THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANT.

Jean De La Fontaine

A grasshopper gay
Sang the summer away,
And found herself poor
By the winter’s first roar.
Of meat or of bread,
Not a morsel she had!
So begging she went,
To her neighbour the ant,
For the loan of some wheat,
Which would serve her to eat,
Till the season came round.
“I will pay you,” she says,
“On an animal’s faith,
Double weight in the pound
Before the harvest is bound.”
The ant is a friend
(And here she might mend)
Little given to lend.
“How did you spend the summer?”
Said she, looking shame
At the borrowing dame.
“Night and day to each comer
I sang, if you please.”
“You sang! I’m at ease;
For it’s plain at a glance,
Now, ma’am, you must dance.”

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“An age-old tale of one who whiles away the summer months and when winter comes in unprepared. The grasshopper had played all summer and now faced a winter with no food.”  You must work in life for if not a begging you will try…

Tags: fable, jean de la fontaine, the grasshopper and the ant