In a field one summer's day a
Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An
Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to
the nest.
"Why not come and chat with
me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that
way?"
"I am helping to lay up
food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the
same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the
Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on
its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food
and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day
corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the
Grasshopper knew:
It
is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
