One afternoon, while strolling through the forest, Benny the Bear came across a little brown Ant carrying a very heavy grain of corn.
“Hello, Auntie,” cried Benny. “Where are you going with that heavy burden?”
“Oh, oh! I’m so tired,” groaned Annie the Ant. “I do hope I soon may reach my home.”
“But where are you going?” called Benny again.
“If only I could keep still a moment,” sighed Annie the Ant, “I should be glad to tell you. But I am so busy now that I really cannot stop to rest.”
“So I see,” laughed Benny the Bear, “your busy legs carry you quicker than my slow ones.” And he stretched himself out on a mossy log and lay there so still, so still, that he fell fast asleep, while Annie the Ant toiled on her way.
“Benny! Benny!” called a merry little voice the next morning.
He opened his eyes to see Annie the Ant standing before him.
“What do you want, Auntie?” he yawned.
“Winter is coming. Have you no thought for your home?” she cried, as she hurried on with her find.
“Winter will never come to me,” said Benny the Bear, closing his eyes in slumber. “I shall be just as I am now to the end of my days.”
But he was mistaken. The days grew colder. The gnawings of hunger awoke him one morning, and he arose and wandered forth to seek for food. With great difficulty he found a few berries and hobbled along homeward. How he longed for some nice corn! For corn he had, but sadly it was still safe in the granary of his neighbor, Auntie Ant.
“Ah, but it’s too late, too late!” he roared.
If only he had prepared in time!
Those who do not think ahead must often go belly empty.