The Bear and the Gardener in this case keeping the flies off a friend, and the ultimate good of safeguarding his welfare. The story gained currency in England from the 18th century on through translations or imitations of La Fontaine. One of its earliest appearances was in Robert Dodsley's "Select fables of Esop and other fabulists" (1764), where it is given the title "The Hermit and the Bear" and a milder ending. In this version a hermit has done the bear a good turn; later still this was identified with taking a thorn from its paw, drawing on the story of Androcles and the Lion.
The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water, first published in 1998, is the third of eleven children's books written by Idries Shah and published by Hoopoe Books. The book is written for children from 3 to 11. "The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water" is a fable about a good natured lion. "The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water" comes in several different versions: hardcover, softcover, and hardcover with a CD. The book is published in several different language including English and Spanish as well as several bilingual editions