Once upon a time, a Lion lay sleeping in his lair on a tropical day. A little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion’s nose. Roused from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill it.
The poor Mouse, terrified, begged him, “Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you.” The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.
Some days later, however, the Lion was caught in the toils of a hunter, who desired to carry him alive to the king. Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring. The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of the great paws of the Lion, which was entrapped in the ropes, the little Mouse gnawed the string with his teeth until it broke, and soon the Lion was freed.
“You laughed when I said I would repay you,” said the Mouse. “Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion.”
Little friends may prove great friends.