THE LION AND THE MOUSE.
A Fable.
A Lion, faint with heat, and tired with hunting, lay down under the shade of large tree, and fell asleep. While he slept, there came a number of mice, which ran over his back and waked him ; then s'arting tip, he shook ihem . off, and lifted up his paw to kill one of them ; but the mouse trembling, fell dotvn before the ; lion, nnd thus addressed him. " Oh, sir, do not kill me. You are much bigger than me ; your strength is much greater than m>ne ; you are the king of all be.ists, nnd it is beneath your dignity to hurt a little and despised animal like me." The lion pausing, looked upon him, and felt the justice of his words, and said, " You are right, go in peace,'*—and let him go. Soon afterwards the lion, when out hunting, fell into a net laid by the hunters; nnd when he could not get out, he began to roar with rage and disappointment. The litila I mouse heard him, and knew his voice, and iiDinediately ran to the spot; and when_ he saw what was the matter, he said, " O Lion, be not dismayed, be quiet, and I, the little mouse, will set you free." Then the mouse began to gnaw the cordi of the net with his teeth, which are suited for such work, and I soon set the lion at liberty. Application. This is a lesson for Chiefs, that they should be kind to their slaves, to their children, and to strangers; that they should reflect, that some day they may possibly want assistance, unci that the smallest creature may tie of service to the largest. As the Native proverb hns it—"The rainbow, beautiful as it is, depends for its existence upon the shower." " lted"—Chief. " Black"—Slave.
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Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MMTKM18490719.2.13
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 15, 19 July 1849, Page 4
Word count
Tapeke kupu
304THE LION AND THE MOUSE. Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 15, 19 July 1849, Page 4
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