The Slave and the Lion - Story for Class 10th 11th 12th

Kindness Never Goes Unrewarded is an oft-quoted proverb. It means if we are kind to others, they will be kind to us. If we do good to others, they will be good to us. If we help others in their hardships, they will help us in our time of trouble. As Dr. Johnson has said,

"Kindness generates kindness and consolidates society."

The following fable of a slave illustrates the truth of this proverb. In days of yore, affluent people enjoyed a legal privilege to enslave the penniless poor. They usually treated their slaves inhumanly. The slaves could do nothing in protest. They just had to endure patiently the cruel treatment of their masters. A merciless master had several slaves. As the master was sadist, he felt delight in tormenting his slaves. The slaves worked their fingers to the bone to satisfy their master but to no avail. They could never succeed in appeasing his foul fury, All their efforts to please their master ended in smoke. Androcles was on of the slaves. He was very hardworking and diligent still his master was never satisfied nor pleased with his performance. He would often get furious and punish him severely for nothing. Androcles could not bear is unearned suffering for long.

One day, somehow, he managed to escape from the Cruel claws of his master. He kept on running wildly until he reached a dark dense forest. There he discovered a deep den to live in. Densely growing broadleaved twigs had fully concealed the entrance of the den. It could prove to be a safe refuge for him. He began to live there. He meandered through lush green meadows fragrant with fresh flowers. He visited luxurious pastures, forested hill and babbling brooks. He ate ripe juicy fruit and drank cool water of the rustling rilis. He was very to be in such a wonderful environment. One day, making a bowl of his palms he was drinking water from a stream. He was disturbed by an extraordinary noise whose savage energy could belong to a human being.

Eventually, he saw a reflection of the ferocious lion in the crystal clear water of the stream. He sprang his feet and began to recede. It was SO near that it could easily attack and kill him. He felt his end near. To his surprise, the lion did not move to attack him. The lion looked calm and peaceful. The golden hair of his luxuriant mane streamed along his strong neck. His big flashing eyes made the slave still as though they had paralyzed him by their magical effect. Then suddenly he heard some moans and groans. Oh what a pity! He was walking on three legs. The fourth paw was severely swollen and covered all over with blood.

The lion was striking its paw on the ground again and again and could not place it on the ground. The slave saw that a big thorn had pierced his paw. As he was tender-hearted person, he took pity on the lion and decided to relieve the wretched lion of his plight. He observed the lion's gestures for a while. Finally, he took the risk. He mustered up his courage, approached the lion vigilantly and extracted the big thorn from his paw. The lion heaved a sigh of relief, cast a look of gratitude at his benefactor and went his way into the jungle. The lion began to limp along the bank of the brook.

After a few months, the soldiers of the mater succeed in arresting the slave. They brought him before the ruthless master. The master issued orders to throw the unfortunate slave before a hungry lion. He thought that it would be a formidable warning for other slaves. On the fixed day, the wretched slave was pushed into an amphitheater. A huge iron cage was placed on it. Its heavy gate was opened. A big hungry lion vaulted out. He came bounding and bouncing across the field towards the slave. The slave began to tremble with fear. The fear of a dreadful death planted him to the ground. The lion reached the slave in the twinkling of an eye.

But as soon as he came near the slave, he stopped and bowed down. The lion stood still and kept on looking at the slave. To a great surprise, instead of tearing and eating him, the lion started licking the feet of the slave. All the people present there astonished to watch this strange spectacle. It was unbelievable. It was in fact the same lion whom the slave had helped in the jungle. Now, he has recognized his benefactor. He knew that he was the same fellow who had plucked the thorn out of his paw. The slave's master was much impressed by this incident. He summoned the slave to explain the wonder. The slave narrated the whole event. The story wetted the eyes of the master. The tears of regret streamed down his face. He ordered the lion to be set free in the jungle again. He gave the slave ample reward and set him free for his kindness and bravery.

After this he became gentle and kindhearted and decided never to torture his slaves. We learn a lesson from this story that love begets love and one good turn deserves another. The strong and the weak, the rich and the poor need each other's help. Therefore cooperation is of great importance.