A slave named Androcles escaped from his master and fled to the forest. As he was wandering about there he saw a Lion lying down moaning and groaning.
At first he thought of running away, but finding that the Lion did not pursue him, he turned back and went up to him. As he came near, the Lion put out his swollen and bleeding paw, and Androcles found that a huge thorn had got into it, and was causing all the pain. He pulled out the thorn and bound up the paw of the Lion, Lion was soon able to rise and lick the hand of Androcles like a dog.
Lion took Androcles to his cave, and every day lion brough him meat from which to live. But shortly afterwards both Androcles and the Lion were captured, and the slave was sentenced to be thrown to be eaten by the Lion. While the lion was kept without food for several days.
The Emperor and all his Court came to see the spectacle, and Androcles was thrown out into the middle of the arena. Soon the Lion was let loose from his den. The Lion rushed bounding and roaring towards his victim. But as soon as lion came near to Androcles he recognized his friend, and fawned upon him, and licked his hands like a friendly dog.
The Emperor, surprised at this and summoned
Androcles to him. Androcles told him the whole
story. Whereupon the slave was pardoned and
freed. The Lion was also freed to his native
forest.
Moral:
Gratitude is the sign of noble souls