This story is not my own; it's something I found while doing research for a paper, and I wanted to share it with you and get your opinions.[quote]A lion lay sleeping in the forest one day, when some mice began to amuse themselves by running over him. He suddenly roused, and catching at a mouse that did not got away as quickly as the others, he seized him in his paw, and was about to kill him. The poor mouse was terribly alarmed, and begged hard for his life. The lion looked at the little trembler, and like a noble animal, thought it would be a discreditable thing for one so big as he, to hurt one so small as the mouse. So he generously forgave the mouse for his mischief, and told him to go free. The mouse lost no time, but scampered away as fast as he could. It happened a few days afterwards, that the lion was hunting in the same woods. While he was not watching his steps very closely, he got entangled in a net, which a cunning hunter had set for him. He was now as much frightened as the little mouse had been, and he roared with terror. The mouse heard him, and knew by his voice, that it was the same lion which had given him his life. He immediately hurried to the lion's assistance, as fast as his little legs could carry him. When he saw what was the matter, he told the lion not to be uneasy, for he would soon set him free. So the mouse went to work with his sharp little teeth, and soon gnawed the cords in two, in so many places, that the lion got out without any difficulty. The lion was very much surprised and pleased, when he found that the helpless little mouse had been able to render him such great service. This fable teaches us to be kind to the weak and helpless; and to remember that there is no person so much below us, that he may not be able to render a good service in time of need.[/quote]