and singing to its heart's content.  An Ant passed by, bearing along 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 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 every day 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.