10 A True Friend




A True Friend

A lion was resting under the shade of a tree feeling that life was good. He had eaten and now he was resting and so content was he had fallen asleep.  Just at that moment a little mouse in its haste ran across the face of the lion and awoke him from his slumbers. Rising angrily the lion caught the mouse and was about to toss him back his throat. The mouse pleaded, "Please spare my life, I will promise to repay your kindness."

The lion laughed and roared, "whatever kindness could a little thing like you ever do for me?' He did though take pity on the little mouse and let him scurry off on his way. 

About three or four weeks later the mouse heard a terrible roar not far off. He realised it was the roar of the lion that had let him go. In haste, he scurried towards the growing noise. As he approached, he noticed that the lion had been caught in a net trap set up by some hunters. The mouse climbed up the rope and began to gnaw at the net slowly but surely cutting his way through the various strands of the netting. 

He said to the lion, "You ridiculed the idea that a little creature like me could ever help you, never expecting that one day I might be able to repay your favour to me. Now you must know that it is possible for even the smallest of creatures to confer a benefit on the greatest. 

Always be grateful for those who call you friend, and may they be equally glad to be able to call you a friend.  The word friend can be so easily a meaningless word, but true friends are there to be cherished and rejoiced in.



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