The Lion and the Hare

"That's right!" cried the lion.

"I am king of this meadow and forest!"

"There were supposed to be two of us for your dinner today," the old hare told the lion. "As we walked along the path to your den, another lion jumped out of the bushes and grabbed the other hare."

"I told him that we were your dinner and you were waiting for us. I also told him that no one but you is allowed to hunt in your meadow and forest."

The hare nodded.

"The other lion did not listen to me. He said he was the king of the forest and that you are a liar. He told me all the animals had to bow down to him instead of you."

"What can we do about the lion?" one animal said.

"We try to run from him, but every day, no matter how fast we run, he catches one of us. The lion kills many more animals than he needs for food. What can we do?"

The lion grew more and more angry as he listened to the hare's story.

"What?" he roared. "How dare he say he is the king! I must find this other lion so I can show him who is the true king of the forest."

One day, an old hare was picked to be the lion's food. He was very unhappy and said to the other animals, "Don't you see that we still live in misery?"

"Yes, we still suffer," said one of the other animals.

He hopped back home to tell the other animals about what had happened to the lion.

All the animals were very happy.

"What a clever hare you are!" they said.

And from that day on, all the animals in the meadow and the forest lived happily without fear.

Instead of going to the lion's den, the hare hid in some bushes.

He thought, "I will trick the lion, and I will save myself and all the other animals."

Long ago, many wild animals lived in a beautiful meadow beside a forest.

It was wonderful place to live, except for a dangerous lion who lived there.

The lion wandered about each day, hunting the animals for food and for fun.

One day, the animals gathered

"I can just sit in the sun and be a powerful king," he thought to himself.

The animals of the meadow and the forest were also pleased that the lion liked their plan.

"But now we do not have to spend every day hiding or running from the lion. What else can we do?"

The hare said, "I have an idea. I will do something about this!"

And that was the end of the evil lion.

The hare was very pleased that his plan had worked.

"Very well," said the hare.

The lion followed the hare to the meadow where there was an old well filled with water.

When enough time had passed, the hare walked to the lion's den.

The lion had been waiting for his food all day.

"We have an idea. if you wait at home, we will bring you food to eat each day."

The lion liked hearing how strong and brave he was. He liked the animals' idea

"Ah," the lion thought. "There is the lion who thinks he's king of the forest!"

The lion roared at the lion in the well.

The hare said, "I can show you where he lives. But I must warn you, he is very large and powerful."

The lion roared, "No lion is as large and powerful as I am! Take me to him at once!"

The hare replied in a soft voice, "Oh, King Lion! Let me tell you why I am late."

The lion roared, "You'd better explain quickly, old hare. I am very hungry!"

"Your enemy is down there," said the hare, pointing to the well. "If you get closer, you will see him."

The lion stomped to the well and looked down. He saw another lion in the clear water below.

"Yes," he said. "It is a good plan. But do not fail to bring me something to eat each day. Something fit for a king!"

The lion was pleased. Life would be easy if he did not have to spend his days hunting for food.

They talked for a long time and finally came up with a plan.

They all went to the lion and said, "Oh, King Lion, you are such a strong and brace beast. You should not have to hunt for your own food."

Each day, they chose an unfortunate animal to be the lion's meal so they could live more peacefully.

They were sad that some of the animals would become the lion's meal, but they knew everyone else could live without fear of being eaten.

He paced back and forth, thinking about how hungry he was.

When the lion saw the hare, he roared, "Are you my dinner? Why did I have to wait all day?"

"Roooar! Roooar!"

then he jumped into the well.