The Lion and Mouse
A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his big head resting on his paws. A scared 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 large paw angrily on the tiny creature to harm her.
“Spare me!” begged the poor Mouse. “Please let me go, and someday 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, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in the toils of a hunter’s net. 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 ropes that bound him, she gnawed it until it parted, and soon the Lion was free.
“You laughed when I said I would repay you,” said the Mouse. “Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion.”
Moral of the story
Kindness is always worthwhile: Being kind and helpful, no matter how small, can make a big difference.
Never underestimate others: Even the smallest or seemingly weakest can offer help when needed.
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the Lion decided to spare the Mouse in the beginning?
- How do you feel about the idea that even a small act of kindness can be valuable? Can you think of a time when a small act of kindness made a difference?
Post Note: This story is based on Aesop’s fable, written around 600 BC. In this retelling, we’ve used simpler words to make the story easier for young readers to understand.
