Page:The jade story book; stories from the Orient (IA jadestorybooksto00cous).pdf/132



a large forest there lived a Lion who was very fierce. Such terror did he inspire among the other animals of the jungle, and so many of them did he kill for his daily food, that they held a public meeting to see what could be done about it.

After much parleying they drew up a respectful petition to the Lion in these words:

"Your Majesty, why do you thus create havoc among us? If it please you, we will ourselves furnish you daily with a beast for your Majesty's meal."

This petition they duly presented to the Lion, who said: "If this arrangement is more agreeable to you, I will be satisfied." So, from that time a beast was allotted to him each day, they casting lots among themselves to see who should be selected.

Thus it became the turn of a wily old