21　THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER
蚂蚁和蚱蜢

I

An ant and a grasshopper both lived in a field. In summer the ant worked to lay up food for winter. The grasshopper played all day long.

“Why do you work so hard, friend Ant?” he asked. “I dance and sing all day. Come and play with me. It is very pleasant.”

“Yes,” said the ant, “but if I play in summer, what shall I do for food in winter?”

“Oh, it is not winter yet,” said the grasshopper, and off he went to play.

II

But at last winter came. The ant could not work, and the grasshopper could not play. But the ant had her house full of food.

The poor grasshopper was both cold and hungry. So he went to the ant to ask for food.

He knocked at the door.

“Who is there?” called the ant.

“Your friend, the grasshopper. I have come to ask for something to eat.”

“I have no food to give you. You sang all through the summer when I was at work. Now you may go and dance.”

She was a wise ant and what she said was true.

Lazy people should not expect others to work for them. They should work for themselves.

一

蚂蚁和蚱蜢是田野上的邻居。夏天到了，蚂蚁忙忙碌碌地准备过冬的食物，蚱蜢却整天闲着。

“你的工作怎么这么辛苦，蚂蚁老弟？”蚱蜢问，“我每天都唱歌跳舞，你也来和我一起玩吧。这样的生活多愉快啊！”

蚂蚁说：“我的工作是很辛苦，可要是夏天玩乐，冬天吃什么呢？”

“咳，冬天还没到呢。”蚱蜢说完，又去玩了。

二

冬天来了，蚂蚁不能工作，蚱蜢也不能玩了。不过，蚂蚁家里堆满了食物。

可怜的蚱蜢又冷又饿，只好去求蚂蚁给点吃的。

他敲了敲门。

“是谁啊？”蚂蚁问。

“你的朋友蚱蜢，我想要点吃的东西。”

“我没有多余的食物可以给你。你一整个夏天都在唱歌，而我则在辛苦地工作。现在你可以去别的地方跳舞了。”

她是只聪明的蚂蚁，说的话都是真的。

懒人不能指望依靠别人，自力更生才是正确的方法。