The Grasshopper And The Ant

A grasshopper having sung
The summer long,
When the wintry wind blew
Found her comforts few—
No house from the snow and sleet
To guard her
Not a single bit to eat
In her larder.
Neither worm-chop nor fly-leg;
The dainty dame must starve or beg.
Hungry, she goes to her neighbor ant
With her sad tale of want:
“Pray lend me from your store,
Till the winter is o’er:
On my faith, I will pay
Round interest, besides the loan.”
The ant—bad lender, I must own—
Doubting much of the pay day,
Asks of the borrowing lady,
“What did you do last summer?”
“Night and day to every comer
I sang, if you please.”
“Sang!—do you say?
Then finish out your play—
Dance now at your ease.