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Aesop's Fable: The Ant and the Grasshopper

The Ant and the Grasshopper

One sunny summer day, a cheerful grasshopper hopped through the meadow, playing his fiddle and singing songs. He was having so much fun! Nearby, a group of busy ants marched back and forth, carrying seeds and storing food for the cold winter ahead. “Why don’t you come play with me?” the grasshopper called out. “We’d love to,” said one ant kindly, “but we have work to do before winter comes.” The grasshopper laughed. “Winter is far away! I’ll worry about it later.” So all summer long, the ants worked hard while the grasshopper played music and danced in the sunshine.

Then came chilly autumn winds. The leaves turned orange and the air grew cold. The ants stayed warm inside their cozy home, eating the food they had saved. But the grasshopper was cold and hungry. He hadn’t saved anything! Shivering, he knocked on the ants’ door. “Please,” he said, “may I have something to eat?” The ants looked at him with surprise. “Didn’t you gather food during summer?” “No,” said the grasshopper sadly. “I was too busy playing music.”

The ants thought for a moment. Then one ant smiled and said, “We’ll share our food today, but next summer, let’s work together first—and then play!” The grasshopper nodded gratefully. “Thank you! Next time, I’ll help too."

There’s a time to work and a time to play—and both are important!