19th Jun 2025
One bright day in late autumn, a family of ants was busy in the warm sunshine. "Look at all our grain!" said Anna, the largest ant. "We worked hard this summer to store it all!" The little ants danced happily around their pile of food, feeling proud. Suddenly, a starving grasshopper hopped towards them, his fiddle under his arm. "Please, kind ants! I am very hungry. Could I have just a bite to eat?"
The ants stopped and stared at the grasshopper. "What! Haven't you saved any food for winter?" asked Paul, the smallest ant. The grasshopper sighed, "I was busy making music all summer. I didn't think ahead." The ants shook their heads in disbelief. "Making music is nice, but now you must dance!" they said and turned back to their work. The grasshopper bowed his head, realizing too late that planning is important.
But Anna, noticing the sadness in the grasshopper's eyes, felt a tiny twinge of sympathy. "Winter is long and cold," she thought, "and everyone deserves a chance to learn." She called the other ants together and whispered a plan. With a nod, they turned back to the grasshopper. "You may share our food," Anna announced, "but in return, teach us your music. Together, we can sing and feast through the chilly months!"
The grasshopper's eyes sparkled with gratitude. "Oh, thank you!" he exclaimed, lifting his fiddle. Soon, the chirping of the fiddle mixed with the ants' cheerful singing. The work became light and joyful, and for the first time, the ants felt the warmth of music in their hearts. The grasshopper, in turn, learned the satisfaction of teamwork and the importance of preparation.
As the snow began to fall, the ants and the grasshopper gathered snugly in the ant hill, cozy and content. "I'll never forget your kindness," the grasshopper said, and the ants nodded in agreement, knowing they had also gained a friend. And so, under the frost-covered earth, the ants and the grasshopper learned that both hard work and music have roles to play in a happy life. And they all lived happily through the winter, ready to welcome spring with a song.
