Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began
running up and down upon him; this soon wakened the
Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his
big jaws to swallow him. ‘Pardon, O King,’ cried the little
Mouse: ‘forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: who
knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of
these days?’ The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the
Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw
and let him go. Some time after the Lion was caught in a
trap, and the hunters who desired to carry him alive to the
King, tied him to a tree while they went in search of a
waggon to carry him on. Just then the little Mouse
happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which
the Lion was, went up to him and soon gnawed away the
ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. ‘Was I not right?’
said the little Mouse.
Moral Lesson: Little friends may prove great friends.
―
Aesop
