In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper1 was hopping2 about,
chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by,
bearing along with great toil3 an ear of corn he was taking to the
nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper,
"instead of toiling4 and moiling in that way?"
"I am helping5 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.
