The Lion and the Mouse

In a quiet part of the forest, a mighty lion lay fast asleep. Known as the King of Beasts, he was powerful enough to frighten almost every animal that crossed his path. His large paws rested on the ground, his mane spread around his head, and his steady breathing filled the peaceful clearing.

Nearby, a little mouse was busy exploring. As it scurried between the roots and leaves, it wandered onto the lion’s body and began running up and down his back.

At first, the lion slept on. But the mouse’s tiny feet soon disturbed his rest.

With a sudden movement, the lion woke and caught the little creature beneath his enormous paw. He opened his jaws, ready to swallow the mouse in a single bite.

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Terrified, the mouse trembled beneath the lion’s weight.

“Please, Your Majesty,” it begged. “Spare my life! I am sorry for disturbing your sleep. If you let me go, I will never forget your kindness. Who knows? Perhaps one day I may be able to help you in return.”

The lion stared at the tiny animal. The thought of such a small creature helping someone as strong as him seemed ridiculous. How could a mouse possibly do anything for a lion?

Amused by the suggestion, the lion began to laugh.

“You?” he seemed to think. “Help me?”

Yet the little mouse’s plea had entertained him, and he decided that killing it was unnecessary. He lifted his paw and allowed the mouse to escape.

“Go on, little one,” the lion’s actions seemed to say. “You are free.”

The mouse hurried away, grateful for its life. The lion settled down again, giving the encounter little further thought.

Some time passed, and the lion’s good fortune changed.

One day, hunters entered the forest and set a trap. The mighty lion was caught. Despite his strength and fierce struggles, he could not free himself from the ropes that held him fast.

The hunters were delighted with their prize. They wanted to take the lion alive to the king, so they tied him securely to a tree while they went to find a wagon large enough to transport him.

Left alone, the lion struggled against his bonds. He pulled and twisted, but the ropes would not give way. For once, his great strength was of little use to him.

It was then that the little mouse happened to pass by.

Hearing the lion’s distress, the mouse approached and discovered the very animal who had once spared its life. The mighty king of the forest was now helpless, bound tightly to a tree.

The mouse did not run away. It remembered the lion’s mercy and knew that this was its chance to repay the kindness it had received.

Without wasting time, the little creature set to work. It began gnawing at the ropes with its sharp teeth, biting through the strands one by one.

The task took patience, but the mouse continued until the ropes began to loosen. At last, the bonds gave way, and the lion was free.

The lion could hardly believe what had happened. The small creature he had once considered too insignificant to help him had succeeded where his own strength had failed.

The mouse looked up at him.

“Was I not right?” it asked.

The lion had once laughed at the idea that a mouse could help a lion. Now he had learned otherwise. His life had been saved by the very creature he had thought powerless.

And so, the little mouse proved that kindness is never wasted, and that even the smallest friend may offer the greatest help when it is needed most.

Little friends may prove great friends.

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Moral

Never underestimate anyone because of their size or status. A small act of kindness can lead to great things, and even the smallest friend can make a difference in your life.

Knowledge Check

Test your understanding of The Lion and the Mouse.

1. Why did the lion let the mouse go?The mouse offered him foodThe lion was amused by the mouse’s promise to help him one dayThe hunters arrived

2. What happened to the lion later?He fell into a riverHe was chased away by other animalsHunters trapped him and tied him to a tree

3. How did the mouse rescue the lion?It gnawed through the ropesIt frightened the hunters awayIt brought other lions

4. What is the central lesson of the fable?Only strong animals can surviveKindness matters, and even the small can help the mightyIt is always best to live alone

Source

“The Lion and the Mouse,” in The Fables of Aesop, edited and retold by Joseph Jacobs, illustrated by Richard Heighway, published by Macmillan & Co. in London and New York in 1894.

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