The Lion and the Mouse

In the heart of the African savanna, a great lion lay sleeping under a shady tree. His golden mane glistened in the sunlight, and his soft snores could be heard throughout the forest.

A little mouse, scurrying through the tall grass, accidentally ran right across the lion's nose! The lion woke up with a start and caught the tiny creature with one swipe of his mighty paw.

"Please, please don't eat me!" squeaked the mouse. "I didn't mean to wake you. If you let me go, I promise I will help you someday!"

The lion laughed. "You? Help me? How could a tiny mouse ever help a mighty lion like me?"

But the lion was kind, and he decided to let the mouse go. "Run along, little one," he said. "But remember to watch where you're going!"

A few days later, the lion was walking through the forest when he stepped into a hunter's trap! A huge net swooped him up, leaving him hanging from a tree. The lion roared and struggled, but the ropes were too strong.

Hearing the lion's roars, the little mouse came running. "Don't worry, my friend! I remember my promise!"

The mouse used his sharp little teeth to gnaw through the ropes. He worked quickly—snip, snip, snip—until the net broke and the lion fell safely to the ground.

"Thank you, little mouse!" said the lion, bowing his great head. "You were right. Even a small friend can be a great helper."

From that day on, the lion and the mouse became the best of friends, proving that kindness should never be measured by size.

**Moral Lesson:** No act of kindness is ever wasted. Even the smallest among us can make a big difference.