A big lion was sleeping under a tree in the forest. A little mouse came out of its hole and began to run up and down on the lion’s back. The lion woke up angrily and caught the mouse in his huge paw.
“Please let me go,” cried the mouse. “If you spare my life, I will help you one day.” The lion laughed. “How can a tiny mouse help the king of the jungle?” he said. But he was in a good mood, so he let the mouse go.
A few days later, some hunters came to the forest. They spread a strong net and caught the lion. The lion roared loudly and tried to break free, but the net only grew tighter.
The little mouse heard the roar and ran to the spot. “Don’t worry, I will help you,” it said. It began to bite the ropes of the net with its sharp teeth. Soon there was a big hole in the net, and the lion was free.
The lion thanked the mouse. “You were right,” he said. “Even a small friend can be a great help.”
Moral of the story
A kindness is never wasted, and no one is too small to help.
New words
- spare
- to not harm or kill
- huge
- very big
- hunters
- people who catch or kill wild animals
- net
- a trap made of ropes
- roar
- the loud sound a lion makes
- tighter
- more firmly closed
Questions and answers
- What woke the lion up?
Show answer
The mouse running up and down on his back woke him up.
- What did the mouse promise the lion?
Show answer
It promised to help the lion one day if he let it go.
- Why did the lion laugh?
Show answer
He did not believe that a tiny mouse could help the king of the jungle.
- How was the lion caught?
Show answer
Hunters caught him in a strong net.
- How did the mouse save the lion?
Show answer
It bit the ropes of the net with its sharp teeth until there was a big hole.
- What lesson did the lion learn?
Show answer
He learnt that even a small friend can be a great help.
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