Fable. Moral: It is best to prepare for days of need.
T he Ant a nd the Gr a sshopper I n a fi el d one summer 's day a Gr asshopper was hoppi ng about, chi r pi ng and si ngi ng to i ts hear t's content. An Ant passed by, bear i ng al ong wi th gr eat toi l an ear of cor n he was taki ng to the nest. "Why not come and chat wi th me," sai d the Gr asshopper , "i nstead of toi l i ng and moi l i ng i n that way?" "I am hel pi ng to l ay up food for the wi nter ," sai d the Ant, "and r ecommend you to do the same." "Why bother about wi nter ?" sai d the Gr asshopper ; "We have got pl enty of food at pr esent." But the Ant went on i ts way and conti nued i ts toi l . When the wi nter came the Gr asshopper had no food and found i tsel f dyi ng of hunger - whi l e i t saw the ants di str i buti ng ever y day cor n and gr ai n fr om the stor es they had col l ected i n the summer . Then the Gr asshopper knew: I t i s best to pr epa r e for da ys of need.