One summer's day, a grasshopper was lying on a field and singing happily. An ant passed by, carrying an ear of corn which he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the grasshopper, "instead of working so hard?"

"I'm helping to store up food for the winter," said the ant, "and suggest you do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present."

But the ant went on its way and continued its toil.

When the winter came the grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the grasshopper knew:

It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.