paws. "I will give you anything you want if you save me!"

The cat thought he might get a nice reward, so he carefully tipped the jar. The mouse slipped out, covered in wine, and quickly ran away to dry off and rest.

A few days later, the cat was very hungry. He remembered the mouse’s promise and went to the mouse’s hole. "I'm here for my reward. I'm very hungry," the cat said.

The mouse, feeling safe in his hole, replied, "I wasn’t thinking clearly when I made that promise because I was dizzy from the wine. I cannot just give myself up to you. Find your food somewhere else."

And so, the cat was left with an empty belly, having learned that promises made when someone is not thinking clearly might not be kept. It's important to think carefully when making deals.

Once upon a time, in a big, old kitchen, there was a little mouse. One day, the mouse accidentally fell into a jar full of wine. The jar was very slippery, and the mouse couldn’t climb out.

Nearby, a clever cat was walking around the kitchen. He heard a tiny noise coming from the jar. Curious, the cat jumped up and saw the mouse inside, struggling in the wine.

"Help me, please!" cried the mouse, waving his small paws. "I will give you anything you want if you save me!"

The cat thought he might get a nice reward, so he carefully tipped the jar. The mouse slipped out, covered in wine, and quickly ran away to dry off and rest.

A few days later, the cat was very hungry. He remembered the mouse’s promise and went to the mouse’s hole. "I'm here for my reward. I'm very hungry," the cat said.

The mouse, feeling safe in his hole, replied, "I wasn’t thinking clearly when I made that promise because I was dizzy from the wine. I cannot just give myself up to you. Find your food somewhere else."

And so, the cat was left with an empty belly, having learned that promises made when someone is not thinking clearly might not be kept. It's important to think carefully when making deals.

Once upon a time, in a kitchen that was like a giant playground for pots and pans, a tiny mouse got stuck in a jar full of grape juice—for grown-ups, if you know what I mean. He was trying to climb out, but it was like trying to climb up a rainbow—super slippery!

In comes a cat who thinks he's the smartest kitty in the whole wide world. He was just walking around, pretending he was on a secret spy mission or something. Then he hears this funny noise, like someone trying to sing but not getting it right. Up he jumps onto the counter, all ninja-like, and finds Mr. Mouse swimming in a grape juice pool.

"Hey, hey, hey! Can you help me get out?" yelled the mouse, waving his little paws around like he was dancing. "I'll give you something super cool!"

Thinking maybe he'll get a mountain of his favorite snacks, the cat gives the jar a little tip. Woosh! Out comes the mouse, all wet and drippy, running off like he needs a towel and a warm cookie, stat.

Fast forward a couple of days. Smarty-pants cat is really, really hungry. Like, tummy-making-noises kind of hungry. He remembers the mouse promised him something good. So, he goes to the mouse hole and shouts, "Hey, it's snack time! Guess who's the snack?"

From inside his cozy hidey-hole, the mouse calls out, "Um, about that. See, I was kinda silly when I said that. I was swimming in grape juice, remember? You can't really think I'm gonna be your snack, do ya?"

And so, the cat walks off, tummy still making funny noises, thinking really hard about how some promises are kinda like jelly—you can't really hold onto them.

In a kitchen so big, with pans and some spoons,
Lived a little mouse stuck; oh, he felt like a goon.
In a jar full of juice, he tried to get out,
But the jar was so slick, he just wiggled about.

A cat walked along, quite clever and keen,
Heard a tiny noise and thought, "What can it mean?"
He looked in the jar and saw mouse in a plight,
"Help me, oh help me!" mouse squeaked with all might.

"If you let me go, I'll give you a treat!"
The cat tipped the jar; mouse landed on feet.
All wet but free, mouse scampered away,
He dried off his fur, to nap and to play.

A few days went by, the cat felt a pang,
Of hunger so deep, his empty tummy sang.
He went to mouse's hole, "It's time for my snack,"
Mouse said, "I was scared, please cut me some slack."

"I can’t be your treat, go find something new,"
Cat walked away, learning a lesson or two.
If you make a deal, be sure it will keep,
Or else you might find your promise too cheap.

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Word Finder

  1. Accidentally

    Happening by chance, not on purpose.

  2. Slippery

    Hard to hold or stand on because it's smooth.

  3. Struggling

    Trying very hard to do something difficult.

  4. Reward

    Something given in return for good work.

  5. Carefully

    Doing something with great attention to avoid mistakes.

  6. Quickly

    In a fast or short amount of time.

  7. Promise

    A strong commitment to do something.

  8. Hungry

    Feeling the need or desire to eat.

  9. Remembered

    To think of something from the past again.

  10. Clearly

    In a way that is easy to understand or see.

Understanding Questions

  1. Why couldn't the mouse escape from the jar by itself?
  2. What did the mouse promise the cat in exchange for help?
  3. How did the cat help the mouse get out of the jar?
  4. Why did the mouse refuse to keep its promise when the cat asked for food?
  5. What did the cat learn from this experience with the mouse?
Word Finder
  1. Accidentally

    Happening by chance, not on purpose.

  2. Slippery

    Hard to hold or stand on because it's smooth.

  3. Struggling

    Trying very hard to do something difficult.

  4. Reward

    Something given in return for good work.

  5. Carefully

    Doing something with great attention to avoid mistakes.

  6. Quickly

    In a fast or short amount of time.

  7. Promise

    A strong commitment to do something.

  8. Hungry

    Feeling the need or desire to eat.

  9. Remembered

    To think of something from the past again.

  10. Clearly

    In a way that is easy to understand or see.

Understanding Questions
  1. Why couldn't the mouse escape from the jar by itself?
  2. What did the mouse promise the cat in exchange for help?
  3. How did the cat help the mouse get out of the jar?
  4. Why did the mouse refuse to keep its promise when the cat asked for food?
  5. What did the cat learn from this experience with the mouse?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the mouse promised anything to the cat to get out of the jar?
  2. How do you think the cat felt when the mouse didn't keep his promise?
  3. Can you think of a time when you made a promise that you couldn't or didn't want to keep?
  4. What does this story teach us about making promises when we're scared or not thinking clearly?
  5. How can we make sure we're being fair and careful when we make promises to others?
Fable Quotes
A promise made in haste may not be a promise kept.
Beware of promises made under pressure; they may not be true.
Actions taken without thought can lead to unanticipated results.
Just One More Fable
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