The Lion and the Mouse

The Lion and the Mouse

        One day a Lion slept in the jungle. A tiny Mouse, ran over the Lion's head and down his nose. The Lion awoke with a loud roar. He was very angry. His paw caught the little Mouse. 

        The Lion opened his huge jaws to swallow the Mouse

         "Pardon me, O King, I beg of you," cried the frightened Mouse.

        "If you forgive me this time, I will never forget your kindness. I meant no harm and I certainly didn't want to disturb Your Majesty. If you let me stay alive,  I can do you a good turn, too.“

        The Lion began to laugh, and he laughed and laughed.

        "How could a tiny creature like you ever do anything to help me? And he shook with laughter.

        "Oh well," he shrugged, looking down at the frightened Mouse, “You're not so much of a meal anyway."

        Then, he released his paw from the Mouse and the Mouse quickly ran away.

        Some time after this, some hunters, trying to capture the Lion alive. They set up rope nets in the jungle. The Lion fell into the trap. He roared and thrashed.

        The unhappy Lion feared he could never escape, and her roared pitifully. His thunderous bellows echoed through the Jungle. The tiny Mouse heard the Lion's roars.

        "That may be there very Lion who once freed me," he said, remembering his promise. And he ran to see whether he could help.

        Discovering the sad Lion was in, the Mouse said to him, "Stop, stop! You must not roar. If you make so much noise, the hunters will come and capture you . I'll get you out of this trap."

        With his sharp little teeth the Mouse gnawed at the ropes until they broke. When the Lion stepped out of the net and was free, the Mouse said, "Now, was I not right?"

        "Thank you, good Mouse," said the Lion gently. "You did help me even though I am big and you are so little. I see now that kindness is always worth while."