The Ant and the Grasshopper
Vocabulary:
-
content - happy, satisfied
-
moiling - working
-
necessity - something that is
needed
-
toil, toiling - to work, working
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."
Questions to discuss:
Some people think it is best to
live for today rather than to prepare for the days ahead. Which is the better
idea in your opinion?
Should the Grasshopper have been
given food even if he didn't help out?
