One day a Lion was sleeping in the jungle. A little Mouse, was running in the grass and ran over the Lion's head and nose.

The Lion opened his eyes and roared loudly. Then he put his paw over the little Mouse. The great beast prepared his enormous mouth to eat the small creature when the mouse said: "Pardon me, O King, please" cried the frightened Mouse. "If you forgive me this time, I will never forget your kindness. I certainly didn't want to disturb Your Majesty. If you respect my life,  I will help you another time, too."

The Lion laughed and laughed. "How could a tiny creature like you help me?"

"Oh well, you're not so much a good meal" the lion said , looking at the frightened Mouse. He took his paw off the poor little prisoner and the Mouse quickly scampered away.

Some time after this, some hunters wanted to capture the Lion alive with a rope net. The Lion fell into the trap. He roared and tried to free himself but with every movement he made, the ropes bound him tighter.

The unhappy Lion thought he would never escape.The little Mouse was in the jungle, too, and heard the Lion's roars.

"That is the Lion who did not eat me once" he said, remembering his promise. And he ran to help the lion.

The Mouse discovered the poor Lion in the trap and said to him, "Stop, stop! Don't roar. If you make so much noise, the hunters will come and capture you. I'll help you to get out of this trap."

With his sharp little teeth the Mouse broke the ropes. When the Lion was free, the Mouse said, "Now, you see I was right"

"Thank you, good Mouse," said the Lion gently. "I am big and you are very  little, but you helped me. I see now that kindness is always worth while."

Moral of the story: Even the strong sometimes need the friendship of the weak.