The Cat and the Bell (猫和铃）

There were many mice¹ in a house. The man of the house got² a cat. The cat killed³ many of the mice.

Then the oldest mouse said⁴, " All mice must come to my hole tonight, and we will think what we can do about this cat."

All the mice came⁵. Many mice spoke⁶, but none⁷ knew what to do. At last a young mouse stood⁸ up and said, "We must put a bell on the cat. Then, when the cat comes near, we shall⁹ hear the bell and run away and hide¹⁰. So the cat will not catch any more mice."

Then the old mouse asked, " Who will put the bell on the cat?"

No mouse answered.

He waited, but still no one answered.

At last he said, "It is not hard to say things; but it is harder to do them."