THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

THE ANT

AND

THE GRASSHOPPER

On a beautiful summer day a
grasshopper hopped around
lazily in the grass. He was
warm, happy and well-fed,
and he was chirping and
singing to himself because life
was good.

While the grasshopper was
enjoying the day, an ant was
carrying grains and taking to
the nest with great toil.

On seeing the hardworking
ant passing by, the
grasshopper invited him to
join him and share his fun.

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All day long in the summer the ant
would work hard, collecting food
while the grasshopper enjoyed the
bright summer days.

The grasshopper would look at the
ant and laugh. ‘Why do you work
so hard, dear ant?’ he would say.
‘Come, rest for awhile, listen to my
song. Summer is here, the days are
long and bright. Why waste the
sunshine in labour and toil?’

“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 3
the Grasshopper; “We have got
plenty of food at present and there
is still plenty of time to prepare for
winter.” But the ant knew what he
was doing and went on his way
and continued his toil.

4

All day long the ant would work,
without stop or rest, scurrying back
and forth from the field, collecting
the grains and storing them
carefully in her larder.

Instead of working and preparing
for winter, the grasshopper
preferred to dance, sing and play
at his leisure. He did not realize
that the wonderful summer days
will not last forever and soon cold
and rainy days will soon be near.

Summer faded into autumn, and
autumn turned into winter. The sun
was hardly seen, the days got
shorter and the nights got longer. It
became freezing cold, and snow
began to fall.

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When the cold winter came the
grasshopper realized that the ant
was right and he should have been
prepared. The grasshopper didn’t
feel like singing any more. He
should not have wasted all his time
when food was plentiful. He was
cold and hungry.

He hadn’t thought that this winter
might be worse than usual. And
because he hadn’t stored food for
himself or helped anyone else to
do it, he would not live to see
another summer. He had nowhere
to shelter from the snow, and
found himself dying of hunger –
while it saw the ant enjoying the
food stored and collected in the
summer.

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MORAL

Work hard today
and you can reap

the benefits
tomorrow.