The Lion and the
Mouse
Vocabulary:
-
bound - tied up
-
desired - wished for, wanted
-
gnaw - chewed on
-
plight - a bad or dangerous
situation
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 him, 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
but what I may be able to do you a turn some 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 after the Lion was caught
in a trap, and the hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied
him to a tree while they went in search of a wagon to carry him on.
Just then the little Mouse happened
to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, 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 great
friends."
