1.

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

A LION WAS ONCE SLEEPING IN THE JUNGLE WHEN A MOUSE STARTED

RUNNING UP AND DOWN HIS BODY JUST FOR FUN. THIS DISTURBED THE
LION’S SLEEP, AND HE WOKE UP QUITE ANGRY. HE WAS ABOUT TO EAT THE
MOUSE WHEN THE MOUSE DESPERATELY REQUESTED THE LION TO SET HIM
FREE. “I PROMISE YOU, I WILL BE OF GREAT HELP TO YOU SOMEDAY IF YOU
SAVE ME.” THE LION LAUGHED AT THE MOUSE’S CONFIDENCE AND LET HIM
GO.

ONE DAY, A FEW HUNTERS CAME INTO THE FOREST AND TOOK THE LION
WITH THEM. THEY TIED HIM UP AGAINST A TREE. THE LION WAS
STRUGGLING TO GET OUT AND STARTED TO WHIMPER. SOON, THE MOUSE
WALKED PAST AND NOTICED THE LION IN TROUBLE. QUICKLY, HE RAN AND
GNAWED ON THE ROPES TO SET THE LION FREE. BOTH OF THEM SPED OFF
INTO THE JUNGLE.

MORAL OF THE STORY

A SMALL ACT OF KINDNESS CAN GO A LONG WAY.

ALSO READ: CHILDHOOD STORIES OF LORD KRISHNA FOR KIDS

2. COUNT WISELY
ONE DAY, KING AKBAR ASKED A QUESTION IN HIS COURT THAT LEFT
EVERYONE IN THE COURTROOM PUZZLED. AS THEY ALL TRIED TO FIGURE
OUT THE ANSWER, BIRBAL WALKED IN AND ASKED WHAT THE MATTER WAS.
THEY REPEATED THE QUESTION TO HIM.

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THE QUESTION WAS, “HOW MANY CROWS ARE THERE IN THE CITY?”

BIRBAL IMMEDIATELY SMILED AND WENT UP TO AKBAR. HE ANNOUNCED

THE ANSWER; HE SAID THERE WERE TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND, FIVE
HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE CROWS IN THE CITY. WHEN ASKED HOW HE
KNEW THE ANSWER, BIRBAL REPLIED, “ASK YOUR MEN TO COUNT THE
NUMBER OF CROWS. IF THERE ARE MORE, THEN THE RELATIVES OF THE
CROWS MUST BE VISITING THEM FROM NEARBY CITIES. IF THERE ARE
FEWER, THEN THE CROWS FROM OUR CITY MUST BE VISITING THEIR
RELATIVES WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY.” PLEASED WITH THE ANSWER,
AKBAR PRESENTED BIRBAL WITH A RUBY AND PEARL CHAIN.

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MORAL OF THE STORY

HAVING AN EXPLANATION FOR YOUR ANSWER IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS
HAVING AN ANSWER.

ALSO READ: FASCINATING RAMAYANA STORIES FOR CHILDREN

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3. THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF

IN A VILLAGE, LIVED A CAREFREE BOY WITH HIS FATHER. THE BOY’S

FATHER TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO WATCH OVER THE SHEEP
WHILE THEY GRAZE IN THE FIELDS. EVERY DAY, HE HAD TO TAKE THE SHEEP
TO THE GRASSY FIELDS AND WATCH THEM AS THEY GRAZE. HOWEVER, THE
BOY WAS UNHAPPY AND DIDN’T WANT TO TAKE THE SHEEP TO THE FIELDS.
HE WANTED TO RUN AND PLAY, NOT WATCH THE BORING SHEEP GRAZE IN
THE FIELD. SO, HE DECIDED TO HAVE SOME FUN. HE CRIED, “WOLF! WOLF!”
UNTIL THE ENTIRE VILLAGE CAME RUNNING WITH STONES TO CHASE AWAY
THE WOLF BEFORE IT COULD EAT ANY OF THE SHEEP. WHEN THE VILLAGERS
SAW THAT THERE WAS NO WOLF, THEY LEFT MUTTERING UNDER THEIR
BREATH ABOUT HOW THE BOY HAD WASTED THEIR TIME. THE NEXT DAY,
THE BOY CRIED ONCE MORE, “WOLF! WOLF!” AND, AGAIN, THE VILLAGERS
RUSHED THERE TO CHASE THE WOLF AWAY.

THE BOY LAUGHED AT THE FRIGHT HE HAD CAUSED. THIS TIME, THE
VILLAGERS LEFT ANGRILY. THE THIRD DAY, AS THE BOY WENT UP THE
SMALL HILL, HE SUDDENLY SAW A WOLF ATTACKING HIS SHEEP. HE CRIED
AS HARD AS HE COULD, “WOLF! WOLF! WOLF!”, BUT NOT A SINGLE VILLAGER
CAME TO HELP HIM. THE VILLAGERS THOUGHT THAT HE WAS TRYING TO
FOOL THEM AGAIN AND DID NOT COME TO RESCUE HIM OR HIS SHEEP. THE
LITTLE BOY LOST MANY SHEEP THAT DAY, ALL BECAUSE OF HIS
FOOLISHNESS.

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MORAL OF THE STORY

IT IS DIFFICULT TO TRUST PEOPLE WHO LIE, SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS
BE TRUTHFUL.
4. THE FOX AND THE STORK

ONE DAY, A SELFISH FOX INVITED A STORK FOR DINNER. STORK WAS VERY
HAPPY WITH THE INVITATION – SHE REACHED THE FOX’S HOME ON TIME
AND KNOCKED AT THE DOOR WITH HER LONG BEAK. THE FOX TOOK HER TO
THE DINNER TABLE AND SERVED SOME SOUP IN SHALLOW BOWLS FOR BOTH
OF THEM. AS THE BOWL WAS TOO SHALLOW FOR THE STORK, SHE COULDN’T
HAVE SOUP AT ALL. BUT, THE FOX LICKED UP HIS SOUP QUICKLY.

THE STORK WAS ANGRY AND UPSET, BUT SHE DIDN’T SHOW HER ANGER AND
BEHAVED POLITELY. TO TEACH A LESSON TO THE FOX, SHE THEN INVITED
HIM FOR DINNER THE NEXT DAY. SHE TOO SERVED SOUP, BUT THIS TIME THE
SOUP WAS SERVED IN TWO TALL NARROW VASES. THE STORK DEVOURED
THE SOUP FROM HER VASE, BUT THE FOX COULDN’T DRINK ANY OF IT
BECAUSE OF HIS NARROW NECK. THE FOX REALISED HIS MISTAKE AND
WENT HOME FAMISHED.

MORAL OF THE STORY

A SELFISH ACT BACKFIRES SOONER OR LATER!

ALSO READ: INDIAN MYTHOLOGICAL STORIES FOR KIDS

5. THE GOLDEN TOUC

ONCE THERE LIVED A GREEDY MAN IN A SMALL TOWN. HE WAS VERY RICH,
AND HE LOVED GOLD AND ALL THINGS FANCY. BUT HE LOVED HIS
DAUGHTER MORE THAN ANYTHING. ONE DAY, HE CHANCED UPON A FAIRY.
THE FAIRY’S HAIR WAS CAUGHT IN A FEW TREE BRANCHES. HE HELPED HER
OUT, BUT AS HIS GREEDINESS TOOK OVER, HE REALISED THAT HE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME RICHER BY ASKING FOR A WISH IN RETURN (BY
HELPING HER OUT). THE FAIRY GRANTED HIM A WISH. HE SAID, “ALL THAT I
TOUCH SHOULD TURN TO GOLD.” AND HIS WISH WAS GRANTED BY THE
GRATEFUL FAIRY.

THE GREEDY MAN RUSHED HOME TO TELL HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER ABOUT
HIS WISH, ALL THE WHILE TOUCHING STONES AND PEBBLES AND WATCHING
THEM CONVERT INTO GOLD. ONCE HE GOT HOME, HIS DAUGHTER RUSHED
TO GREET HIM. AS SOON AS HE BENT DOWN TO SCOOP HER UP IN HIS ARMS,
SHE TURNED INTO A GOLD STATUE. HE WAS DEVASTATED AND STARTED
CRYING AND TRYING TO BRING HIS DAUGHTER BACK TO LIFE. HE REALISED
HIS FOLLY AND SPENT THE REST OF HIS DAYS SEARCHING FOR THE FAIRY TO
TAKE AWAY HIS WISH.

MORAL OF THE STORY

GREED WILL ALWAYS LEAD TO DOWNFALL.
6. THE MILKMAID AND HER PAIL

PATTY, A MILKMAID MILKED HER COW AND HAD TWO FULL PAILS OF FRESH,
CREAMY MILK. SHE PUT BOTH PAILS OF MILK ON A STICK AND SET OFF TO
THE MARKET TO SELL THE MILK. AS SHE TOOK STEPS TOWARDS THE
MARKET, HER THOUGHTS TOOK STEPS TOWARDS WEALTH. ON HER WAY, SHE
KEPT THINKING ABOUT THE MONEY SHE WOULD MAKE FROM SELLING THE
MILK. THEN SHE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT SHE WOULD DO WITH THAT
MONEY.

SHE WAS TALKING TO HERSELF AND SAID, “ONCE I GET THE MONEY, I’LL
BUY A CHICKEN. THE CHICKEN WILL LAY EGGS AND I WILL GET MORE
CHICKENS. THEY’LL ALL LAY EGGS, AND I WILL SELL THEM FOR MORE
MONEY. THEN, I’LL BUY THE HOUSE ON THE HILL AND EVERYONE WILL
ENVY ME.” SHE WAS VERY HAPPY THAT SOON SHE WOULD BE VERY RICH.
WITH THESE HAPPY THOUGHTS, SHE MARCHED AHEAD. BUT SUDDENLY, SHE
TRIPPED AND FELL. BOTH THE PAILS OF THE MILK FELL AND ALL HER
DREAMS WERE SHATTERED. THE MILK SPILT ONTO THE GROUND, AND ALL
PATTY COULD DO WAS CRY. “NO MORE DREAM,” SHE CRIED FOOLISHLY!

MORAL OF THE STORY

DO NOT COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED.

ALSO READ: POPULAR FAIRY TALE STORIES FOR KIDS

7. WHEN ADVERSITY KNOCKS

THIS IS A STORY THAT EXPLAINS HOW ADVERSITY IS MET DIFFERENTLY BY

DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THERE WAS A GIRL NAMED ASHA WHO LIVED WITH HER
MOTHER AND FATHER IN A VILLAGE. ONE DAY, HER FATHER ASSIGNED HER
A SIMPLE TASK. HE TOOK THREE VESSELS FILLED WITH BOILING WATER. HE
PLACED AN EGG IN ONE VESSEL, A POTATO IN THE SECOND VESSEL, AND
SOME TEA LEAVES IN THE THIRD VESSEL. HE ASKED ASHA TO KEEP AN EYE
ON THE VESSELS FOR ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES WHILE THE THREE
INGREDIENTS IN THREE SEPARATE VESSELS BOILED. AFTER THE SAID TIME,
HE ASKED ASHA TO PEEL THE POTATO AND EGG, AND STRAIN THE TEA
LEAVES. ASHA WAS LEFT PUZZLED – SHE UNDERSTOOD HER FATHER WAS
TRYING TO EXPLAIN HER SOMETHING, BUT SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

HER FATHER EXPLAINED, “ALL THREE ITEMS WERE PUT IN THE SAME
CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE HOW THEY’VE RESPONDED DIFFERENTLY.” HE SAID
THAT THE POTATO TURNED SOFT, THE EGG TURNED HARD, AND THE TEA
LEAVES CHANGED THE COLOUR AND TASTE OF THE WATER. HE FURTHER
SAID, “WE ARE ALL LIKE ONE OF THESE ITEMS. WHEN ADVERSITY CALLS, WE
RESPOND EXACTLY THE WAY THEY DO. NOW, ARE YOU A POTATO, AN EGG,
OR TEA LEAVES?”

MORAL OF THE STORY

WE CAN CHOOSE HOW TO RESPOND TO A DIFFICULT SITUATION.
8. THE PROUD ROSE

ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL ROSE PLANT IN A GARDEN.

ONE ROSE FLOWER ON THE PLANT WAS PROUD OF ITS BEAUTY. HOWEVER, IT
WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT IT WAS GROWING NEXT TO AN UGLY CACTUS.
EVERY DAY, THE ROSE WOULD INSULT THE CACTUS ABOUT ITS LOOKS, BUT
THE CACTUS STAYED QUIET. ALL THE OTHER PLANTS IN THE GARDEN TRIED
TO STOP THE ROSE FROM BULLYING THE CACTUS, BUT THE ROSE WAS TOO
SWAYED BY ITS OWN BEAUTY TO LISTEN TO ANYONE.

ONE SUMMER, A WELL IN THE GARDEN DRIED UP AND THERE WAS NO

WATER FOR THE PLANTS. THE ROSE SLOWLY BEGAN TO WILT. THE ROSE SAW
A SPARROW DIP ITS BEAK INTO THE CACTUS FOR SOME WATER. THE ROSE
THEN FELT ASHAMED FOR HAVING MADE FUN OF THE CACTUS ALL THIS
TIME. BUT BECAUSE IT WAS IN NEED OF WATER, IT WENT TO ASK THE
CACTUS IF IT COULD HAVE SOME WATER. THE KIND CACTUS AGREED, AND
THEY BOTH GOT THROUGH SUMMER AS FRIENDS.

MORAL OF THE STORY

NEVER JUDGE SOMEONE BY THE WAY THEY LOOK.

ALSO READ: BIBLE STORIES FOR CHILDREN

9. THE TALE OF THE PENCIL
A BOY NAMED RAJ WAS UPSET BECAUSE HE HAD DONE POORLY IN HIS
ENGLISH TEST. HE WAS SITTING IN HIS ROOM WHEN HIS GRANDMOTHER
CAME AND COMFORTED HIM. HIS GRANDMOTHER SAT BESIDE HIM AND
GAVE HIM A PENCIL. RAJ LOOKED AT HIS GRANDMA PUZZLED, AND SAID HE
DIDN’T DESERVE A PENCIL AFTER HIS PERFORMANCE IN THE TEST.

HIS GRANDMA EXPLAINED, “YOU CAN LEARN MANY THINGS FROM THIS
PENCIL BECAUSE IT IS JUST LIKE YOU. IT EXPERIENCES A PAINFUL
SHARPENING, JUST THE WAY YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PAIN OF NOT
DOING WELL ON YOUR TEST. HOWEVER, IT WILL HELP YOU BE A BETTER
STUDENT. JUST AS ALL THE GOOD THAT COMES FROM THE PENCIL IS FROM
WITHIN ITSELF, YOU WILL ALSO FIND THE STRENGTH TO OVERCOME THIS
HURDLE. AND FINALLY, JUST AS THIS PENCIL WILL MAKE ITS MARK ON ANY
SURFACE, YOU TOO SHALL LEAVE YOUR MARK ON ANYTHING YOU CHOOSE
TO.” RAJ WAS IMMEDIATELY CONSOLED AND PROMISED HIMSELF THAT HE
WOULD DO BETTER.

MORAL OF THE STORY

WE ALL HAVE THE STRENGTH TO BE WHO WE WISH TO BE.
10. THE CRYSTAL BALL

NASIR, A SMALL BOY, FOUND A CRYSTAL BALL BEHIND THE BANYAN TREE
OF HIS GARDEN. THE TREE TOLD HIM THAT IT WOULD GRANT HIM A WISH. HE
WAS VERY HAPPY AND HE THOUGHT HARD, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, HE
COULD NOT COME UP WITH ANYTHING HE WANTED. SO, HE KEPT THE
CRYSTAL BALL IN HIS BAG AND WAITED UNTIL HE COULD DECIDE ON HIS
WISH.

DAYS WENT BY WITHOUT HIM MAKING A WISH BUT HIS BEST FRIEND SAW
HIM LOOKING AT THE CRYSTAL BALL. HE STOLE IT FROM NASIR AND
SHOWED IT TO EVERYONE IN THE VILLAGE. THEY ALL ASKED FOR PALACES
AND RICHES AND LOTS OF GOLD, BUT COULD NOT MAKE MORE THAN ONE
WISH. IN THE END, EVERYONE WAS ANGRY BECAUSE NO ONE COULD HAVE
EVERYTHING THEY WANTED. THEY BECAME VERY UNHAPPY AND DECIDED
TO ASK NASIR FOR HELP. NASIR WISHED THAT EVERYTHING WOULD GO
BACK TO HOW IT WAS ONCE – BEFORE THE VILLAGERS HAD TRIED TO
SATISFY THEIR GREED. THE PALACES AND GOLD VANISHED AND THE
VILLAGERS ONCE AGAIN BECAME HAPPY AND CONTENT.

MORAL OF THE STORY

MONEY AND WEALTH DO NOT ALWAYS BRING HAPPINESS.
11. A BUNDLE OF STICKS

ONCE UPON A TIME, THREE NEIGHBOURS LIVING IN A VILLAGE WERE

HAVING TROUBLE WITH THEIR CROPS. EACH OF THE NEIGHBOURS HAD ONE
FIELD, BUT THE CROPS ON THEIR FIELDS WERE INFESTED WITH PESTS AND
WERE WILTING. EVERY DAY, THEY WOULD COME UP WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS
TO HELP THEIR CROPS. THE FIRST ONE TRIED USING A SCARECROW IN HIS
FIELD, THE SECOND USED PESTICIDES, AND THE THIRD BUILT A FENCE ON
HIS FIELD, ALL TO NO AVAIL.

ONE DAY, THE VILLAGE HEAD CAME BY AND CALLED THE THREE FARMERS.
HE GAVE THEM EACH A STICK AND ASKED THEM TO BREAK IT. THE FARMERS
COULD BREAK THEM EASILY. HE THEN GAVE THEM A BUNDLE OF THREE
STICKS, AND AGAIN, ASKED THEM TO BREAK IT. THIS TIME, THE FARMERS
STRUGGLED TO BREAK THE STICKS. THE VILLAGE HEAD SAID, “TOGETHER,
YOU ARE STRONGER AND WORK BETTER THAN YOU DO IT ALONE.” THE
FARMERS UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE VILLAGE HEAD WAS SAYING. THEY
POOLED IN THEIR RESOURCES AND GOT RID OF THE PESTS FROM THEIR
FIELDS.

MORAL OF THE STORY

THERE IS STRENGTH IN UNITY.
12. THE ANT AND THE DOVE

ON A HOT SCORCHING DAY OF SUMMER, AN ANT WAS WALKING AROUND IN

SEARCH OF WATER. AFTER WALKING AROUND FOR SOME TIME, SHE SAW A
RIVER AND WAS DELIGHTED TO SEE IT. SHE CLIMBED UP ON A SMALL ROCK
TO DRINK THE WATER, BUT SHE SLIPPED AND FELL INTO THE RIVER. SHE
WAS DROWNING BUT A DOVE WHO WAS SITTING ON A NEARBY TREE HELPED
HER. SEEING THE ANT IN TROUBLE, THE DOVE QUICKLY DROPPED A LEAF
INTO THE WATER. THE ANT MOVED TOWARDS THE LEAF AND CLIMBED UP
ON IT. THE DOVE THEN CAREFULLY PULLED THE LEAF OUT AND PLACED IT
ON THE LAND. THIS WAY, THE ANT’S LIFE WAS SAVED AND SHE WAS
FOREVER INDEBTED TO THE DOVE.

THE ANT AND THE DOVE BECAME THE BEST OF FRIENDS AND DAYS PASSED
HAPPILY. HOWEVER, ONE DAY, A HUNTER ARRIVED AT THE FOREST. HE SAW
THE BEAUTIFUL DOVE SITTING ON THE TREE AND AIMED HIS GUN AT THE
DOVE. THE ANT, WHO WAS SAVED THE DOVE SAW THIS AND BIT ON THE
HEEL OF THE HUNTER. HE SHOUTED FROM THE PAIN AND DROPPED THE GUN.
THE DOVE WAS ALARMED BY THE VOICE OF THE HUNTER AND REALISED
WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH HIM. HE FLEW AWAY!

MORAL OF THE STORY

A GOOD DEED NEVER GOES UNREWARDED.
13. THE FOX AND THE GRAPES

ON A HOT SUMMER DAY, A FOX WANDERED ACROSS THE JUNGLE IN ORDER

TO GET SOME FOOD. HE WAS VERY HUNGRY AND DESPERATELY IN SEARCH
OF FOOD. HE SEARCHED EVERYWHERE, BUT COULDN’T FIND ANYTHING
THAT HE COULD EAT. HIS STOMACH WAS RUMBLING AND HIS SEARCH
CONTINUED. SOON HE REACHED A VINEYARD WHICH WAS LADEN WITH
JUICY GRAPES. THE FOX LOOKED AROUND TO CHECK IF HE WAS SAFE FROM
THE HUNTERS. NO ONE WAS AROUND, SO HE DECIDED TO STEAL SOME
GRAPES. HE JUMPED HIGH AND HIGH, BUT HE COULDN’T REACH THE GRAPES.
THE GRAPES WERE TOO HIGH BUT HE REFUSED TO GIVE UP. THE FOX JUMPED
HIGH IN THE AIR TO CATCH THE GRAPES IN HIS MOUTH, BUT HE MISSED. HE
TRIED ONCE MORE BUT MISSED AGAIN. HE TRIED A FEW MORE TIMES, BUT
COULDN’T REACH. IT WAS GETTING DARK AND THE FOX WAS GETTING
ANGRY. HIS LEGS HURT, SO HE GAVE UP IN THE END. WALKING AWAY, HE
SAID, “I’M SURE THE GRAPES WERE SOUR ANYWAY.”

MORAL OF THE STORY

WE PRETEND TO HATE SOMETHING WHEN WE CAN’T HAVE IT.
14. THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WERE TWO BEST FRIENDS – AN ANT AND A
GRASSHOPPER. THE GRASSHOPPER LIKED TO RELAX THE WHOLE DAY AND
PLAY HIS GUITAR. THE ANT, HOWEVER, WOULD WORK HARD ALL DAY. HE
WOULD COLLECT FOOD FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE GARDEN, WHILE THE
GRASSHOPPER RELAXED, PLAYED HIS GUITAR, OR SLEPT. THE GRASSHOPPER
WOULD TELL THE ANT TO TAKE A BREAK EVERY DAY, BUT THE ANT WOULD
REFUSE AND CONTINUE HIS WORK. SOON, WINTER CAME; DAYS AND NIGHTS
BECAME COLD AND VERY FEW CREATURES WENT OUT.

ON A COLD DAY OF WINTER, A COLONY OF ANTS WAS BUSY DRYING OUT

SOME GRAINS OF CORN. THE HALF-DEAD GRASSHOPPER, COLD AND
HUNGRY, CAME UP TO THE ANT WHO WAS HIS FRIEND AND ASKED FOR A
PIECE OF CORN. THE ANT REPLIED, “WE WORK DAY AND NIGHT TO COLLECT
AND SAVE UP THE CORN SO THAT WE DON’T DIE HUNGRY ON COLD WINTER
DAYS. WHY SHOULD WE GIVE IT TO YOU?” THE ANT FURTHER ASKED, “WHAT
WERE YOU DOING LAST SUMMER? YOU SHOULD HAVE COLLECTED AND
STORED SOME FOOD. I TOLD YOU AS MUCH BEFORE.”

THE GRASSHOPPER SAID, “I WAS FAR TOO BUSYING SINGING AND SLEEPING.”

THE ANT REPLIED, “YOU CAN SING ALL WINTER AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED.
YOU WILL NOT GET ANYTHING FROM US.” THE ANT HAD ENOUGH FOOD TO
LAST THROUGH THE WINTER, WITHOUT ANY WORRIES AT ALL, BUT THE
GRASSHOPPER DIDN’T AND HE REALISED HIS MISTAKE.

MORAL OF THE STORY

MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.