The Mouse's Crown

Long ago there was a mouse who lived in an astrologer's house. This mouse had learned to read and write and believed that he could understand the stars to predict the future. He was so proud of his talents that he made for himself a crown to wear so that all his peers might see him and be envious.

One night, the mouse was out for a walk, gazing up at the stars. There, he read that the stars were telling that the Mountain Darbreduun was soon to erupt again for the transgressions of mortals. He eagerly followed the stars when all at once he fell into a great hole on the side of the road, filled with mud and water.

The Mouse's cries for help were heard by his fellow mice who came to his aid. Seeing that he was stuck, they reached down only to find that he was out of reach. They said to the Mouse, "Oh wise Mouse, stretch forth your crown to us so that we may grab hold of it and pull you out."

The Mouse was upset by this, saying, "Indeed, this crown is my own wisdom! I should not doff it, even to the aid of myself!" and he required much convincing.

When at last the Mouse had taken off his crown and they had pulled him up, they said to him, "You are wise beyond your ability, and can read the future in the stars, yet you make no use of it. Use your wisdom to understand and improve the world around you and the heavens will care for themselves."