A Lion, tired by the summer’s heat, fell fast asleep in his den. A Mouse ran over his mane, nose and ears and woke him from his slumber. The Lion rose up and shook himself in great wrath, and searched every corner of his den to find the Mouse.

A Fox seeing the Lion so put out by the Mouse said: “A fine Lion you are, to be frightened of a Mouse.”

“It’s not that I’m afraid of the Mouse,” said the Lion; “I resent his familiarity and ill-breeding.”

Moral: Little liberties may be great offenses.

A Lion was in love with the daughter of a woodcutter. One day he went to the woodcutter and asked for her hand in marriage.

The Father, unwilling to grant, and yet afraid to refuse his request, thought of an excellent idea to rid himself of his dilemna.

He expressed his willingness to accept the Lion as the suitor of his daughter on one condition: that the Lion allowed the woodcutter to extract his teeth, and cut off his claws, as the woodcutter’s daughter was terribly afraid of both.

The Lion cheerfully agreed to the proposal. But when the toothless, clawless Lion returned to repeat his request, the Woodman, no longer afraid, set upon him with his club, and drove him away into the forest.

Moral: Think before you put yourself into someone else’s power.

A controversy prevailed among the beasts of the field as to which of the animals deserved the most credit for producing the greatest number of children at a birth.

The animals rushed clamorously into the presence of the Lioness and demanded from her the settlement of the dispute.

“And you,” they said, “how many children do you give birth to at one time?”

The Lioness laughed at them, and said: “Why! I have only one; but that one is a thoroughbred Lion.”

Moral: It is quality, not quantity that counts.

A Lion, unable from old age and infirmities to provide himself with food by force, resolved to do so by trickery. He returned to his den, and lying down there, pretended to be sick, taking care that his sickness should be publicly known.

The animals expressed their sorrow, and came one by one to his den, where the Lion devoured them.

After many of the beasts had thus disappeared, the Fox discovered the trick and presenting himself to the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave, at a respectful distance, and asked him how he was.

“I am not so well,” replied the Lion, “but why do you stand without? Pray enter within to talk with me.”

“No, thank you,” said the Fox. “I notice that there are many prints of feet entering your cave, but I see no trace of any returning.”

Moral: He is wise who is warned by the misfortunes of others.

A Man and a Lion traveled together through the forest. They soon began to boast of their respective superiority to each other in strength and prowess.

As they were disputing, they passed a statue carved in stone, which represented “a Lion strangled by a Man.”

The traveler pointed to it and said: “See there! How strong we are, and how we are stronger even the king of beasts.”

The Lion replied: “This statue was made by one of you men. If we Lions knew how to erect statues, you would see the Man placed under the paw of the Lion.”

Moral: One story is good, until another is told.