On a warm summer day, a little ant worked hard, carrying grains of wheat one by one back to her home underground, preparing for the cold winter ahead.

A grasshopper passed by, playing his wings and singing happily. He laughed and asked her, Why do you tire yourself out like this? Come sing with me and enjoy this lovely summer! The ant replied, I am storing food because winter will come, and I must be ready.

But the grasshopper paid no attention to her advice, and kept singing and playing throughout the summer days, while the ant kept working steadily, day after day, without tiring.

When cold winter arrived and snow began to fall, the grasshopper found himself hungry, without shelter, and without food, while the ant and her family were warm and safe in their home, surrounded by the food they had gathered so diligently.

The grasshopper went to the ant's home asking for help. She felt sorry for him and shared some of her food, advising him to learn the value of work and planning ahead, rather than always relying on others.

The Lesson: Working and planning ahead is better than playing without preparing.