The Lion and the Mouse

A lion was sleeping outside his den when a mouse, not knowing where he was going, ran over the mighty beast’s nose and woke him. The lion clapped his paw upon the mouse and was about to make an end of him; but the mouse begged the lion to spare his life, and promised one day to pay him back for his kindness. So the lion let the mouse go.

Some time later, the lion found himself caught in a hunter’s trap. He tried to free himself but could not do so. His roars echoed through the forest, and the mouse came running to see what was happening. He set to work to nibble through the net that held the lion prisoner, and in a short time he was able to set him free. In this way he repaid the great beast’s kindness.