The Tiger finds a Teacher

The Tiger Finds a Teacher

Once upon a time, deep inside a forest, there lived a tiger. This tiger was the strongest and largest beast on four legs. However, his enormous size made him clumsy and heavy on his feet. This made catching food extremely difficult and he could hardly sustain his appetite. One day, as the enormous tiger left his home to hunt for food, he came across a small and quick cat, leaping from tree to tree. The tiger became extremely envious.
“If only I was that nimble, I would never go hungry again!” , the tiger exclaimed jealously. So the tiger called up to the cat, hoping to persuade it to teach him.
“Swiftest of cats, will you teach me to be as nimble as you?”
Both intimidated by the size of the tiger, and the knowledge that tigers were wicked at heart, the cat had no intention of doing any such thing.
“I’d better not, large tiger, if I taught you to be as fast as me, what would stop you from making me your dinner?”
The tiger acted hurt by the allegations.
“Honored Cat, I am a beast of my word. Were you to humble me with your teachings, I would never betray you, but more than that I shall protect you from any who you are not able to retreat from.”
Tricked by the flattery in the tiger’s words, the cat replied, “Very well, if you promise to never ever eat me, I will show you how to move as I do.”
And from dawn to dusk for days and days, as the cat taught the tiger, the tiger stayed true to his word. Very soon, the cat had taught the tiger all of his tricks, save for one. The tiger not knowing this, was very pleased with himself and confident that he was now just as clever and swift as the cat. So the tiger, feeling particularly hungry one day decided to make the cat his lunch. As the tiger’s mouth began to water, the cat knew precisely what the he was up to. The tiger, wanting nothing to get in the way of his meal, asked his lunch a question.
“Teacher cat, are you sure you have taught me everything you know?”
“Why yes gifted pupil”, the cat lied, “you have learned everything you will ever need, no animal will ever be able to escape your grasp again.”
With that, the Tiger pounced at the cat, eager to feel it between his teeth. Already wise to the plan, the cat leapt into a high tree.
“How truly dense you are, noble tiger”, the cat teased, “that for all that I have taught you, you did not realize I never taught you to climb a tree.”
The tiger overcome with rage, threw himself at the trunk.
“You live in a forest, most intelligent of all tigers” the cat continued, “did it never occur to you that this might come in handy?”
With all his might the tiger tried to wrestle the tree to the ground. He clawed and clawed and clawed but the trunk of the tree was too firm, and he was unable to bring it to the ground. Finally the cat, becoming bored with the Tiger’s frustration, leapt away and vanished into the dense forest. And the tiger was alone, once again with an empty stomach.

Androcles

Androcles

There once was a slave named Androcles. Which is to say, he was a slave, but found a way to escape the chains which bound him to his life of servitude. As Androcles was escaping, he ran into a dense forest to hide from any would-be pursuers. Unbeknownst to him, the forest was the domain of a great lion. As Androcles traveled deeper into the great forest, he eventually came upon the lion. The large animal was lying beneath a tree, making a most terrible noise. At first, Androcles went to run away, but as he turned to give one last look, he realized that the noise coming from the lion was not some terrible threatening roar, but in fact a great moan of pain and anguish. The lion had gotten a thorn stuk in his paw, which was now swollen and bloody. For some reason, perhaps just the charitable nature of Androcles, or maybe that the thorn reminded him of the shackles that once kept him from moving freely, Androcles decided to help the lion. Androcles pulled the thorn from the Lion’s paw, and ripped a piece of fabric from his clothes and bandaged the wound. However, with the job at hand occupying Androcles’ attention, he had forgotten completely that he was in the process of escaping. Eventually, his former owner caught up to Androcles and the lion, and captured them both.
For his attempted escape, Androcles had been sentenced to be thrown to the very lion he had helped. So the lion was starved for days and days on end until he would devour friend and foe alike just to have something to eat. Androcles’ master invited all of the city to watch the event. Even the king came to bear witness. However, when Androcles was thrown to the lion, the lion did not eat him. Instead, he licked Androcles as old friends often do. The king, bewildered by the spectacle invited Androcles to come speak with him. The king listened intently to the story Androcles told of the lion and the thorn. Surprised by Androcles’ generosity, allowed Androcles to be set free, and promised him one favor, for all the trouble he had been put through.
“Name it and it shall be yours”, said the king.
“Release my friend”, Androcles replied.

The Frogs Who Desired a King

Once upon a time, there lived a group of frogs. The frogs lived peacefully together in their pond for generations. However, as time went on the frogs became too many and food became too scarce.
"What are we to do?" asked one frog to another, "I do not desire ill will on our fellow frogs, but I barely can find enough food for myself."
"We should have a ruler", the other frog replied, "a noble king who will decide how best to distribute our food equally amongst all frogs."
"A splendid idea", said the first frog, "we shall tell the other frogs immediately of your most wise idea."
And so they did. "Splendid!", said one frog, "our troubles are over", said another.
So together the frogs called out to the great god Zeus and pleaded for a king.
"We are but humble frogs, great Zeus, please deliver us a divine leader who will guide us through our current predicament", the frogs called out.
Zeus, amused by the request, granted their wish and sent down a great king frog. Ten times larger than that of any other frog in the pond, the king frog was indeed a commanding presence.
However the king frog did little in the way of commanding. And as the great king was ten times larger than any other frog he required ten times as much food.
"What have we done?, wailed a cowardly frog, "our most noble king has swallowed every speck of food left in our once plentiful pond."
"I will speak to him" said a much braver frog, "I have no doubt it is most difficult to make leadership decisions on an empty stomach. Now that our great king has been properly fed he will surely tell us what to do"."
So the brave frog knelt before the frog king, "Oh mighty and fearless leader, in your infinite wisdom you have eaten what is left of our food, after your most bountiful and deserving feast, have you decided how we fill our hungering bellies?"
"Is this not what you wanted, brave frog?" the king bellowed, "I have made a decision that is fair to all, you frogs are all now equal."
"Yes great lord, we are all equal, equally hungry. How will we possibly survive with nothing to eat?"
"Why are you troubled dear frog", the king snorted, "where has your bravery run off to? I am your king and as such, my well-being should be your only concern, and I am truly well indeed, for all around me are tasty morsels to line my great belly with."
And as soon as the king finished his words, he opened his great mouth and swallowed the once brave frog whole. He then continued to feed himself with his servants until not a single frog was left in the pond.