A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so muchto her about the great love and friendship she felt for her, that atlength the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together.'But we must make a provision for winter, or else we shall sufferfrom hunger,' said the cat; 'and you, little mouse, cannot ventureeverywhere, or you will be caught in a trap some day.' The good advicewas followed, and a pot of fat was bought, but they did not know whereto put it. At length, after much consideration, the cat said: 'I know noplace where it will be better stored up than in the church, for no onedares take anything away from there. We will set it beneath the altar,and not touch it until we are really in need of it.' So the pot wasplaced in safety, but it was not long before the cat had a greatyearning for it, and said to the mouse: 'I want to tell you something,little mouse; my cousin has brought a little son into the world, and hasasked me to be godmother; he is white with brown spots, and I am to holdhim over the font at the christening. Let me go out today, and you lookafter the house by yourself.' 'Yes, yes,' answered the mouse, 'by allmeans go, and if you get anything very good to eat, think of me. Ishould like a drop of sweet red christening wine myself.' All this,however, was untrue; the cat had no cousin, and had not been asked tobe godmother. She went straight to the church, stole to the pot of fat,began to lick at it, and licked the top of the fat off. Then she took awalk upon the roofs of the town, looked out for opportunities, and thenstretched herself in the sun, and licked her lips whenever she thoughtof the pot of fat, and not until it was evening did she return home.'Well, here you are again,' said the mouse, 'no doubt you have had amerry day.' 'All went off well,' answered the cat. 'What name did theygive the child?' 'Top off!' said the cat quite coolly. 'Top off!' criedthe mouse, 'that is a very odd and uncommon name, is it a usual one inyour family?' 'What does that matter,' said the cat, 'it is no worsethan Crumb-stealer, as your godchildren are called.'

Before long the cat was seized by another fit of yearning. She said tothe mouse: 'You must do me a favour, and once more manage the house fora day alone. I am again asked to be godmother, and, as the child has awhite ring round its neck, I cannot refuse.' The good mouse consented,but the cat crept behind the town walls to the church, and devouredhalf the pot of fat. 'Nothing ever seems so good as what one keeps tooneself,' said she, and was quite satisfied with her day's work. Whenshe went home the mouse inquired: 'And what was the child christened?''Half-done,' answered the cat. 'Half-done! What are you saying? Inever heard the name in my life, I'll wager anything it is not in thecalendar!'

The cat's mouth soon began to water for some more licking. 'All goodthings go in threes,' said she, 'I am asked to stand godmother again.The child is quite black, only it has white paws, but with thatexception, it has not a single white hair on its whole body; this onlyhappens 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 mevery thoughtful.' 'You sit at home,' said the cat, 'in your dark-greyfur coat and long tail, and are filled with fancies, that's becauseyou do not go out in the daytime.' During the cat's absence the mousecleaned the house, and put it in order, but the greedy cat entirelyemptied the pot of fat. 'When everything is eaten up one has somepeace,' said she to herself, and well filled and fat she did not returnhome till night. The mouse at once asked what name had been given tothe third child. 'It will not please you more than the others,' said thecat. 'He is called All-gone.' 'All-gone,' cried the mouse 'that is themost 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 laydown to sleep.

From this time forth no one invited the cat to be godmother, butwhen the winter had come and there was no longer anything to be foundoutside, 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--weshall enjoy that.' 'Yes,' answered the cat, 'you will enjoy it as muchas you would enjoy sticking that dainty tongue of yours out of thewindow.' They set out on their way, but when they arrived, the pot offat certainly was still in its place, but it was empty. 'Alas!' said themouse, 'now I see what has happened, now it comes to light! You are a truefriend! You have devoured all when you were standing godmother. Firsttop off, then half-done, then--' 'Will you hold your tongue,' cried thecat, 'one word more, and I will eat you too.' 'All-gone' was already onthe poor mouse's lips; scarcely had she spoken it before the cat sprangon her, seized her, and swallowed her down. Verily, that is the way ofthe world.