ANDROCLUS AND THE LION
Many years ago there lived in the city of Rome a rich man who owned a great number of slaves.
One slave, named Androclus, grew very weary of the hard work he was forced to do, and upon a dark night ran away from his home.
At first he did not know where to go, but ran blindly through the streets until at length, when almost breathless, he found himself outside of the city.
There he could travel more slowly; but he must, nevertheless, go steadily on or he would be caught and fed to the lions. For this was the law; a runaway slave was cast into the arena into which hungry lions were driven.
Poor Androclus was very much frightened as he went on his way thinking how dreadful it would be if he were found.
Just as the morning light broke gently over the hills, he came to the edge of a thick woods.
“This is the very place to hide,” he thought; and plunged into the dense thickets.
On and on he stumbled; on and on, even though he was so tired and thirsty that he feared he would faint.
At last, just when he thought he could not take another step, he heard the sound of running water, and in a minute or two, he came to a beautiful little brook.
By its side he knelt and drank; but although the cool water refreshed him, he found that he had not strength to go on.
“What shall I do?” he wondered.
Then he saw the mouth of a cave not far away.
“I will crawl into that cave and rest,” he thought.
It was very comfortable in the cave, for there was a bed of loose leaves on which to lie.
So Androclus lay down and was soon fast asleep.
Suddenly he was awakened by the deep roar of a lion! Nearer and nearer it came—nearer and nearer!
Androclus, terribly frightened, drew back as far as he could into the darkest corner of the cave, hoping that the lion would not see him; but on it came right into the cave!
Then Androclus saw that the lion was lame. It held up its front paw very much as a kitten might have done had its paw been sore.
Androclus took courage.
He crept softly toward the great beast, which, seeming to know that the man could help him, allowed him to take hold of his paw.
It required but a moment for Androclus to pull out the large thorn which was causing the pain.
The lion was so pleased that he rubbed his head against the man’s shoulder, and purred loudly.
After that, Androclus was never afraid of the lion; and the lion to show his gratitude shared his food with him. In this way these strange companions came to live together in the cave.
One day when the slave was walking in the forest, some soldiers spied him. They knew that he musthave escaped from his master, so they bound him and took him back to Rome.
Poor Androclus knew that the thing which he had so dreaded was about to happen. He would be fed to the hungry lions.
The day came. Great crowds of people had gathered, as people gather nowadays to see a ball game.
Androclus, weak with fear, was pushed into the arena. He could hear the roar of the hungry lion as it came tearing from its cell.
Right toward Androclus rushed the great beast; the people expected to see the slave torn into pieces. Imagine their surprise when the lion suddenly stoodstill, and Androclus sprang toward him with a cry of joy; for it was his friend, the lion of the forest!
He Told About the Lion’s Hurt Paw
And the lion was just as glad as Androclus. He acted like a big pleased kitten, purring and licking Androclus’s hands and feet lovingly.
The people wanted to know how such a strange thing could happen; and Androclus, with his hand on the head of his pet, told about his flight; about the lion’s hurt paw; about their life together in the cave; and about the lion’s sharing his food with him.
Before he was through many voices cried, “Let them live! Let Androclus and his lion live!” And they were both given their freedom.
For many years, Androclus and his pet were one of the most interesting sights in the great city of Rome.
—An Old Tale.