ic affairs in common. "But we must provide for the winter,"
said the cat, "or we shall be starved; you, little mouse, cannot go
everywhere looking for food, or you will meet with an accident."

This advice was followed, and a pot was brought with some grease in
it. However, when they had got it, they could not imagine where it
should be put; but at last, after a long consideration, the cat said:
"I know no better place to put it than in the church, for there no
one dares to steal anything; we will set it beneath the organ, and not
touch it till we really want it."

So the pot was put away in safety; but not long afterward the cat
began to wish for it again, so he spoke to the mouse and said: "I have
to tell you that I am asked by my aunt to stand godfather to a little
son, white with brown marks, whom she has just brought into the world,
and so I must go to the christening. Let me go out to-day, and do you
stop at home and keep house."

"Certainly," answered the mouse; "pray, go; and if you eat anything
nice, think of me; I would also willingly drink a little of the sweet
red christening-wine."

But, alas! it was all a story; for the cat had no aunt, and had not
been asked to stand godfather to any one. He went straight to the
church, crept up to the grease-pot, and licked it till he had eaten
off the top; then he took a walk on the roofs of the houses in the
town, thinking over his situation, and now and then stretching himself
in the sun and stroking his whiskers as often as he thought of his
meal. When it was evening he went home again, and the mouse said: "So
you have come at last; what a charming day you must have had!"

"Yes," answered the cat; "it went off very well!"

"What have you named the kitten?" asked the mouse.

"_Top-off_," said the cat very quickly.

"_Top-off!_" replied the mouse; "that is a curious and remarkable
name; is it common in your family?"

"What does that matter?" said the cat; "it is not worse than
Crumb-stealer, as your children are called."

Not long afterward the cat felt the same longing as before, and said
to the mouse: "You must oblige me by taking care of the house once
more by yourself; I am again asked to stand godfather, and, since
the youngster has a white ring round his neck, I cannot get off the
invitation." So the good little mouse consented, and the cat crept
away behind the wall to the church again, and ate half the contents
of the grease-pot. "Nothing tastes bet