Years ago in an exotic jungle there lived an extremely prideful lion. He would trot around the jungle with his giant paws, ready to snatch any small creature foolish enough to cross his path.
One very hot day, the lion lay down with a monstrous thud on the velvety grass. He sighed and was soon fast asleep. Along came a mouse, who was very meek. He nimbly scurried over the lion’s humongous body without perceiving the ‘king of the jungle’. The lion softly opened one evil eye. Seeing the tiny creature he made one aim at him and in a flash, had the prize dangling before him. Timidly, the mouse looked up. Terror swept over him! Before him was a huge, muscular lion! The jaws of the lion opened and revealed flashing white rows of teeth. They sparkled in the hot sun. They were sharpened to a point. His eyes were dark brown and full of wickedness. His paws had nails as sharp as iron which looked like they could tear a tree down. These same paws mercilessly clamped around the little mouse. By this time the mouse, who knew he had but one hope called out pitifully, “Please my king! I beseech that you have mercy on my humble personage. I wouldn’t make a very big snack anyway.” Trembling uncontrollably now, the little distraught animal spoke a tone louder, “Perhaps if you save me, I will be able to help you some day, and repay you for this great kindness.”
At this the lion roared with laughter. He tossed the poor animal in the air and exclaimed, “You? Save me? You are but a mouse! How could the smallest of creatures save the king of the beasts? Well-you may leave, but don’t be such a silly little creature again!” He chuckled again as the mouse scampered into the forest.
Some days later the lion was strutting through the forest, looking around ravenously for a bite to eat. He was as prideful as ever that day. Little did he know, because of his foolish boasting, he was going to suffer. He quickly pounced around a tree, hoping to snag a victim. The next thing he knew, he was snagged in a mass of ropes and locks! There were hunters in the jungle, in hope of catching a lion to bring to the circus. It looked as if they were about to make a pretty penny. The lion was struggling vainly to get out of the ropes, but with every movement of his colossal paws, the ropes grew tighter. The lion set back his head with his glossy mane and ROARED! The roar went through the jungle like a rocket. The trees swayed. Animals leapt into their homes; mothers sheltered their children, and on the other side of the jungle, a certain little mouse lifted its head…
“Oh, my!” mused the little mouse. “Could that possibly be the same kind lion that set me free?” He pondered a moment, and then scurried across the cool, damp grass of the jungle. The mouse looked around. The jungle was in a tizzy! Animals were popping their heads out of their burrows to discern if the lion was still roaring. They would huddle together in fear as the roar was heard again. The mouse ran faster and halted. There was the same lion that had once held him captive. The same eyes were there, but this time looked weak. The lion had sweat rolling down his giant brow. The mouse hurried forward at the next, “ROARRRRR!”
“Oh! Please, do please stop! Oh no! The hunters will hear you! Please!”
This caused the lion to look up for the first time, (or rather down) at the little mouse. The mouse darted forward and with his velvety brown head looked up at the lion. He quickly glanced at the ropes. He picked up one, and SNAP! The little white teeth pierced swiftly through the sturdy ropes. The lion, who was very surprised, looked down at the bustling creature before him. Once the last rope was snapped, the mouse sat down, exhausted. The lion reached up to a tree and knocked down some food for the mouse. The mouse smiled at this kind gesture, and gobbled it up.
The lion spoke in his deep tones, “Little mouse, because of your kindness, you have taught me one of the most important things in life. Kindness goes through the hardest of hearts. Even the strongest can be helped by the weak, or shall I say meek?”
The mouse smiled and only muttered, “I was just keeping my promise, great king.” The mouse stood and hurried off.
From then on the lion was changed; no one could recognize this gentle, kind, lion from the haughty, proud one that they had previously seen. Even the lowly can help the great.
By: Stella
For: Fundamentals of Writing Paper
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