第154页 / 共274页

THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS

One fine day in winter some Ants were busy drying their store of

corn, which had got rather damp during a long spell of rain.

Presently up came a Grasshopper and begged them to spare her a

few grains, "For," she said, "I'm simply starving." The Ants

stopped work for a moment, though this was against their

principles. "May we ask," said they, "what you were doing with

yourself all last summer? Why didn't you collect a store of food

for the winter?" "The fact is," replied the Grasshopper, "I was

so busy singing that I hadn't the time." "If you spent the summer

singing," replied the Ants, "you can't do better than spend the

winter dancing." And they chuckled and went on with their work.

THE FARMER AND THE VIPER