Mice gather to solve their cat problem. A young mouse suggests belling the cat so they'll hear it coming. An older mouse asks the obvious question: who will actually do it? The fable shows the difference between having an idea and being able to carry it out.
Chapters
Hi, my name is Aesop H Puppet, and I am going to read you one of Uncle Aesop's famous fables. This one is called "Belling the Cat." The mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the cat. At least they wished to find 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 around 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. Before. But in the midst of rejoicing over all 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?" Uncle Aesop says, "It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it."
