Be a Good Friend Four Classic Fables About Friendship and Kindness Little Fox

One day, a little mouse was wandering deep in the jungle. Oh, no! she thought, looking around. I think I'm lost. The little mouse was tired and hungry. Sitting down to rest, she spotted something yellow in the grass. Food! she thought. She dashed over and bit into the yellow thing. But it was not food. It was a tail! The tail of a huge lion! Ow! the lion roared. I am king of the jungle. Who dared to bite my tail? The mouse trembled in fear. I'm sorry, my king. I'm lost and hungry. I didn't realize it was your tail. Please forgive me. The lion stared down at the tiny creature and laughed. You bit my tail? Why, you're nothing but a little mouse. He opened his jaws wide, ready to eat her. Wait! the mouse cried. I am much too small to eat. Please let me go. And in return, I promise... Yes! The mouse thought fast. I promise to help you someday. The lion laughed again, this time harder than before. You're just a tiny mouse. You can't help me. I am the king of this jungle. I do not need anyone's help. But since you made me laugh, I will let you go. Thank you, my king. And you'll see. Someday I will help you. The mouse ran off fast before the lion changed his mind. A few days later, the mouse was back in the jungle. She heard a familiar roar. Oh, my! the mouse thought. That sounds like the lion. Is he in trouble? She dashed toward the sound. Sure enough, there was the lion, trapped in a hunter's strong net. My king, do not worry! the mouse said. I will help you. It's you again. Oh! the lion sighed. How can you help a big lion like me? You're much too small to do anything. Just watch, the mouse said. The mouse began chewing on the net. Soon she had made a big hole. The lion slipped right through it. The large king of the jungle bowed to the little mouse. Thank you, mouse, he said. You kept your promise and saved my life. I'll never judge anyone by their size again. Thomas and John were hiking in a forest. We have been friends for many years, Thomas said. Yes, we have, John smiled. Ever since we were children. Thomas was lucky because he had made a fortune. Now he lived in a mansion. Meanwhile, John was poor and lived in a small cabin. I think your family needs a new house, Thomas said. Of course we do, but we are too poor, John said. Please, let me help you build a new house, Thomas said. I've had good luck and I want to share it. Thank you, Thomas, John said. That sounds wonderful. You're a true friend. The friends continued hiking. As they climbed up a hill, they spotted a bear. The bear growled and began running toward them. John was a fast runner. Leaving Thomas behind, he ran as fast as he could. He raced up a tall tree. But Thomas froze in fear. The bear was coming closer and closer. It's no use, Thomas thought. This bear will eat me. Suddenly, Thomas had an idea. Bears might not eat dead people, he thought. So Thomas lay down on the ground and held his breath. He tried to lie very still. Please don't eat me. Please. Thomas thought. John nervously watched from the tree. The bear sniffed Thomas, but Thomas did not move. The bear looked at Thomas closely and then licked his ear. Thomas still did not move. At last, the bear walked away. John climbed down and ran to Thomas. John said, We're both safe. Thank goodness the bear didn't hurt you. Thomas looked away. Right. The bear didn't hurt me, he said coldly. John was surprised by his friend's cold tone. You should be happy, Thomas. You're alive! Thomas shrugged. I guess so. Huh? John thought. Why is Thomas so upset? Were you scared, Thomas? I saw the bear lick your ear. You probably thought it was about to eat you. Thomas frowned. Yes, John, the bear licked my ear. But it also whispered something. It said your friend ran away. A true friend always stays nearby and helps. John was stunned. As Thomas walked away alone, John felt sad and ashamed. He had thought only of himself. Now he had lost his friend forever. As the bear said, A true friend always stays nearby and helps. Arthur the Ant was very kind. He always helped the other ants with their work. The ants were building a new nest for their queen. Arthur was working very hard. His work made him thirsty. So he went to the river for a drink. He took a jug to get water for his friends, too. When Arthur arrived at the river, he saw a problem. The water at the edge was too shallow to fill the jug. So Arthur carefully stepped into the water. What are you doing, little ant? asked a dove in the tree. I'm trying to fill my jug with water. Arthur replied. Well, be careful, the dove said. Arthur walked slowly into the water. He walked deeper and deeper and deeper. Finally, the water was deep enough to fill the jug. The jug was almost full. Arthur reached down to lift the jug, but it slipped. The water carried the jug away. Arthur reached for the jug, but then he slipped. Now Arthur and the jug were floating away. Help me! Arthur cried, but none of the ants could hear him. The dove looked down and saw Arthur in the river. So the dove pulled off a leaf and threw it down. Little ant, climb onto this leaf, she called. Arthur climbed on the leaf and lifted his jug with him. He paddled to the bank, got off, and waved to the dove. Thank you, Miss Dove, he called. You're welcome, little ant, she said. Arthur told his friends about the water and the dove. They were glad he was safe. And they said he was very brave to have escaped the river. Thus, Arthur became the colony water ant. One day, Arthur was filling the jug when he saw a man. The man was very big and he looked scary. He had a bag with feathers on it and a big gun. He was standing by the dove's tree, staring at the sky. Oh, no! Arthur said quietly. He is a bird hunter. I must help Miss Dove. The man went behind a bush to hide. Just then, the dove flew over the tree. Arthur knew he had to hurry. So he quickly climbed up the man's foot and bit him hard. The man began to jump in pain, shouting, Ow! Ow! Ow! His noise and jumping scared the dove. Way, Miss Dove, he's a hunter. Arthur yelled. The dove understood and flew away. Thank you, little ant, she called. You're welcome, Arthur said. You helped me, now I help you. Arthur picked up his jug and walked home. Long ago, all the beasts and birds lived together in a forest. They usually got along. But one morning, an argument erupted. Birds are the greatest animals, a robin bragged. We have lovely feathers and powerful wings, a bear scowled. Beasts have warm fur and sharp teeth. That's right, a fox snapped. All at once, the birds began flapping and squawking. The beasts roared and stomped. A bat family sat in a tree, listening to the terrible argument. Whose side should we take, the mother bat whispered. We have wings like birds. And fur and teeth like beasts. The father said. The mother bat watched the birds soar across the sky. Birds are amazing, she said. The father nodded. Birds are the greatest animals. Let's join them. Each day, the bats flew with the birds. But one day, the mother bat watched the beasts below. The beasts' fur is beautiful, she whispered. The father bat nodded. And their sharp teeth make them very powerful. I've changed my mind. Beasts are the greatest animals. Let's join them. After that, the bats spent all their time with the beasts. One afternoon, another argument erupted. Once again, the two sides argued about who the best animals were. The birds flapped and squawked. They boasted about their feathers and wings. The beasts roared and stomped. They bragged about their fur and teeth. Finally, an old owl sighed. This argument is so silly. We must meet with the beasts. Surely we can have peace in the forest again. And so the birds and the beasts held a meeting. Everyone agreed it was time to return peace to the forest. The birds and the beasts held a celebration. The bats flew over, ready to join everyone. But to their surprise, the others looked angry. The old owl blinked at them. You joined the beasts when you thought they were the greatest animals. The bear growled softly. And you joined the birds when you thought they were the greatest. But, um... The bats tried to explain. The birds snorted and flapped away. The beasts turned their backs. The mother bat hung her head. We joined each side when it suited us. The father nodded sadly. We should have stayed loyal to one side. The bats flew off to a cave, far from the others. Ever since then, bats hide in dark caves, flying only at night. The End