In a sunny meadow one summer’s day, a happy little ant named Annie was busy working. All around her the birds were singing, and the sunshine turned everything into a splendid golden glow. The dainty flowers opened wide, the trees waved their leafy branches, and the little breeze danced merrily from flower to flower.
Oh, how Annie did love this lovely summer weather! But she knew winter would soon be here. So with a grain of wheat in her mouth, she worked hard.
Just then along came Gary the Grasshopper, who was chirping merrily in the sunshine.
“Come and listen to my song,” said Gary.
“Don’t talk to me,” answered Annie. “I must hurry and work.”
“But why not stop and have a nice chat with me?” asked Gary. “We have plenty of food now.”
“There is no food now to store away,” said Annie. “And she went on with her work.”
Sometime after whistling Gary came up again and begged, “I do wish you would stop working and sing with us.”
“That’s a nice idea,” said Gary. “Why do you work so hard anyway? Come and sing all summer long, and in winter we shall all have food.”
“I am storing food for winter,” said Annie, “and you will be sorry some day that you did not do the same.”
“I shall be warm and merry at my work,” answered Gary.
“You sing your summer song and I will do my work. Then we shall see who is right,” said Annie.
So Gary just jumped about and sang from bush to bush and from tree to tree till after sunset.
But Annie went on with her work. Later in the season Gary was at it again singing merrily. He was very hungry and he was already a little thin.
Annie was passing with some grains of corn and drew up to see what was the trouble.
“What is the matter?” she asked.
“Oh, dear! it is coming on to winter and I have nothing to eat,” said Gary. “You do not know what it is to be cold and hungry.”
“Indeed, I do,” answered Annie. “You sang all summer and did no work. Now you will have to whistle to another tune.”
And so she went on her way, leaving Gary the Grasshopper to reflect on his folly.