The cat's mouth soon began to water for some more licking.  All good things go in threes, said she, I am asked to stand godmother again.  The child is quite black, only it has white paws, but with that exception, it has not a single white hair on its whole body, this only happens once every few years, you will let me go, won't you.  Top-off.  Half-done, answered the mouse, they are such odd names, they make me very thoughtful.  You sit at home, said the cat, in your dark-gray fur coat and long tail, and are filled with fancies, that's because you do not go out in the daytime. During the cat's absence the mouse cleaned the house, and put it in order but the greedy cat entirely emptied the pot of fat.  When everything is eaten up one has some peace, said she to herself, and well filled and fat she did not return home till night.  The mouse at once asked what name had been given to the third child. It will not please you more than the others, said the cat.  He is called all-gone.  All-gone, cried the mouse, that is the most suspicious name of all.  I have never seen it in print.  All-gone, what can that mean, and she shook her head, curled herself up, and lay down to sleep.  

From this time forth no one invited the cat to be godmother, but when the winter had come and there was no longer anything to be found outside, the mouse thought of their provision, and said, come cat, we will go to our pot of fat which we have stored up for ourselves - we shall enjoy that.  Yes, answered the cat, you will enjoy it as much as you would enjoy sticking that dainty tongue of yours out of the window.  They set out on their way, but when they arrived, the pot of fat certainly was still in its place, but it was empty.  Alas, said the mouse, now I see what has happened, now it comes to light.  You are a true friend.  You have devoured all when you were standing godmother.  First top off then half done, then -.  Will you hold your tongue, cried the cat, one word more and I will eat you too.  All gone was already on the poor mouse's lips, scarcely had she spoken it before the cat sprang on her, seized her, and swallowed her down.  Verily, that is the way of the world.


有一只猫认识了一只老鼠，便对它大谈特谈自己是多么喜欢老鼠，原意和它交朋友，弄得老鼠终于同意和猫住在一起，共同生活。“我们得准备过冬的东西了，不然我们到冬天会挨饿的，”猫说，“至于你嘛，我的小老鼠，哪里也不要去，我真怕你会被什么老鼠夹子夹住。”老鼠接受了猫的好建议，于是它们买来了一罐猪油，然而两个人都不知道该把猪油放在什么地方。它们左思考右思考，最后猫说：“我觉得这猪油放在教堂里是再合适不过的了，因为谁也不敢偷教堂里的东西。我们把猪油藏在祭坛下，不到万不得已的时候决不动它。”猪油罐就这样被放到了安全的地方。可是没过多久，猫开始想吃猪油了，便对老鼠说：“小老鼠，我想跟你说点事。我的表姐刚刚生了一个小宝宝，还请我当小宝贝的教母。那小宝贝全身雪白，带着一些褐色的斑点。我要抱着它去接受洗礼，所以今天要出去一下，你一个人在家看家，好吗？”“好的，好的，”老鼠说，“你尽管去吧。要是有什么好吃的东西，千万要记着我。我很想尝一点洗礼时用的红葡萄酒。”这一切当然都不是真的，因为猫并没有表姐，也没有被请去当教母。它直接去了教堂，偷偷爬到猪油罐那里，开始舔呀舔，把顶上一层猪油舔得精光。然后，它在城里的屋顶上散了散步，想碰碰别的运气；接着便躺下来晒太阳。每当想起那罐猪油，它都情不自禁地舔舔自己的嘴唇。它一直等到天黑才回家。“啊，你终于回来了，”老鼠说，“这一天肯定过得很开心吧？”“一切顺利。”猫答道。“你们给那孩子起了什么名字？”“没了顶层！”猫冷淡地说。“没了顶层！”老鼠叫了起来，“这个古怪的名字可不多见。你们家常取这样的名字吗？”“那有什么？”猫说,“不比你的那些教子叫什么'偷面包屑的'更糟吧？”liuxuepaper.com