In a happy Ant Hill there lived, at one time, a number of little Ants who were all busy getting in their supplies for the winter. With great glee they scampered to and fro and worked all morning, every day. There was one little Ant, however, who was anxious to see the world and refused to do any work at all.
One bright morning he sat at the door of the Ant Hill and watched his neighbours, the Bees, buzzing around, getting in their honey.
“Why do you work?” shouted the Ant. “Why do you work? Why not come and play? You will never get all your honey put away for the winter. You had far better enjoy yourselves while you can and not work so hard.”
“We work hard because we must,” replied the Busy Bee. “We cannot go to sleep in winter as you Ants do, and we must gather in our honey in the summer, while it is to be had.”
“I do not see that it is necessary,” said the Ant. “I work hard so that I may sleep in comfort when winter comes, enjoying my well-earned rest. I do as I please and sleep when I like.”
“Ah, well,” said the Busy Bee, “I must not stay here listening to idle talk. I have my work to do.”
“But I beg of you,” shouted the Ant, “come and enjoy life with me.”
But the Busy Bee shook her head and off she went to work. Every day the Ant kept asking the Bees to come and play, and every day they refused. One day he said, “If you will come and play today, perhaps I will work tomorrow” and at last, after much talking, one of the Bees consented to come and have a holiday with him.
So all day long they played together, the Bee stopping sometimes to take a little honey. Then, as it was getting dark, she said, “I think, friend Ant, I had better be going, or I shall be later than usual home.”
“Oh, just a few minutes longer,” said the Ant, “it is so nice and warm here.”
But the few minutes grew into an hour so that she had to hurry home. When she got there she found all the little Bees wondering what had become of her, and it was long after dark before she came back, as she had to hunt through the flower beds to find all her little children.
A few nights afterwards she was very late again. She asked the Ant to accompany her home, but her children were still sleeping. This was the reason the Ant did not find a good bed on two occasions.
After a few invitations from the Ant, the Bee grew tired, and said, “I think, friend Ant, I cannot visit you any more. I have no time to play, for I have a great many children to take care of.”
She shook her head and flew away. Winter came and a great snowstorm arose and the winds howled in the trees. The poor little Ant was cold and shivering at his door. He felt that it was like being in prison. The Busy Bee had found an old house and was sleeping in comfort, feeling warm in her winter clothing, thought of her friend who had to be out in the cold.
One day the warm sunshine melted the snow, and the Bee came out for her daily meal. Ceasing to hum for her children, she remembered the little Ant.
So she buzzed from flower to flower till she had quite a store of honey, and flew to the Ant Hill.
“Buzz, Buzz,” said the Bee.
“Who is there?” asked the Ant.
“Your friend the Busy Bee.”
At once the door was opened wide and in came the Bee.
“I have brought you something to eat.” She put her honey before him.
The Ant looked at it even more than he enjoyed it. He knew that he had his friend to thank for it and that she was warm while he was cold. Then he said, “I am very sorry that I wasted my time in playing instead of getting my supplies. Do you remember how I did not like you to work at all?”
“Yes,” replied the Bee, “and you see now which is the better way.”
“The End.”