THE SICK LION
All the animals in the forest were
happy because they heard that their cruel king was sick. The lion did not come
out of his cave as he usually did. He sent out a message to his subjects that
he wanted to bid them goodbye before he died.
“What does he want to see us for?”
asked the deer. Maybe he will give each of us a share of his wealth.”
All the animals went to see their King
Lion except the fox. He sat on a tree and watched the animals go inside the
cave. He waited for them to come out, but no one did. Later that afternoon, King
Lion appeared at the entrance of the cave. When he saw the fox, he said, “Why
did you not come to see me? Don’t you want to share with the other animals what
I have given them?”
“I want to visit you, my King,” said
the fox. “But I am sure your home is crowded now. All the animals have gone
inside your cave and no one has come out yet.”
“Ha! Ha! Laughed King Lion. “They all
wanted to stay inside the cave. You will be staying there for a long time, if
you will wait for them to come out.”
“Never mind, my King,” said the fox.
“I am a very patient animal after all.”
He went away happy because he was
still well and alive. He knew well why not a single animal came out of the
cave. “Our King Lion thinks he is wise but he cannot deceive me with his
tricks. He will never catch me alive.”
The fox went away as fast as he could
from the lion’s cave with the decision never to come back.
