The Ant and the Grasshopper

Told in English, Telugu.

Once upon a time, at the edge of a green paddy field near a little village, there lived a busy family of ants. Their home was a tiny hole under a big neem tree.

Near the neem tree lived a grasshopper. He was green and bright, with long, springy legs. He loved to jump, and he loved to sing.

It was summer. The sun was warm and golden. Every morning, the little ant woke up early and went out to look for food. She found a grain of rice here and a seed there. She even found a tiny crumb of sweet jaggery near the farmer's house. She picked up each one and carried it home.

And as she walked, she sang softly, "One grain, two grains, carry them home. Save for the rainy days to come." Can you say it with me? One grain, two grains, carry them home. Save for the rainy days to come.

The grasshopper watched her and laughed. "Little ant, why do you work so hard? Look at the sunshine! Come and jump with me. Come and sing with me."

"I cannot play all day," said the ant kindly. "Soon the rains will come. The fields will be wet and cold. There will be no grains to find. So I am saving food now."

"Rain? That is far, far away," said the grasshopper. He jumped high into the air. "Today is sunny. I will play today, and I will think about tomorrow later."

So every day, the grasshopper sang and jumped. And every day, the little ant worked. One grain, two grains, carry them home. Save for the rainy days to come.

Then one evening, big grey clouds rolled across the sky. Drip, drop. Drip, drop. The rains had come.

The rain fell and fell. The paddy field filled with water. The little grains were washed away. The grasshopper looked here and there for food, but he found nothing at all. His tummy rumbled. He was wet and cold and very hungry.

Inside the warm ant hole, the ant family sat close together. Their little store was full of rice and seeds.

Tap, tap, tap. Someone was at the door. It was the grasshopper, shivering.

"Little ant," he said in a small voice, "I am so hungry. I did not save any food. Can you help me?"

The ant looked at him for a moment. "You played when you should have been saving," she said gently. "But you are cold and hungry, and friends help each other. Come inside."

She gave him a dry, cosy place to sit and a little rice to eat. The grasshopper ate slowly, and soon he felt warm again.

"Thank you, little ant," he said. "Now I understand. Playing is fun, but we must also get ready for tomorrow."

When the rains ended and the sun came back, the grasshopper still sang his happy songs. But now he also helped the ants gather grains. They worked together, and they sang together. One grain, two grains, carry them home. Save for the rainy days to come.

And when the next rainy season came, the ant and the grasshopper were both warm and safe, with plenty of food to share.

Now close your eyes, my little one, warm and cosy like the ants in their home. Good night.