Stories from Hithopadhesha

The Lion, The Mouse and the Cat

There once was a lion that had it's home in one of the caves near the hills. One day while it was resting, a mouse ran all over it's body. Angered by the act of the mouse, the lion decided to kill it. It also thought that it would be insignificant for it to kill a mouse. So it wished to send a cat for the job.

The cat was first frightened but then gained the confidence of the lion. Everyday when the lion went for hunting, it would give some scraps of meat to the cat. For this the cat kept a severe watch over the hole in which the mouse lived in.

One day the mouse came out in search of food. Suddenly the cat pounced upon it and killed it. The lion felt happy that it would not be bothered by the small mouse again. The lion neglected to feed the cat after that. Soon the cat died of starvation.

Moral: A good servant should always make his master feel in need of his services.                   Otherwise he will be useless and will be thrown out by his master.