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Retold by The Legendary Connection

TLC#00123

Deep in the heart of the forest, there lived a mighty lion. He was the largest of all the lions, and his mane was thick and golden, and his roar echoed through the trees. He was the fearsome king of all the animals. One hot afternoon, after a long day of prowling, the lion was tired and decided to take a nap. He found a soft, shady spot and lay down for a nap. Soon he was fast asleep.

That same day there was a hungry little mouse who was busy searching for food. The little mouse was so focused on finding food that she ran across the lion’s face without noticing who it was. The lion woke up with a start. He opened his sharp eyes and quickly caught the tiny Mouse under his huge paw. The mouse trembled with fear as the lion looked down at her. “How dare you run across my face!” the lion growled, his voice low and angry. “I am the king of the forest. Why should I not end your life right now?”

The poor mouse squeaked in a shaky voice, “Oh mighty lion, please spare me! I didn’t mean to disturb you. If you let me go, I promise I will repay your kindness one day.” The lion was amused. He let out a deep chuckle, thinking to himself, "How could such a tiny creature help someone as powerful as me?" But feeling generous, he lifted his paw and let the mouse go free.

“Run along, little one,” the lion said, “but how you could ever repay me is something I cannot imagine.” The mouse scurried away, grateful to be alive.

Not long after, the lion was wandering through the forest when he walked right into a trap set by hunters. Strong ropes quickly tightened around his mighty body, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break free. The hunters tied him down and left, planning to return later to take him away. The lion roared in frustration, his powerful voice shaking the forest. He pulled and tugged at the ropes, but it was no use. He was trapped.

Just then, far away in his little hole, the mouse heard the lion’s roar. “That sounds like the lion who spared my life!” the mouse thought. Without a moment’s hesitation, she darted through the forest, following the sound of the roar until she found the lion. The mouse saw the lion tangled in the ropes and said, “Don’t worry, mighty lion, I will help you.”

The lion, too exhausted to speak, watched as the tiny Mouse began to gnaw at the ropes with her sharp teeth. The mouse worked quickly and tirelessly, biting through one rope after another. Soon, the ropes fell away, and the lion was free! The lion stood up and shook his mane, feeling the strength return to his limbs. He looked down at the mouse with wonder. “You’ve saved my life,” he said softly. “I never imagined that someone as small as you could help someone as big as me.”

The mouse smiled and replied, “You laughed when I promised to repay your kindness. Now you see that even a small creature can be of great help. Sometimes, help comes from the most unexpected places.”

The lion bowed his great head in gratitude. “Thank you, little friend,” he said, “I will never forget this.” From that day on, the lion and the mouse remained the best of friends.

Original Source: “Aesop’s Fables" Translated by George Fyler Townsend.” Gutenberg.org, 2021, gutenberg.org/cache/epub/21/pg21-images.html#link2H_4_0004. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.