The Cowardly Lion

The Cowardly Lion

          Dorothy and her friends were walking through the forest when they heard a terrible roar. The next moment, a great Lion ran onto the road. Dorothy and her friends were very frightened, but little Toto ran ahead and barked at the huge beast.

          When the Lion saw the little dog, he opened up his mouth as if to bit him. Dorothy became so angry at this that she came forward and and slapped the Lion on the nose.

          “Don’t you dare bite Tito! She shouted.

          “You ought to be ashamed of yourself, a big Lion like you, trying to bite a little dog!”

          “I didn’t bite him,” said the Lion, as he rubbed his nose with his big paw.

          “No, but you tried to,” Dorothy answered. “You are nothing but a coward!”

          The Lion felt very ashamed.  He told Dorothy and her friends that although he was the King of the Beasts, he was actually a coward. He was afraid of almost everything and everybody.

          The Scarecrow scratched his straw head. Then he said, “Maybe Oz could give you courage.”

          “If only I had courage, then I could truly be King of the Beasts.” Said the Lion.

          So Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Tinmman invited the Lion to join them on their journey to the Emeraldy City. The Lion agreed, and the friends continued to follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the home of the Great Oz.