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 the mouse, 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 — someday I may be able to do you a favor one 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 later, the lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters who wanted to carry him alive to the *King, tied him to a tree while they went in search of a wagon to carry him away. Just then the little mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was trapped, 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.

Little friends may prove to be great friends.

(Note: There are two kings mentioned in this story: the King of the Beasts, which is the lion, and the King, the person for whom the lion was trapped and intended as a gift.)

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