On a warm summer’s day in a green meadow, a little Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping, and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing 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 summer all the year round.” So he sang and chirped, and would not listen to the Ant.
But the Ant went on its way and finished its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants eating their comfortable stores.
Then the Grasshopper knew:
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.