THE ANTS were spending a fine winters day drying grain collected in the summertime.

A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him, “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?

He replied, “I had not leisure enough. I passed the days in singing. They then said in derision: “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.

Vocabulary Help

  • ant – formiga
  • dry – secar
  • grain – grão
  • summertime – verão
  • grasshopper – cigarra
  • perish – perecer
  • beg – implorar, suplicar
  • treasure up food – acumular comida
  • leisure – lazer
  • sing – cantar
  • derision – desprezo
  • fool – tolo
  • supperless – sem jantar