One day a lion was lying in the sun.  A little mouse ran over his paw and woke him up.  The lion was going to eat him.  The mouse cried, "Oh! please let me go, sir.  Some day I will help you."  The lion laughed at the little mouse and thought he could not help him but he set him free.

    Some days later, the lion was caught in a net.  He tugged and pulled with all his power but the ropes were too strong.  He roared loudly.  The little mouse heard him and ran to find him.  He told the lion, "Be quiet.  I will gnaw the ropes."  With his strong teeth, the mouse gnawed and gnawed the ropes.  The lion came out of the net.

    The mouse said, "You laughed at me once.  You thought I was too little to help you.  Now you see, I saved your life!"