So Harry closed up his little house and started off one day for the city. With an extra pair of clean socks and a toothbrush slung over his shoulder in a red bandanna handkerchief, and his trusty umbrella tucked under his arm, Harry felt ready for anything the city might offer.
In town, he had no trouble finding the place Tim had described. It was just as Tim had said, a fine big town house with stone walls which stretched up and up and up, farther than Harry could see. He was looking about him wide eyed when the door opened and Tim appeared. "Come on in," said Tim sharply. "We can't stand around in the streets here in the city. It's much too dangerous."
Harry obediently followed his cousin into the house and through a series of dim passageways. When they stepped out into a fine big room, Harry's eyes grew wide again. For there, right beside him, set out on a neat little wooden platform, was a large and tasty looking chunk of cheese. "Hey!" said Harry happily. "This is swell!" Tim, who was leading the way, spun around at Harry's words.
"Stop!" he cried. "Leave that alone!" And he slapped down Harry's hand just as it touched the cheese. Zam! the trap slammed shut, whistling past Harry's fingers. "Never touch cheese you find lying around!" said Tim very sternly. Harry nodded meekly, and followed his guide on shaking legs. "There!" said Tim proudly as they came into the next room and hopped onto a big table. "Feast your eyes on that!" added Tim.
He swept an arm out over the great white expanse of a dining room table laden with food. There were fruits, cheeses, and mounds of jello. There were cakes and breads and great puddings, and so many other good things to eat.
"Ooh!" said Harry, in pure delight. But he did not dare touch a thing, for fear of traps. "Go ahead," Tim told him. And to show the way, he snapped off a corner of cheese and munched daintily at it. Harry waited no longer. He sampled the cheese, too. It was delicious cheese! Harry broke off a larger piece and tucked it away as fast as he possibly could.
"This is great, Tim," he admitted. "This is the life, all right!" He dipped into a bowl of cream and smacked his lips in delight. He marveled at a great mild of jello. Next he came to another jar of what looked like darker cream, and he scooped up a big mouthful. But it was mustard, hot mustard! and tears rolled down Harry's cheeks as it sizzled his insides. He gulped down a glass of water at one swallow, but that only gave him the hiccups.
Poor Abner stumbled across the table top. His eyes were red and watering from the hot mustard. And Abner's whole body was shaken with great coughs. Suddenly Tim shouted, "Look out!" But it was too late. Harry had lurched against the rim of a plate. And as he clutched at it, the plate started rolling crazily across the table top, carrying poor Harry with it. It scooped up Tim, too, as it whirled and twisted along. Then over the edge of the table it went, plunging down toward the floor far below, landing on the floor with a crash!
In a flash Harry snapped open his trusty umbrella, which he always carried. He grabbed Tim's coat tail in his other hand, and together they floated to the floor, unharmed, after the plate crashed down. But now a new danger awaited them! With eyes gleaming hungrily, the cat approached on padded paws!
"This way!" shouted Tim, and he dived for his mouse hole and safety. But Harry, in his haste and fright, ran in the opposite direction. As Tim peeked out of his mouse hole, he saw Harry heading out the door, inches ahead of the cat's bared teeth and snatching claws. And that was the last Tim saw of Harry.
Down the street raced Harry, with the cat close behind. Zip! a huge tire whistled past in front of his nose. Wh-whip! another sped close behind him! Whoo-OO-oo! shrieked a siren! Clang-g-g! snarled a noisy bell! Rattle-rattle! went a heavy truck above his head!
Poor Harry raced along with his heart in his mouth. He was swerving this way and that way, as danger rushed at him from all sides! Poor Harry! He was running as fast as he could. And as he ran, he clutched his trusty umbrella in his right hand.
Not until he found himself in the open countryside once more did he dare stop to catch his breath and mop his dripping face. Then he began walking slowly down the country road toward the cornfield. "If that's the city," he vowed, "no more of it for me! I'll s tay in my cornfield where I can have a long life and a happy one!"